People around me have always dreaded my MNS (Mystery Novel Syndrome) more than my PMS. I was hooked to reading mystery novels from a very young age, when I started with Hardy boys. Later I moved to Nancy Drew, Agatha Christie, Alistair Mclean, Sidney Sheldon, Dan Brown and many more authors. Sorry to say, but I always avoided reading Indian authors when it came to mystery novels because I did not believe they could ever match the skills of the authors I was already exposed to. I loved reading Indian authors when it came to non-fiction or books like Malgudi days, but mystery novels were always a big NO.
When I held the book ‘The Bankster’ in my hand, I heaved a
sigh thinking why I decided to read this book. I could recall all the employees
of the banks I have visited coming into a mystery novel and shuddered at the
thought of them acting as James Bond or Sherlock Holmes.
With some effort, I pushed out all the negative thoughts and
prejudices I held against Indian Mystery Novel authors and decided to have a go
at this novel. Unbelievable, I raced through the 358 pages , nd 47 chapters, holding
my breath, only stopping in between to attend some absolutely unavoidable work.
Even for a reader who has enjoyed books like ‘The Firm’, this financial crime
proved enough saucy and interesting.
The attraction lay in the Indianized English used by author,
which is subtle but will not escape the Indians, who will love it for a change.
The sub plots of the story are well knitted into the main story, with a speedy
narration building up the mystery before unraveling it in with a twist. Yeah! What
is mystery novel without a twist in it?
I have to admit that banking is not something I knew until
now, neither it is something held inside those small offices I walk into to
make deposits or withdraw cash. The intricate process of real big time banking is
explained in great detail by the author, which is going to change the perspective
of many simple readers like me who have had no previous knowledge about
banking. The author has chosen to explain and put stress on what he knows best,
i.e. Banking, while not getting into complex details about diamond industry,
weapons or nuclear reactor plants. Smart guy I would say.
Instead of a detective , we have a journalist and
ex- banker - Karan (at least we can
easily pronounce the name)donning the role of hero, who goes on to unravel the mystery
of series of bone chilling murders that shakes the foundations GB2. The novel
has Global conspiracies, interesting plots, secret dark characters, and race against time,
all essential ingredients for a chicken soup for mystery novels.
I am kind of scared to discuss the plot over here, because
being a woman I may talk too much revealing the Bankster (a cross breed of gangster
and banker) to the readers. The thrill of reading the novel lies in guessing
what to expect, while knowing deep within your heart that what you expect to
happen is going to be replaced by the unexpected.
The story begins in Angola, where a secret CIA agent
exchanges weapons for raw uncut diamonds making some big bucks in the process. Right then we is airlifted to Kerala where an
elderly man, resort owner Krishna Menon is trying to avert a replica of Chernobyl
in his hometown. He had lost his son to
the accident that took place in the power plant. The next subplot appears in
the form of mysterious deaths of GB2’s key employees, which comes out as suicides
or accidents. How are all these people connected to each other? The answer is unraveled
by Karan Punjabi, who loses his close friend to the conspiracy and is hell bent
on discovering the truth hidden by lies and treachery. I was shocked that the
bankster turned out to be none other than #$%^&&&.. ha ha there…..
just stopped myself in time.
I would recommend the book for readers who enjoy mystery
novels, and those who do not feel upset with a sneaking Hindi word here and
there.
Finally I would like to thank Ravi Subramanian for coming up
with a good book that has allowed me shed my inhibition against Indian authors who
write mystery novels in English. Wish you all the best!
 |
The Bankster
Author – Ravi Subramanian
|
Ravi Subramanian's presence on website(s) and social networks
- Website: http://www.
ravisubramanian.in/index.asp - Facebook: http://www.facebook.
com/Authorravisubramanian - Twitter: https://twitter.com/
SubramanianRavi - Slideshare: http://www.
slideshare.net/ authorravisubramanian - Youtube: http://www.youtube.
com/AuthorRavi
heard only good things about this book, I love to ready mystery too when i get time .. read almost all of sydney sheldon ..
ReplyDeleteBikram's
I particularly liked the picture in your review.. hehe.. this is how i was looking like while reading last few pages ...
ReplyDeletehere is my review of the book http://inlove-withmylife.blogspot.in/2012/11/book-review-bankster-by-ravi-subramanian.html
It was nice to read your inhibitions, choices and views about the book.
ReplyDeleteIt is great book with a little loose ends here and there..I had posted my views as well.
Thank you for the interesting review, hearing about 'The Bankster' first time. I am also a fan of mystery novels. I want to read it by the way..
ReplyDeleteNow I just have to read this...I am fond of mysteries too :)
ReplyDeleteYou made me want to read this. I too have rarely read an Indian Mystery novel :)
ReplyDeleteThey also argue that the interest in a very cash advance is less than the cost included
ReplyDeletein bounced checks and late charge card payments paydayloans after that,
the direct lender will not lend you any cash.
She took the memory card and my DVD disc and said she would do my focus on her office computer UK payday loans getting out of debt -
ReplyDeletedebt consolidation services basically behave like your bookkeeper.
If you're one-man shop and seeking a payday advance, don't worry
ReplyDeletebecause they remain offered to you canada payday loans the area of credit card sales
that the merchant money advance company is going to take to
the advance varies from one provider to the next.