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Finders, Keepers
Finders, Keepers. Losers, Weepers Two men are murdered in settings which speak volumes of involvement of some sacred cynicism. A psycho-killer on the loose? Or is this the beginning of something much more grave and dangerous? This is the tale of how Deputy Director, I.B., Shoumik Haldar and celebrated author Ishan Vajpayee exercise all their tools of conventional and unconventional deduction to solve the puzzles thrown across by the enemy, yet unrevealed. Intertwined intensely with the opulent mythological tales and specimens attributing to the rich cultural heritage of this country, the story depicts the resurgence of a dormant historical sect, which attacks the very foundations of one of the most powerful and secreted organizations of all times. Spread across the length and breadth of the entire Indian subcontinent, read the mystery as it unravels with the duo travelling from one corner of the country to another searching for the signs.
624 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 26, 2014
5 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Sapan Saxena
6 books68 followersBrought up in the city of Nawabs, Lucknow, Sapan did B. Tech in Information & Technology from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad.
He started taking interest in writing on various spiritual and mythological subjects during his college days and his work found place in leading newspapers on many occasions. His profession is engineering but writing is his passion. He connects and finds links of modernization with mythology having keen interest in the same.
Sapan married in the year 2011 and is now the proud father of a toddler. A responsible father, a loving husband, a supportive brother and a caring son, Sapan generates time to write.
He started taking interest in writing on various spiritual and mythological subjects during his college days and his work found place in leading newspapers on many occasions. His profession is engineering but writing is his passion. He connects and finds links of modernization with mythology having keen interest in the same.
Sapan married in the year 2011 and is now the proud father of a toddler. A responsible father, a loving husband, a supportive brother and a caring son, Sapan generates time to write.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 10, 2015
The attractive look of the book, good paper, font selection - font size and the spaces between the lines are good enough to book somebody into reading this 623 pages of Sapan's beautiful, mysterious, informative and entertaining creation. I am enjoying it right now, will come back with the content review.
February 3, 2015
Well Done Sapan !
Since I know the author personally hence I must admit that when I started this book, I was adamant that I should not be biased and should judge the book on its merit.
And probably due to this, I dived with a more critical approach than I normally do while reading other books.
I must say I was stumped with surprise. This is altogether a different genre of Indian books. The narration keeps you intricately woven throughout the book. The interesting plot keeps you spell bounded, strong depiction of characters makes them real, the references were well thought off and researched (It must be really painstaking to dig all of them through the pages of history), the minutiae were taken care to such extents that you eventually start visualizing the story when the characters travel to all these mystic places of India. You feel educated about various aspects of Hindu Vedic Science which are at times waved off as a myth and you start wondering about the possibilities of being them real.
No Doubt that the comparisons will be drawn with Dan Brown’s characters from Angel and Demons/ The lost symbol but writer carved a separate niche for himself by adding the flavor from great theme of Indian mythology. However, as the first novel it’s a brave attempt “The path less taken” …(Rather than writing the Rom-Com)
The book is quite long for those who are used to the Indian writers and those who are not a big fan of deductive reasoning of Sherlock Holmes might find this dragging during later chapters.
Personally , I am huge fan of the books with more pages and I covered last 30 odd chapters in a single go as it was too engrossing and the last line gave me the goosebumps !
Kudos to the writer for setting the bar high for himself in his first book although I am pretty sure that this cannot be termed as beginner’s luck !!
Highly recommended for everyone.
Since I know the author personally hence I must admit that when I started this book, I was adamant that I should not be biased and should judge the book on its merit.
And probably due to this, I dived with a more critical approach than I normally do while reading other books.
I must say I was stumped with surprise. This is altogether a different genre of Indian books. The narration keeps you intricately woven throughout the book. The interesting plot keeps you spell bounded, strong depiction of characters makes them real, the references were well thought off and researched (It must be really painstaking to dig all of them through the pages of history), the minutiae were taken care to such extents that you eventually start visualizing the story when the characters travel to all these mystic places of India. You feel educated about various aspects of Hindu Vedic Science which are at times waved off as a myth and you start wondering about the possibilities of being them real.
No Doubt that the comparisons will be drawn with Dan Brown’s characters from Angel and Demons/ The lost symbol but writer carved a separate niche for himself by adding the flavor from great theme of Indian mythology. However, as the first novel it’s a brave attempt “The path less taken” …(Rather than writing the Rom-Com)
The book is quite long for those who are used to the Indian writers and those who are not a big fan of deductive reasoning of Sherlock Holmes might find this dragging during later chapters.
Personally , I am huge fan of the books with more pages and I covered last 30 odd chapters in a single go as it was too engrossing and the last line gave me the goosebumps !
Kudos to the writer for setting the bar high for himself in his first book although I am pretty sure that this cannot be termed as beginner’s luck !!
Highly recommended for everyone.
January 11, 2015
Hats off for accomplishing the task of writing fiction based on Indian mythology in a lucid fashion, fit to be enjoyed by everyone. I have tried to read several other books based on mythology but most of them were either too simplified (like children's books) or too complex with specific references to the mythology events (which I am not generally aware of!) which is why I liked this book, it does not assume too much knowledge of the mythology, and at the same time builds the plot based on it.
The characters are riveting, the plot is engaging, and the book is a page turner. I read the first two chapters on the site, got interested and bought the book. And it only gets better with each chapter. I finished the last quarter of the book in one sitting, it was too absorbing to put it down.
Highly recommended for two kinds of people:
1. Indians who have even the slightest interest in mythology.
2. Non-Indians who have any interest in India.
But do note that this is not a text book on Indian mythology, so if you are looking for a fact book, this isn't the one. This is a fiction thriller, with the plot based on mythology.
I viewed it as a crime thriller novel, the genre being my key area of interest, and I was not disappointed in my expectations as the book offered some moments of thrill and suspense around the murders that I enjoyed. The historical and mythological revelations that it brings forth takes the enjoyment to another level!
I recommend this book to the enthusiast readers especially those who are fans of Dan Brown.
The characters are riveting, the plot is engaging, and the book is a page turner. I read the first two chapters on the site, got interested and bought the book. And it only gets better with each chapter. I finished the last quarter of the book in one sitting, it was too absorbing to put it down.
