Maze of clues
Reviewed by Nonika Singh

Compass Box killer
Piyush Jha
Rupa Pages 254 Rs 195

It begins on a rather sleazy note... going into the details of a chilling love-making scene. But soon this second outing by filmmaker- turned writer finds its ground and fleshes out into a thriller that has all the elements in place.

Suspense to intrigue to treachery to murder...the potpourri that Jha whips up has all this and more. Sure sex is there but not as an overriding refrain even though a certain sexual fetish is the pivot on which the story of a serial killer hangs. The narrative like his first book is set in the Maximum City, whose nooks and crevices, Jha seems to know rather well. Yet this story has a universal ring and could be true for any other part of India or world for that matter. There are stereotypes as well, an overtly ambitious journalist, a scheming industrialist and other greedy characters. In this tale peopled with grey, somewhat amoral beings, he doesn’t lose sight of basic human goodness. Amidst murders, he lets the voice of good speak loud and clear. Nowhere does the story turn preachy and not once, even through the good cop, inspector Virkar, does it ever pontificate. Its thrills keep you sufficiently engaged, its racy tenor ensures that once you begin reading, you will not be satisfied till you have moved to the last page.

Like good writers of this genre, Jha finds a balance between the predictable and unpredictable. He throws cues for his readers, so that they can connect the dots. To a large extent, Jha lets the reader navigate his way in his maze and leaves tell-tale signs but also keeps the surprise factor intact. The serial killer leaves notes behind for the police to keep them on his trail yet remains one step ahead, as does the writer. Before you think you have unravelled the mystery, he moves on to spring another surprise.

Jha’s understanding of his subject sufficiently peppered with basic scientific principles as well as lesser-known facts manifests. Yet once again, it never gets in the way of his story telling acumen. When his first book hit the market, one thought it was a filmmaker’s passing fancy with the written word that would extinguish sooner than it sparked. But with the Compass Box Killer, one can safely say Jha can consider writing as his second if not first career.

HOME