Book Review : Haadsaa
Book Name: Haadsaa
Author: Vish Dhamija
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genre: Mystery & Crime Fiction
Haadsaa by Vish Dhamija is a novel that will make you question your guesses at every chapter you turn. It is a gripping yet complex murder mystery and crime fiction.
Review
Anushka Khan, no, Anushka Anand, as she did not change her name after marriage, was brought to Max Hospital in Saket after she was found badly injured, as her head hit the mirror, crashing it down and leaving her with severe head injuries. When she opened her eyes, the news spread about her affair with her husband's friend, Rajiv, who was now dead, and her husband, Akbar, went missing after the tragedy that led her to the hospital. Wondering about her missing husband and the loss of her lover made her weak, timid, and underconfident because there was news about her husband's involvement in the Hawala business, which she was unaware of, and Rajiv being his supporter in that too.
As the police investigated Rajiv's murder and looked for the missing Akbar, ACP Jha happened to have multiple encounters with Anushka, questioning her repeatedly and leaving her feeling irritated, as if trying to harass her into confessing she was involved in the crime. It was Akbar's friends who came to her rescue and supported her till the mystery unfolded about the homicide of Rajiv and Akbar's whereabouts while she was healing from her injuries.
The characters in the story are suspicious, and with time, readers will get to know some harsh truths about them that will make them wonder about their guesses to find out who the murderer was. Anushka, throughout the story, will act as someone who is seeking sympathy from all ends for her loss. Sid and Aanya, her husband's friends, will remind readers of those friends who stand by their side without any motive to support them in tough times.
The author's writing style is simple and evocative, making readers guess the next twist with a surprise, changing the entire theory that the characters in the story built to betray readers' thought processes. He expertly incorporates multiple layers of intrigue into the narrative, including accusations of domestic violence, extramarital affairs, and dark financial trades (Hawala business). It might appear to be a whodunit, but due to added layers, the story follows through like a game of Snakes and Ladders, where the characters and police are competing with each other to lead to that final step without getting bitten by the snake at the last point, which is at the 98th step.
"Life is like a game of Snakes and Ladders; the snake bites to bring you down, the ladder helps you rise. And unless you cheat by tampering with the dice, it's a game of pure luck. No matter how far ahead you are, one snakebite is all that's needed to level the game. But that can work in your favour too. So it is never over until it's over." This theory, being implicated in the plotline, will allow readers to stick to the book until they unveil the mystery.
The author balanced the truths and lies and the mystery to discover who is lying and telling the truth about the tragic night. It appears as if everyone in the book is trying to prove their points and divert the investigation.
If you are someone who loves to read fast-paced thrillers with added layers to see through the human psyche and the limit to which characters can go to save their backs, this book is a must-read for you.
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