Highly recommended for two kinds of people:
1. Indians who have even the slightest interest in mythology.
2. Non-Indians who have any interest in India.
But do note that this is not a text book on Indian mythology, so if you are looking for a fact book, this isn't the one. This is a fiction thriller, with the plot based on mythology.
I viewed it as a crime thriller novel, the genre being my key area of interest, and I was not disappointed in my expectations as the book offered some moments of thrill and suspense around the murders that I enjoyed. The historical and mythological revelations that it brings forth takes the enjoyment to another level!
I recommend this book to the enthusiast readers especially those who are fans of Dan Brown.
January 11, 2015
“Intricately woven Indian mythology into a modern day suspense story”. The author has done a good job of building up the suspense in a nice way, and there was hardly any chapter where I lost interest. The characters are pretty strong, developed superbly during the narration blossoming slowly to reveal themselves as complex human beings. The writing style takes you right in the scene engrossing you to turn to the next page! The book is nicely written, and too good for a first time author.
The book is slightly longer by Indian standards, the gripping storyline however makes up for it to an extent. There are no female characters, which could have brought more diversity to the characters and emotions.
Nonetheless, I am glad that an Indian author has emerged who has been able to bring Indian mythology into the word of YA literature. Highly recommended for everyone, especially readers who have slightest interest in mythology or murder suspense.
The book is slightly longer by Indian standards, the gripping storyline however makes up for it to an extent. There are no female characters, which could have brought more diversity to the characters and emotions.
Nonetheless, I am glad that an Indian author has emerged who has been able to bring Indian mythology into the word of YA literature. Highly recommended for everyone, especially readers who have slightest interest in mythology or murder suspense.
September 22, 2016
In one word.. it is awesome!
Starts with a slow note and gets the pace after few initial chapters. The book has its magic, i specially took a day off to complete it in one go :)
Reading this book was a mind boggling journey for me as it has so many puzzles around indian mythology and the explanations are so well written interwoven with science and logic. A welcome step that the writer has taken to highlight the scientific explanations of our tradition. I got to know the logic behind so many traditions we follow religiously.
I am amazed by the research work done for this book as it mentions so many modern day as well as historic facts.
Description of central characters was nicely done, storyline keeps you engaged throughout the book. In short, this book is a complete treat to mind.
Starts with a slow note and gets the pace after few initial chapters. The book has its magic, i specially took a day off to complete it in one go :)
Reading this book was a mind boggling journey for me as it has so many puzzles around indian mythology and the explanations are so well written interwoven with science and logic. A welcome step that the writer has taken to highlight the scientific explanations of our tradition. I got to know the logic behind so many traditions we follow religiously.
I am amazed by the research work done for this book as it mentions so many modern day as well as historic facts.
Description of central characters was nicely done, storyline keeps you engaged throughout the book. In short, this book is a complete treat to mind.
January 14, 2015
This is how a fiction thriller should be, electrifying from the very first chapter. This book fascinates me for two reasons:
1 The puzzles and riddles that keep you engrossed at all time, backed by a riveting story line.
2. The mythological plot on which the story is developed.
The narration is good, and the four key characters are beautifully described. A touch of their personal lives could have added more to their personalities though. I think it would be unfair to compare this book to the all time greats of thrillers, like Dan Brown or Agatha Christie. But given this comes from a first time author, long way to go. Add a few female and this can be a hit movie
Final word: recommended to everyone and especially to Indians.
1 The puzzles and riddles that keep you engrossed at all time, backed by a riveting story line.
2. The mythological plot on which the story is developed.
The narration is good, and the four key characters are beautifully described. A touch of their personal lives could have added more to their personalities though. I think it would be unfair to compare this book to the all time greats of thrillers, like Dan Brown or Agatha Christie. But given this comes from a first time author, long way to go. Add a few female and this can be a hit movie
Final word: recommended to everyone and especially to Indians.
July 20, 2015
Fantastic debut book by Sapan. I rarely read about mythology (I have not even tried reading Shiva trilogy yet) but this book has encouraged me to start reading about our religion and mythology and showed how deeply rooted our hindu mythology is. There can be no denying about the extensive research put to write this book but of course the Dan Brown angle also can't be ignored.
All in all a great book, I really enjoyed the endless conversation between Shoumik & Ishan.
All in all a great book, I really enjoyed the endless conversation between Shoumik & Ishan.
April 16, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed every page of your book, ‘Finders, Keepers’ right from the start to end. It is a great book, which kept me so intrigued that I read it in a week in spite of my other schedules.
I am elated to find such a young author depicting the rich cultural heritage of this country in 623 pages, the resurgence of a dormant historical sect, which attacks the very foundations of one of the most powerful and secreted organizations of all times.
This book is a fictional work, a perfect blend of riddles with history and mythology and is full of suspense till the last page. The book can be compared to both books by Sidney Sheldon’s, Arthur Hailey , James Hadley chase like thrillers, like an Alfred Hitchcock movie or our own Indian thrilling movies like Gumnaam or Jani Dushman .In an intersect rivalry, all Guardians , the most intellectual characters are eliminated one after another. While to solve the mystery we have two characters who aptly posses the intelligence(decently portrayed by the author).The rigorous journey of Shiva, Nine unknown Men, the legends , the sages, the gods, the deities, the demons, magic and mystique- all amalgamated in thrilling 108 chapters. It all comes to an end seems like an entire chapter of life.
Like the japas at one stretch with the RUDRAKSH mala of 108 beads, the book should be read at one stretch to enjoy the bliss of our mythology.Of all these 108 chapters, I felt the essence of the book lies in the chapter 21 to 25 .
9 different characters, each one an intellectual in their respective domain, called as Guardians, yet trapped by a single person Guru, who were murdered by an obedient fearless character. 9 different places where they were murdered, 9 different codes placed at the site of murder.. Wonderful! Definitely it’s an adventurous journey for a reader.
I enjoyed description of inventions, mythology, places of historical pilgrimages for Hindus, ancient history about Gods, His disciples and sages. I can’t describe in words how much spellbinding the description was.
