Genres: Nonfiction
Published: 30 March, 2017
A deep, twisty dive in an interesting true crime tale of the decade!
How often do you read True Crime stories? I am always seeking one of them. They have a way of capturing my focus for the longest period of hours. Well most crime fiction does that to me, and if it’s true, the more real, the merrier reading hours.
One I recently read is Rajesh Talwar’s new book: The Killing of Aarushi and the Murder of Justice. Based on the Aarushi Talwar’s murder case which gripped the imagination of India for almost half of the decade and is currently alive in the mind of people of India. The case is about the murder of a young teenage girl, Aarushi and the family servant Hemraj, and was first investigated by the state police that allowed the crime scene to be heavily contaminated and robbed of all direct evidence. The case took many twists and turns, which were widely reported in the media.
Initially the Talwars, Nupur and Rajesh, dentists and parents of the young girl were suspected of the crime by the state police, but subsequently when investigation was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the country’s premier investigative agency, the first team investigating the matter reached the conclusion that the Talwars were innocent and it was Hemraj’s associates that had committed the murders. The case took another turn when a fresh investigating team was put in charge following the appointment of a new director. This new team exonerated the servants and directed the needle of suspicion once more towards the Talwars. In the trial that followed the Talwars were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.
This book takes the reader from the history of the case till the many conclusions one can make in fit as the final piece of the puzzle. Rajesh Talwar, the author (who is not associated to the Talwars, the parents of the young girl, in any manner) has a very unique and ubiquitous way of telling the story and stating the facts along with it. The storyline does not have much to do apart from a deep dive to the incidents and facts, and how manipulative and complex this murder case has been from the start. You, like me will be astonished.
Author examines the judgement very carefully and tries to answer some questions that remain unanswered. He has deciphered his own version of what might be called a conclusion after stating what happened in reality which seems plausible but what actually happened is still the mystery to many.
This book is quite an interesting read and something different especially from modern Indian literature’s point of view. Rajesh Talwar’s writing is flawless and fluent enough for the reader to cope up with the book. I was able to complete this heart warming reality of crime in two days and I don’t think any fellow reader will a problem in doing the same.
4 out of 5!
Disclaimer: I received a reading copy but that doesn’t have any impression on this review.
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I liked the true crime books of Ann Rule. She actually worked alongside Ted Bundy, the serial killer, before he was discovered. She was astonished when he was arrested and realized she had known him.
Sounds really interesting. I haven’t read Ann Rule, but now you have tempt me to do.
What a sordid episode!
Great review aman left me wanting to know the author’s views.. Superb
Thanks Shalini!