Quickie Crime Thriller

Sitharaam Jayakumar is a good story teller. This is his second book and I had reviewed the first one too. When you read a second book of an author you’d normally expect a better work. I was a little disappointed in that regard while reading The Krishnapur Kidnappings. The narrative structure has improved, however, with “episodes” and an “interlude” interspersing it.

As the title indicates, this is about kidnaps. The motive is not money, however. Motives matter much in crime thrillers. Money is the most hackneyed motive. Revenge is equally clichéd. What about witchcraft? That too with a dash of Dan Brown? The author has succeeded in creating a villain who has a convincing and equally interesting motive for committing the crime.

The very opening of the novella is gripping: “The woman looked frightened. She looked up at the man apprehensively and said, ‘I think it is a sin, dear.’” Fear is an alluring theme in crime fiction. When it is fear of sin, it becomes philosophical and has the potential to be theological too. I wish Jayakumar had made use of those potentials a bit more effectively.

Nevertheless, the novella keeps the reader engaged. There is one kidnap following another adding up to 4 in all. Since children are involved we naturally become concerned. When we get to know that the children are to be sacrificed in order to save the life of another child, we become thoroughly engaged in the plot.

I read the entire novella on my mobile phone during the free time I managed to extract at my workplace. It’s an easy read. I love difficult reads, however. That’s why I find it difficult to review a book like this. I must say this but: those who love quickies will love this book.

The book is available here.