I wondered how at this young and slender age you have got such a vast knowledge of our iconic Gods, about our religion. You have brought to life each and every aspect of Hinduism with great élan. And for the thrills and suspense you portrayed possibly the best ever sleuth, unearthing highly sinister plans. A chilling climax masterfully ties up the tale.
Alas , if 1000 young writers of your caliber come up with such a vast description of Hinduism, it’s for sure that Hinduism will rule the world. Only weak link of Hinduism is there are our own villains within the garb of secularism and vote bank politics backed by intersect rivalry which is obstructing the aggrandizement of Hinduism across the world.
An Elderly advise to you to concentrate purely on Hinduism, its rituals, its spiritual significance and highlight our ancient inventions that were adopted by the western world.
I am proud of you my boy. Keep it up. May the Trimurti(Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh) bless you to be the messenger of God to spread their purpose of incarnations on this Earth… it was simply a divine act. God bless. (less)
3 hours, 13 min ago · delete
I am elated to find such a young author depicting the rich cultural heritage of this country in 623 pages, the resurgence of a dormant historical sect, which attacks the very foundations of one of the most powerful and secreted organizations of all times.
This book is a fictional work, a perfect blend of riddles with history and mythology and is full of suspense till the last page. The book can be compared to both books by Sidney Sheldon’s, Arthur Hailey , James Hadley chase like thrillers, like an Alfred Hitchcock movie or our own Indian thrilling movies like Gumnaam or Jani Dushman .In an intersect rivalry, all Guardians , the most intellectual characters are eliminated one after another. While to solve the mystery we have two characters who aptly posses the intelligence(decently portrayed by the author).The rigorous journey of Shiva, Nine unknown Men, the legends , the sages, the gods, the deities, the demons, magic and mystique- all amalgamated in thrilling 108 chapters. It all comes to an end seems like an entire chapter of life.
Like the japas at one stretch with the RUDRAKSH mala of 108 beads, the book should be read at one stretch to enjoy the bliss of our mythology.Of all these 108 chapters, I felt the essence of the book lies in the chapter 21 to 25 .
9 different characters, each one an intellectual in their respective domain, called as Guardians, yet trapped by a single person Guru, who were murdered by an obedient fearless character. 9 different places where they were murdered, 9 different codes placed at the site of murder.. Wonderful! Definitely it’s an adventurous journey for a reader.
I enjoyed description of inventions, mythology, places of historical pilgrimages for Hindus, ancient history about Gods, His disciples and sages. I can’t describe in words how much spellbinding the description was.
I wondered how at this young and slender age you have got such a vast knowledge of our iconic Gods, about our religion. You have brought to life each and every aspect of Hinduism with great élan. And for the thrills and suspense you portrayed possibly the best ever sleuth, unearthing highly sinister plans. A chilling climax masterfully ties up the tale.
Alas , if 1000 young writers of your caliber come up with such a vast description of Hinduism, it’s for sure that Hinduism will rule the world. Only weak link of Hinduism is there are our own villains within the garb of secularism and vote bank politics backed by intersect rivalry which is obstructing the aggrandizement of Hinduism across the world.
An Elderly advise to you to concentrate purely on Hinduism, its rituals, its spiritual significance and highlight our ancient inventions that were adopted by the western world.
I am proud of you my boy. Keep it up. May the Trimurti(Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh) bless you to be the messenger of God to spread their purpose of incarnations on this Earth… it was simply a divine act. God bless. (less)
3 hours, 13 min ago · delete
March 3, 2016
When one thinks of history, what quickly comes to our minds is the textbooks that we have read in academics. But history has found a new life in the hands of Sapan in Finders, Keepers.
History is basically a monotonous subject. Rarely, we find some books which challenge the accepted views and notion of our past – as written and recorded by academics. The author creates a tale which questions the history that we have read so far. The author has his mind and hearts both at the right place. When he writes about one of the most popular historical figure – Ashoka – the great Mauryan King, he ventures out to rewrite, reconsider the various narratives through a well-knitted story that runs deep in our psyche and consciousness. Reading Finders, Keepers can mean a lot of things at the same time. The genre of historical fiction or mythological fiction is still very young in India, as it requires a deep research. The effort of Sapan is sure to strike a chord with the readers here.
A must read for Story, Mythology, History lover.
A word of caution – Once you start, this book won’t let you do any other work until you finish reading it.
History is basically a monotonous subject. Rarely, we find some books which challenge the accepted views and notion of our past – as written and recorded by academics. The author creates a tale which questions the history that we have read so far. The author has his mind and hearts both at the right place. When he writes about one of the most popular historical figure – Ashoka – the great Mauryan King, he ventures out to rewrite, reconsider the various narratives through a well-knitted story that runs deep in our psyche and consciousness. Reading Finders, Keepers can mean a lot of things at the same time. The genre of historical fiction or mythological fiction is still very young in India, as it requires a deep research. The effort of Sapan is sure to strike a chord with the readers here.
A must read for Story, Mythology, History lover.
A word of caution – Once you start, this book won’t let you do any other work until you finish reading it.
July 18, 2020
Read a chapter and I must admit I can't wait till I get my copy. It seems to be a perfect combination of intrigue and history and mythology- in short promises to be a great read.
*******
After having read the book , I decided to update my review- it's every bit entertaining as it promised to be.It's filled with startling plot twists, and almost every chapter ends with a ''cliffhanger,'' so you have to keep reading to see what will happen :) I love historical / secret societies books and in this book as the mystery unfolds one is introduced to great stories on Indian mythology . The two characters Shoumik and Ishan are enduring and it was fun reading how they try to interpret the clues coupled with Ishan's encyclopedic knowledge of Indian history and mythology!!
Kudos to the Author ( who I happen to know personally ) for taking on such an ambitious plot so successfully on his first attempt - it must have involved lot research !!
*******
After having read the book , I decided to update my review- it's every bit entertaining as it promised to be.It's filled with startling plot twists, and almost every chapter ends with a ''cliffhanger,'' so you have to keep reading to see what will happen :) I love historical / secret societies books and in this book as the mystery unfolds one is introduced to great stories on Indian mythology . The two characters Shoumik and Ishan are enduring and it was fun reading how they try to interpret the clues coupled with Ishan's encyclopedic knowledge of Indian history and mythology!!
