By Saurabh Garg. Grade: B+
Just when Nidhi Kapoor, a leading Bollywood actress, was to start shooting for her much anticipated film, unwarranted incidents start to happen around her. Her pets are found maimed in her very home. An anonymous letter threatening her and her family is discovered in her study. The high-profile case forces ACP Prakash Mohile to lead the investigation himself. Rujuta Singh, a photojournalist shadowing Prakash for a project, gets embroiled in the case.
The Nidhi Kapoor Story
Despite intervention by the police, attacks continue to mount on Nidhi and the unknown assailant gets bolder and more vicious with each attack. The assailant is adamant on taking away from Nidhi everything that she holds dear – her career, her home, her reputation, her family and her life.
In absence of any clues or motives, Prakash and Rujuta are forced to dig deeper in the past of the Kapoors and they uncover a violent tale of lies, betrayal, treachery, infidelity and murder. A tale that the Kapoors want to guard at any cost.
Who is the unknown attacker? Why is Nidhi Kapoor a target? What are the Kapoors hiding from the world? And, can Prakash and Rujuta save Nidhi?
Nidhi Kapoor, the second generation superstar of the Kapoor clan in the Bollywood film industry is all that anyone talks about right now. She is the daughter of the great Nishant Kapoor, who came out of nowhere to become the first real superstar in the 80s. But an incident takes place at her house which is horrifying enough to make even a police officer sick to his guts. Her pets are found massacred in her study and how! There is also a note left by the killer saying that he was actually waiting for Nidhi but the pets happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Prakash Mohile, the ACP of the Mumbai police is on the case and is one of the most respected officers in the force. He, along with his sub-inspector Tambe, tries solving the case with the help of Rujuta, a photo-journalist who is tailing him for an assignment. But despite the police’s intervention, the attacks continue and increase in their intensity. The attacker leaves notes after all his attempts and those are the only clues that Prakash and Rujuta can find. Unknowingly, they stumble upon a violent tale of lies, betrayal, treachery, infidelity and even murder in the Kapoor khaandaan. And with the return of Nishant Kapoor to Ronak, things take an ugly turn.
The book is an edge-of-the-seat thriller. With meticulously written scenes and cleverly executed plots, you won’t want to keep it down. The characters are defined and described with such precision that you connect to them instantly.
If saucy Bollywood drama is the genre that you are looking for then this is the best choice for you. Not only is it a mystery novel but also gives the reader a good dose of juicy gossip about the characters to keep things interesting.
The book isn’t in a chronological order. But in this case it is a good thing, since the correct amount of information is being provided about the past and present at the correct time so that throughout the book the suspense is well maintained. Not once does the book seem to be slow paced.
This is your typical mystery novel but with an enticing edge. I can absolutely see this book turn into a movie in the future. This is definitely a must read.
