Review- The Three Psychos- Yash Pawaskar

The Three Psychos is a suspense thriller, where three stories are inter-related. Three stories of suspense and intrigue. So first, let me list the good points.

Unlike most debut authors who go for romance, Yash went for a thriller.

Unlike most new authors flooding the market, Yash writes really well- his prose is crisp, grammar is good, style flows.

I like how he experimented with first person narration, in the form of a tryptich.

The plot is original, and very interesting. It develops in a way that keeps the readers hooked. I did not feel  like putting it down for a second.

The characterization is amazing. I could empathize with Alex, Amol and the 16 year old boy- all of them were imperfect, but relatable and real.

The pacing is good, and the way each chapter ends on a cliffhanger is a fantastic idea.

The climax is also very satisfying.

I only wished the book was better edited. There were small grammatical errors throughout- not a big deal, but since the writing is so good, I expected the manuscript to be more polished.


But all in all, I really loved the book. I wish to read more by the author in the future!

Buy the book here: The Three Psychos

Review-Figmented Reality- Zuko

Addiction blurs our hold on reality; people say. But what if addiction becomes our reality? Siddharth had a fair few addictions in his wake. The challenge now was to differentiate between the ideal world and the real world. Will Siddharth be able to overcome his addictions and find true love. Or is it just another addiction? This book is not a biography of the author but is written in a way that author is the protaganist. 


Figmented Reality starts out as the story of one Siddharth, which he narrates himself. From page 1, the author weaves an interesting tale with Siddharth's internal monologue. The reader gets to experience a colorful miasma of thoughts...from his addictions to his rift with his conservative parents. From his misogyny to his awkwardness with women. From his obsession with sex, porn and compulsion to talk to women about porn, to his erotic fantasies about a woman who's more than a decade older than him.

His failed love stories and friendships. His horrible history which was responsible for his addiction to sex.

What I liked about the book is that it's very realistic. Unlike the way-too-saccharine and impractical books about human nature and relationships selling like hot cakes in the mass market, this book keeps it real about how males think; about addicts, about chauvinists and their attitudes towards women; about grown women who are sturggling between love, freedom and the 'responsibility' towards children and family society imposes on them.

Yes I did find some crass generalizations which annoyed me, but otherwise, I liked the story, especially the twist at the end- the direction his thoughts take.

However, there are problems with the execution of such a brilliant story.

First is the grammar and language. The way this book is written, it's not even first draft material. The author needs to work on his prose style, the language, the phraseology, grammar and punctuation. The finesse is missing.

Second casualty is the editing. I don't know why no one bothered editing this book properly to iron out the errors, the typos and the technicalities. Probably a good editor would have suggested erasing the generalizations the author seems to have carelessly made in the book.

Every great idea fails to work if executed poorly. Therefore, I'd suggest the author work hard on his prose skills, language, punctuation and storytelling. The author has potential much greater than exhibited in this book.

Review- Confused Bastards

Blurb: What happens when three entrepreneurs initiate a start-up which shocks the nation? 
Aakash, Jai and Vivek are mostly usual in their ways, except for some. Struggling with their own inner conflicts as well as the cruel world outside, they decide to show the world their true potential. To make it big. But how? They become the voice of the nation by starting up an online platform where people can upload unabashed, unapologetic videos, venting out their angst against people, politics, bosses, lovers, taboos, or just about anything. Even the founders themselves. 
The platform spreads like wild fire. But when has fire doused without burning a few! 
Confused Bastards is not just a witty, gritty, fast-paced journey of three friends, it’s also an intolerant story for a tolerant country! 

Silently take a bow out the door, Chetan Baba. Because here is the proof that new writing coming from young authors in India is not your hackneyed IIT jao- ladki patao-sex karo-BC karo plot. 

Confused Bastards is refreshingly funny, non-preachy and very, very real. 

Throughout the story of Aakash, Jai and Vivek, their trials and tribulations, failures and successes, flaws and qualities, I was constantly giggling and laughing. 

When you stop looking at the IITians and IIMians, it's guys like these three which form the real youth of the country. The varying, undulating tapestry of the latent and overt aspirations and opinions of India's youth is made of the thoughts and aspirations nursed by Aakash, Jai and Vivek. 

Aakash, who has many good ideas, each a subsequent failure. And he has a rich father who constantly berates him. He's also a raving misogynist who believes in bang-bang-boom without batting an eyelid or worrying about committed attachments; even describing every sexual conquest in terms of the Kamasutra.

Jai has a boss who's a monster, sets impossible goals for his employees and works them like cattle on a farm. Jai wants to quit his job, but lacks the confidence to take such a risk, owing to pressure from his parents and their sacrifices for their áverage' son. I loved his track with Sneha, the woman he later falls in love with. 

Vivek has a failed marriage and is filled with control issues. Being a topper since childhood, he cannot tolerate failing at something. And has an equally funny but irritating habit of worshiping all Gods. 