Kudos to the Author ( who I happen to know personally ) for taking on such an ambitious plot so successfully on his first attempt - it must have involved lot research !!
February 4, 2015
A real good one.....A really interesting way of putting facts across. It is very much evident from the book that Sapan has done a lot of study and research which has went into writing this book. His approach is simple but the build up and the twists are not. The best part of the book is that it is highly engrossing. You cant even think of leaving the book at any chapter just to take a break, and whats more, the book with its size does come across a heavy read.
Switching from the trail of the killer to the them finding secrets is really fascinating and never does it take any steam away from the book. I loved the book and have recommended it to many of my friends who also think this is fantastic.
The symbolism and signs in the book go much beyond what is visible to the eye. My reaction- never does the book’s story appear superficial. The characters are real and so is the story build up. This surely deserves a shot
Switching from the trail of the killer to the them finding secrets is really fascinating and never does it take any steam away from the book. I loved the book and have recommended it to many of my friends who also think this is fantastic.
The symbolism and signs in the book go much beyond what is visible to the eye. My reaction- never does the book’s story appear superficial. The characters are real and so is the story build up. This surely deserves a shot
January 27, 2015
Religion, Mythology, Science & Suspense!!
Finders, Keepers is a book where the writer Sapan creates interest from the first chapter in such a way that you cannot keep the book down till you have finished it. (Yes I skipped my The Newshour Debates!! )
The way the story progresses makes the suspense more interesting with new angles added at different instances. Moreover, it also educates you a lot about various principles and excellence of Hindu Vedic Science which are at times considered as a myth. You come closer to history and religion in a beautiful unison while reading the book.
A must read for everyone who has a liking for subjects of Mythology, History or Suspense. Complete package for anyone who likes reading.
Finders, Keepers is a book where the writer Sapan creates interest from the first chapter in such a way that you cannot keep the book down till you have finished it. (Yes I skipped my The Newshour Debates!! )
The way the story progresses makes the suspense more interesting with new angles added at different instances. Moreover, it also educates you a lot about various principles and excellence of Hindu Vedic Science which are at times considered as a myth. You come closer to history and religion in a beautiful unison while reading the book.
A must read for everyone who has a liking for subjects of Mythology, History or Suspense. Complete package for anyone who likes reading.
February 17, 2015
While starting the book it seemed a bit slow, but it gathers pace after 15 chapters (Chapters are not too big) and then it is really difficult to not to read the book in any time available.
I read the complete book within five days of starting it. There have been many books written with on the theme of Indian mythology but this exquisite mix of mystery, Thrill and mythology is rare. It becomes even more so when no manipulation is done with mythology but only explained scientifically (which was done pretty well also).
I find it best book I have read so far which combined History, Mythology, Mystery and Thrill.
Wishing good luck for Author and waiting for further release.
I read the complete book within five days of starting it. There have been many books written with on the theme of Indian mythology but this exquisite mix of mystery, Thrill and mythology is rare. It becomes even more so when no manipulation is done with mythology but only explained scientifically (which was done pretty well also).
I find it best book I have read so far which combined History, Mythology, Mystery and Thrill.
Wishing good luck for Author and waiting for further release.
February 15, 2015
Finders Keepers! The book travels across precipices and emotions. For me, it went from informational to mind-boggling mystery; onward to revelation and a hair raising end.
Sapan's writing is simple and focuses on the current generation, trying to connect with the youth of the nation. I loved it!
Sapan's writing is simple and focuses on the current generation, trying to connect with the youth of the nation. I loved it!
December 21, 2020
A Dan brown style novel covering Indian mythology heavily relying on symbolism. Aaah.. what more do you need to pick up this book. This is one of those books that you heard from someone by chance and got stuck in my mind due to unique and unusual premise of the story. There is a story behind why we read a story. Long story short, I read this story because I saw a documentary on a simolar subject presented in the story.
The author did justice to the premise. He has crafted a well researched story connecting the myth, facts and fiction. I don't think all the arguments presented in thia book are logical or real, but he presented them in a way that very few will be bothered by it.
The story is about a man targetting a group of Guardians of books. The nine unknown Guardians who tracs their origins back to the court of Asoka. A writer and IB officer syeos into catch the killer. The narrative is rather jerky in the begining
However, I felt he borrowed heavily from Angels and Demons. The plot instances felt very similar. Especially the characters, the geographical clues, and the way of executions.
The author did justice to the premise. He has crafted a well researched story connecting the myth, facts and fiction. I don't think all the arguments presented in thia book are logical or real, but he presented them in a way that very few will be bothered by it.
The story is about a man targetting a group of Guardians of books. The nine unknown Guardians who tracs their origins back to the court of Asoka. A writer and IB officer syeos into catch the killer. The narrative is rather jerky in the begining
However, I felt he borrowed heavily from Angels and Demons. The plot instances felt very similar. Especially the characters, the geographical clues, and the way of executions.
October 2, 2016
Take the attention to detail one finds in Tom Clancy or Greg Bear, marry it with the ability of Dan Brown to take myth, legends, and secret societiesand create magic, and that's what you have in Sapan Saxena's thiller "Finders Keepers".
Within the first few chapters, there is twice the reference to layers upon layers of mystical meaning and mythical investigation, and that, as well as a whole lot of satisfaction for even the most exactly mystery lover, is what the reader will find in this book.
Ostensibly, "Finders Keepers" is a murder mystery set in the locales of contemporary India. However, the ritual, gruesome murder of a history professor (which harkens back to ancient divisons and evil)sets authorities scrambling for answers. When it becomes obvioius that this is just the first of an entire series of murders with supernatural (it would appear) overtones, two experts--one in deductive reasoning and the other in Hindu mythology--are called in and asked to help stop the murderer before he kills again.
But, it isn't just the police who need help. As the plot thickens, an ancient secret society rumored to exist since the mists of time also approaches the same two men with a message; "Find the murder(s) or face a power shift which will upset the entire balance of the world--and it won't be pretty."
Together Shoumik (the reasoner) and Ishan (the myth expert)carefully investigate what is certainly the most important case in their careers as well as to the world at large, and discover secrets and rivalries which have remained hidden since antiquity.
