With Delhi all geared up to host India's first Crime Writers Festival Jan 17-18, IANS picked up some new and some old writers who have delved into the world of thrills and chills. Take a look.
1. Book: Revival; Author: Stephen King; Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton; Pages: 374; Price: Rs. 699
In a small New England town in the early 1960s, a shadow falls over a small boy playing with his toy soldiers. Jamie Morton looks up to see a striking man, the new minister. Charles Jacobs, along with his beautiful wife, will transform the local church. The men and boys are all a bit in love with Mrs. Jacobs; the women and girls - including Jamie's mother and beloved sister - feel the same about Reverend Jacobs. With Jamie, the Reverend shares a deeper bond, based on their fascination with simple experiments in electricity.
Then, tragedy strikes the Jacobs family; the preacher curses God, mocking all religious beliefs, and is banished from the shocked town.
Jamie has demons of his own. Now in his mid-thirties, he is living a nomadic lifestyle of bar-band rock and roll. Addicted to heroin, stranded and desperate, he sees Jacobs again - a showman on stage, creating dazzling 'portraits in lightning' - and their meeting has profound consequences for both men. Their bond becomes a pact beyond even the Devil's devising, and Jamie discovers that revival has many meanings.
2. Book: My Name is Abu Salem; Author: S. Hussain Zaidi; Publisher: Penguin Books; Pages: 248; Price: Rs.299
Best known for his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts and the murder of music composer Gulshan Kumar, gangster Abu Salem is one of the most "colourful" dons of the Mumbai underworld.
In this gripping book, Mumbai-based journalist S. Hussain Zaidi has portrayed Salem's life giving out "unknown details and first-hand accounts".
Third in Zaidi's mafia trilogy after "Dongri to Dubai" and "Byculla to Bangkok", though the actual research took four years, the book had been in progress since Aug 5, 1997 - the day the author first spoke to Salem.
The book also touches upon Salem's relationship with Bollywood actress Monica Bedi.
3. Book: Breach; Author: Amrita Verma Chowdhury; Publisher: Hachette, Pages: 337; Price: Rs.350
Dr. Udai Vir Dhingra finds himself being blamed for breach of security and negligence when, weeks before pharma-giant Acel is to file a global patent application for a cancer drug, its offshore Mumbai-based data centre is hacked.
Now, to save his job he must reach the matter's core despite all odds. However, in his quest for the truth, he comes face to face with the world of masked online identities, making his journey a difficult one.
Set across Mumbai, Guangzhou and Washington, this "cyber thriller" takes the reader on an exploratory journey into the world of cyber crime and safety.
4. Book: Karam; Author: Aditya and Arnav Mukherjee; Publisher: Rupa; Pages: 262; Price: Rs. 195
Mumbai 2020: Rising above it, a flattened obelisk of polished black granite, stands the Rustom Group's imposing headquarters - the One World Tower. And at its very tip is Babylon, Vishnu Rustomjee Mistry's famous garden on top of the tallest building in the city - the centre of its wealth and power.
It's the day the flamboyant billionaire will make his big announcement. Yet, it will be one of the few days in the year when his won't be the biggest story.
It's the day a letter will be found that could change the meaning of everything. A simple letter, signed "The People's Guardian", which threatens the state's chief minister with dire consequences.
When model-turned-newscaster Tara and rookie journalist Sudhir Navkar stumble upon clues about this possible vigilante, they are led on a breadcrumb trail from the eerie slums of gangland Mumbai to the high-rise towers of glitzy neighbourhoods.
As the two of them try desperately to solve the mystery, they begin to uncover a frightening conspiracy that threatens to cast a shadow on the entire nation - and on their lives.
In a choice between love, life and their karma, will they have the courage to pursue the truth?
Israel-Hamas war: Jewish leader thanked PM Modi for supporting Israel, said this big thing for India
Indian-American Jewish leader Nissim Rubin has said that the Jewish community is grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his statement supporting Israel after the Hamas attack. Jewish leader
America will sell the anti-tank system to Taiwan, because of China's growing threat, said necessary steps
Because of the growing military threat from China, the US State Department has approved the sale of anti-tank mine-laying systems to Taiwan. The department said on Wednesday that the Volcano system
SC gives a jolt to the former principal of RG Kar College Sandeep Ghosh, The court says will not make any comment; now hearing will be held on this day
The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition of the former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital, Sandeep Ghosh, challenging the order of the Calcutta High Court. Ghosh had challenged the High
Nokia G Series: Nokia launches 2 smartphones, features like 50MP camera and 3 days battery backup, along with it is getting free
Nokia Latest Android Smartphone: Smartphone maker Nokia has launched a new smartphone in India. The company claims that under certain conditions, it will give battery backup of up to 3 days. Meaning
Even after the agreement, the Lakhimpur Kheri case did not stop, the round of allegations and counter-allegations continued, know who said what
Despite the agreement reached between the protesters and the administration, the Lakhimpur Kheri case is currently heating up. There is constant political rhetoric about this. It is worth noting that
India could be Role Model for Eradicating Malnutrition: Experts
New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) Terming malnutrition a global issue involving people from all financial backgrounds, health experts Wednesday said India could be a role model in dealing with the
Petrol Diesel Price Today: Oil companies have released the prices of petrol and diesel, know how much the prices are in your city
Petrol Diesel Price: Oil companies have released the prices of petrol and diesel for today. Today companies have changed the prices of oil in Delhi and Chennai. A few months back, the government
Coronavirus Updates: More than three thousand cases of corona in India for the second consecutive day, active cases close to 18 thousand
In the last 24 hours, 3,377 new cases of corona infection have been reported in India. This is the second consecutive day when more than three thousand cases of corona have come. Earlier yesterday
Shahid Afridi sends a message to BCCI, challenges Indian board on the pretext of Kashmir Premier League
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi often remains in the discussion about his controversial statements. The former all-rounder is once again in the news for his statement. Afridi has targeted the
Home Minister in Kashi: CM Yogi welcomed Amit Shah at the airport, the strategy for the assembly elections will be discussed
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reached Varanasi on Friday for a two-day visit. The Home Minister, who reached Varanasi airport at around 4.30 pm, was welcomed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP
