Book Review: One Arranged Murder by Chetan Bhagat

Book Review: One Arranged Murder by Chetan Bhagat 

One of the most reputed Indian authors of this modern world, Chetan Bhagat, is here again with another fascinating mystery in the form of a novel he wrote, titled One Arranged Murder in the year 2020. Being a sequel to his novel The Girl in Room 105, this novel seems to be a roller coaster ride through the lives of two amateur detectives, Keshav and Saurabh, who find themselves in the middle of a web of lies, secrets, and deception in order to unravel one blood-curdling murder. The novel does not disappoint Bhagat's flair for weaving relatable modern-day Indian settings with suspenseful plots. This is a must-read for all suspense thriller lovers.

Plot Overview

The story begins with a shocking incident: Saurabh's fiancée, Prerna, is found dead under mysterious circumstances on the night of Karva Chauth, a traditional Indian festival where wives keep a fast for their husbands for long life. The twist? Prerna observes a fast for Saurabh, but before she can break it with him, her life is cut short. The murder happens in Prerna's home, under bizarre and confused circumstances. Keshav, running a private detective agency together with Saurabh, is immediately drawn into the investigation. As the tale unwinds, the two come upon a trail of secrets, dynamics of relationships, and hidden motives that keep the reader guessing right to the end.

Character Development

The strength of Bhagat lies in the drawing of characters that are relatable and which his readers can identify with. Keshav, the protagonist of the story, is made to appear as a determined and resourceful detective, though personally flawed to make him human. His friendship with Saurabh is one of the cores within the novel, having just the right number of doses of humor and emotional depth. Saurabh, in turn, is a very loyal but slightly naive friend who is very badly affected by Prerna's death. His journey from grief to pursuit of justice impregnates layers into his character.

Prerna's character is, therefore, the Central part of the plot, but she remains an enigma right from the beginning to the very end of the novel. The case unravels snippets of her life and nature, but she is truly unveiled during the climax. The sub-cast of Prerna's family and friends are well-fleshed-out, each having secrets and motives adding to the whole suspension of the story.

Themes and Writing Style

One Arranged Murder, a book by Chetan Bhagat, deals with love, betrayal, and arranged marriage in modern Indian society. Bhagat explores the dynamics of family expectations and individual desires. He depicts tension arising in arranged marriages. The novel also touches upon how societal pressure affects personal relationships and hence has a lot of relevance for a wide audience.

Bhagat's writing, as always, is effortless, clear, and absorbing. There is no bombastic language, which therefore makes the book readable by large sections of people. The pace of the novel is slick-fast, and each chapter ends at a point where you feel obligated to continue reading on. Bhagat sustains a fine balance in interlacing humor with tension so that the narrative does not get heavy, though the subject matter may be dark.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The first strength in this novel is that One Arranged Murder could keep the guessing sailing. Bhagat has planted red herrings and false leads all over the story, which no one could predict. The reveal was surprising, satisfying, tied up the loose ends, and left some aspects open to interpretation.

Of course, the novel has its weaker moments. The plot can tend to feel a little formulaic; it follows the standard sequence of events that characterizes the murder mystery genre. Too many coincidences and an element of predictability regarding some of the plot twists do detract from the experience, especially for the seasoned mystery reader. Additionally, while the characters could be well-relatable, they may strike a section as somewhat stereotypical, at least in the way various gender roles are pointed out in Indian society.

Conclusion

One Arranged Murder is well-crafted, entertaining mystery that has suspense, humor, and social commentary in just the right amounts. It is a book which will satisfy not only old-time readers of Chetan Bhagat's books but also enthusiasts of thrillers full of speed and with a standard Indian setting. While it doesn't do much for innovation in the genre, it delivers on its promise of an engaging and thus enjoyable read.

For readers looking for a fast-paced, engaging whodunit with a dash of Bollywood drama, One Arranged Murder is sure to be on your reading list. Bhagat's keen eye on modern Indian life and the telling of a story make it vastly different from the other books floating in the ocean of contemporary Indian fiction.