Swear you won't tell? by Vedashree Khambete-Sharma

"Swear you won't tell?" by Vedashree Khambete-Sharma - A murder not-mystery!

This book is published by HarperCollins India in 2018 and has 244 pages. This is Book 1 of Avantika Pandit series. 

Avantika Pandit is reporter (feature writer) at The Mumbai Daily. One day she is asked to cover the fashion show of Ayesha, who happens to be her school nemesis. She is also asked to interview Ayesha. When she reaches her home for interview, she comes to know that Lakshmi, Aaisha's best friend and formerly Avantika's best friend is dead. Avanti wants to know more about Lakshmi.

How did Lakshmi die? Will Aaisha and Avanti forget and forgive? What happens to Avanti's critical situation at The Mumbai Daily? Why this title?

The story has interesting characters. Avantika, the loud mouth scrawny young lady who had no friends in school. Nathan, her boss who is unhappy with her performance and attitude.

Aaisha, her school nemesis, who now owns a fashion brand. Dhruv, Aaisha's handsome elder brother. Lakshmi, Avanti's former best friend who crossed over to the dark side (Aaisha). Uday Desai, Avantika's only friend and colleague.

Lakshmi is dead. But details of her death are hard to come. Avanti keeps encountering classmates who were her nemesis. But she doesn't give up. She figures out the murder mystery but has no proof. 

The story is not fast. Author goes back in flash back multiple times to provide the background story and information to the readers. Author has tried to make Dhruv's character enigmatic but he comes out as sincere. Avanti is driven but appears a little bit immature. 

Author has a very good command over English language. Her construction of sentences is very good, observant, witty and likeable. Some of the examples are:

"His mind was so sharp that you could dice tomatoes with it"

"He was, at the time, suffering from a serious case of being born brown"

"Some days you were just a hydrant for the world to piss on"

"It was like finding a baby dragon in a chivda box"

"Her eyes now felt drier than sandpaper left out in the sun in sub-Saharan Africa."

"She was feeling more out of place than a vegetarian at a beacon breakfast" etc.

Every chapter has a number of footnotes. Many of them regarding Indian words.  Probably the book is designed fo non Indian readership.

Book ends with a possibility of romance with two possible suitors for Avanti. Who will she choose? What will be her next challenge? Expect Book 2.

Author was previously a top ad-woman and journalist. 

Why did I read this book? Goodreads ratings.  

What did I like? Witty English. 

What I didn't like? Lack of thrill. 

Read if you have spare time.