Scarred Roses : Review

 About the Book

The sweet fragrance of roses. The dark shadow of death.

Teenage sisters Raksha and Shakti (Rak-Shak) arrive at the historical city of Jodhpur with their aunt and foster grandfather to receive their late mother’s bequeathment. But the timing of their visit couldn’t have been worse as the city is grappling with a spate of serial murders where the killer leaves behind mutilated roses around the victims. The ghost of a formidable and wronged concubine who lived more than two centuries ago is rumoured to be the perpetrator of the murders and the rumours are further given wind by reports of spectral sightings, along with an inexplicable fragrance of roses and the humming of an old classical song.

Raksha and Shakti receive their mother’s journal and its contents set them upon a trail that leads them to explosive secrets that were buried centuries ago. They lose their grandfather to the diabolical killer and with their own lives and the life of their beloved aunt at stake; the girls will have to unravel the mystery page-by-page, going back in time while racing against it.

In the backdrop of the old city of Jodhpur with its rich history, stepped-wells, grand palaces, and hidden passages, and with nothing but their mother’s journal and their own wit to rely upon, will Rak-Shak be able to battle their own demons and save their family and the entire city from the clutches of this terrifying killer or will they end up with scarred roses of their own?

My Thoughts 

I adore reading thrillers and mysteries. I believe my love of well-written mystery/thrillers began when I first read The Girl on the Train. The thriller Scarred Roses will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are many turns and twists, and just when you think you understand everything, another turn is introduced.

Scarred Roses by Preeti Nair Nayak is a mystery thriller novel based in the city of Jodhpur. Raksha and Shakti, two teenage sisters, are the protagonists of the tale. They accompany their aunt and foster grandpa to this historic city to collect their mother's bequest. The city of Jodhpur, however, is grappling with a trend of serial killings in which the killer scatters mutilated flowers about the victims by the time they arrive. All people experience an unfathomable level of fear as a result of these crimes.

Rak-Shak gradually learn about their mother's diary, and the information they learn from it points them in the direction of vulnerable mysteries or secrets that have been kept a secret for a long time. These girls have the guts to take on this wicked killer and work through these perplexing situations.

The family angle and relationships between the sisters is a beautiful addition to the theatrical plot. The story is addictive, and moves at a steady pace. And even though it involves a limited number of characters, it never gets boring.

The author has a great knack of grabbing your attention with an eye-catching synopsis and then she pulls you into the story. You really feel part of the team. As soon as you start to believe you know where this is heading, the action cranks back up and takes you on an unforeseen and frightful roller coaster ride.

This was my first book by the author, it won’t be my last. Overall, I really had fun with this book and would definitely pick up another in this series and by this author.

 Buy the book here.