A Gripping Psychological Thriller

Book: Dead to them II Author: Smita Bhattacharya

Mystery thrillers that delve into the realm of psychology are the latest craze among audiences, and a lot of such TV shows and movies are being made, and numerous psychological thriller books are being written. However, most of these books are by foreign authors, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and The Woman in the window by A.J. Finn being notable examples; and less of Indian authors foray into this exciting genre. The author Smita Bhattacharya comes up with such a book "Dead to them", which is an Indian psychological thriller.
The storyline follows the disappearance of Moira Madhwa, a typical young, beautiful and successful urban woman. Her friends start looking for her, but they quickly realize that nothing is as it seems. Moira had kept devastating secrets—secrets that could wreck their lives if revealed. As days roll by, one by one, skeletons tumble out of closets and each of Moira’s friends’ looks guilty. But did one among them hate her enough to do the worst? What are the whereabouts of Moira? This and other searing questions form a part of the riveting storyline of this book.
The front cover of the book shows a tombstone engraved with the title “Dead to them”, and it seems that the book is about someone’s death and the ensuing emotional turmoil for that person’s near and dear ones. It is only after reading this thriller that readers will understand the whole psychological perspective and the reason for naming the title as such. However, a better choice for the front cover, which looks unappealing; and the title could’ve been made. The blurb at the back cover gives a better insight into the story, and will definitely help the readers understand the genre that they’re foraying into.
The best thing about this book is that it engages the reader with superb fast-paced twists and turns, and the story veers into a different direction with every passing page. The whodunit keeps the reader guessing, there is a slow but engrossing build-up to the climax, and the unexpected climax definitely packs a powerful punch. This is supplemented by simple, yet powerful writing; and the author certainly has an amazing tact for narration and for keeping the readers glued to the book because of the well-crafted and well thought-out plots. The numerous characters are also explored in depth, and the psychological rationales behind the workings of their complex minds are also explained well.
This is an intensely gripping psychological suspense thriller, and has an amazing portrayal of the ugly underbelly of Indian corporate culture, along with the intriguing and intricate motives behind the psychological musings of the human mind. With a narrative that is exhilaratingly well-crafted and simply jaw-dropping, this is a book that will certainly hook the reader. That such an exceptional book comes from an Indian author is all the more interesting and worthwhile, for readers will enjoy reading a psychological thriller written with an Indian perspective. Also, going the Gone Girl way or like other psychological mystery thrillers by foreign authors, this book can also be turned into a riveting movie, due to the exceptional potential in its exciting narrative.