Bhendi bazaar by Vish Dhamija

"Bhendi bazaar" by Vish Dhamija. This book is published by Rumor books India in 2014 and has 362 pages. This is author's second book.

Three Soviet athletes (girls), who had come to Delhi Asian games as spectators, run away to Mumbai, destination UK, in 1982. Time leap to present day. A man is murdered in his house, a bullet to his head and his genitals are mutilated. DCP Rita Ferreira is pressed into action.

Who is the victim? Why was he murdered? What's the motive? Has it anything to do with the past? Is the murderer female or male? Are there any more murders?

Although it's a whodunit and the seeds are in the past if there Russian girls, author has not kept the story of Russian girls a mystery. He runs the story from 80s and present day (2007) story in parallel.

The book addresses the issue of forced prostitution. In this case the girls are with pale skin. Gruesome gang rape and subsequent prostitution for life, of Russian girls sows the seeds of events to come. The story rests on four pillars. Sex, abuse, violence and death. Abuse of females, plight of sex workers, pedophilia and destruction of lives is a curse to humanity.

Characterization is good. Murders are intelligent. Victims are scums. It appears that a vigilante is operating. Suspense is retained till the final phase of the book. I was able to recognize the killer at about 80%. The twist in climax is good but was recently used by Ashwin Sanghi and James Patterson in their book 'Private India' and hence decipherable.

You can not help but sympathize with the murderer and the motive, though not the actions.

Read if you like murder mysteries.