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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Writer's Workshop, August 14, 2009
This review is from: Six Suspects: A Novel (Hardcover)
This book is really a great study of a writer's style - or in this instance, how adaptable Vikas Swarup's style really is. The story is a murder mystery with, you guessed it, six primary suspects. When Indian playboy Vicky Rai is acquitted of a murder he's blatantly guilty for, the nation of India is in an uproar. To celebrate, Vicky throws a party at which he is subsequently murdered. All 500+ guests are frisked and six suspects carrying guns are fingered. A dedicated investigative journalist aims to uncover the truth, at which point we learn all about the backgrounds, motives, evidence, and outcomes for the sacred six.
The 6 stories are extremely diverse in terms of both characters and style. Ranging from an American hick from the backwoods of Texas to a popular Bollywood actress / sex symbol to a corrupt bureaucrat or two, each section of the book is wholly devoted to that character and written in a different form, including third-person omniscient, diary entries, and perhaps most challenging - entirely in dialogue. Of course, there are wavers of connections between all 6 characters that pop up throughout the book giving the reader a bit of extra delight as you try to unscramble who the murderer actually is - in fact, you can envision the book as a bit like the movie Babel.
That being said, the success of the book really lies in the fact that it's not a murder mystery that focuses on its worthy victim or the crime - it's a murder mystery that looks at how six people from all sorts of backgrounds could possibly end up in the position of being accused of a murder, and the effects Vicky Rai's initial acquittal and subsequent death have on the Indian public.
I suppose the only criticisms I can offer are the fact the book can get a bit confusing and unlikely - for every realistic scene or incidence of kismet, you have to suspend your disbelief for something else that may seem wholly unfamiliar or bizarre to the typical North American reader. Also if you've never read a book set in India or with Indian main characters, I suggest doing so - there are a lot of cultural references and sprinklings of language that might be completely mind-boggling otherwise. Still, I enjoyed myself throughout the book and came to appreciate each of the 6 stories at one point or another - especially as the ending continues to unwrap the mystery once and for all.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A little light on characterization, but funny nonetheless, August 14, 2009
This review is from: Six Suspects: A Novel (Hardcover)
Following the success of "Slumdog Millionaire", Vikas Swarup continues to turn his writer's eye to expose more of a slice of Indian life. Vivek "Vicky" Rai, a thoroughly unpleasant politician's son and playboy who's literally gotten away with murder of a young woman along with various other crimes and escapades, is found shot dead at a party. And after rounding up those carrying firearms, the local police are left with six suspects for the killer, all with different motivations for wanting Vicky dead.
"Six Suspects" is a tale in the great tradition of the locked-room whodunit, and Swarup retraces the steps that brought each suspect to the party with enough cause to commit murder, and the crossing of paths of the suspects and those surrounding them. The cast is varied and the telling of the story thus far is lively and sharp.
If anything, "Suspects" could be faulted for having the characters be more than a little stereotypical: the glamorous Bollywood actress, the dopey American hick, the streetwise "slumdog", the corrupt bureaucrat...but at the end of the day, to be honest, "Suspects" somehow manages the trick of commentary of bureaucratic corruption in India while being a humorous romp. For that, the sometimes-thin characterization can be forgiven: Swarup's strength clearly lies in writing situation and narrative and making it compelling and accessible. Somehow, for a murder mystery, I found myself laughing more than once at the unexpected demonstration of the human comedy in the oddest places, and the twists and turns of the plot. Sometimes it's good to be reminded that mystery doesn't always have to be a heavy, dark genre.
The life and death of the thoroughly unpleasant Vicky Rai, and how he touched the lives of the six suspects, is another great effort from Swarup and definitely makes for a nice witty, amusing beach read.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
A Call For A Moral Awakening, December 17, 2011
Very interesting book! I loved how Vikas Swarup changed the point of view between each character. You got to know six individuals, all possible murder suspects through narration, journal entries, phone conversations, first person and third person views. This was a very clever way of presenting the moral fiber of the main characters. However, having said that, most of the stories were too fantastic and somewhat unbelievable. I though the book was only average as a murder mystery, even with a cool twist at the end.
The strength of the book lied in the author's ability to portray contemporary India through these six fictional characters. They represented the different classes and groups of people affecting the Indian society. Particularly disturbing was the description of the middle class. While perversions, murders and violence were everywhere, the middle class remained indifferent and apathetic.
"Six Suspects" did a good job addressing the escalating problem of corruption. It was seen at every level of the Indian society. By reading the book you got a sense of Mr.Swarup shouting through the pages, calling for a moral awakening! I liked his quote: "Let us resolve to cleanse the political system of criminal elements and ensure that the law-breakers do not become law-makers. This is the only way to safeguard and strengthen our democracy". Applicable in India, applicable in the U.S.A.
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