Book Review of 'Nobody's Child' by Kanchana Banerjee

It had been a long time since I'd read a thriller and 'Nobody's Child' was the perfect change from the norm for me this year. A perfectly fast-paced page-turner, the book begins on a tone of tenterhooks and keeps us hanging there till the end.

Characters

The characters are well etched-out, with multiple shades waiting to be discovered in their persona, with each turn of the page. Be it the protagonist Asavri, the press reporter Avniel or the cunning Kamini, each character grows with regular alacrity in tune with the twists in the storyline. Asavri is a powerful presence that hangs over the whole story, despite her relative absence or silence. Avniel disappoints with a bare redemption in his wolfy cunning till the end, while Kamini's meteorical rise showcases the invariable flexibility of morals one requires to event such an advancement.

The characters are unmistakably dark. The author has explored the dark side of human nature that exists just below the surface of many a polished exterior, and vice-versa. Monty, the ruffian, complete with even a scar on his face, turns out to offer the element of irony in the story. Even Asavri, the protagonist has undiscovered shades that are revealed towards the end. 

Storyline

The breakneck speed of the story makes for a delicious thriller. The layers of the mystery are steeped in details that are revealed with neat clarity at regularly paced intervals. The elements of surprise continue till the very last page.

The dark underbelly of a life of fame, with all it's double-faced entities is explored in detail. The only grouse that I had was that some scenes maybe deemed too gory for sensitive readers. The violence seems excessive and unnecessary, like the very nature of violence invariably is. Perhaps the exploration of calmitous after-effects of human darkness entails such a depiction. 

The first person narratives explore the different perpectives of the characters. It is refreshing to read the thoughts of Asavri in the second half, after her long, unsettling silence in the novel. It would have been even better to read more of Asavri's inner feelings after her terrible trauma. However, I missed the concluding perspectives of characters like Avniel and especially Kamini, in the end.  

Conclusion

Overall, an enjoyable read for thriller lovers who like little breathing time between the pages.

 

I rate the book 4.3 out of 5. Extra points are for brilliant plot construction.

Hope you found my review useful. Happy reading, readers. 

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