The debut novel of Girvani Dhyani, a New York based attorney, is set to be released and is grabbing the eyes and minds of readers around the world. Dhyani has a master's degree in Corporate law from the london School of Economics and Political Science, london, and another master's in Intellectual Property law from Cardozo School of law, New York City. She has lived, worked and travelled to different parts of the world.
Girwani has used her professional knowledge as a lawyer by making her protagonist Tara Bakshi, a young lawyer with a difficult boss. The boss gives her a top-secret assignment 'Project Emerald' and during this, Tara finds out that someone has been tampering with the files. Asked by her boss to find out the culprit, Tara begins uncovering one evidence after another. A person starts stalking her everywhere - on the road, in her bedroom -- she is not safe anywhere from his prying gaze. The only clue she has to his identity is a Zippo lighter with a serpent carved on it.
As events turn darker with back-to-back murders, Tara is on the verge of a collapse. What does the killer want from herIJ Is he hiding behind a familiar faceIJ Even as her life turns into a whirling nightmare that pulls her into its web, Tara must discover the truth before he strikes again …
The book is a riveting thriller which keeps the reader guessing right upto the exciting climax.Thrillers are back in vogue and this one surely deserves to be taken up and enjoyed .It is a page-turner and says a lot about the creativity of the author through its many nail-biting moments.Published by Harper Collins Publishers India, the book introduces a new author who has expertise in the genre of suspense. The focus of the book is completely on the suspense and the action related to it.
There are no distractions put in just for making the book longer or more dramatic. The first person narration is to the point, matter-of-fact.This is what makes the story so gripping and makes the readers want to finish the book at one go.The author has a breezy, racy style which absolutely suits the subject and genre of the work.
She uses short sentences and extremely simple language so that the concentration of the reader is not disturbed by long, complicated sentences.The short, sometimes clipped sentences, create the effect required for building the atmosphere of fear and mystery in this tale.Dhyani's experience as a lawyer gives the novel an authentic flavour as she has detailed, first hand knowledge of how a legal firm works. The terminology used is thus perfect. The technical details provided by her for the backdrop of the story are fine and well-placed.
Weaving a narrative of exciting suspense, fear, wonder, mystery and action, the author finally brings together all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle to reach the resolution of the mystery behind the stalker and the murders. There are no loose ends and explanations are spelt out to satisfy the readers' curiosity well.S.T.A.l.K.E.D is light reading, without any need to pressurise one's mind. The characters are many and thus not very well-rounded.
More than the characters, it is the narrative that captures the interest of the reader.The first person narration draws the reader more into the book and gives the story an urgency and immediacy which makes it very readable.
Describing a moment of shock and fear, Girwani writes, "I took out my car keys and got into my car. I was greeted by an awful stench. I saw something crumpled up on the back seat. I was scared to see what it was so I reached for the light switch above my back seat - it was the most horrific sight! The entire seat was strewn with feathered pieces of chicken...When I got out of the car, I had blood all over me.....I was hysterical by now. I was rolling on the ground crying, clenching my fists, and banging them on the ground."
The 'Project Emerald' proves traumatic not only for the protagonist, but also for several others.She comes out a winner in the end due to her honesty and goodness. The book is a good debut effort and makes for a very interesting read over a cup of coffee on a rainy weekend.