I am forever in the middle of a book. I was finishing Brave New World by Huxley, when a reading challenge came up. It demanded me that I read one of Murakami’s, I quickly ordered The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. And right before that arrived, I was sent Sirens Spell Danger to read and review.
Now Sirens Spell Danger consists of three short stories, each written by a different author.
Famous for his humorous posts on his blog “Life is Like This”, Suresh surprised me by coming up with a crime/spy fiction plot for story, ‘Femme Fatale”. As the name suggests, a young man gets honey trapped in a Bangalore bar. The race against time begins when he realises that he is the only one around who can prevent a terrorist bomb attack from taking place. The plot is banal and the execution is also not so great. The characters are more the everyday movie kind and though the series of incidents make it a pacy read, the flow of the story could have been more evolved.
The second story is written by Radha Sawana. When a series of high profile rich businessmen get murdered one after the other in a similar manner, a pattern of serial killing gets created. Shardul, the inspector meticulously goes about finding clues and evidences. But what changes the game is not him, but the doctor performing postmortem on the bodies. The events spiral down to a sensational climax which leaves the reader asking for more. The author has researched the plot very well and finer points of story telling have been kept in mind. There is absolutely no stone left unturned in closing loops all through the narration. Bella Donna comes out to be a winner in the set. And yes, this is the first time I read Radha Sawana. She is an author I will now keep track of.
The third story is Bellary, written by Karthik. When a young RAW agent goes looking for a missing CBI inspector, he realises there is more to the story there. And on his way to Bellary he meets two women. Each bringing him closer to the central plot. But which one brings him closer to death, is what the story about. They say eleven people have been killed by the Balla demon in Bellary. A story dismissed by the agent as a hoax. But then is it? Why is there a mystery to the life and times of people in Bellary? And was the CBI agent missing was just a cog in the wheel? The plot is very interesting, the story lines have been woven well. But in certain parts the execution falls short of complete. Overall a good read which could have been improved.
Now will I recommend this book? To my friend Vikram who reads only books written by dead Russian authors, I would probably not. But to my friend, Ishleen who likes racy plots with a mix of genres in reads, I would probably send this as a New Year’s gift.
Overall rating: 3/5
If you want to read more reviews of this book then do visit Write Tribe.
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And this time again, I am taking part in the thirty day writing challenge UBC. I have completed the challenge successfully twice before. Once in July and another time in October. Both these times I wrote a thirty-part running story and even released them as novellas. You can download them from The Other Side of Human love and The Unsent Life. You can read the ongoing story on blog starting from here.
This year I will be contributed all my earnings from blog for nanhi kali. An organization supporting the cause of girl child education. You can read more here. You can also help contribute by making your amazon and flipkart purchases through the widgets on the right sidebar.
Every successful purchase you make through this, I get a commission and I will donate that sum to the organisation.
Oh yes Radha Sawan is brilliant isn’t she?
She is Nabanita 🙂 I agree!
What a lovely and unique cracker recipe! I would love to have this for lunch towrroom, along with a thick wedge of cheese. Thank you for sharing! Now off to dream delicious dreams!
Oh, and you can jump off of the waterfalls, which is one of my favorite things. One is a short drop and if you’ve got the cojones the other is maybe a 40 ft drop or so. Good times man!
Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine some unrelated information, nonetheless genuinely really worth taking a appear, whoa did one master about Mid East has got extra problerms as well
Sounds like everything a set of stories is supposed to have…action, characters and a well-woven plot!
Thanks Michelle glad you like it 🙂
I’m not always a fan of short stories, but your review has me intrigued. I may have to pick that one up!
Well I hope you do an ebook version is available on amazon 🙂
That is a very good review. I will see if I can find the book in the library.
I am reading Nick Hornby right now – A Long Way Down. Its hilarious. 🙂
You can get ebook version of it Ava 🙂 and well you have suggested me a great book, will surely pick this one 🙂
The book seems to have gotten mixed reviews. I think I’ll give it a miss 🙂
Well see if you feel the same ?
I am now really looking forward to the second story!
It is damn good!
Thanks for the review Richa
It was my pleasure Suresh 🙂
Nice review.. thinking of getting it for my kindle 🙂
“Bella Donna” was my fab too..
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