Title: Truth Lake
Author: Shakuntala Banaji
Publisher: Masala Books
ISBN: 978-0-9933476-0-3
Pages: 280
Genre: Murder Mystery
Reviewed by: Kathleen Logan-Taylor
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Pacific Book Review
“Truth Lake” takes the reader on a journey to India, from the crowded streets of New Delhi to a quite Mountain village in the Himalayas and the hippie retreat of Goa. The author brings the sights and sounds of India to life. The story starts in Delhi where the acting Chief of police, Harelal is contacted by the Italian Tycoon, Antonio Sinbari. He wants Harelal to sort out a possible crime for him and to do it discreetly. Two hysterical backpackers have pitched up at his door talking about a corpse they found in a remote village. They are friends of his young son and he appears to want to help them. Harelal sends his right hand man Karmel to the village to investigate. Karmel becomes involved in the lives of the villagers and soon all the lies that have been told begin to unravel. Sinbari is a ruthless businessman who is willing to destroy lives in order to build a resort on “Truth Lake”. Karmel uncovers the truth in the village as Tanya, Harelal’s daughter follows the backpackers to Goa to find out the truth behind their stories.
The author manages to successfully bring India to life for the reader. The reader will begin to understand the politics and social order of India and how it influences the story. The story is well written, with a few minor errors that actually lend themselves to the style of writing. The story invokes India and it wouldn’t seem real if it was written in perfect English. The style of writing gives the novel a sense of place. “Truth Lake” will appeal to those with a sense of adventure and readers who enjoy a well-written murder mystery with an element of suspense. The book is aimed at a mature audience.
The book felt a bit rushed at the start and I battled to follow the storyline initially. However the book draws you in and by the middle I was hooked. I read through the night to find the conclusion. The ending was a bit lackluster. I would have liked to find out what really happened to Sinbari and Harelal. The village conclusion was good but the rest seemed to be brushed aside. I look forward to the next offering by this author and I hope that she continues to write novels set in her homeland.
“Truth Lake” takes the reader on a journey to an exotic land. The characters are real and you don’t feel sorry for them, nor do you hate them. They each have their flaws, but most have some quality that helps the reader to understand their actions. A well-written first novel.
