TYPORAMA
***********
*************
October 24, 2023**************
PRAISE FOR THE BLUE MONSOON:
“Social constructs, family relationships, religion, and politics flawlessly come together in this stunner of a thriller. With the pulsing heart of Mumbai at its center and Damyanti Biswas's lush, rich writing, The Blue Monsoon is a terrifying, mesmerizing ride with a shock in every chapter. Biswas has created an astonishing cast of characters who collide in a seismic conclusion that will rock you to your core. An exceptional read!” ―Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 national bestselling author of Woman on the Edge and Watch Out of Her
“Damyanti Biswas once again transports us to Mumbai and the gritty, richly emotional world of police inspector Arnav Singh Rajput, this time investigating a ritual murder on the steps of a local temple. The Blue Monsoon is crime fiction at its best―textured, colorful, and utterly absorbing. An absolute must-read from a remarkable talent.”―Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of The Personal Assistant
************
ABOUT THE BLUE MONSOON:
A
ritual murder at a Mumbai temple exposes the city’s dark secrets and
ravages the personal life of a detective in this sequel to The Blue Bar.
Amid
incessant rains pounding down on Mumbai, Senior Inspector Arnav Singh
Rajput is called to a shocking crime scene. A male body is found
dismembered on the steps of a Kaali temple. Drawn into his flesh are
symbols of a tantra cult. The desecration of a body at a Hindu place of
worship puts the city on edge and divides Arnav’s priorities: stopping a
fanatic from killing again and caring for his wife who’s struggling
through a challenging pregnancy.
Then video footage of the murder
is uploaded onto the account of a Bollywood social media influencer,
triggering twists in the investigation Arnav didn’t see coming. Caste
systems at war. A priest under suspicion. And an anonymous threat that
puts his wife’s welfare at risk. When more bodies are found, the
savagery of the city begins to surface—and Arnav fears that no one is
safe from a bigger storm brewing.
************
NOTES ON THE AUTHOR'S BOOKS:
The previous book in the series, The Blue Bar,
made way for this one. That first book would have had a far darker
ending had it not been for the fact that it was acquired in a 2-book
deal, and certain changes became inevitable due to publishing reasons.
The
Blue Monsoon came from a conversation with someone back home in India
who said that buyers of hair frequent some of the alleys of Mumbai and
Delhi. They offer steel utensils in exchange. Research then took me down
a wormhole leading to the entire hair industry, where hair from India
is fashioned into wigs and extensions for celebrities and
non-celebrities in the West.
The other strand came from the idea
of inverting the trope of violence against women--I'm so used to seeing
women's bodies, mutilated and pillaged, on screen in Crime TV series
and novels. The inklings of castration came from there.
Throughout,
I followed the needs of the crime fiction genre, and tried to tell the
story with utmost respect for my characters and my readers. The book
contains a glossary and a cast of characters: it was felt that both of
these would help the audience grasp the story better. I also added an
author's note and a list of books I read while writing this one.
I'm often asked what readers should take away from my work, but I can never predict that.
That depends on your previous reading, your background, your worldview.
I
can only cross my fingers that the story will engage you, and you might
carry the characters with you long after you've finished the novel.
I've hopefully been able to create a gritty, rain-soaked, fevered dream
into which you can immerse themselves, and emerge with a sense of having
visited Mumbai during the monsoons.
*************
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Damyanti Biswas is the author of The Blue Bar, the first novel in the Blue Mumbai Thriller series, and You Beneath Your Skin, as well as numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia.
She has been short-listed for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is coeditor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Damyanti is also a supporter of Project WHY, a program that provides quality education to underprivileged children in New Delhi.
Apart from being a novelist, Damyanti is an avid reader of true crime, a blogger, and an animal lover.
Her ambition has always been to live in a home with more books than any other item, and she continues to work toward that.
For more information, visit www.damyantiwrites.com.
Adding to your TBR?
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping.