The Monogram Murders By Sophie Hannah - Review

Monsieur Hercule Poirot has a character which lends his detective mannerisms a certain charisma. This new book does justice to and also if I might add, pays homage to Agatha Christie's Belgian sleuth.

At first I was a bit skeptical about the novel as it wasn't written by the Queen Of Crime herself. I tried to read it but couldn't finish it, yet I did after five attempts. Yes! Five attempts! I did let my conscience get better of me. But nonetheless I read the book and couldn't be much happier.
There's the usual stuff of Poirot like long and lengthy deductions of his own little grey cells, bit of French here and there and his knack for observation and details of course. Hastings was missing who was replaced by a young chap at the Scotland Yard called Edward Catchpool.

Poirot was on a vacation in London for a change of scene, to rest his grey cells, enjoy his self but there's no such thing as a vacation leave for a detective.
Is there?

He was on a Thursday evening at Pleasant's Coffee House. Quite a coffee connoisseur Mr. Poirot. His peace of mind was interrupted by a lady who barged in at the Pleasant's who seemed to be in some distress. Poirot couldn't enjoy his coffee. Being curious he approached the lady, had a bit of conversation and the next thing Poirot knows is that the lady is in danger and is going to die. Jennie is going to die.

And no one should stop her death.

On his way home Poirot could only thing of Jennie. He was consumed by curiosity. He put his little grey cells at work. And at Blanche Unsworth lodging he was greeted with a another mystery.

Three people had died of poisoning which isn't strange, but what is strange is that they each have a cufflink in their mouths monogrammed with PIJ, their bodies laid out in an orderly manner, in different floors of the exquisite Bloxham Hotel.
Catchpool himself had chills when he first saw the bodies he told Poirot.

Richard Negus, Ida Granbury and Harriet Sippel shared one thing in common and that was they all had a past in Great Holling. A dark past.
Were they murdered for a dark past or a haunting future?
Catchpool was sent to Great Holling to dig up their past, and also to get the present news of the village. He was a young chap in his early thirties, wanting to  make it big in Scotland Yard.

Catchpool didn't have a warm welcome in the  village once it was revealed who he was. A mere police officer.

He did find some interesting and surprising truths about the three victims and how they were all connected. It was all narrated by Margaret Ernst the late vicars wife. The vicar who was replaced by Patrick Ive.
Patrick Ive and Frances his wife had a terrible death due to a horrible rumour which was a lie.

One the other hand Poirot also got some information and came to know about the Ives, the lie and of the supposedly curse under which Great Holling was.
As more evidence was unearthed, more truth was discovered and also the murder was getting a bit clear. The motive, the murderer, the accomplices and also how it was done. There was revelation which lead to a greater revelation.

Why Richard, Ida and Harriet would be murdered? How was it possible that they were in the same hotel and didn't travel together?
Who killed them? Was it done by single person or by persons who wanted revenge?
Or maybe by someone who wanted to escape death themselves?
Read the book to find out what actually happened in the Bloxham Hotel and to put an end to the questions.

There are certain details which are noticed and enjoyed only when one has read the book. The book starts off slowly although it's interesting and then in midway it gets gripping with plot twist and in the last chapters it gets irresistible, page turning and that curiosity to find out the truth. There were instances when I was awestruck by the sudden plot change. The things which we seem to miss when they are actually in front of our eyes.
The real truth, the deduction is done of course by Hercule Poirot himself. The lengthy deduction is where most of the truth is unraveled.

It was a good book, but I wouldn't say that I loved it. The characters were well thought out. Murder mysteries catch my attention hence I bought and read the book in the first place. Not many like murders and would probably stay away from it.
Overall it was a good read. Not so lengthy that it might bore the reader. And it wasn't easily deducible because of obvious reasons.

Hope you liked the review mon ami!

God Is A Gamer By Ravi Subramanian - Review

Revenge is a psychological outburst. Some are catastrophic and some are not.

This is the first book i have read of the author and I am immensely satisfied. This book gives a vague outline of the human nature, emotions and it's outcomes.

The book starts with a Prologue which highlights the invention of Bitcoins, WikiLeaks incident and so on. 

The story revolves around friends Aditya, founder of eTIOS and Indiscape, and Sundeep who works with him. Swami and Malvika both work at NYIB. They both do not share cordial relations. Although all of them know each other since their college days. 

In USA Gillian Tan, a top government official is killed in an accident. The accident was investigated thoroughly. It was a sensitive case because Tan was President's confidante.  After some days an ATM heist takes place and millions of dollars are stolen. 

Aditya fiercely guards his personal life. But he meets his past. His son Varun. He was in trouble and Aditya got him out of it. Father and son duo got close. During the meantime Malvika became the CEO of NYIB and she threw a party. She had a daughter, Tanya. Unfortunately Malvika died in her own party. Everyone was shocked. It was a high profile case. And all types of rumours were spread. The case was solved but not entirely. 

There are many minute events which can't be revealed in a review. That's what makes a book extra special. 

This and other series of incidents which take place in Mumbai and USA are linked together in a certain way. The storyline is so gripping that it leaves you to crave for more. The detailed description makes you feel like you are witnessing it in person. 

The book journeys through different parts of the world such as Mumbai, Delhi, USA, Goa etc. I couldn't put it down until I finished it in a day which is a rarity. 

CIA and others get involved in tracking down the ATM heist. They come to know that the stolen money is converted into Bitcoin. They try to track down the admin of CottonTrail which is a site where illegal drugs and other commodities are sold and purchased only via Bitcoins. They get close but not by a good margin. The currency Bitcoin, is not known to everybody. And those who do know are manipulative people. As the currency is non traceable to an extent, the transactions are also not easily traceable. 

The investigating officers from USA come to Mumbai. Aditya, Sundeep, Varun and Tanya were thoroughly investigated. Adrian and Tony came to a conclusion. The whole scenario was narrated to put things into a perspective. Everyone was shocked when the culprit was revealed. 

There's more to the verdict. 
Did the officers get hold of the right culprit? What was the motive? 
Did the modus operandi work?
Was it foolproof? 

There are many questions. Answers are jaw dropping. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I just couldn't keep the book down until I finished reading it. Every incident poses a new question in the mind of the reader. A highly recommended book for those who enjoy thriller, mystery and suspense. 

I tried my best to do justice to the book while reviewing it. Hope you like it!