Review: Strangers with Known Faces

Strangers with Known Faces by Gautam Dutta
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Blurb -

Rajat, Meenakshi, Sadaaf, Amol, and Shanaya are five University students with nothing in common- who should never have met in the first place. They meet after winning a lucky draw- the prize of which was to take part in a puzzle game. Though the game was engrossing, they were unable to solve the puzzle in the stipulated time. However, this lead to the beginning of a deep friendship between them. Their friendship blossomed. But ego and misunderstanding led to an acrimonious break up. They meet again- two decades later- when Shanaya is murdered, and the other four are suspects. The four soon realize that in spite of being estranged for so many years, there were unknown ties that bound them- ties of treachery, deceit, and subterfuge. Ties that have led them to come together in circumstances that no one could have foreseen. And the game that they had left incomplete two decades back has to be played yet again – on a much bigger canvas. Now they have to trust each other, clear their names, and get to the bottom of the mystery, which threatens not only their lives and relationships, but also the fabric of democratic India. As their travels and travails continue, they discover hitherto unknown facets of the people around them, as well as their own selves. Can they succeed in resolving the puzzle this time? Or is history doomed to repeat itself? As hidden aspects of the human personality are revealed, they realize that no one is what he or she appears to be. For the world comprises of ‘Strangers With Known Faces’.

My views -

Strangers with Known Faces by Gautam Dutta is an thriller with mix of crime, mystery and romance. Plot is about five friends who got together unexpectedly and departs due to various circumstances, how and what situation made them meet once again makes plot more intresting.

The story have two timelines 2030 as present and current as past. Rajat, Meenakshi, Sadaaf, Amol, and Shanaya are the five friends from various streams of college meet each other while playing the hard puzzle and it make them close especially Rajat & Shanaya becomes more closer but due to misunderstandings and circumstances they depart on their own way. After decades on 2030, A summon from CBI on a murder case makes them unite because murder happened to Shanaya in her own apartment. During investigation their past college life was revealed chapter to chapter separately by each character.

Due to this case Rajat loose his reputed army job and Meenakshi loose her reporter job soon both of them investigate separately and this time more comes into revelation. Rajat become prime suspect as more evidence turn against him. So What's real face of Rajat is the end. Plot is bit lengthy and explains more of 2030's new high tech developments and also goes on little bit of political / corporate side.

The plot is made well as it gives smoother flow with a good language. Also characterization is perfect which makes engaged within story. All these proves dedication of author as shaping story and connecting each chapter in intresting manner is not so easy but author made it easy here. Still other characters apart from Rajat and Shanaya can given equal importance.

Overall, Stranger with known faces as title story too implies that each one has a unknown face of his even though you're so close it can't be identical.

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