by 
Title and Author: The Madras Mangler
by Usha NarayananPrint Length: 280 Pages
Publication Date: October 2013
Language: English
Genre: Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Serial Killer, Contemporary Fiction, Suspense
Blurb:
Five pretty girls from around the country, enjoying college life in Chennai, chasing their own dreams. Until a psychopath comes to town, killing girls and dumping their bodies in the rivers. The killer is smart, dangerous and very angry. Just like Vir Pradyumna, ace criminologist from New York, who is fighting his own demons from the past. Ruthless politicians, bumbling cops, beer barons and cyber criminals run amuck. The killer snatches a girl whom Vir has sworn to protect. A Hollywood action crew and the crowds at the India-Australia cricket one-dayer get sucked into the relentless buildup to a nail-biting climax. Will Vir be in time to stop the maniac and save the girl?
Book Review
When I heard about The Madras Mangler
A metropolitan city with beautiful beaches, a hot and humid climate that can test your endurance levels and with people who value their families and their culture, Usha brings to us a thrilling tale of a serial killer with no conscience running free in this conservative city. Beautifully and vividly sketched, she brings out the beauty and the social diversity of the city and its people. The writing style of the author is simple and yet captivating. She has created and admirably handled a line up of characters, each with their own characteristic nature and traits. A perfect bunch of suspects is provided and a suitable back story given for each of them. The author is well read and she has done her research which shows when one is reading the book.
The plot is well conceived and admirably executed. I did figure out the killer and the Vir angle beforehand but still was duly kept interested in the story until the very end. There are well planned twists and turns but they are somewhat mellowed and thus, sometimes don’t leave the desired impact on the reader.
The characterization is good and I liked the characters and could relate with them either personally or through people I have met in my life. The characters effectively take the story forward and keep the reader interested in the book till the end. Usha made me laugh, instilled fear in my heart and also made me feel high with the thrill of chasing an elusive, sly and vicious serial killer!
I loved the Chepauk Stadium scene where the helicopter used in the Hollywood movie is used to catch the killer. I am not giving away the scene. Go read the book to know more! 🙂
The dirty politics, the two face people, the red tapism in the police, the ruthless media and then the victimized public with a vicious and devious killer on the roll. Everything is all too real and frightening. Kudos to the author for bringing all this alive in the book so beautifully. 🙂
While I loved the mystery and its execution, I did feel that how the killer chose his victims was not clearly explained. There were so many colleges and thousands of girls, so how did he expressly choose these five friends? How did he come across them?
The romance is a bit under developed in the book. I would have loved if the love pairs had been given some intense scenes like a clash in their beliefs or emotions etc. Maybe this will be handled in the sequel which I guess is planned since the author ends the book with a hint of it.
The climax is crisp and I enjoyed it immensely. My interest dipped a little in the middle part of the story but then was again upped in the later part.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and the mystery and give The Madras Mangler 4 out of 5. A captivating mystery from a very promising author, this one is a must read for all mystery lovers. Kudos to Usha for taking a risk to write a mystery novel which is very tough and for doing it so beautifully. I wish her the best and hope to read more from her in the future.
4 out of 5. A captivating mystery from a very promising author, this one is a must read for all mystery lovers. Kudos to Usha for taking a risk to write a mystery novel which is very tough and for doing it so beautifully. I wish her the best and hope to read more from her in the future.I received the book from the author and the tour organizers and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
Buy From:
Amazon.com: Paperback | Kindle Ebook
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Amazon.in: Paperback
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Watch it
Meet the Author
Be crazy, be creative. That’s been my mantra as a writer and a creative director ― in advertising, radio, corpcomm and web-writing. I turned up the craziness a notch by becoming a novelist, with the freedom to write exactly what I wanted. I started a romcom, changed it into a thriller and sweated and slogged to get the pieces to work together. Research, cliffhangers, suspense, clues, red herrings ― my brain was in a tizzy for days and months.