For the uninitiated Western reader, "Finders Keepers" could have had the potentional to become a morass of strange sounding names, events, customs, beliefs that could threaten to overwhelm and discourage. But Saxena is very adept at presenting an unfamiliar character--or god--and then explaining them in a very reader friendly series of fascinating expositions. Saxena himself is a Hindu mythology expert of some renown in India and writes a periodical blog which is devoted to sorting out the thousands of Hindu deities and beliefs in a way that the man on the street can make sense of it. His inclusion of these explanations in "Finders Keepers" is what elevates the novel from a good murder mystery to a truly astonishing, credible glimpse into an ancient culture which has remained viable and influential in the 21st century as well.
Make no mistake--this is not just a recitation of facts. Saxena is very good at developing characters the reader cares about, scenarios the reader is eager to discover answers to, and cliffhangers that can take your breath away.
With India's coming to prominence as an important, influential global player as well as the popular rediscovery of her arts, music, even food taking place in the West, this is an important book for Westerners to experience as it answers many questions about where desi culture is coming from. And, it's a grand, fun read as a mystery with a more than satisfying conclusion as well.
I highly recommend this book to any adult reader!
Within the first few chapters, there is twice the reference to layers upon layers of mystical meaning and mythical investigation, and that, as well as a whole lot of satisfaction for even the most exactly mystery lover, is what the reader will find in this book.
Ostensibly, "Finders Keepers" is a murder mystery set in the locales of contemporary India. However, the ritual, gruesome murder of a history professor (which harkens back to ancient divisons and evil)sets authorities scrambling for answers. When it becomes obvioius that this is just the first of an entire series of murders with supernatural (it would appear) overtones, two experts--one in deductive reasoning and the other in Hindu mythology--are called in and asked to help stop the murderer before he kills again.
But, it isn't just the police who need help. As the plot thickens, an ancient secret society rumored to exist since the mists of time also approaches the same two men with a message; "Find the murder(s) or face a power shift which will upset the entire balance of the world--and it won't be pretty."
Together Shoumik (the reasoner) and Ishan (the myth expert)carefully investigate what is certainly the most important case in their careers as well as to the world at large, and discover secrets and rivalries which have remained hidden since antiquity.
For the uninitiated Western reader, "Finders Keepers" could have had the potentional to become a morass of strange sounding names, events, customs, beliefs that could threaten to overwhelm and discourage. But Saxena is very adept at presenting an unfamiliar character--or god--and then explaining them in a very reader friendly series of fascinating expositions. Saxena himself is a Hindu mythology expert of some renown in India and writes a periodical blog which is devoted to sorting out the thousands of Hindu deities and beliefs in a way that the man on the street can make sense of it. His inclusion of these explanations in "Finders Keepers" is what elevates the novel from a good murder mystery to a truly astonishing, credible glimpse into an ancient culture which has remained viable and influential in the 21st century as well.
Make no mistake--this is not just a recitation of facts. Saxena is very good at developing characters the reader cares about, scenarios the reader is eager to discover answers to, and cliffhangers that can take your breath away.
With India's coming to prominence as an important, influential global player as well as the popular rediscovery of her arts, music, even food taking place in the West, this is an important book for Westerners to experience as it answers many questions about where desi culture is coming from. And, it's a grand, fun read as a mystery with a more than satisfying conclusion as well.
I highly recommend this book to any adult reader!
June 21, 2015
All his senses are getting paralysed- he is feeling the footstep of the end.
Death will overcome him-slowly but surely, he can feel the cold jaws embracing his nerves- embracing his memory, past and future….
The man sitting in front of him- is he a lunatic? A psycho? Is killing a game for him?
Or he has deeper intentions-intentions that can only be understood by the helpless man dying a painful death- blood is draining out of him.
“Had he any idea of what fate he had in store for him, the Professor would have arranged a different abode for the secret he possessed, he thought. His only respite was in his belief that the strange looking guy sitting in the chair of his hotel room wouldn’t be able to solve the puzzle after he was dead. Pain was becoming unbearable and his mind was becoming numb with each passing second. “
With the last drop of life left to him- the helpless professor has to perform his last duty-duty for which he can sacrifice even his life….
Will the murderer give him the chance? The murderer –who sets the time of murder-trying to be the god himself-the destroyer of life- the Shiva?
To be or not to be – that is the question?
Thus begun ‘Finders, Keepers’ by Sapan- a gripping tale of devotion, greed and planning- a thriller that will demand all your attention right from the start. As you plunge deep into the book-you will find a mesmerising world-where there is wondrous coexistence of facts and fiction, history and legends, myth and reality.
Welcome aboard to the journey that will take you away –thousands of years ago-when India had advanced remarkably in the field of science and technology-when the sages discovered facts that modern science is yet to think of- and which needs to be guarded from the intruders, from the enemies and from any possible harms.
those days of India-when Buddhism and Hinduism are virtually in a tussle- when India was not only the light of Asia but also the light of the whole world- in those days a need was felt to preserve the harvest of Indian scientific thoughts through ages. There were apparently some twists in the history- some jigsaw puzzles. But if they are added with relevance- a complete picture will surface. a picture-where a method was devised by the Priyadrshi King Asoka-through a secret society- a society of nine unknown men-a society of nine men of promise- whose identity to the outside world will always be hidden. Each of them will act as a guardian of some secret branch of science.
Our writer has made extensive research to add up the missing link-the missing pages of history. History legend folklore, scientific facts all have been blended to form a complete racy thriller-a thriller that is sure to give you a taste of watching a three dimensional movie. It is book of five hundred pages, and the book itself compelled me to finish it one go. The secret association has been represented such mystically that I had no alternative but to compare it with one fictional association-priory of Sion and the grand masters.
“Countless. The first group was incepted in the year 270 BC era. Since then, there have been countless sets of nine unidentified men for each civilization. Anonymously, we have seen the rise and fall of dynasties and civilizations, with decades passing into centuries, but have never come into full public view with our secrets. We have always been one of the oldest and the most powerful societies, but have been so successful in being secretive that in spite off being in existence for more than 2000 years, we are still considered fictional or imaginary whenever our reference is made.”
