The Devil's Gate: An Impossible Journey - Book Review

Title: The Devil's Gate: An Impossible Journey

Author: Deepak Kripal

Publisher: Frog Books

ISBN: 9789383562060

Number of Pages: 248

Price: 175 [INR]

Genre: Thriller

Blurb on the Book:

Sidelined by man, animals turned to demons.

Plundered by humans of their habitats, animals take a drastic step when they decide to send a team of a cat named as Katy and a dog named as Dug, to an invisible island known, as the Island of 'Five Hundred Graves'. The island becomes visible only for a short time on the night of the full moon.

Legend has it that the island is inhabited by the demons. Katy and Dug are supposed to negotiate a deal with the demons, convincing them to allow the animals inhibit the island. Majority of the animal community believe that tinkering with the other world could bring their wrath to the animals. The team is sent to the island nevertheless.

But, can a deal with the dead be materialized?

Are there really demons on the island? Is there any conspiracy involved?

Will Katy and Dug be able to negotiate, or will survival remain their only question in the deadly island?

My Review:

The book is about Katy, the cat and Dug, the dog travelling to a mysterious island to negotiate with the demons. But there is much more to the story than just negotiating with the demons. The island is full of demons fighting to possess a living body, monsters who are designed to kill and mysteries that will demand Katy and her team to display extreme courage, even if it means risking their lives or even death! Will they be able to cross all these hurdles and succeed in their mission?

When I read the blurb, I developed an instant interest in the book as supernatural stories have always been my cup of tea. But I was fairly disappointed, for the first few chapters didn't quite hold my interest. The plot kind of seemed to drag on with too much explanation. And the ending is something that leaves you puzzled. There is no conclusion; only a mystery that hangs in the air even after you finish the novel.

But after the first few chapters, the book became interesting again as the adventures of Katy and Dug begin in the Island of 'Five Hundred Graves'. Once you get over your initial shock of the highly developed intelligence of these animals, you will start enjoying the book to some extent. The plot gets interesting from here. The imagination of the author to think beyond the ordinary is something I liked a lot. Also his ability in providing minor details about this unseen land is also quite appreciable.

There were many quotes which I liked and here are few of them:

• Playing with danger is a child's play. Real game starts when the danger starts playing with you.
• When others develop an aversion to your version, you are probably going in the right direction.
• Bravery without sword is like slavery without lord.
• Even the smallest creature can cause your downfall if you are driven by power and arrogance rather than by your mind and heart.

All in all, the book was OK with a subtle message about how human ways have forced animals to take the extreme step! I will suggest this book for those who love mild super natural stories, most probably for teens!

My Rating: 3/5 Stars!

PS: This review is a part of Book review program hosted by Write Tribe.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

Private India - Book Review

Title: Private India 

Authors: Ashwin Sanghi and 

               James Patterson

Publisher: Arrow Books

ISBN: 978-0-099-58639-5

Number of pages: 448

Price: 350 [INR]

Genre: Thriller

Blurb on the Book:

In Mumbai, seemingly unconnected people are dying, strangled in a chilling ritual and with strange objects carefully arranged with corpses.

For Santosh Wagh, head of Private India, the Mumbai branch of the world's finest investigation agency, it's a race against time to stop the killer striking again.

In a city of over thirteen million, he'd have his work cut out at the best of times, but this case has him battling Mumbai's biggest gang lord and a godman who isn't all he seems.

And then he discovers there may be an even greater danger facing Private India. Hidden in the shadows is someone who could destroy the whole organization - along with thousands of innocent Mumbai citizens...

My Review:

When I received this book, I was shocked to see the number of pages! Though I don't mind reading lengthy novels, I had my doubts whether I will be able to finish it off in seven days, owing to my busy schedule. But all I had to do was start reading! And as the line on the cover page says, 'The pages turn themselves' and within three days, I was done reading!

Private India is the Indian branch of the worldwide detective agency Private headed by Jack Morgan. Santosh Wagh is the chief of the Indian branch of Private, who is in a constant battle with his alcohol addiction and wanting to perform his duty well. The book starts with the murder of Dr. Kanya Jaiyen and right from here, the story picks up pace. The story is about a serial killer who is on a killing spree, murdering people, women in particular, who seemingly have nothing in common. The murders happen at such a fast rate, almost two per day, that it leaves the Santosh Wagh and his team bewildered. The only thing in common is all these women are strangled with a yellow scarf. The clues left by the murderer are weird stuffs like dolls, drums, egg shells which seem no where connected! And to add more spice (or horror) to the story, there is also a terrorist group which plans on planting bomb in Mumbai, the city where the entire story is based.

The plot is very good and it leaves you guessing who could be the culprit. And to be honest, I couldn't guess it. Of the two suspense, I could only guess one. The book has everything that you encounter in real life - media which is hungry for news, local gangster who rules the entire city, corrupt officers and people who back stab. Like most thriller novels, the story doesn't revolve just around the main character, which is good. It keeps you engaged right from the beginning till the end. You cannot simply just stop reading! Such is the story line.

But the ending disappointed me a lot! A story which started well, ended with too much drama! It was like a movie scene; things that cannot and do not happen in real life are depicted at the climax! I cannot say much without revealing the mystery. So I will just stop at saying that for a book so well written, the ending could have been better! Also there are few unnecessary explanations and flashbacks given, which could have been omitted to optimize the story.

Few of my favorite lines from the book:

• Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
• A smile is a curve that sets everything right.
• There are always second chances - both in metal and men.

So what is the verdict you would ask. Well though the ending could have been better, the rest of the plot is brilliant. The book definitely makes  a good one-time read! I would suggest it to mystery, crime and thriller fans!

My Rating: 3.5 stars!

Thank you BlogAdda for sending me the signed copy for review.

PS: This review is a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)