We all are familiar with the quote, “So many books, so little time.” by Frank Zappa and for voracious readers like me, this statement definitely sums our built-up emotions. With so many genres, so many authors and so many recommendations, it does get overwhelming. Hence I decided to join the Instagram/Whatsapp based book club called Read With Us Book Club– to meet fellow book lovers, get inspired by their reading and also to read books as per the set prompts for the month.
So when the RWU book club offered its members to read and review a newly arrived crime thriller presented by India’s numero uno thriller writer – Ravi Subramanian who has eight bestselling books to his credit, I was definitely tempted.
ABOUT THE BOOK
An ambitious young reporter, Raina is stuck in a rut, covering dull movie gossip and pointless press conferences for the magazine Glitterbug. So when she gets a whiff of a scandal about superstar Hera and her dubious dealings, Raina is feverish with excitement. This is the opportunity she needs. To get right into the story, Raina enters the lioness’s den. But what she finds concealed in the mansion are secrets beyond her imaginings. Over the course of just one night, Raina gets sucked into a dangerous world built on deceit, power and mind games.
Will she survive this ordeal? Body of Work is a story about giving in to one’s darkest desires-a chilling account of the secrets we keep and the hold they have over us.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mansi Babbar is a content creator and has her own podcast, Horror Originals. She was one of the top ten contestants in the Times of India—Write India campaign. Her other book Evoked – a crime thriller is also available in Amazon and other bookstores globally.
MY REVIEW
Body of work by the author Mansi Babbar is a crime thriller that takes you through a fast-paced narrative that keeps you on the edge, making you feel as if you are watching a cinema!
The entire book revolves around Raina – a celebrity reporter from the Glitterbug magazine attending a party hosted by the famous, the supposed Goddess of Bollywood – Hera and the dark secrets that unravel during the course of night.
The story begins with Raina who truly believes that behind Hera’s saint-like porcelain face, lies a fraud, a torturer and a sinister villain who abuses her power and covers it up behind the pretense of charity and donations. But when Hera invites Raina for the launch party of her farmhouse, little does Hera know how things are about to spiral down. Raina on the other hand, treats this a golden opportunity to expose Hera and launch herself into world of crime reporting. What transpires during and after the party is for the readers to find out.
At the beginning the book is written at a slow pace giving the readers some feel about the characters of Raina, Hera, the location of the party and the several supporting characters. As the story progresses, the book becomes fast-paced taking a dark, sinister turn, instilling the thrill in readers. There is so much action, drama and bloodshed, keeping the adrenaline rush throughout the book.
So, if you are a fan of crime, action and blood, this book is for you to read.
The plot twist or the confrontation between Hera and Raina is equally gripping and beyond imagination as well. However, I would have loved it if there was an epilogue to the book that provided closure to the characters. The rushed and abrupt ending did disappoint me, because as a reader I was really curious about what the future held for our characters. Also, in the few places I felt that it was a bit unrealistic, nevertheless, the narrative still holds you till the end.
Overall, I liked the writing style and storyline that gave me a cinematic vibe. I am sure all the thriller fans would love to read this book in one-sitting!
My Rating: 3.5/5
Details of the Book
Book Name: Body of Work
Author Name: Mansi Babbar
Publisher: Harper Collins India
Pages: 160-180 pages
Available Format: Paperback, Kindle
Nicely written review. Cannot wait to read the book! Smart use of vocab too.