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Book Review: Khel-The Writings

Khel-The Writings is a genre offering by Mr. Vishal Goswami. It belongs to Horror genre and comes across as a very thoughtful and well-written novel. I must say it kept me in check all the time and didn't particularly disappoint me except for it's all too familiar plot. I wouldn't blame it on Vishal though for genre offerings always fight for cognizance in recognizable territory yet whatever is up there for readers in Khel's pages is still pure delight. The story revolves around an 'abandoned' haveli that used to belong to a Nawab Saheb and was left in its present status due to some terrible incidents having taken place there. A group of five adventure-seekers and wannabe documentary makers (of the type of 'Paranormal Activity') go to the Haveli and fall victim to the apparent chief patron of Haveli, Ms. Gomes (call her ghost). Police investigates the case and we all slowly get to know that Haveli is haunted and not to be referred to in any case, let alone investigate and yet, an investigative journo, Sanya Sharma takes it upon herself to go to the root-cause of all this hoopla. She goes to the Haveli and finds herself entangled in all the supernatural guise of Ms. Gomes and how does she manage to unravel all the mysteries of Haveli and lead the coup against Ms. Gomes forms the central idea of 'Khel-The Writings'.

One would say after reading this synopsis that it's all too predictable but again I'd say that how all the characters and things have been into perspective by Vishal here is the real strength of this book. The writing is top-class and I must say that this is the most grammatically refined book of all the ones by Indian writers that I have managed to go through so far. Book is a technical triumph too with its eye-catching cover page, again keeping true to its genre and superior print quality. I really enjoyed the book and thus would recommend it to all my readers and particulary to horror-genre fans who crave all the time for a suitable offering.

Rating: 3.5/5

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