This book attracted me in paperback – when there was a Borders five minutes away and a 40%-off coupon beckoned. Vikas Swarup’s first novel, “Q & A,” became “Slumdog Millionaire,” Oscar’s Best Picture of 2009. It also won Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay among a total of 141 other top awards along with another 81 nominations. “Six Suspects” is his second novel.How could I go wrong with a Booklist (starred review) quoted on the back cover? “If Agatha Christie wrote a mystery about modern India, it might be something like this…Charming, atmospheric, and driven equally by character and plot, “Six Suspects” is bound to be popular with traditional mystery fans and readers of international crime fiction, as well as the legion of “Slumdog” devotees.”Since buying “Six Suspects” about five years ago, I picked it up and put it back down a number of times. Finally, I decided to tackle it and then give it away.Someone murders “Vicky” Ray, playboy son of the home minister of Uttar Pradesh, at his victory party for being acquitted of the murder of bartender Ruby Gill – even though he is clearly guilty.Six party-goers are found with guns and become suspects. The flashback stories of the six suspects become unnecessarily complicated because each of the six has a dual identity – causing the reader to have to keep track of the equivalent of 12 suspects. Even though I ran out of patience with the super-long stories surrounding each of the six suspects, I persevered to the end. I’m glad I did because the author’s intertwining of characters’ stories, lives and motives for murder is masterful as the book winds down.I wish I had more knowledge of Indian history – and actual murder cases -- than I have since all but one of the suspects are based on real people in Delhi. If India has a tourism bureau or a chamber of commerce, these groups would not be fans since most of the characters are from the underbelly of life…including the murder victim…leaving the reader with a most negative view of the entire country and characters who are difficult to like.For readers who know about India or want to know about India and who enjoy the challenge of keeping track of large numbers of characters as their stories unravel separately – and in different ways (diary entries, phone conversations, third person narration, first person narration) – I recommend this book. For the rest of us…not so much. The book has a beautiful plot and an unexpecting ending... but it's too long. I mean, I understand how they were interconnected please move to the other character. I saw all of their flaws, even the journalist and everyone else in the book. I wish he made the killer more sinister or insane and maybe I should have enjoyed it. Nonetheless, great characters and a great representation of the situation in India. :)
What do You think about Six Suspects (2008)?
Enjoyed this book a lot - found in a bit far-fetched and complicated - but a great read.
—cgee
really great book that transports you to a colorful world of suspense and thrill.
—Reader101
Sooo gripping!! Keeps u glued till u turn the last page!!
—CrystalD
