World’s best-selling author David Patterson collaborates
with leading Indian author Ashwin Sanghi to write the latest of the Private
series book – Private India. It was with great interest that I read this book,
since I had not read any of the David Patterson books earlier. The last book by
Ashwin Sanghi – The Krishna Key – didn’t excite me too much like the Rozabal
Line or The Chankya Chant.
The Story:
Sunita Kadam , an house keeper in Marine Bay Plaza Hotel in
Mumbai finds the dead body of a Bangkok doctor in one of the rooms. The
victim’s hands are both wrapped with a string. A lotus flower bound to one and
an ordinary fork to the other. Tied to the dead doctor’s toe is a small Viking
helmet.
A few hours later, a journalist, Bhavna Choksi, is found
hanging from a fan in her Thane apartment. She found with rosary in one hand
and a bucket of water in the other. Both the victim’s have a yellow scarves
tied around their necks. So begins the search for the serial killer by Private
India’s head Santosh Wagh and his team at Private India.
A third murder occurs – this time the victim is a pop
singing sensation Priyanka Talati. She is found murdered on a faux tiger skin
with a sawed one rupee coin on her forehead and a small brass bell shaped
pendant on her chain around the neck.
Mrs Elina Xavier, a school principal, is the next victim.
She is found in a room with high temperature and a dozen eggs arranged in a
oval around her. And again there is another victim – hotshot director Lara
Omprakash who is found murdered in her vanity van with a plastic baby doll in
her lap.
Investigator Santosh Wage finds accidentally stumbles upon
the fact that the murders resemble the nine avatars of Durga. The first avatar
– Shailputri - is shown with lotus in one hand and a trident in the other
resembling the first murder. The second avatar – Branhmacharini – is shown with
a pot of water in one hand and a rosary in the other. The third avatar –
Chandraghanta – is depicted riding a tiger holding a bell and asemicircular
moon painted on her forehead. The fourth form of Durga – Kushmanda– represents
the egg shaped universe. The fifth form – Skandamata – is depicted holding an
infant on the lap.
With four forms still left, there are four more murders
left. And the rollercoaster ride begins.
The Verdict:
I would strongly recommend readers to read James Patterson
and Maxine Paetro’s Private wher it all begins. I also read James Patterson and
Mark Sullivan’s Private Games to get familiarised with the plot and style of
writing of Private India.
Even though one can find similarities in characterisation in
Private Games and Private India, The later deserves a pat on the back for the racy
writing and and the subplots in the book.
The book deserves a 3.5/5. A must read for Ashwin Sanghi
fans.