And through ages only the faces of the guardians will change-but their vows, their duties, their devotion –will remain identical.
The nine unknown men possessed great knowledge-knowledge that is the driving force of perhaps the universe.
And knowledge is power.
Just imagine what power a man may posses if it falls into irresponsible hands.
Perhaps the power to rule the universe…………
Now let us back to the present.
Two murders in the present time- murders shrouded in mystery- were enough to excite the young officer of IB, Shoumilk Halder and writer of Indian mythology Ishan Vajpayee to go for a quest-quest for the motive of the murders. Rituals performed on the bodies of the victims are sure to spin the head of any investigator-somebody may deduce that they are the works of a psycho!
But are they? Or it is the work of a clever brain –who wants to shout to the world-yes, that is the motive behind these murders. A murderer who is there for a mission!
Or the murderer is merely a puppet at the hand of the destiny.
“The signs! Shaivas were characterized by ash smeared all over their body, a symbol to show their respect to Lord Shiva who had ash smeared all over his body. The shaivas also used to have one or other symbol of Lord Shiva on their body. On the first sight both the dead bodies seem to posses a few common and a few uncommon attributes, but if we try to filter out each of them, we can make order out of chaos.”
Murders are committed taking the victim away from their home cities-taking them away form their home as a result of a call –as if the death had called them!
Will our protagonists will be able to reveal the secret of the murderer-who thinks he is light years away from the investigators in terms of strategic planning.
Every now and then bend on the path of the storyline has made the story as exciting as watching a formula one grand prix. Sapan’s style of fading out and fading in from one scene to another has imparted a new script to the story line altogether.
But why I have revealed the secret of nine wise men and then suddenly become silent altogether……
Are there any relations of it with the murders?
Hold your breath readers- picture abhi baki hai!
Death will overcome him-slowly but surely, he can feel the cold jaws embracing his nerves- embracing his memory, past and future….
The man sitting in front of him- is he a lunatic? A psycho? Is killing a game for him?
Or he has deeper intentions-intentions that can only be understood by the helpless man dying a painful death- blood is draining out of him.
“Had he any idea of what fate he had in store for him, the Professor would have arranged a different abode for the secret he possessed, he thought. His only respite was in his belief that the strange looking guy sitting in the chair of his hotel room wouldn’t be able to solve the puzzle after he was dead. Pain was becoming unbearable and his mind was becoming numb with each passing second. “
With the last drop of life left to him- the helpless professor has to perform his last duty-duty for which he can sacrifice even his life….
Will the murderer give him the chance? The murderer –who sets the time of murder-trying to be the god himself-the destroyer of life- the Shiva?
To be or not to be – that is the question?
Thus begun ‘Finders, Keepers’ by Sapan- a gripping tale of devotion, greed and planning- a thriller that will demand all your attention right from the start. As you plunge deep into the book-you will find a mesmerising world-where there is wondrous coexistence of facts and fiction, history and legends, myth and reality.
Welcome aboard to the journey that will take you away –thousands of years ago-when India had advanced remarkably in the field of science and technology-when the sages discovered facts that modern science is yet to think of- and which needs to be guarded from the intruders, from the enemies and from any possible harms.
those days of India-when Buddhism and Hinduism are virtually in a tussle- when India was not only the light of Asia but also the light of the whole world- in those days a need was felt to preserve the harvest of Indian scientific thoughts through ages. There were apparently some twists in the history- some jigsaw puzzles. But if they are added with relevance- a complete picture will surface. a picture-where a method was devised by the Priyadrshi King Asoka-through a secret society- a society of nine unknown men-a society of nine men of promise- whose identity to the outside world will always be hidden. Each of them will act as a guardian of some secret branch of science.
Our writer has made extensive research to add up the missing link-the missing pages of history. History legend folklore, scientific facts all have been blended to form a complete racy thriller-a thriller that is sure to give you a taste of watching a three dimensional movie. It is book of five hundred pages, and the book itself compelled me to finish it one go. The secret association has been represented such mystically that I had no alternative but to compare it with one fictional association-priory of Sion and the grand masters.
“Countless. The first group was incepted in the year 270 BC era. Since then, there have been countless sets of nine unidentified men for each civilization. Anonymously, we have seen the rise and fall of dynasties and civilizations, with decades passing into centuries, but have never come into full public view with our secrets. We have always been one of the oldest and the most powerful societies, but have been so successful in being secretive that in spite off being in existence for more than 2000 years, we are still considered fictional or imaginary whenever our reference is made.”
And through ages only the faces of the guardians will change-but their vows, their duties, their devotion –will remain identical.
The nine unknown men possessed great knowledge-knowledge that is the driving force of perhaps the universe.
And knowledge is power.
Just imagine what power a man may posses if it falls into irresponsible hands.
Perhaps the power to rule the universe…………
Now let us back to the present.
Two murders in the present time- murders shrouded in mystery- were enough to excite the young officer of IB, Shoumilk Halder and writer of Indian mythology Ishan Vajpayee to go for a quest-quest for the motive of the murders. Rituals performed on the bodies of the victims are sure to spin the head of any investigator-somebody may deduce that they are the works of a psycho!
But are they? Or it is the work of a clever brain –who wants to shout to the world-yes, that is the motive behind these murders. A murderer who is there for a mission!
Or the murderer is merely a puppet at the hand of the destiny.
“The signs! Shaivas were characterized by ash smeared all over their body, a symbol to show their respect to Lord Shiva who had ash smeared all over his body. The shaivas also used to have one or other symbol of Lord Shiva on their body. On the first sight both the dead bodies seem to posses a few common and a few uncommon attributes, but if we try to filter out each of them, we can make order out of chaos.”
Murders are committed taking the victim away from their home cities-taking them away form their home as a result of a call –as if the death had called them!
Will our protagonists will be able to reveal the secret of the murderer-who thinks he is light years away from the investigators in terms of strategic planning.
Every now and then bend on the path of the storyline has made the story as exciting as watching a formula one grand prix. Sapan’s style of fading out and fading in from one scene to another has imparted a new script to the story line altogether.
But why I have revealed the secret of nine wise men and then suddenly become silent altogether……
Are there any relations of it with the murders?
Hold your breath readers- picture abhi baki hai!
