These gripping crime novels (Fiction and True Stories) are packed with action, twists, and turns that will leave you breathless.

The Black Orphan by S. Hussain Zaidi

Yes, if you love thrillers, then author S. Hussain Zaidi is sure to be high on your list of #TBR. He was on mine as well, and the gripping, pacy The Black Orphan lives up to the Zaidi promise.

Crowned as the No 1 crime writer in India, Zaidi spent 20 years in investigative journalism. This experience makes him a strong researcher and great storyteller.

The Black Orphan is the story of DIG Ajay Rajvardhan of the National Intelligence Agency and human rights lawyer Asiya Khan. The duo meet as Asiya comes forward to fight the case of young Nazneen who is facing charges of terrorist activities.  It’s a story of falling for the oldest trick in the world, the trap of love, revenge, abuse of power to disrupt lives.

Based on facts and names we all relate to, this story takes place in the financial capital, Mumbai. Zaidi has created a group of highly skilled women terrorists, seductive cold-blooded assassins, who are more dangerous than danger itself.  He gives us details of the training in the remote mountains of Afghanistan.

This is a dark world of mysterious deaths of three of India’s nuclear scientists, terrorist groups and global espionage. In between, there is intrigue, a semblance of love, a fight for justice and the nation.

Zaidi’s attention to detail is the strong point in the book, familiarising the reader with the tenets of Islam, the parable of the ‘Year of the Elephant’, importance of knowing Urdu, Arabic and Hebrew languages, the thorough investigation of crime scenes and physical agility. His protagonists are physically fit people.

There are unlikely friends, murders, misguided hearts and electrifying truths and revelations. Zaidi shows us human failings and strengths.

While the plot may not be unique, the high point for me was the use of AI and technology to identify the criminals. The camaraderie of the spy network was also commendable. All in all, it’s the spicy alpha world that we see in both Hollywood and Bollywood.

Though the result is forgone, with the victory of good over evil, we have to accept that this is just an end of one situation for evil never dies completely. Like good, it is always preparing for the next round.

The Huntsmen by Bappaditya Chakravarty

The Huntsmen is a bone chilling book, where international borders are crossed, precious metals are searched for and spies are on the run.

The narrative begins with a murder that takes place in 1939. Seemingly unlinked, we discover that this is the pivot on which the story rests.

Many incidents take place in the book, which on the surface show no connection. Two Muslim clerics are murdered in London, a blast shakes the India Gate lawns and two girls are kidnapped in Mumbai. It is for senior agent, Rudra Sengupta, to find the link and for us to follow him.

Chakravarty’s book takes us across Asia and Europe, probably because the author has travelled a lot for work and likes exploring places. He’s also a versatile writer, writing in Bengali and English. The Huntsmen was originally written in Bengali in 2013, revised and translated into English now.

Beginning with Goa, we travel with the protagonists to Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Muzaffarnagar, London, Cairo, Port Said, Alexandria, Beni al-Badr, El Salloum, Athens, Brussels, Zeebrugge and finally Mussoorie. Sounds like a James Bond thriller! Yes, it has all the spice of a Bond movie, albeit with conservative protagonists.

With good research and information on high profile terrorism activities, Chakravarty weaves a strong tale. The book reminds me of Tom Clancy’s Jack Reacher series. The unlikeliest of events tend to have the most dangerous impact, unless the chain is broken. It also shows the mastermind network that exists in the dark world, nothing and nobody is ever safe.

It explores themes of patriotism, friendship, love, sacrifice, twisted minds, courage, resilience, teamwork and ambition. Everyone wants to rule the world. Money, information and intrigue mark the spy verse, where anonymity is the key to survival. You would surely enjoy this 380-page book, which will pit you into the dark world where masterminds want to develop dangerous weapons.  

(I met author Bappaditya Chakravarty in January 2024 at Midland Book Shop, South Extension II, New Delhi, and we talked about crime fiction and his books. You might enjoy listening to his point of view)

The Stolen Necklace: A Small Crime in a Small Town by Shevlin Sebastian & V.K. Thajudheen  

True stories are probably the most spine-tingling ones. They remind us of our vulnerability and the promise of rewards after the trials are over.

This story leads us to question the values of the men in uniform. Fortunately, it has a happy ending of sorts, after many trials and humiliations.

V.K. Thajudheen, a middle-aged man working in Doha, returned to his hometown, Kannur, after a few years to celebrate his daughter’s wedding. Little did he know that this would change his entire life.

On the way home from the celebration, he was arrested by the local police on pretext of having stolen a necklace. The disarming evidence was the CCTV camera that caught someone like him riding on a scooter from the crime scene.

The egoistic local police officer was willing to close the case if Thajudheen paid the cash price of the necklace. Thajudheen claimed his innocence; he was at his daughter’s wedding at that time. But the police refused to listen or investigate further and he was imprisoned. 

Thajudheen believed that justice would be served and the police officer stuck to his position, while the media caught whiff of the case. Then, it let loose a chain of events where friends and family stuck their nose through the trying times.

Eventually, justice did prevail, he was declared innocent and won his freedom. But the damage had been done. The road to Doha didn’t fare well, he came back a defeated man, having lost his work and business. Now, after many misses, he works in a company in Bengaluru.

Sebastien, a journalist, knew that he had to bring this story out for people across the country to be aware of false cases. In fact, Chapter 12 is all about ‘False Cases All Over India’.

The book makes us think about the uncertainty of time. We can’t have an alibi for every second of the day or monitor our papers and phones. However, if we are convinced about our truth, then nothing stops us from bringing it out in public.  

Crimson City by Madhulika Liddle

This book lay in my bookshelf for years, and then COVID-19 happened. That is when I realised what a fantastic book I was wasting in storage. This Muzaffar Jang story is ‘unputdownable’.

Crimson City is meant to be read word by word. The rich language, the detailed information on the era and the way people lived and behaved in the days of the Mughals, the book stands for intense research. Liddle reminds me of Sherlock Holmes—everything is analysed and looked into with minute precision.  

The clothing and locations are described precisely. The relationships and the intricacies of greed and revenge are so deeply interwoven in our daily lives that we don’t even pay attention until a crime rings the alarm bell. I loved the sensitive detective, Jang, as he pays heed to his young wife’s words, the compassion he holds for the trodden and the deep love he has for his foster father.

The book brings alive the city of Shahjahanabad, with its canals and horse carts, long before any of us were born.

More thrillers from my list

Translated from Danish into English, Mercy by Jussi Adler-Olsen is also a must-read.

Perhaps, you would also like to read my review of Hot Stage by Anita Nair.

The interview with author Vish Dhamija of Deja Karma might also interest you.

Arefa Tehsin’s murder mystery, The Witch in the Peepul Tree, is also a must-read.

The autobiographies of two high profile Indian personnel for those who like non-fiction: Madam Commissioner: The Extraordinary Life of an Indian Police Chief by Meeran Chadha Borwankar and Crime, Grime & Gumption: Case Files of an IPS Officer by O.P. Singh

A gripping biography, which will compel you to question is R.A.W Hitman: The Real Story of Agent Lima by S. Hussain Zaidi.

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘BookishCafeBloghop2024’ hosted by Rakhi Jayashankar and Samata Dey Bose (prompt: a topic of your choice)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ambica Gulati (@ambicagulati)