Evading the shadows by Rajesh M. Iyer

"Evading the shadows" by Rajesh M. Iyer. This book is published by Kriscendo Media LLP in 2016 and has 341 pages. 

Pandav's are about to complete there 12 year  vanvas (forest stay) and about to start 1 year agyatwas (incognito stay). Kaurav spies are on their trail. Duryodhan has sent them on a mission to find Pandav because if they are found they would repeat 12+1 year.

Who are the spies? Do they sniff Pandav? Can Pandav outsmart them? Will they get help?

The book cover declares it to be a fictional spy thriller set during Mahabharata. I purchased the book reading that one line. I haven't read much about any attempts by Kaurav to find Pandav during agyatwas except some passing comments. A lot was at stake for both parties during that one year. The game of cat and mouse wpuld be at its peak. So to write a fiction on that aspect is a brilliant idea. Full marks to author's imagination. 

Author introduces a number of fictional characters and events to spice up the story. That makes it interesting. Author has also emphasized that even though Pandav were in disguise, they being human, could not disguise their personality traits. These traits put them in danger and provided leads to Kaurav spies. 

Author has used flash back technique liberally to take the story forward and make his point. The stories in flash back are well known to the readers and some times one feels that they could have been curtailed. 

Something interesting. When there is a change of scene, author has transitioned every time in a very peculiar way. The punch word of the last sentence of previous scene is also the punch word of the first sentence of the subsequent scene. That gives the prose a flair of poetry. Author has managed to narrate a good story that maintains reader's interest. I liked his style. We can expect more good work from Rajesh. 

What is the drawback of this story? Well, unlike any other thriller, reader knows the final outcome. I felt that the book should have ended immediately after revelation if Pandav identity. But author, avoidably, stretches it a bit more. 

Cover design is not impressive. Black shadows on the background of blackish red. Too dark. No recall value. A little more effort would have carried the message and done a lot of good.

Good book. Recommend reading.