Book Review: Kismet Pariah
Book Review: Kismet Pariah
Title: Kismet
Pariah
Author: Ashish
Suhas Sahasrabudhe
Publisher:
Evincepub Publishing
Genre:
Crimefiction/ Investigative thriller.
Ashish Suhas
Sahasrabudhe is an IT banking professional by day and a writer by night. Kismet
Pariah is his second novel, published after a gap of 10 years.
Inspector Khare is called upon to investigate the mysterious death of a reclusive
painter, which sets him on a trail of clues he must piece together to unravel
the mystery.
At first
glance, the death seems quite normal: The dead man is seated on a heavy chair
with carved armrests, his hands loose and his shirt neatly pressed, but on a
more careful observation, the entire set-up seems to be arranged.
The author takes us on the journey of Inspector Khare, who is not portrayed as some dashing JamesBond, but a down -to -earth police officer trying hard to piece together the pieces of the puzzle as he seeks to get to the bottom of the unusual death. The twists, turns, and connections, some quite unexpected, that Inspector Khare must untangle keep the suspense and intrigue alive.
Sub-Inspectors
Mohite and Mukadam assist Inspector Khare in the investigation. Mukadam, fondly
referred to as Mama, is a worrier, loves to sleep, and is anxious to get back to
his family, but manages to get the job done. He spouts lines that make you smile.
Sub-Inspector
Mohite is committed to his work, willing to follow any leads that come his way.
Personally, I
would not label the book a light read. However, the prose is easy to
understand, and the dialogue between the characters is blunt and straightforward.
There is no beating around the bush. Shamsher in particular speaks some hard
truths and exposes the harsh realities of the society we live in.
What I found unique
about Kismet Pariah is that it weaves a tale of murder and mystery around some sensitive
social themes - the choices we make, our relationships, our identity, stigma,
religion, ostracism. I'm glad to have read this 'out-of-the-box' kind of crime thriller.
On the whole, Kismet Pariah is a compelling blend of mystery, intrigue, emotion and social commentary.
Calling lovers of crime and investigative fiction to list Kismet Pariah on their TBR list.
Some lines that stirred me:
“I wrote it because it was a story this country
already knows how to hear. A Hindu mother, a Muslim father, a broken son. It is
a tragedy with a shape people are comfortable with.”
“I found the missing thing in my work there and I
found Kismet there.”
“I was fortunate in a strange way. My father refused
to let the world make the decision for him. He raised me as a son and gave me a
son’s name, and put my name down at a school, and fought two headmasters and
one relative with a sickle to keep it there.”
“This is what honesty looks like,” he said when it is
not allowed to walk outside in daylight.
“We moved eleven times in eleven years. Not because of
the two religions, Inspector-that was true, and it was terrible, and it is also
the smaller half of the story.”
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