Book Review: One Arranged Murder by Chetan Bhagat

One Arranged Murder by Chetan Bhagat Review:

The karva chauth murder of his fiancee leaves Saurabh a suspect and it is now up to Keshav to clear his friend’s name. The amateur detective duo of Keshav and Saurabh who solved the baffling murder mystery of “The Girl in Room 105” are again on the trail of the murderer in this book.

Prerna and Saurabh were going to wed soon and were hopelessly in love but then Prerna falls to her death on the day of Karva chauth. Just minutes before her fall she was talking excitedly to Saurabh who had been on his way to meet her and help her break her fast but then she falls. There is speculation of this being an accident whereas the police thinks it is murder but Saurabh is sure that it isn’t suicide or an accident and he is determined to solve the mystery and catch the real killer.

This is the second mystery by Chetan Bhagat and having read both the books, I can safely say that he writes mysteries better than he writes romance. If I exempt “Two States“, all his other romances were just okay but his murders are way better!

The writing style is simple, fluid, and easy for all types of readers to understand. Whether you are a seasoned reader or a novice, his narration will engross you nonetheless. The plot is expertly mapped out and executed and I am happy to say that I couldn’t guess the murderer’s identity until later in the story!

Saurabh and Keshav’s friendship has taken a new turn in this book. The lovelorn Keshav is now a womanizer, and the dishevelled Saurabh is now prim and proper. With a new lady-love in his life, Saurabh has tidied himself up and Keshav has taken his place in covering-up-for-his-friend-at-work that usually he did when Keshav was out chasing women!

The instant attraction and love between Prerna and Keshav, both foodies is so comically and yet, endearingly showcased in the below quote.

Maybe I sound middle class, but I would love a chaat and then some tasty North Indian food,” Prerna said.

Saurabh locked eyes with Prerna. Imaginary fireworks burst in the sky. He had found her. The girl of his dreams. Forget planets matching in horoscopes. If the choices of dishes matched, this had to be a match made in heaven.”

Quotes from One Arranged Murder by Chetan Bhagat

The tension, suspense, twists and turns, and ample number of suspects with motive to kill, all this is admirably handled by the author resulting in a story that kept my interest until the end.

The only downside that I feel like pointing out is the body shaming that Chetan Bhagat indulged in through Keshav’s remarks on both Saurabh and Prerna. If he tried to show Keshav’s jealousy towards his friend who had finally found a soulmate through his rude remarks on the “well-rounded” couple then I seriously think the author should have tried something other than demeaning a person based on his weight. However, he also shows that while Keshav cracks jokes on his friend’s weight, he isn’t malicious in his intent and cares deeply about his partner to want him to be healthy. This somewhat redeemed Keshav in my eyes but still, I will say that I don’t condone body shaming.

Apart from this, I think this is a well-written book devoid of grammatical errors and editing fallacies. Chetan Bhagat has improved his craft and it shows in his recent books. Gone are the stories that had been riddled with poor English and grammar errors, in their place are stories that use simple yet correct English and are fluid enough to attract all kinds of readers.

Keshav and Saurabh’s friendship is so sweet and will have you remembering your best friend. Even though they are fighting, the care they have for one another never lessens and their strong bond is the highlight of this book. It will leave a lasting impression on your mind and emphasize the beauty of true friendship.

We high-fived at our odd life. Love seemed elusive to us, but we had something else. We had friendship, which in many ways is even more beautiful than love.”

Book Quotes from One Arranged Murder by Chetan Bhagat

All in all, One Arranged Murder by Chetan Bhagat is a murder mystery that will keep you engrossed and guessing until the end. With relatable characters and a realistic world, this book can be read by anyone. 5 out of 5 stars to it from me and Njkinny recommends it to all mystery lovers. This is his best work till date and I look forward to reading more mysteries featuring Keshav and Saurabh in the future. Revisit the beauty of their friendship and follow them as they solve yet another case, go read this book now!