Done, dusted off, dispatched. A few rejections, heartbreak. A contract from Leadstart, bliss. Creating a spooky book trailer with images and music I bought online. A tweak here and there, with my editor. Poring over images for the cover. Suggesting the artist turn ‘The’ in the title sideways. The book comes out on Flipkart and Amazon first. And after some nail-biting suspense, in bookstores. Organised a launch with Suhasini Maniratnam and Rudra Krishna. Great media reviews. Lovely, wonderful blogger friends. I love being an author. 🙂
Interview with Usha Narayanan
Hey Friends,
Today I have with me Usha Narayanan, the author of the crime and mystery novel, The Madras Mangler. She has worked as English teacher, creative director in ad agencies and radio, corporate communications manager, web editor, green volunteer and head of copyright permissions. She is a gold-medallist with a Master’s degree in English Literature. She also has a diploma in creative writing from the University of Hawaii.
Welcome to Njkinny’s World of Books & Stuff, Usha!
Lets grab our filter coffee and start the interview. 🙂
Chennai is famous for its filter coffee which I thoroughly like! 🙂
Q1. Tell us
something about yourself.
something about yourself.
I was born
near Madras and have lived in Madras most of my life ― except that it is now
called Chennai. Of course, my first book, a suspense thriller, had to be named
‘The Madras Mangler’.
near Madras and have lived in Madras most of my life ― except that it is now
called Chennai. Of course, my first book, a suspense thriller, had to be named
‘The Madras Mangler’.
I studied
in Presentation Convent, Church Park, which perhaps accounts for my ease in
writing in English, and my career as a writer. Then followed two Masters
degrees, in English Literature and Education.
in Presentation Convent, Church Park, which perhaps accounts for my ease in
writing in English, and my career as a writer. Then followed two Masters
degrees, in English Literature and Education.
Q2. In onesentence, what is your book about?
Five feisty
girls and a hot hero face up to a psychopathic killer, taking you on a
rollercoaster ride that is chock-a-block with chills, thrills and wit.
girls and a hot hero face up to a psychopathic killer, taking you on a
rollercoaster ride that is chock-a-block with chills, thrills and wit.
Q3. What
inspired you to write this book?
inspired you to write this book?
The sheer
joy of creating something from my own imagination, anchored in the reality of
the world that women confront every day.
joy of creating something from my own imagination, anchored in the reality of
the world that women confront every day.
Q4. Do you have a specific writing style?
I’m aiming
for smooth, sassy, and simple – with huge dollops of fun. Ultimately, I want
you to keep turning the pages till you reach the end, and ask for more!
for smooth, sassy, and simple – with huge dollops of fun. Ultimately, I want
you to keep turning the pages till you reach the end, and ask for more!
Q5. How did you come up with the title?
The killer in
my novel is evil, obsessed and unstoppable. He is also the lynchpin holding the
plot together. The title had to reflect this, and grab you by the throat!
Alliteration works well and I played with quite a few options ― Campus Killer,
Sicko Strangler and Chennai Casanova. And the winner was of course ‘The Madras
Mangler’.
my novel is evil, obsessed and unstoppable. He is also the lynchpin holding the
plot together. The title had to reflect this, and grab you by the throat!
Alliteration works well and I played with quite a few options ― Campus Killer,
Sicko Strangler and Chennai Casanova. And the winner was of course ‘The Madras
Mangler’.
Q6. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
When you
pick up a novel, you want to be entertained, not to be lectured. Hence my goal
is to make the book unputdownable. Of course, there is a subtle message in it
for girls of today: Don’t compromise.
Fight for your right to lead a fulfilling life.
pick up a novel, you want to be entertained, not to be lectured. Hence my goal
is to make the book unputdownable. Of course, there is a subtle message in it
for girls of today: Don’t compromise.
Fight for your right to lead a fulfilling life.
Q7. What was your technique when planning your plot and characters?
I started
by creating the starry-eyed girls who are stepping out from their homes for the
first time, into the big, bad world. Then the serial killer cannons into their
lives and I had to plot and scheme to keep two steps ahead of him and the
reader!
by creating the starry-eyed girls who are stepping out from their homes for the
first time, into the big, bad world. Then the serial killer cannons into their
lives and I had to plot and scheme to keep two steps ahead of him and the
reader!
Q8. What do you love most about writing?
The
infinite possibilities of creating a world where I am the creator, the
protector and the destroyer. Nothing can equal the thrill!
infinite possibilities of creating a world where I am the creator, the
protector and the destroyer. Nothing can equal the thrill!
Q9. If you
had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest
book?
had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest
book?
Not really.
I spent months agonizing over every detail and polishing every word. Maybe I’d
think differently after I’ve written ten books. I’ll have to wait and see.
