Author: A. Victor Adharsh | Genre: Psychological Thriller | Pages: 312
Psychological thrillers are my mainstay and there’s hardly a novel I can say not to. Victor Adharsh’s ‘Mango Showers’ felt like the promise of freshness from the word go. I wasn’t particularly thrilled when I saw the cover, but the plot had me in. A female protagonist with complexities – now you don’t come across that often, do you? I just wish the author had chosen a good cover for the novel; given the subject and story of the book is eventful. Also, readers would want to know that the blurb of the book on Goodreads or Amazon is erroneously written. Please do not be swayed by the inaccuracy.
The Review
In Victor Adharsh’s latest literary endeavor, readers are transported to the enchanting yet enigmatic landscapes of Kasaragod, Kerala, where Anna Zakaria embarks on a journey that defies the boundaries of the ordinary. In his novel, ‘Mango Showers, Adharsh masterfully weaves a tale that oscillates between the grounds of the supernatural and the intricate complexities of the human mind.
Anna Zakaria’s return to the secluded village of Kasaragod is marked by a peculiar phenomenon – mango showers, rain in the midst of summer, hinting at an ominous undercurrent. It’s in this atmospheric setting that Anna reunites with her only brother, Paulose, who becomes her anchor in a storm of psychological turbulence. The start of the novel with an incident of flooding right in the very first pages sets the mood of the novel and just how!
Anna’s irrational fear of flooding and rain casts a shadow over her mental well-being, and it only goes up with the plot until when she collapses during a Theyyam event, her peculiar condition becomes a topic of community concern. This incident propels the plot to a point of no return. Slick, shrewd, and secretive – this book dives headfirst into a tale unimaginable complemented by the author’s savvy writing and narrative skills.
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As the story unfolds, readers are drawn into a whirlwind of deceit, conspiracy, greed, sinister schemes, and dark secrets that entangle the characters. Apart from the protagonist, the others characters are less relatable and their motives less believable; which came as a surprise given how the protagonist has been drawn. The plot straddles between paranormal and psychological and there’s a thin line between the two making the story somewhat of a brain cracker. While the start may appear worded, the latter half of the book is quite fast-paced reaching the climax twist depicting the flair of a prodigy.
What sets this novel apart is Adharsh’s meticulous attention to detail, vividly capturing Kerala’s local rituals and landscapes which we have grown to learn and love; it isn’t for nothing that Kerala is called God’s Own Country and the author has done an impeccable job in capturing its beauty.
‘Mango Showers’ is a multifaceted tale that employs multiple perspectives, confounding storyline, mysterious characters, and dubious catharsis, rounded in one to give an unprecedented climax; one that makes it hard to accept when it presents itself. This is Adharsh’s storytelling prowess as he deftly manipulates the plot unlike no debut author ever. A promising one-time read!
P.S.: I received a review copy from the author, but the review remains unbiased.
Have you read ‘Mango Showers’? Do share your thoughts below.
