Name – Scarlet Nights
Author – Mayur Patel
Publisher – Half Baked Beans
Number of Pages – 240
Publishing Year – 2016
Edition – Paperback
Price – 250
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Rating : 3.5
Blurb
Smart, sexy and
confident, Malvika Chauhan lives an enviably perfect life in Mumbai. She has a
flourishing career, a loving boyfriend and a promising future. Spiteful,
fearless and mysterious, Margrita lives on the extreme ends. Self-merriment is
the only thing that matters to her. Destiny plays wicked and brings the two
women face to face with each other. While Malvika knows nothing about Margrita,
Margrita is well-aware of the hidden secrets of Malvika’s past. Malvika’s life
turns sour as she struggles against the insufferable circumstances inflicted
upon her by Margrita. It’s a situation she cannot escape. If the hidden secrets
get disclosed, Malvika will be finished. She will lose every precious thing she
has… her career, her prestige, her love… ‘Scarlet Nights’ is a haunting
tale of the unfathomable depths inside the human psyche.
confident, Malvika Chauhan lives an enviably perfect life in Mumbai. She has a
flourishing career, a loving boyfriend and a promising future. Spiteful,
fearless and mysterious, Margrita lives on the extreme ends. Self-merriment is
the only thing that matters to her. Destiny plays wicked and brings the two
women face to face with each other. While Malvika knows nothing about Margrita,
Margrita is well-aware of the hidden secrets of Malvika’s past. Malvika’s life
turns sour as she struggles against the insufferable circumstances inflicted
upon her by Margrita. It’s a situation she cannot escape. If the hidden secrets
get disclosed, Malvika will be finished. She will lose every precious thing she
has… her career, her prestige, her love… ‘Scarlet Nights’ is a haunting
tale of the unfathomable depths inside the human psyche.
My Review
A voyage through the deeper crevices of mind, Scarlet nights is a Psychological
thriller. The plot starts with the life of Malvika Chauhan, who leads a trouble
free, exciting and perfect life. Her days become nights and nights full of
nightmares when she starts to have blackouts for hours, unable to do what she
did in the meanwhile. Only person who could help her is Margarita. Once Malvika
meets Margarita, instead of detangling the secrets, her life becomes messier.
Author has taken great care in maintaining the suspense element throughout the
story. Nevertheless, the connection between Malvika and Margarita becomes more
or less obvious in the initial chapters itself. The idiosyncrasies of Malvika
and the give and take between the two women seems exaggerated in between but
author has justified it in the last chapters. Since it is a thriller, I am
unable to disclose more. It might end up as a spoiler.
Major complaint I have is about the narration, especially in the initial
chapters. While dealing with such serious and deep subjects the
narration could have been more regimented. The title Scarlet nights seems
perfect in the first half but towards the second half the color Scarlet loses
its significance. The cover image is good and reflects the whole mood of the
book.
Hardcore Sydney Sheldon lovers might find the book dragging since the book has
lot of similarities with ‘Tell me your dreams’ by the author but lacks pace.
Nevertheless in comparison with the thrillers by Indian authors, the book
definitely stands out.
I recommend the book to all Psychological thriller
lovers.
lovers.
Reviewed for the publisher
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a
complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write
a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
About the author
complimentary copy in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write
a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
About the author
Mayur Patel has studied
Civil Engineering. He has worked as a civil engineer and an Interior Designer.
He was a part of an orchestra as a singer some years back. At present he works
in a Newspaper as a sub-editor.
His first book ‘Vivek and I’ was a work of romance
and was published by Penguin Books India. He writes Novels, Short Stories and
Columns in Gujarati, too.
Besides writing, he enjoys a wide variety of
activities like reading, gardening, singing, watching movies and playing
badminton. Travelling is an addiction which enables him to bring life to his
writing.
The author lives in Valsad, India with his family.
He can be contacted at markmayur@gmail.com.
Civil Engineering. He has worked as a civil engineer and an Interior Designer.
He was a part of an orchestra as a singer some years back. At present he works
in a Newspaper as a sub-editor.
His first book ‘Vivek and I’ was a work of romance
and was published by Penguin Books India. He writes Novels, Short Stories and
Columns in Gujarati, too.
Besides writing, he enjoys a wide variety of
activities like reading, gardening, singing, watching movies and playing
badminton. Travelling is an addiction which enables him to bring life to his
writing.
The author lives in Valsad, India with his family.
He can be contacted at markmayur@gmail.com.