I spent months agonizing over every detail and polishing every word. Maybe I’d
think differently after I’ve written ten books. I’ll have to wait and see.
Q10. What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical)
in bringing it to life?
in bringing it to life?
A thriller
is really tough to write. It’s like assembling a jigsaw puzzle with a hundred
thousand pieces. Plots, subplots, clues, red herrings, forensics, research,
suspense, twists and cliffhangers ― everything must mesh together to form a
perfect picture.
is really tough to write. It’s like assembling a jigsaw puzzle with a hundred
thousand pieces. Plots, subplots, clues, red herrings, forensics, research,
suspense, twists and cliffhangers ― everything must mesh together to form a
perfect picture.
Q11. Do you
see writing as a career?
see writing as a career?
Except for
four years teaching English at junior college level, I have always been a
writer ― for ad agencies, radio, corporate communications, websites ― and now
as a novelist.
four years teaching English at junior college level, I have always been a
writer ― for ad agencies, radio, corporate communications, websites ― and now
as a novelist.
Q12. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I find it
difficult to write about the darker side of life. I have to push myself, as I
know that the villain must be super-smart and ruthless in order to make his battle
with the hero exciting. Finally, when my writing makes me shiver, I know I’ve
succeeded!
difficult to write about the darker side of life. I have to push myself, as I
know that the villain must be super-smart and ruthless in order to make his battle
with the hero exciting. Finally, when my writing makes me shiver, I know I’ve
succeeded!
Q13. How did you get your first break at getting a novel published?
I started
writing the novel without knowing anything about getting it published. Once it
was done, I began googling publishers and their contact information. Query
letters, synopses, follow-up ― I took it one step at a time. I got a few
rejection letters and then, ‘Snap!’ Leadstart Publishing sent me a contract. After
a few iterations with the editor and the cover artist, my novel appeared in
bookstores and through online stores.
writing the novel without knowing anything about getting it published. Once it
was done, I began googling publishers and their contact information. Query
letters, synopses, follow-up ― I took it one step at a time. I got a few
rejection letters and then, ‘Snap!’ Leadstart Publishing sent me a contract. After
a few iterations with the editor and the cover artist, my novel appeared in
bookstores and through online stores.
Q14. What
are the 5 things that you learnt in your journey of getting your novel
published?
are the 5 things that you learnt in your journey of getting your novel
published?
Make sure
your query letter and synopsis grab attention. Polish your manuscript till it is
the best it can be. Do your research. Follow-up after the requisite interval.
Have faith in yourself and your writing.
your query letter and synopsis grab attention. Polish your manuscript till it is
the best it can be. Do your research. Follow-up after the requisite interval.
Have faith in yourself and your writing.
Q15. Do you have any advice for other writers?
Keep writing, keep reading, keep your mind open
to opportunities, and don’t ever give up. Good luck.
to opportunities, and don’t ever give up. Good luck.
Q16. What
are your current projects?
are your current projects?
A romcom
that is a cocktail of
fun and fizzy elements like power, politics, love, hormones and hangovers, set in
the colourful media world. And second, an action thriller set in mythical
times, with a full blast of adventure,
romance, magic and divinity.
that is a cocktail of
fun and fizzy elements like power, politics, love, hormones and hangovers, set in
the colourful media world. And second, an action thriller set in mythical
times, with a full blast of adventure,
romance, magic and divinity.
Q17. Where
can people find you on the Internet?
can people find you on the Internet?
You can read my blogs and contact me at www.ushanarayanan.com.
I love responding to comments and feedback. Follow me at www.facebook.com/writerusha
and www.twitter.com/writerusha.
Check out my book trailer and videos at www.youtube.com/writerusha.
I love responding to comments and feedback. Follow me at www.facebook.com/writerusha
and www.twitter.com/writerusha.
Check out my book trailer and videos at www.youtube.com/writerusha.
Thanks for talking and sharing so much with us, Usha. Njkinny’s World of Books & Stuff wishes you the very best for the future and hope that your book entertains readers worldwide! 🙂
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Buy The Madras Mangler From:
Amazon.com: Paperback
Amazon.in: Paperback
Flipkart.com: Paperback | Ebook
Lovely review Nikita, Usha has given some love advices for new writers.
Thank you Rubina. And thank you Nikita, for featuring me in your rocking blog! Usha