A master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

"A master of Djinn" by P. Djèlí Clark  - Magic in the air?

This book is published by Astra Media OPC Private Ltd in 2023 and has 378 pages. This is Book1 of Dead Djinn Universe. 

It's first decade of 1900s. The times have changed. Several Djinns live with mortals and follow human rules. El Jahiz is credited with bringing magic and Djinns back into the world few years ago. Lord Worthington, founder and head of the brotherhood of El Jahiz and his 20 odd members are killed. Their flesh burned without burning their clothes or anything else by a man who claims to be the El Jahiz returned. Fatma investigates.

Has Al Jahiz really returned? How can he come back from dead? What does he want? Can Fatma unravel the mystery?

Fatma Al Sharawi works for Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities in Egypt as an investigator. She is very good at her work. Hadia, her Hijab wearing investigator is thrust upon her as her partner. She is brave and always has a cousin who is in every field. Siri or Abla is a Nubian beauty. She follows the old Egyptian religion and hence called Idolator. She worships of Godess Hathor. Fatma and Siti are very close. Then there is the son and daughter of Lord Worthington. Ahmed, worshipper of Crocodile God Sobek.

The setting is fantastical. There is a lot of magic. There are non humans like Djinns, Angels, Ghouls, Ifrits etc. In all this melee, Fatma possesses no magic. But she doesn't give up until she gets to the bottom of the mystery.

The buildup is good. The pace is good. The characterization is very good. The social fabric is well defined. The only blemish might be that the identity of the perpetrator could be guessed mid way into the book. So, instead of whodunit it becomes did that character do it?

This is the first book of the series. Subsequent books are still to be published.

Why did I read this book? Wanted to explore the world of Djinns.

What did I like? The world with Djinns.

What I didn't like? Guessable perpetrator.

Recommend the series, of this book is anything to go by.

The fifth hour by Rahul Jain

"The fifth hour" by Rahul Jain - Whodunit! 

This book is published by Paper Towns Publisher in 2025 and has 224 pages. 

Rati and Ayaan come to Dzongu, Sikkim, away from their busy metro life with an intention to conceive. One morning Rati wakes up and finds that Ayaan is missing. She files a police complaint. But the resort staff says she checked-in alone. There was no one with her. No one has seen Ayaan.

Did Ayaan come to Dzongu? Does Ayaan exist? Is Rati out of her mind? Or is there another angle to it?

Rati is a curvy beauty, long hair, desirable. Rich parents but ignored childhood. She has recurring nightmares. Ayaan is handsome, well dressed and works for a startup. It's a pair made for each other. Then there is Shyam, nephew of the owner of the hotel where Rati is staying. He is a shifty character and helps is aunt run the hotel. Inspector Vipin is the investigator. He lists for Rati from the moment he sees her. Then there are other characters like the hotel owner, a guest called Shikha, two Sun inspectors etc.

Story has a flow, the book is not big, so you read it quickly. Setting off Sikkim, a state with very low crime rate, is interesting. All in all, the author has cobbled together a good story.

Author has a way with words. Even an innocuous scene is described in a very exciting way. You wonder how plainly you would have written the same scene.

The story starts with a bang, but after that it plateaus, the graph doesn't rise. It also doesn't peter out. Identity of perpetrator is not disguised well enough. Avid readers can guess it. The coincidence of Ayaan reaching the scene is a bit far fetched. Relationship between Rati and Vipin was uncalled for. Doesn't enrich the story.

Name of the book has nothing to do with the story. It could have been 4th hour or 6th hour as well, or something completely different.

Why I read this book? Came highly recommended.

What did I like? Setting.  

What didn’t like? Poorly disguised perpetrator.

Recommend reading.

The girl in the glass case by Devashish Sardana

"The girl in the glass case" by Devashish Sardana - Big twist !

This book is published by Penguin EBury Press in 2022 and has 344 pages.

Bhopal. Body of a girl dressed like Barbie doll is found in a glass case near Bhopal Gas memorial. Two more dolls turn up at the mall. ACP Simone, freshly back on duty after her suspension, investigates. Despite Simone being a loner, Superintendent Irshad thrusts DCP Zoya as her partner against her will. Irashad himself is a disturbed man because he is unable to solve the case of a serial killer called ' The Clipper' for 9 years. The Clipper kills transvestites and cuts their testicles and mails them to Irshad every quarter. Bodies are never found.

Who is The Clipper? Who is the Doll Maker? Why are they killing? Can Simone solve her case? Can Irshad get his redemption?

Simone was suspended for arresting CM's son. Simone has maintained a bald head in protest of the injustice of her suspension. She can't tolerate ineptitude and incompetence. She's short tempered and has anger issues. She isn't bothered with emotions, only facts matter. Karan, a reporter is the only one who has shown some interest in her but she always rebuffs him. Zoya is 10 years senior and a psychoanalyst. She's a divorcee and has lost custody of her son Sunny. Zoya and Simone don't like each other but are forced to work together.

Irshad has become a drunk due to the frustration of not being able to catch The Clipper. He is haunted and obsessed with the case. That's why he pressurizes Simone and Zoya to solve the case of The Doll Maker.

Readers come to know mid-way in the book that Ranveer is the clipper and Nalini is the Doll Maker. So their identities are not hidden. 

What happens next? You will have to read the book.

I was able to guess the identity of one serial killer but the second one I didn't see coming. It's a fantastic twist. Full marks to the author.

Read a book with such a twist after a very long time.

Why did I read this book? Came recommended.

What did I like? The twist.

What I didn't like? Umm....

If you like thrillers or psycho thrillers, this book is for you. A must read.