Review: Strangers With Known Faces

Author: Gautam Dutta.

Genre: Mystery, Thriller.

Rating: 🍫🍫🍫

Blurb:

Rajat, Meenakshi, Sadaaf, Amol, and Shanaya are five University students with nothing in common- who should never have met in the first place. They meet after winning a lucky draw- the prize of which was to take part in a puzzle game. Though the game was engrossing, they were unable to solve the puzzle in the stipulated time. However, this lead to the beginning of a deep friendship between them. Their friendship blossomed. But ego and misunderstanding led to an acrimonious break up. They meet again- two decades later- when Shanaya is murdered, and the other four are suspects. The four soon realize that in spite of being estranged for so many years, there were unknown ties that bound them- ties of treachery, deceit, and subterfuge. Ties that have led them to come together in circumstances that no one could have foreseen. And the game that they had left incomplete two decades back has to be played yet again – on a much bigger canvas. Now they have to trust each other, clear their names, and get to the bottom of the mystery, which threatens not only their lives and relationships, but also the fabric of democratic India. As their travels and travails continue, they discover hitherto unknown facets of the people around them, as well as their own selves. Can they succeed in resolving the puzzle this time? Or is history doomed to repeat itself? As hidden aspects of the human personality are revealed, they realize that no one is what he or she appears to be. For the world comprises of ‘Strangers With Known Faces’.

Cover Review:

The cover is simple and unattractive. I would definitely suggest the author to invest in a professionally made cover, because the story has potential, unlike the cover.

Book Review:

The novel had an intriguing beginning with two bomb blasts that happened because of malfunctioning drones owned by the Indian army. The first chapter begins with the death of one of the main characters. 

The story was interesting and intriguing, it kept me interested, until I reached the flashback chapters. Rajat's flashback was long, and included unnecessary-to-the-plot details. I wish it'd been shorter. It dragged way too much, stealing the book's pace. 

The story slowed down considerably from that point. Though there was enough suspense to keep me going, I wish there'd been a bit less description and a bit more action. 

My favourite character is most probably CBI Officer Shweta. She held up the case after discovering that her partner was a mole pretty well.

The few things that I didn't like were the story's dragging pace, the grammatical errors and the typos. I'd recommend the author to get the book proofread by a professional, because the story is really good, it just needs some polishing. 

All in all, it was an intense, suspenseful read, and with some improvements, it could definitely be a hit!

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