"The Accidental Apprentice" by Vikas Swarup. This book is published by Minotaur books in 2014 and has 448 pages. Famous movie Slumdog Millionaire was based on Vikas Swarup's book Q&A.
Sapna Sinha, the only bread winner in her house, works as a salesgirl in an electronic showroom. One day while she has gone to a temple a sudden opportunity presents. Sapna is offered the position of CEO of 8th biggest conglomerate of India by its current CEO Vinay Mohan Acharya. The condition is that she should pass seven tests. If she fails any one, she is out of contention. Six or seven candidates have already failed before her.
Is this a prank? Is this part of aTV show? Is the offer genuine? Will she agree? Will she fail? Would she have to make a deal with devil? How does the story unravel? Who is murdered?
Author has attempted to package this book as much more than entertainment. It contains a story. It has lessons of management and it also tackles the social issues.
The book takes issues like khap panchayats, child labor, corruption, exploitation of women, acid attacks, human organs racket etc.. It also give lesson in soft skills like leadership, integrity, courage, foresight, resourcefulness & decisiveness. Author should be congratulated for this bold attempt.
Only regret is that while trying to balance all three aspects, he has fallen just short on all of them landing in 'Jack of all trades' situation. There were also a few lose ends that should have been tidied up like how does the killer know that Sapna will purchase a knife? How does the killer know that Sapna will go to his house?
Look at it as a social novel disguised as thriller and then you will like it. Not for those who want only fun reading.
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