A Hideous Convention - BCB Interrogations by Krishna Raj

 

I received this book from the author Mr. Krishna Raj in exchange of a frank and honest review. 

The opinions in this review are all mine and based on my reading of this book.

Available at Amazon - https://www.amazon.in/Bombay-Crime-Bureau-Interrogations-investigation-ebook/dp/B0B432ZXDX

From the Back Cover

A car crash in the dark hours of dawn claims the lives of two passengers, leaving their seventeen-year-old son in the backseat severely injured.

A procedural investigation ensues. The police detect little mystery but no foul play.

Downplaying the findings of Forensics department, the police conclude that the driver had dozed off behind the wheel, leading to the fatal accident.

The survivor and remaining members of the family accept this and make peace with their fate.

However, the investigation takes a new twist once the Bombay Crime Bureau takes charge.

Was it truly an accident, or were there darker intentions at play?

A Hideous Convention - BCB Interrogations by Krishna Raj

I am a sucker for legal thrillers and police procedurals comes as an extension of the same. 

This is a short book 53 pages on Kindle and 41 in the PDF that I received but it packs a punch. 

The star character of Dev Shinde is very well etched and he comes across as a thinking man who puts more than just two and two together. His team is equally efficient and has some gender parity. 

Their handling of the case belays the normally slow domestic procedures but is welcome in a book. 

The story is a clean cut whodunit with ample spaces for forays. The final lines wraps up the case nicely staying within the legal confines without leaving any stray lines. Some of the story is especially the end is left to the readers to imagine. 

The story evokes recent memories of the recent drug searches, admissions as well as the NCB fiasco in the country but stays true to course. Some of the legal points especially of the interrogation and the recording of statements may not be tenable under Indian law but they are only alluded to as a way to soften a high value target so I guess it is fine. A high value businessman in India with a potential case and drama not wanting the presence of a lawyer is another thing that rankles. Here like in any other country when concerned with a legal procedure the mass tends to cry but cooperate but the rich and famous tend to cry wolf before reaching the edge of the jungle. These are certain points that I believe the author has to take into account since his book(s) relate to crime and procedurals although I will contend that he has used relevant legal points where required including POCSO a potent law aimed at a highly sensitive albeit extremely important rights of children. My concern here in this book was related to the police procedures where possible conviction puts the sensitive case under POCSO Act in the back burner due to lack of sufficient proof. Authors need to highlight the POCSO as a primary when using it in their books due to the lack of public information and awareness of the same. Exploitation of children is happening at many levels across the world and not enough is being done to highlight the same. Being a part of the eco-system it is our duty to keep people aware that every larceny has its own law.

Some of the insights here gave me parallels to Chetan Bhagat's recent novels about a detective duo but in a good way. 

Most of what I read here is current and most if not all of the influences can be alluded to by readers. 

Raj's writing is crisp and it does not dilly dally in situations. 

The story itself is about a suspected accident-suicide-murder of a person from high society. The family frailties are exposed and raw showing a dark underbelly. The family patriarch, dark secrets, the gender blind child, drugs, affair, guilty history, all play a part in the story. 

The author Raj has potential and this story being a hors d'oeuvre for a novel hits the right zones. 

Just over 4 stars for me but a recommended read.

Please do not forget to post your comments. I am an equal opportunity person so would love to hear your love or your hate for the review or book in any order. Please write what you did not like or whether the book was an absolute disaster for you and why.

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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5063692275