“Truth Lake” takes the reader on a journey to India, from the busy streets of New Delhi to a sleepy Himalayan mountain village and the hippie retreat of Goa. The author brings to life the sights and sounds of India. The story begins in Delhi, where the acting police chief, Harelal, is contacted by the Italian tycoon, Antonio Sinbari. He wants Harelal to solve a possible crime for him and to do it discreetly. Two hysterical backpackers have come to his door talking about a dead body they found in a remote village. They are friends of his young son and he seems to want to help them. Harelal sends his right-hand man Karmel to the village to investigate. Karmel becomes involved in the lives of the villagers and soon all the lies that have been told begin to fall apart. Sinbari is a ruthless businessman who is willing to destroy lives to build a resort on “Truth Lake”. Karmel discovers the truth in the village while Harelal’s daughter Tanya follows the backpackers to Goa to discover the truth behind their stories.
The author manages to bring India to life for the reader successfully. The reader will begin to understand the politics and social order of India and how it influences history. The story is well written, with a few minor mistakes that actually lend themselves to the writing style. The story invokes India and it wouldn’t seem real if it were written in perfect English. The writing style gives the novel a sense of place. “Truth Lake” will appeal to those with a sense of adventure and readers who enjoy a well-written murder mystery with an element of suspense. The book is aimed at a mature audience.
The book felt a bit rushed at first and I struggled to follow the story initially. However, the book draws you in and by the middle I was hooked. I read all night to find the conclusion. The ending was a bit lackluster. I would have liked to know what really happened to Sinbari and Harelal. The town’s conclusion was good, but the rest seemed to fall by the wayside. I look forward to the next offering from this author and hope that she continues to write novels set in her homeland.
“Truth Lake” takes the reader on a journey to an exotic land. The characters are real and you don’t feel sorry for them or hate them. They each have their flaws, but most have some quality that helps the reader understand their actions. A well written first novel.