July 14, 2021
Epic! MasterPiece!
What a brilliant book.
This is my second book on Indian Mythology after Harappa Trilogy and boy what a read this was.
I never thought I would enjoy reading mythology so much!!
Kudos to the author for the immense research done for this.
Loved it..
"When need is confused with greed, a devil is born." - Sapan Saxena
What a brilliant book.
This is my second book on Indian Mythology after Harappa Trilogy and boy what a read this was.
I never thought I would enjoy reading mythology so much!!
Kudos to the author for the immense research done for this.
Loved it..
"When need is confused with greed, a devil is born." - Sapan Saxena
January 17, 2016
Most mythological thrillers that came out in the recent years are set in the ancient times and tell the story from the perspective of the protagonists of those times. Where this book strikes a different note is that it set in the current times, and is a brilliant blend of history, mythology, thrills and science. The book starts off with a gruesome murder and there are many more to follow, described in intricate details, so these pages might be a bit difficult for those with faint hearts! Within the first few pages, the stage is set with the revelation that some Secret is out, and the murder being carried out with modern surgical instruments but being complimented with Vedic mantras and ancient practices at the same time sets the tone for the lethal combination of mythology and science! The story then moves forward with an IB Director, Shoumik Haldar, and an author of Indian mythology and religion, Ishan Vajpayee (which seems to be Sapan himself!) dwelling deep to solve the puzzles and riddles, related to ancient Indian history and mythology, in an attempt to prevent further murders.
The book picks up pace and becomes more and more engrossing once the gravity of the secret is revealed. Two warring sects, a secret society, a plethora of knowledge, crimes being committed to obtain the power to rule the world – the book has every ingredient of a dramatic thriller and keeps you hooked on to it till the very end! The conversations between Shoumik and Ishan as they rack their minds to unravel the mysteries are really enjoyable, and it is indeed delightful to see how an IB officer who doesn’t know much about history and mythology keeps up with the author in solving these riddles! While Ishan plays the scholarly hero with a profound knowledge of various religious books and shlokas, Shoumik is the action hero with whom the average reader would relate to – knowing only the basics of our vast and rich mythology, yet complementing the scholar perfectly with his sharp thinking and ability to put together the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
Credit must be given to the writer for weaving together history, mythology and science in such a beautiful manner. Through the book, the author delivers the message that magic is nothing but a misnomer for phenomenon that has yet not been explained by science. The book makes you immensely proud of the knowledge that our ancestors possessed – from medicine to microbiology to sociology – the enormous wisdom of our ancestors and the assertion that we have yet not used even 10% of that wisdom makes you really hopeful of the advancements possible in the future. But every noble cause deserves sacrifice, and the guardians of the secret have to pay that with their lives, unfortunately.
The book is a bit bulky, running into 600 pages which makes it an exasperating read at times, and the chapters are not given titles, a minor flip, but something which could have added more meaning and life to the book. Content wise, on the mythological and historical front, the book is near perfect; on the crime solving front, however, things get a bit frustrating when an IB Officer is not able to prevent murder after murder, even after having all resources at his disposal. The climax, though, is innovative and exciting with a subtle indication to the powers of the Almighty, and leaves the readers guessing whether it was an Act of God, or a carefully planned maneuver!
On the whole, the book is an excellent attempt by Sapan to make the readers aware and proud of our rich cultural heritage and our vast knowledge in all spheres of life! He also mixes it up effectively with a secret society, which is to India what the Illuminati is to the West, and thereby never lets the book dip down to a documentary, keeping the proceedings alive and exciting throughout the course of the book, which is commendable considering the length of the book. The characters are well developed, and the author goes in depths and details of all incidents, events and historical/ mythological characters, books and verses, which is a clear evidence of the extensive research done by the author and also demonstrates his love for the subject. Barring minor hiccups, the author delivers an engrossing and informative read, which is praiseworthy for a debutante author! Recommended for lovers of the Mytho Thriller genre! And waiting eagerly for the next offering from the author….
The book picks up pace and becomes more and more engrossing once the gravity of the secret is revealed. Two warring sects, a secret society, a plethora of knowledge, crimes being committed to obtain the power to rule the world – the book has every ingredient of a dramatic thriller and keeps you hooked on to it till the very end! The conversations between Shoumik and Ishan as they rack their minds to unravel the mysteries are really enjoyable, and it is indeed delightful to see how an IB officer who doesn’t know much about history and mythology keeps up with the author in solving these riddles! While Ishan plays the scholarly hero with a profound knowledge of various religious books and shlokas, Shoumik is the action hero with whom the average reader would relate to – knowing only the basics of our vast and rich mythology, yet complementing the scholar perfectly with his sharp thinking and ability to put together the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
Credit must be given to the writer for weaving together history, mythology and science in such a beautiful manner. Through the book, the author delivers the message that magic is nothing but a misnomer for phenomenon that has yet not been explained by science. The book makes you immensely proud of the knowledge that our ancestors possessed – from medicine to microbiology to sociology – the enormous wisdom of our ancestors and the assertion that we have yet not used even 10% of that wisdom makes you really hopeful of the advancements possible in the future. But every noble cause deserves sacrifice, and the guardians of the secret have to pay that with their lives, unfortunately.
The book is a bit bulky, running into 600 pages which makes it an exasperating read at times, and the chapters are not given titles, a minor flip, but something which could have added more meaning and life to the book. Content wise, on the mythological and historical front, the book is near perfect; on the crime solving front, however, things get a bit frustrating when an IB Officer is not able to prevent murder after murder, even after having all resources at his disposal. The climax, though, is innovative and exciting with a subtle indication to the powers of the Almighty, and leaves the readers guessing whether it was an Act of God, or a carefully planned maneuver!
On the whole, the book is an excellent attempt by Sapan to make the readers aware and proud of our rich cultural heritage and our vast knowledge in all spheres of life! He also mixes it up effectively with a secret society, which is to India what the Illuminati is to the West, and thereby never lets the book dip down to a documentary, keeping the proceedings alive and exciting throughout the course of the book, which is commendable considering the length of the book. The characters are well developed, and the author goes in depths and details of all incidents, events and historical/ mythological characters, books and verses, which is a clear evidence of the extensive research done by the author and also demonstrates his love for the subject. Barring minor hiccups, the author delivers an engrossing and informative read, which is praiseworthy for a debutante author! Recommended for lovers of the Mytho Thriller genre! And waiting eagerly for the next offering from the author….
