Naked: A Novel by Aditi Mediretta and Michaela Talwar
My take on the book:
Chinky an influencer with millions of followers on social media is found naked and dead, her body washed on to the shore of a Mumbai beach. The police inspector in-charge of the case Gaikwad along with his assistant Sahil bring in three people to investigate the case — Iti once roommate of Chinky, Abhishek, and Vincent ex-husband. In one night, Gaikwad and Sahil hear about Chinky from the perspective of these three people. Who really is Chinky and what led to her death forms the rest of the story.
The story begins somewhere in Assam with a dying grandmother handing down an Amulet and wisdom to Chinky. This introduction sets the tone for the rest of the story, as the authors hint at the significance of what her grandmother handed over to Chinky. The length of more than four hundred pages could be a turn off initially as there are places where the story seems to go around in circles. However, the authors tie up all these loose threads towards the end.
The story begins as a mystery trying to find the reasons behind Chinky’s death, but delves deeper into human psyche, how people around her perceived her, their opinions, and conclusions of who Chinky was. The story shocks and thrills the reader in equal amounts, with a narrative that is mostly gripping. The backdrop of Mumbai plays the perfect muse as it becomes an inherent part of the story.
The story is character driven and hence would appeal to readers who prefer multi-layered characters. The title, bold cover and intriguing blurb will make the reader to pick the book, but the unique theme and narration will hold their interest throughout.
If you like to read mysteries or fresh concepts of stories set in India, then this is a must read.
My rating:
4/5.