Murdered to Moksha - Book Review

Murdered to Moksha

By Rohit Shetty

Review By Ila Garg

Murdered to Moksha is a novel by Rohit Shetty, published by FirstStep Publishing. The book is decorated in the form of a very apt cover page. With lot of blood and handprints, it indeed qualifies as a captivating cover! The title is interesting too.

Rohit Shetty is academically a Chemical Engineer and a jubilant author, a passionate poet and a very dynamic person. The author is based in Mumbai.

The blurb reads as, ‘Wife’s murderer or a victim of fate. This headline flooded the news channels. A 35 year old guy killing his wife at City Hospital and then trying to jump off the same building. A selfish, ruthless murderer who took away a 10 year old girl’s mother and then attempted a suicide. 

Why?

Financial problems? … NO.

Disputes with wife? … NO.

Mentally unstable? … NO.

Then, why?

Only person who had an answer to this question… HE. Himself.

His silence even at the court sessions added to the twists of the case. He said nothing in his defence neither hired a lawyer. He seemed heartless. Cold blooded killer, a murderer, a maniac, mentally unstable to the world. Every medium spoke bad for him but no one really cared to know the reason why he killed his wife.

He was a murdered until………’

My Verdict: Initial impressions of the book from the title, cover, and the blurb - It’s gonna be an interesting murder mystery - something different from the league. Of course the plot is intriguing and doesn’t disappoint the readers.

This is the story of Aarav Rathode, his struggles, his love life, his moments of suffering, disappointment, and dissatisfaction! Therefore, the title is apt for the story “Murdered to Moksha”. As you will move along the plot, you will find it hard to put down. After all, it’s a creative fiction based on a real life controversial topic.

‘Murdered to Moksha’ has a brilliant start. The beginning is shocking and arouses curiosity in the readers esp. the first two chapters. It compels them to keep turning the pages and move with the flow. I loved the chapter where the protagonists get married. However, as a reviewer I was stuck with several errors that could not be neglected.

The cover says ‘Murdered to moksh’ but when I turned to look inside, it said ‘Murdered to moksha’. This is something that put me off. I was starting to ignore this mistake when I came across another blunder. On page 8, there’s a line, ‘Nobody really tried to know the reason why he killed his wife.’ And much to my disappointment it was followed by this line, ‘Everyone was eager to know the reason but Aarav spoke nothing, absolutely nothing.’ Both the lines are completely opposite to each other.

I liked the poems (especially, I wish to die… Please, don’t ask me “why?”), and the questions like ‘what is euthanasia?’ added to the USP and overshadowed the so many grammatical errors in the book. The language used is simple and easy to comprehend. It sometimes, goes in a fast forward mode. The pace might be uneven but it manages to keep the readers glued. I can’t help noticing slight abruptness too yet the revelation note of Esha at the end of the story made me emotional as a reader.

The 194 page book comprises of 13 chapters and a long epilogue. It is undoubtedly appealing. The book has sheer realism which is the USP according to me. The narrative skills are indeed commendable. The chapter divisions are perfect and I liked all the titles too. I felt that at some places some events got stretched unnecessarily. But the story on the whole, is certainly different and soul stirring.

The too many dilemmas of Aarav’s life is just one of the reasons you want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens in Murdered to Moksha. It is not every day that you find someone in jail for murdering his own wife.

To find out whether Aarav and Esha were unhappy in the matrimonial bond or not, what made their future so blurry, whether Aarav’s father’s rejection helped him grow as a person or not, what was Esha’s role in Aarav’s success, what made him murder her, was he really guilty or just a victim of circumstances; you will have to read the novel, Murdered to Moksha.

'Yay' Factors: The delicate issue which you have picked up in the story is quite appreciable.

'Nay' Factors: Few editing errors which can be considered equivalent to blunders.

I would still suggest it as a must read for anyone who likes to read mystery novels. A job well done Rohit, just be sure to get the book properly edited before it goes in the next print.

Rating: 3/5

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