Six Suspects

by Vikas Swarup

Book Overview

From the author of the international bestseller "Slumdog Millionaire" comes a richly textured tale of murder, corruption, and redemption. Audaciously and astutely plotted, "Six Suspects" is the work of a master storyteller.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031260503X
• ISBN13: 9780312605032
• Release Date: July 2009
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 470 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

A Writer's Workshop

This book is really a great study of a writer's style - or in this instance, how adaptable Vikas Swarup's style really is. The story is a murder mystery with, you guessed it, six primary suspects. When Indian playboy Vicky Rai is acquitted of a murder he's blatantly guilty for, the nation of India is in an uproar. To celebrate, Vicky throws a party at which he is subsequently murdered. All 500+ guests are frisked and six suspects carrying guns are fingered. A dedicated investigative journalist aims to uncover the truth, at which point we learn all about the backgrounds, motives, evidence, and outcomes for the sacred six. The 6 stories are extremely diverse in terms of both characters and style. Ranging from an American hick from the backwoods of Texas to a popular Bollywood actress / sex symbol to a corrupt bureaucrat or two, each section of the book is wholly devoted to that character and written in a different form, including third-person omniscient, diary entries, and perhaps most challenging - entirely in dialogue. Of course, there are wavers of connections between all 6 characters that pop up throughout the book giving the reader a bit of extra delight as you try to unscramble who the murderer actually is - in fact, you can envision the book as a bit like the movie Babel. That being said, the success of the book really lies in the fact that it's not a murder mystery that focuses on its worthy victim or the crime - it's a murder mystery that looks at how six people from all sorts of backgrounds could possibly end up in the position of being accused of a murder, and the effects Vicky Rai's initial acquittal and subsequent death have on the Indian public. I suppose the only criticisms I can offer are the fact the book can get a bit confusing and unlikely - for every realistic scene or incidence of kismet, you have to suspend your disbelief for something else that may seem wholly unfamiliar or bizarre to the typical North American reader. Also if you've never read a book set in India or with Indian main characters, I suggest doing so - there are a lot of cultural references and sprinklings of language that might be completely mind-boggling otherwise. Still, I enjoyed myself throughout the book and came to appreciate each of the 6 stories at one point or another - especially as the ending continues to unwrap the mystery once and for all.

Swarup Does It Again

After reading and loving Swarup's first novel Q & A (also known as Slumdog Millionaire), I was incredibly excited to check out his second tale, also set in India. The book takes us through the streets of India yet again, in an amazing, yet harrowing tale of death and, maybe, redemption. Vicky Rai, the son of a high-profile Minister, was found shot dead in his farmhouse on March 23 during a very glamorous party. Although seemingly a sad event, the party was to celebrate Rai's acquittal from a murder he committed. This was the 3rd time he got away with murder. Apparently, someone didn't like that. At the party, six suspects were found with guns. The six people included Mohan Kumar, a crooked businessman who might have been possessed by none other than Ghandi; Larry Page, a Texan tricked into going to India to marry a mail order bride; Shabnam Saxena, a very famous Bollywood actress who tries to prove that she's more than a pretty face; Eketi, a tribal trying to find his village's sacred relic; Munna, an unemployed cell phone theif ; and Jagannath Rai, the Home Minister of Uttar Pradesh and, of all things, Vicky Rai's father. The lives of the six suspects are told in rotation throughout the novel, leading up to the murder. Each character has their own voice; where one character's story is told through diary entries, another's is told through phone calls. Swarup is amazing at building excitement and intrigue as each character's tale unfolds. As you read each character's story, you start questioning everything. "Could they be responsible for it?" "Is it worth it?" "Can we forgive them?" Much like Q & A, everything comes together in the end, revealing that in one way or another, each life is wound together like a tapestry. And then end is definitely worth it. As each character's story wraps up, you see in a very satisfying manner who did it, why, and how. Much like the game of Clue, the book keeps you guessing. Swarup has an amazing talent when it comes to describing elements. He gives an accurate, if not terrifying at times, look at India - from the swanky houses in Delhi to the slums down the road. For those who've read Q & A, there are some quick comments mentioning the characters, which made me cheer. I love when authors do that. (If you've only seen the film, you won't get the references, sadly). I really enjoyed Six Suspects and am excited to see what Swarup brings us next. Once the book comes to America, I suggest checking it out if you're interested in crime dramas, life in India, or just really intense books that keep you up wondering what might happen next.

Wow...

What a story. This is Vikas Swarup's second novel; his first was made into Slumdog Millionaire. Set in New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, six lives come together at a party celebrating the acquittal of Vicky Rai, playboy-son of a North India politician, for the murder - in public and in cold blood - of a bar waitress. But which of the six suspects murdered Vicky Rai? Another corrupt politician? A famous Bollywood actress? Rai's sister's boyfriend? A "tribal" from the Andaman Islands, alone and adrift in modern-day India, just trying to return to his homeland? An idiot American from Texas who had come to India in search of life-long love? I won't write more about the plot but just know that all parts of modern day Indian society is written about in this masterful mystery. It's a long book, but every page is interesting. Read it and enjoy.

All six are suspects!

One of the subjects I like to read is 'mystery/adventure/investigation'. I picked up this book because this book contains the mystery surrounding the death of a person, who is a rich spoilt brat, and the investigation following it. There are, as the name of the book suggests, six suspects, who have could have murdered this person. The way the author, Vikas Swarup, has divided the book into sections is methodical. In addition, within each section he has dedicated one chapter each for each suspect & built up the story. It's like building up from where you left. In weaving this story, Vikas Swarup has added many major headlines that hit the Indian subcontinent in the past few years. These headlines have been added to appear as part of the story. For example, Jesicca Lall (model/actor) murder in 1999. The way the son of a politician killed this model/actor in a bar - this was weaved in the story by Vikas Swarup. In a way we could immediately relate to them because we read about these cases a lot. Similar sounding names of some real life famous reporters/journalist have been used. Overall, it's a good read - specially if someone likes to read about investigative mysteries.

A gritty whodunit with a side of chutney

A rich spoiled brat is murdered and an assortment of characters are identified as suspects. Vikas Swarup's Six Suspects rewinds time and takes us through the events that led up to the eventful night of the murder. Everyone has their motives but do they have what it takes to pull the trigger? The first thing that intrigued me was the book's layout. In fact, it prompted me to buy it as I was strolling idly through a bookstore in Mumbai. Each chapter is dedicated to one suspect. The second thing that I enjoyed was the detail spent developing the characters of each piece in this chess match. Everyone has an agenda. Nobody is a saint. Thirdly, the writing style of the author is markedly different for each back-story. This gives each chapter a different flavor. Finally, the book takes us all over India and shows us the myriad threads that weaves the country into a giant multicolored quilt. Having said that, the book did feel a bit linear in some parts. I would have liked the story to be a bit more intertwined than it was. A few more run-ins between the main characters perhaps? All in all, its a fun read and the ending, which is the bar by which whodunits are judged, was refreshing and satisfactory. I fully expect the big names in Bollywood to clamor for movie rights to this book. It has all the formulaic elements of a "masala" movie with an interesting climax.