• Title – Compass Box Thriller
• Author – Piyush jha
• Publisher – Rupa Publications
• Genre – Fiction
• Pages – 234
• ISBN – 978-81-291-2427-2
• Price – 195 INR

Synopsis : One muggy afternoon in Mumbai, a senior police officer is found murdered at his desk. When Inspector Virkar from the Crime Branch arrives at the scene, he finds a cryptic note that spills out of a student’s compass box. Then begins a series of killings and in each, a telltale compass box reveals more clues.

Accompanied by the attractive, ambitious TV reporter, Raashi Hunerwal, Virkar has to race against  time to catch the Compass Box Killer before the bodies pile up. As the investigation shuttles from Mumbai to Khandala to Belgaum, Virkar is taken deep into a labyrinth of backroom deals that lead to shocking revelations about the ruthless killer’s motives.

Review : The book has a bright yellow cover smeared in red stains denoting the very essence of the book, that the story revolves around a serial killer.

The story begins on a fiery note and successfully manages to maintain the pace & guns ablaze intensity till the last word. Smartly divided in 47 crisp chapters, the narration has been taut enough to hold reader’s attention through the crest and trough pattern of the narration.

There is not even a single dull moment in this un-put-downable thriller that has a slick plot full of twists and high adrenaline action that kept me hooked leaving no room for guesswork. The pieces of the puzzle fit snugly in place as the mystery unfolds, with the climax serving to thrill in a way we half expected.

I haven’t read the author’s earlier works, the Mumbaistan series, but after getting a taste of the in depth research done to impart logic backed by science to every move that left me craving for more.Tough, daring and relentless in his pursuit of justice, Inspector Virkar emerges as a cop one wishes every city had.

The language is lucid, fresh and rich and the narration impeccable that kept me engrossed in the twists and turns till the very end. The plot appears simple in the start but ends with a ‘tell tale’ bang.

The book makes for a page turner whose pace never falters. I enjoyed the seasoning of idioms modified to suit the circumstances stated as being uttered by Inspector Virkar under his breath (for e.g. Khao, khujao, batti bujhao) that add a tinge of sarcasm making the gory actions of the killer easier to swallow.

Compass Box Killer sure kept me engrossed and I highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys thrillers that pay great attention to detail yet maintain a good momentum with ample of twists and turns.

About the Author : Piyush Jha is an acclaimed film director, ad filmmaker and the author of the bestselling novel, Mumbaistan. His films include Chalo America, King of Bollywood and Sikandar. He derives inspiration from the happenings of everyday life.

Rating : 4/5