A RIVETING FAST-PACED CRIME THRILLER
Book Review: Murderous Greed
Book: Murderous Greed
Author: Arun K Nair
Do you as readers like to read crime thrillers and mystery novels? Does the fast-paced and suspense-laced narrative have your adrenaline rushing? Do the myriad human emotions detailed in these books perplex as well as surprise you, with you thinking of the limits complex human emotions can surpass with utter simplicity and novelty? Crime thrillers have always been a favourite among book lovers and have carved a unique place for themselves in the book world. Arun K Nair comes up with such a book “Murderous Greed”, which is a welcome addition to this genre, with various mystery elements concocted in its pages for a roller coster read.
The storyline revolves around Inspector Satyajit and his following crime and mystery cases with great credo and intellectual and meticulous acumen. In the township of Avadi, a Chennai suburb, a woman who was on her way to attend a relative’s wedding falls victim to a chain-snatcher early one morning and loses her life in the process. The very same morning, Karthik, an up and coming young businessman is found shot dead in his car in the middle of the road- the only witness to the incident being his employee Drishti who was in the car with him at the time. The responsibility of getting behind the root of both incidents falls on Inspector Satyajit, who is an intrepid and honest police officer, and his team who get cracking on both cases immediately.
But as the investigation proceeds further, the incidents and the stories of those involved get increasingly confused and murkier. Was the death of both of these individuals connected? Was there more to Karthik than hitherto known- Was he involved in illegal deals and if yes, of what nature? Did these deals cause his untimely death? What was the role played by the mysterious Gun Club in all these events? The gripping plot then goes on to uncover these dubious questions- with the charismatic Inspector Satyajit taking the lead.
The book cover is apt for the genre and will indeed attract attention of mystery and thriller lovers at bookstores. The blurb at the back cover is also written well with only necessary details for piquing interest of the reader and not giving much of the plot, causing readers with an inherent interest to pick up the book and read it fastly. The beautiful town of Avadi is also described very well with readers getting glimpses of its mofussil beauty. The author also mentions that the town is very peaceful and the crime thriller storyline set there is just imaginative.
The plot is good, fast-paced and will keep the reader engaged in the investigative travails of Inspector Satyajit. The narrative flows well but the story becomes a bit predictable in the ending. Also, the language used is very simple, which is good for increasing outreach for the general reader, however more balanced usage of language with peppering of some adorned words, would have been for the better. The characters are explored with depth and their inherent psychology and motives for murder are detailed well. Also, Inspector Satyajit is a character to remember, and his moorings with other characters like Drishti and Yojith are effective to carry the plot forward.
This is a book which should be read for its riveting storyline, excellent character portrayals and immense detailing of the psychological aspect of crime. Also, considering the portrayal of Inspector Satyajit with his inherent enigma and investigative flair, the reader will also look forward to more books with him at the helm of crime investigations. The author should thus pen more crime thrillers in series format with Inspector Satyajit as the indisputable solver of crimes and a character to relish. This book is an intriguing peek into the minds of criminals and an engrossing read of the even more fascinating mind and genuine good-hearted machinations of the hero that catches them.