Crime and courtroom are two sides of the same coin. Vish Dhamija creates an exciting world, where boundaries disappear and mind games rule. Read his books and know what makes him pen exciting page-turners

It’s only when I read Deja Karma that I realised why Vish Dhamija has been called the ‘master of crime and courtroom’. Following the life of Jay Singh, a rich criminal lawyer, it’s easy to forget that it’s a make-believe world. It could be any of us, shaped by trials and travesties. The delusions, the imaginary friends, the brilliant mind that shines like a star in darkness, that actively seeks darkness and then falls into a deluge of conscience, is a masterstroke.

Jay’s world could be anyone’s world, anyone who has been shielded by truths, some inner truths, and seeks an anchor in loyal relationships. Surprisingly, he does find them in less than a handful of people and a dog.

With Dhamija, we learn about law, about the uncertainties that new graduates undergo, the difficult world of clients. We also develop the ability to always look beneath the surface, scratch and keep scratching till we discover the truth. All that glitters is certainly not gold!

I found Deja Karma a gripping read. For one, being a Delhiite, I could relate to many of the locations mentioned. Jay’s emotional upheaval is more centre stage than the crime in the book. By giving the readers a peek into the heart and mind of this famous lawyer, Dhamija makes him more approachable, more relatable. Jay is a flawed, broken man, single, virgin, and apparently without a soul. It’s only at the end that the reader figures out that this isn’t the proverbial Dr Faustus, albeit closer to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

The storyline is well woven, you never get jumbled up with the sequence of events. I also liked the fact that there were not many characters, it’s not a complex network that you have to remember. Besides, I loved the Man Friday, Bhima, who played many roles—a chauffeur, a confidante, a spy, a vigilant friend.  

An Interview with Visha Dhamija

Based in London, Vish Dhamija is among the 10 most popular Indian thriller authors. He is also the only writer of Indian-origin to be listed among the major legal thriller authors of the world, alongside Harper Lee, John Grisham. He has authored nine crime fiction novels till date.

A law college dropout, he has an MBA from Manchester Business School. For over two decades, Vish worked in marketing and retailing for global brands such as Ford, Kodak and United Colors of Benetton. This avid traveller loves cooking, and is a voracious reader.  

In an email interview, Vish Dhamija shares what makes him tick:

What inspired you to become a crime fiction writer? It’s not considered an easy genre. Moreover, writing is not a well-paying profession, unlike law.
Well, all I’ve ever read is crime fiction—from the early comics (Phantom, Mandrake, Tarzan, Tintin, Asterix) to Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie, so it was no surprise that the first story I wrote was crime fiction. It is not an easy genre to write, but the readers find it very interesting. It might not be a well-paying profession, but it is very rewarding, and that keeps us writers going, I guess.

Would you please share your journey with us? It has been over a decade of writing; your first book was published in 2010.
Like everything else in life, it has had its fair share of ups and downs. The first book is the hardest to write and get published, but—don’t let anyone tell you otherwise—it doesn’t get any easier from there. The second book is (and will forever be) compared to the first one, so you have to meet (or exceed) readers’ expectations because as a writer, you are only as good as the last book.

How does one imagine characters who become memorable? What do you think stays in a reader’s mind long after the book has been kept back on the bookshelf?
There is no right or wrong way when it comes to sketching/building characters. You need to think about their backgrounds and motivations, their fears, and passions. Then give them distinct personalities that are individualist enough to be recognizable and memorable.

The dialogues between two characters should be as distinctive as their physical characteristics. And above all, if you can sketch relatable characters, you’ve got a winner at your hands. I believe the characters—their joys and sorrows, their victories and losses—remain in readers’ minds long after the story is over.

Crime and legal series are the most watched on OTT. What are your plans regarding turning your books into a series?
The first season of Rita Ferreira (Bhendi Bazaar) should be on screen next year (fingers crossed). Other books are in various stages of discussions so all I can say is “watch this space”.

I have read Cold Justice and Deja Karma. Do you ever plan sequels, or will every book have a different lawyer and different criminal?
There are three books already in Rita Ferreira series (Bhendi Bazaar, Doosra, Lipstick). Cold Justice (the one you read) is part of the series. The first book in the series is Unlawful Justice. They are not exactly sequels; they can be read independently. And then there are stand-alone stories. It all depends on the story.

Which authors, movies, or series have inspired you?
I am a believer in the philosophy of Gestalt: the sum of the parts is far greater than all of the parts. Honestly, no single author, movie or series has inspired me individually, but collectively each one of them has inspired me, and shaped my writing.

What do you feel about the most famous movie, Godfather, which has a family of criminals?
Funny that you ask me because it was just the other day, I was discussing it with a close friend that we should probably watch the entire trilogy in one-go, all over again. I absolutely love it.

With your knowledge of law, you have taken us into the world of legalities and familiar locations. Do you think anyone who is not exposed to law or crime can become a good crime fiction writer? What are your tips for people aspiring for a career in this?
I do not have a law degree either, but I don’t think one needs a law degree to write legal fiction, although it would certainly help. I studied law for one year, so my exposure is minimal. It’s my interest/passion that makes me work hard on research and fact-finding. Research plays a vital part in writing a believable story, and, in my opinion, the more realistic the story is, the more it is appreciated.

What are your future plans? When do we get to read your next novel?
The next novel is based on a conman’s life, and it should be out in July/August of 2024.

Book details
Publisher: Pan Macmillan India
Format: Paperback
Pages: 328
Price: Rs 399 (Kindle edition available)

I received this book as part of the blogger outreach programme by PanMacmillan India. However, the views and interview are all authentic and under my editorial purview.

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Dr. Preeti Chauhan.