Review: Dead Man's Alibi by Mita Jain

Mystery thrillers are a rarity in our literary scene. It's not been convincing or a thoroughly pursued genre. Author Mita Jain in her book titled "Dead Man's Alibi" has tried to weave a mystery thriller and make it sound like a convincing plot for the readers. So is she successful in her attempts? 

Live interview with Jay Gandhi.
**************************
I: Hello Jay
Jay: Huh! [In a disheveled state]

I: I heard you are in trouble?
Jay: Me, the best criminal lawyer in Hyderabad. You kidding?

I: Well, wasn't a dead body found in your house last night? 
Jay: Who told you? [Pushing the mike away from his face in a fit]

I: Is that dead man your father?
Jay: Has Rathi been talking to you?

I: Is it true? You killed your father!
Jay...... [Clenching his teeth and blocking the door to his house]

I: ..... [Waiting for response}
Jay: ..... [Looking back inside his house as if checking something] 

I: Did you? [Waiting again] You did? [Eyes wide now]
Jay: How can I? HE DIED TWENTY YEARS BACK! Are you listening! TWENTY YEARS BACK

First look at the title and the cover image and readers can imagine bloody gory scenes in their minds. But for a mystery thriller the cover and title are justified and carved out well. The blurb is more of a conversation which is not very convincing but it could have been much better. Though it doesn't gives out too many details and leave the readers in a frenzy. 

The story starts off from Jay Gandhi's house a famous criminal lawyer in Hyderabad city. One fine night a body is discovered in his hall and his maid Kathy comes screaming around to his room. The body is burnt and scarred and Jay is horrified to his mother faint next to the body. He is clueless as he summons Inspector Rathi his nemesis and work partner at times to investigate the case. But suddenly the heat is turned on Jay as he finds himself in a lot of trouble and many start to believe that he is behind the murder and faking it. A note in the dead man's hands, a lot of questions and few suspects and some people for support in difficult times make it a big time mess. How will Jay handle it? What all shocking revelations await him once his criminal mind goes to work? Will he able to prove his innocence? That's what the story is all about. 

Murder mystery is an apt description for the book as it sends you on a wild goose chase from page one till the end. The fluidity in narration and the no. of surprises, twists and turns and not to forget the shady characters in the story will leave the readers gaping for breath. It's a mind blowing story carved out with simplicity yet command on each and every detail required in a murder mystery. It's thrill can be experienced in the minds all the time. It holds the power to enchant the readers all the time. 

The book has not a single downside in it's story. Some might feel it lacks depth but it doesn't requires depth. 

This is one mystery thriller which you can crave to read again & again. It sets the tone with it's pace and edge of the seat conversations. The suspicions and the readers mind will be in a regular tiff making it more absorbing and mind boggling. It's a thriller to get thriller and it's a mystery to get dizzy. It's all the way amazing till the end. 

RATINGS: 

5 OUT OF 5