Thursday 21 October 2021

Cold Sun: Anita Sivakumaran

A crime novel with a Leicester detective and a spate of murders in Bangalore, India. I simply had to pick up Cold Sun to know more.

This is Sivakumaran's debut crime novel but she comes with an impressive record of poetry, short stories and novel publications. Her debut novel Queen, about the Tamil Nadu Chief minister Jayalalithaa’s rise to power was recently adapted into a web series. Her other works include feminist retelling of the mythological epics and a poetry collection apart from award winning short stories. Going by her previous works, it was easy to assume that this one would be hardhitting as the others.

Gist:

Three prominent Indian women have been murdered in Bangalore. However when one of them turns out to be the ex-wife of the British Foreign minister, Scotland Yard sends DI Vijay Patel to India to help with investigation.

Patel has to battle local resentment and his ancestral country alongside Chandra Subramanium, the fierce female detective. But soon he becomes the target and Patel and Chandra must get to the killer before they become the next target.

What I liked:

  • The authentic setting: This is the India I recognise – where you have the slums existing next to the suave hotels, where the hot weather and freezing AC are a part of life. It was great to see how Sivakumaran inserted these tiny details and made setting an important part of the novel. 
  • In the UK, dominant Indian communities seem to represent the general Indian ethos. Sivakumaran’s observations gives the reader an insight into the north-south divide that exists among the Indian communities. The NRI observations in connection with the weather and the food lighten the sombre mood of the dark, twisty plot.
  • Patel is a Gujarati-Ugandan and an ex cricketer turned DI. As a Leicester resident, and it was great to see the city finding its place in a crime series.
  • In true nature of a fast paced story there are constant developments - sometime a bit too much, in an attempt to maintain the action. Patel’s British Indian persona works well as a foil to the Indianness of Chandra just as her non-conforming attitude is a sharp contrast to the rule-abiding Patel.

  • Sivakumaran’s writes compelling prose and her hardhitting style is a perfect fit for this genre. The plot sticks a little towards the end but by then you are already swept by the twists and the revelation to mind it much.

It is a fascinating debut and definitely a great start to a series. The main characters have strong backstories and their interaction is fizzing with chemistry. A fast paced crime debut, strong on setting. 

Monday 4 October 2021

Jane Austen Investigates series: The Burglar's Ball by Julia Golding

This is the second book in the Jane Austen Investigates, a delightful series aimed for readers 9+.  Having enjoyed the first book with its witty oneliners and the wordplay, this one was yet another enjoyable read. It was great to seeing characters from the previous one reappear in this one, helping the teenage detective with the case.

The plot:

Jane and her sister Cassandra have been invited to their old boarding school for an end of term dance. However they find themselves in the middle of action when an expensive piece of jewellery is stolen from a locked room and one of Jane's friends is wrongly accused of it.


What I liked:
  • Jane Austen's sharp wit and Golding's writing abilities are on full display and hooks the reader right from the beginning. There is plenty of action here: a  mischievous parrot, a cricket match and wrong accusations and repercussions for readers to keep guessing.  
  • It was also interesting to see how Jane Austen's real life experience of a short stint at a boarding school forms the base for the story. Golding uses this detail cleverly by sending teenage Jane back at their old school to solve a mystery. For readers new to Jane Austen, it breathes life into her biography while celebrating the eagle eyed observation and characterization of her works.
  • Jane Austen's letter at the each of each chapter is yet another highlight. Full of wit and wordplay, these beautifully crafted gems summarise the latest development for the young reader. Each one is unique and shows off the writer's firm grip of her craft.
  • Avid Austen fans can also find connections between her works and these stories. This one had a strong connection to Austen's Sense and Sensibility and it is amazing how Golding has weaved in the characters and the distilled the essence of the famous work into her story. It is very nicely done and evokes interest in reading Austen's original work. Anything that interests young minds in classics is a big plus with me.
Overall, a great read for young readers who love a great mystery and for Jane Austen fans who will enjoy this new take on the celebrated writer's work.