Hot Stage (Book Review)

Book Name: Hot Stage 

Author: Anita Nair

Publisher: ‎HarperCollins India

Genre: Fiction/Crime & Thriller 

Language: ‎English

Paperback: ‎444 pages

Rating: 4/5

About the Author: ANITA NAIR is one of India's most acclaimed authors whose oeuvre ranges from literary fiction to noir to poetry to children's literature translation. Her books have been translated into thirty-two languages around the world and have been adapted for audio, the stage, and the screen. She is the recipient of several prizes and honors including the Central Sahitya Akademi Award, the Crossword Prize, and the National Film Award.

Founder of the creative writing mentorship program Anita's Attic which has mentored over 125 writers, Anita Nair is also a high-profile Supporter of the UNHCR.

Blurb: When elderly Professor Mudgood, a well-known rationalist and fervent critic of right-wing forces in India, is found dead in his home in Bangalore by his daughter, ACP Borei Gowda is quite certain that it is a homicide.

Although all evidence points to the murder being politically motivated, the more Gowda delves into the case, the more convinced he is that it isn't an assassination. As he and his team launch a parallel investigation, they stumble upon a secret and murky world where there are no rules or mercy. When Gowda's hand is forced, he takes a calculated risk and infiltrates the sinister domain to bring the truth out into the open ... Will he succeed? And at what price?

Book Review: Hot Stage is the third novel in the Inspector Gowda series by Anita Nair, a prize-winning, internationally acclaimed author of literary fiction, noir, poetry, children's literature, and translation. It is a crime thriller and in this book, the author features Inspector Borei Gowda, who is a splendidly grumpy and flawed character.

This book story revolves around the murder of elderly Professor Mudgood and Inspector Borei Gowda, he is a cynical and disillusioned cop in Bangalore. When a murder case is assigned to Gowda he starts to dig deeper and deeper and he discovers that many people might have wanted the professor dead and that his extensive property in the center of bustling Bangalore would be a gold mine in the hands of ruthless developers with access to corrupt politicians. As he digs deeper, he uncovers a dark past that connects the victim, the suspects, and his own family. Solving this case leads him to a dangerous situation where he faces various challenges and enters into the web of secrets, where lies, and betrayal are hidden in the world of theatre. Gowda must race against time to find the killer before he becomes the next target.

The book is well-written and engaging, with twists and turns that keep the reader hooked till the end. The plot is fast-paced and action-packed, with some scenes that are shocking and disturbing. The book also has some humour and irony that lighten up the mood at times. The book is suitable for fans of crime fiction who enjoy stories that are realistic, gritty, and thrilling.

I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars for its quality of writing, its originality of plot, its depth of characters, its relevance of themes, and its entertainment value. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes crime fiction.

Book buy link: Hot Stage

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