PLOT: 3.5/5 CHARACTERS: 3.5/5 WRITING STYLE: 3/5 CLIMAX: 2.5/5 ENTERTAINMENT: 3/5
The human mind can be our greatest friend as well our greatest enemy. Our mind has its own defence mechanism.”
Yash Pawaskar, Girl in the Green Villa
My musings
I was looking for a short mysterious-and-probably-horror read on my Kindle when I stumbled upon this title. The title and the description immediately drew me in and hence I quickly ended up downloading and reading the book. Read on to know more about my experience of reading Yash Pawaskar’s Girl in the Green Villa.
First impressions
When all it takes is two minutes for you to come across a book and download it, you can hardly write anything negative about the first impressions. As far as they are concerned, the cover, the by-line, and the blurb – they all do their job very well. The reader is intrigued. And to be honest, just a cursory glance did the job for me.
Who can read?
The story is written in simple language and can be easily picked up by any level of readers including beginners.
What to expect?
Expect a short read which is just about 36 pages long. Do not expect a horror story, instead expect a mystery that also has some elements of supernatural in it. Expect a story that comes with a message. Expect graphic, violent, and sexual content that is not suitable for readers below 18 years of age.
The story as it goes
Viraj and Jhanak happen to get married just before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the nation goes into lockdown, their plans for an exciting and adventurous honeymoon go down the drain.
Finally, after a considerable time has passed and the restrictions have been relaxed, they decide to take a short weekend trip to the nearby town of Mansol in Himachal Pradesh. But something sinister lurks in the very villa that they have chosen for their getaway.
Danger lurks around the corner and very soon their lives would never be the same.
Will their honeymoon turn out as they had planned?
What is Jhanak worried about?
Who lurks in the green villa?
The writing
To be honest, the story is decent but what it promises is vastly different from what it delivers. One picks up the book expecting it to be some kind of paranormal mystery, but it is an amalgamation of a short drama, subtle horror, and a social message.
There is much more that could have been done. The build-up to the events is good but all of it comes undone towards the end. The story kind of flattens out towards the end.
The writing is fast-paced and non-linear just like is mentioned in the description but does the reader get what she wants? Sadly, the answer is no.
The climax
The climax is the most uninteresting part of the book. The series of events are given half-hearted explanations. There is a social message for all, which is really good. But then it takes away the essence of the story by giving it an altogether new angle.
In the end
In the end, Girl in the Green Villa is a short one-time read which can be picked up by readers looking for a short mystery. The most redeeming quality of the book is its mix of mystery, social message, drama, and subtle horror combined with the help of a fast-paced narration.
Pick the book if
- You are looking for a very short read (under 50 pages).
- You enjoy stories that come with a message.
- You like exploring new authors.
- You enjoy short mysteries with subtle elements of horror.
Skip the book if
- You are looking to get spooked.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of Girl in the Green Villa using the link below.
