Author: Kulpreet Yadav
Publisher: Tara India Research Press
Pages: 255
A ghastly murder in the dead of night at a faraway village in the capital's underbelly sets the motion in 'Catching the Departed' - the first in the Andy Karan trilogy by author Kulpreet Yadav. Andy Karan is an investigative journalist with a mission. Monica, his boss at the New Delhi Today magazine, assigns him to unravel the mystery behind the death of a local lawyer. Slowly, Andy Karan embarks on a life-threatening journey that lands him into the centre of a much bigger conspiracy.
All about Andy Karan
The character of Andy Karan, also ex-Army personnel in the book, is modelled upon one of Mahabharata's legendary warriors and often misunderstood soldiers, Karan. Much like the hero from the epic, Andy refuses to walk the path of corruption and politics. He embodies all qualities of a patriot who is willing to die upholding the virtues of truth, friendship and love; but can never bring himself to live a borrowed life dictated by someone else's terms and conditions. "I wanted to create a character in his late twenties who mirrors young Indian men. Andy doesn't condemn the West but he is the right mix of Indian sensibilities and western inventiveness. 'Catching the Departed' celebrates the commitment of an Indian foot soldier, a faceless spy, who is prepared to fight the enemies of the nation," explains Kulpreet Yadav.
On writing thriller
This is the first time that Kulpreet Yadav has tried his hands on writing crime fiction. His previous books, 'The Bet' and 'A Waiting Wave' belonged to a different genre of literature. How did the transition happen? "Yes, my previous books had a literary slant. Today's readers, I have realised, are smarter and more knowledgeable. Entertainment has edged ahead of art. I chose to write a thriller because it provides immediate gratification. As a genre, I have been reading thrillers since childhood and I thought why not give the readers what they want," asserts Kulpreet.
A film in the making, perhaps?
The fast-paced narrative and suspense-filled plot are components that make the book read like a movie script. Prod the author on whether the novel was written with the intention of turning it into a screenplay later, and Kulpreet avers, "Many readers have told me that 'Catching the Departed' reads like a movie. Some have even suggested a cast and I am going crazy with the whole idea. The truth is I wanted to write a compelling story that is easy to relate to, and, has a good entertainment value. I wanted people to discover me as a good storyteller. But yes, if the book is optioned for a movie adaptation, my agent and I would welcome the idea. I think neo-Bollywood is ready for thrilling stories".
Not strong enough
The book fails to etch out strong women characters. Monica's presence in the book is peripheral. The plot drifts away from her, as though, deliberately. She is lovelorn, depressed and a journalist struggling to prove her worth to her boss. Her decisions are influenced by the men around her and she needs constant assurance from them. Quiz the author on this bleak characterisation and he refutes, "I wouldn't call Monica's character insipid. On the contrary, she is a strong woman who is protective and amenable to change at her age. But I agree that her appearance in the story is rather limited. I would love to write a thriller with a woman as sensuous and courageous as Monica in the lead one day".
Future projects
The other two titles in the Andy Karan series - 'Drowning the Pirate' and 'Eating the Dragon' are slated to release early 2015 and 2016 respectively. Apart from that, the author will continue to write short fiction for literary magazines in India and abroad.
About the author
Kulpreet Yadav is the author of 'Catching the Departed' (2014), the first in the Andy Karan series of crime thrillers. He is also the founder-editor of Open Road Review, a literary magazine with a global footprint. His short-fiction pieces have been shortlisted for numerous contests and have appeared in over 30 periodicals in India and elsewhere.
(Originally published on September 06, 2014)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=romance,novels,Kulpreet Yadav
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