TW: Rape and Violence
A fast-paced, suspense thriller, Amongst the Believers, by author Shibu Kochery spans
multiple countries and war-torn scenes to bring its readers the ultimate experience. It is a
continuation of the story from his debut book ‘Man and Dreams, in the
Dhauladhar.' 'Wonderfully original' is a term used to describe a dance in the book, but I
would use it to refer to the book itself.
WRITING STYLE:
Hailing from a military background, the author has brought his expertise from the battlefield
onto the pages. The storyline is unique and different, the characters are complex and
dimensional, and the writing style is subtle yet impactful. At times, the writing did remind me
of Lee Child because of the sparse emotions used and providing information only where
necessary.
CHARACTERS:
Talking about the characters, the story revolves around three people, each with varied
backgrounds and heart-breaking storylines. Khusru is a terrorist on the run, Nanda is an
undercover agent, presented with a chance by RAW to start his life with a blank slate and
keep his family safe if he completes a secret mission, and Rekha is a doctor and a dancer. As
the story moves from East to West, the risk increases, action-packed scenes adorn the pages,
and betrayal lurks in every corner. Amid this chaos of twists and turns, love finds its way to
bloom, and it is beautiful to witness it unfold. The dance element in the book adds an artistic
angle to the otherwise violent storyline.
SELLING POINT:
Shibu has a consistent theme running through all his books, and this is the depiction of
flawed humans. No character is black and white; everyone has a degree of grey in them, and
it is this realistic portrayal which brings authenticity to the narrative. Rekha at one point
questions herself, is there such a thing as a good terrorist? This makes the readers ponder if
there is a degree to which a person is allowed to be evil before he is deemed a monster. In
addition to this, the fast-paced narrative perfectly complements the storyline.
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoings and right doings, there is a field. I'll meet you there."
SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT:
Although the fast-paced writing, at times, does make it confusing for the readers to make
sense of the timeline and all the scenes happening simultaneously. The author could have
taken time to explain the storyline better and show his characters through a more emotional
depth and perspective.
Overall, the depth of the characters, the vivid scenes and the phenomenal writing make the
book a must-read for fans of drama, suspense and action.