They launch this website, as a start-up, where people with any sort of grudge can vent their spleen. The story is dedicated to a detailed portrayal of how the boys go about getting angel investors and then setting up the company. And then the stories and people they encounter in course of getting good videos. 

The way the corporate world ditches you at the slightest hint of trouble has also been portrayed very well. It's about how the boys make some wrong decisions, even spend a few nights in jail, and lose everything all over again. Then they fight their personal demons, overcome their problems with their own families and thought processes and find their way in life again.

The conflict and characterization has been played out well. I liked all the lead characters and the supporting ones too.

The editing is excellent, and the prose quality is high. The author has command on the language and grammar, and the storytelling as well. The plot is original and the style is ingenious. 

I cannot find anything to criticize in the book, except perhaps Aakash gets a little too obnoxious in his misogyny at times. 

Read Confused Bastards for a refreshingly honest and fun take on the new aspirations of the millenial youth in India: Confused Bastards

Review- Pishacha- Neil D'Silva

On the outside, he is a Pishacha – a terrifying demon compelled to eat human flesh to survive. Yet, inside, he has a tender heart that still pines for the lover of his previous human birth.

More than a century later, when he discovers that his lover has been reborn in a rich Mumbai household, and is now a beautiful woman, his heart begins to beat again with a happy rhythm.

There are monumental obstacles in his path though, the least of which is the fact that she loves another man. But, the biggest challenge is that she is human and he is demon.

To make her his, he will have to become human again; and to accomplish that, he will have to fight holy men and witch-mothers and giants, and challenge the gods themselves.

From the best-selling author of Maya’s New Husband, comes a tragic tale of forbidden love — Pishacha. 



Horror thrillers written in India rarely push the boundaries of storytelling, ideas of what constitutes horror, and language and prose style. 

Pishacha by Neil D'Silva is one of the happy exceptions. 

This is a compelling, hypnotizing novel that I finished in a single sitting! I was up the entire night, reading this. And I was spooked enough to look at the ceiling every few minutes for a black, amorphous shape sneaking towards me... 

Pishacha mashes genres very well- supernatural horror, suspense, erotica, and even a little bit of historical fiction is woven into the story very well. 

Neetika is a college student being chased by this presence she feels is continuously watching her, spying on her and chasing her everywhere she goes. She's in a relationship with Yug, a dashing, dapper guy who seems to be the perfect boyfriend- handsome, caring, intelligent and successful, and one whom her father too approves of. He even proposes marriage and she is about to agree...when a weird series of events rudely interrupt their union. 

Followed by weirder incidents in Goa, where Neetika takes a trip with her friends post exams. And then uncovering the secrets behind the life and death of her mother, who left her at childbirth. Plus the sudden appearance of a young man who buys a house from Neetika's Dad and sleeps with a strange woman called Malini. 

And then there is Pishacha himself. The story of his entry in the realm of Earth and the world of humans is as exciting as the journey he undertakes across India to obtain his love. 

This is where Pishacha scores- giving the bad guy a background, and the strong, redeeming emotion of love in his heart. The reason for which he comes back from some far off corner of the universe to find his love, Neetika. He wants to become a human to obtain her, and for that he will fight anyone- witches, holy sages etc. 

When Neetika goes off to investigate the mystery of her mother's death and the mystery behind her own visions, followed by Yug, and comes face to face with the Pishacha,does the mystery unfold in a shocking, nail biting climax. 

The gore scenes are done well. The sex is only as much as needed. The suspense behind the intertwined histories of all lead characters has been done nicely. 

Conflict is fleshed out well, and characterization is good. 

The plot is original and the pace is heady, keeping the reader hooked at every chapter ending and every twist in the tale. The quality of prose is high, grammar and punctuation is perfect and the style is very ingenious. 

Only nitpick I could find is that the language, in places, is a bit dated. But it doesn't take away from the story in anyway. 



Pishacha is a step up on Neil's bestselling debut Maya's New Husband. 

I'd say pick this one up for an exciting, nail biting experience if you dig supernatural horror, original storytelling, Stephen King and well written books. 

Pishacha

The Murder of Agnel Wilson- Award Winning Short Story

The murder of Agnel Wilson has been one of the most talked about events in the Christian Colony, Orlem, Malad East, Mumbai, for several years after it happened. Bungalow No. 237 still continues to be a source of intrigue, and a hot topic for gossip and speculation, amongst the residents of this Colony.

237, which lies empty and abandoned today, used to be the residence of the Wilson family -- young, handsome Agnel Wilson, his seemingly demure but ostensibly beautiful wife Rebecca, and their infant girl, Mary Wilson.

“But since Agnel died and Rebecca was taken away by them, no family has come to live here. This house has been on the market for five years, but no one has bought it yet. People are scared because of the rumors surrounding the house…” Mrs. Gonzalez, from Bungalow 239 suddenly lowers her eyes, and stops talking, hesitation  at saying anything further writ large on her face. 

Read on... 

The Murder of Agnel Wilson

The Alphabet Killer #1

The Alphabet Killer