PLOT: 3/5
CHARACTERS: 3.5/5
WRITING STYLE: 3.5/5
CLIMAX: 3.5/5
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3.5/5
I love the way everyone talks these days. Even me, sometimes. Indians are doing to the world what the Americans did to the Brits in the last century—our English has both Cambridge and California with loads of Bombay thrown in.
~ Ravi Shankar Etteth, Killing Time in Delhi
My Musings
It was while browsing the Kindle Unlimited section that I came across the tantalizing cover of “Killing Time in Delhi”.
The blurb seemed exciting and the book looked promising. Without giving it much thought, I quickly downloaded the book and started reading.
What followed was a foray into the scandalous and decadent world of Delhi’s ultra-rich.
Read on to know more about my thoughts on this book that bluntly portrays the debauched ways of many socialites.
What to expect?
Expect a satire that sheds light on the degenerate world of Delhi’s high-heeled elite. Expect a book that revolves around not one but two murders and yet, isn’t a murder mystery.
Expect a book that gives exclusive access to behind-the-scenes drama of Delhi’s high-powered social corridor.
Finally, expect a book that has a rich language and a generous sprinkling of dry humour.
Who can read?
“Killing Time in Delhi” makes use of a language that is flushed with fancy words and subtle innuendos. It is a language not meant for beginner level readers.
Let’s talk about the storyline
Charlie Seth is the heir of one of the oldest royally rich families in Delhi. The only thing his life revolves around is on spending that family money.
While he doesn’t splurge ostentatiously, he can be quite snobbish about social climbers and the newly moneyed.
When his girlfriend dies because of a drug overdose and he is the first one to be found on the scene of another murder, his life becomes a frenzied mess of money, power, greed and lust.
This is a story that contrasts Charlie’s lassitude with a woman’s vigor and a fake Godman’s opportunism, all the while throwing a nasty shade on Delhi’s ultra-rich.
How good are the characters?
With the exception of Charlie, Chow, and Mandy, the other characters just manage to be mere embellishments in an otherwise bare-boned plot.
While Charlie does seem to incite interest at first, he becomes too predictable in the latter half of the book.
Mandy comes as a surprise package and adds a much-needed punk to the story.
Chow is mysterious and elusive and that makes him an interesting character.
What about the author’s writing style?
While the humour isn’t the laughing-out-loud variety, the author does manage to rouse a chuckle or two every once in a while.
The story takes its time to set course but even during the best of times, the pace is slow. The actions of important characters become too predictable and the book tends to get monotonous over time.
The only thing that keeps it going is the dry humour which the author serves with panache.
It all boils down to the entertainment quotient
In the end, the book does manage to shine out but only slightly so.
When it comes to entertainment, there is something different on offer here but still a lot is left to be desired. The book has a very different appeal that wouldn’t excite a lot of readers.
For me though, reading “Killing Time in Delhi” turned out to be a decent experience.
Pick it up if
- You enjoy satires.
- The idea of reading about the scandalous lives of Delhi’s elite excites you.
- You like dry humour.
- You are looking for a short read (under 150 pages).
Skip the book if
- Satires especially the ones about the ultra-rich and ultra-connected doesn’t excite you.
- You are looking for a fast-paced read.
- You are looking for a proper murder mystery.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of “Killing Time in Delhi” using the link below.
The book seems great.