March 31, 2015
The book constantly evokes the parallelism between mythology and science in the form of a thriller. One would love to read it if one has an inclination towards history, mythology and technology. Here, you get to learn a myriad facts and stories (straight from the mighty Indian past and also the contemporary advancements made in the fields of technology) which entertain the mind and provide food for thought at the same time.
The spice of the story is the Shaiva and Vaishnava rivalry, sprouting again in the present from the folds of the ancient history which becomes the reason of these ruthless killings. Destruction and fulfillment of personal desires in the name of religion, God and sect dates back to the ancient time, the story very well raises the question, who is a real devotee, one who protects the glory of God or the one who mars it by indulging in crimes in his name?
The parallelism is laid not just between science and myth, but the same is also portrayed between good and bad. Shoumik Haldar and Ishan Vajpayee solved the mystery of these murders following the path of deductions, great mythological know-how and goodness. And it was fun being a part of their detailed deductions which was more like a thrilling journey, all the way knowing about the places and people of importance of the ancient India.
What surprises me is the amazing correlation created among varied facts and mythology. It was a pleasure to read and learn a lot more about our history. As the language is very plain and simple and the book is a bulky one, I first could not make a guess about the brilliant content I was going to find inside. The book ends on a very interesting note where one is impelled to think whether there was an involvement of God in the victory of good or was it just a coincidence. With all such wonderful qualities, I consider this book a must read.
The spice of the story is the Shaiva and Vaishnava rivalry, sprouting again in the present from the folds of the ancient history which becomes the reason of these ruthless killings. Destruction and fulfillment of personal desires in the name of religion, God and sect dates back to the ancient time, the story very well raises the question, who is a real devotee, one who protects the glory of God or the one who mars it by indulging in crimes in his name?
The parallelism is laid not just between science and myth, but the same is also portrayed between good and bad. Shoumik Haldar and Ishan Vajpayee solved the mystery of these murders following the path of deductions, great mythological know-how and goodness. And it was fun being a part of their detailed deductions which was more like a thrilling journey, all the way knowing about the places and people of importance of the ancient India.
What surprises me is the amazing correlation created among varied facts and mythology. It was a pleasure to read and learn a lot more about our history. As the language is very plain and simple and the book is a bulky one, I first could not make a guess about the brilliant content I was going to find inside. The book ends on a very interesting note where one is impelled to think whether there was an involvement of God in the victory of good or was it just a coincidence. With all such wonderful qualities, I consider this book a must read.
July 22, 2015
Amazing debut novel by this 'Lucknow Boy', making Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code appear elementary.
When I picked this novel, I was very skeptical. I had expected an amateurish book, by a young self proclaimed novelist. But the first chapter astonished me. The story starts with a bang, just like a rocket launching into space, and continues at the same pace, never giving a slower moment to the reader. This is a very exciting mix of mythology, history, science and religion. Story spread across the Indian subcontinent, reader getting a feel of visiting the places described. Crime scenes and places are so realistically described, I could recollect so many of places where I have been earlier.
The book, spanning 108 chapters (and a Sumeru too, just like a Hindu rosary), is full of riddles and cryptic clues. I enjoyed attempting unsuccessfully to solve them. All the mentions to religious texts appear authentic( I believe that are). Hindu mythology, and the conflict between Shaivyas and Vaishnavas has been very beautifully explained. It was a sort of refresher course in Hindu religious concept for me. But at some places I felt, the author was being sarcastic about the present fundamentalists habit of linking all modern scientific developments to the vedic era.The explanation about how the Ganga water remains pure indefinitely, is one such thing.
Overall a great thriller. After a long time I had to stay awake till early morning to finish the last few chapters of any novel, as I wanted to know the climax.
Great job, Sapan. Wishing you a huge successful career ahead.
When I picked this novel, I was very skeptical. I had expected an amateurish book, by a young self proclaimed novelist. But the first chapter astonished me. The story starts with a bang, just like a rocket launching into space, and continues at the same pace, never giving a slower moment to the reader. This is a very exciting mix of mythology, history, science and religion. Story spread across the Indian subcontinent, reader getting a feel of visiting the places described. Crime scenes and places are so realistically described, I could recollect so many of places where I have been earlier.
The book, spanning 108 chapters (and a Sumeru too, just like a Hindu rosary), is full of riddles and cryptic clues. I enjoyed attempting unsuccessfully to solve them. All the mentions to religious texts appear authentic( I believe that are). Hindu mythology, and the conflict between Shaivyas and Vaishnavas has been very beautifully explained. It was a sort of refresher course in Hindu religious concept for me. But at some places I felt, the author was being sarcastic about the present fundamentalists habit of linking all modern scientific developments to the vedic era.The explanation about how the Ganga water remains pure indefinitely, is one such thing.
Overall a great thriller. After a long time I had to stay awake till early morning to finish the last few chapters of any novel, as I wanted to know the climax.
Great job, Sapan. Wishing you a huge successful career ahead.
March 20, 2015
Just finished finders keepers. And I must say its an awsome read. Though I m not a very avid reader but I am a very regular reader of novels based on mytho. Wat i liked most was picking up of characters, rituals from daily routine, talks and taking us to the very reason of their presence for such a long tym and in the meantime leaving us awestruck.i m completely surprised by the detailing. I dont know how did you correlate all the texts, clues, symbols.if all of that is true then I cant imagine how much hard work u have done to spin a net of all these in this story. Its just awsome. As I told earlier I love reading mytho books but urs is completely different.other novels show either different perspective of characters or story or write a lot wat we already know but wat u have done is surprising us by telling that how less we know about wat we think we know.i think just like me every other reader was also playing the role of third team member with Ishan and haldar. I felt as if I was not reading it I was just into it.running my own mind to solve the clues :-))) because it's so commected to us. Awsome work.i suggest to go for movie on this. And take a great cast in that movie. It will be like national treasure movie but much better than it. :-))
Thanks for such a treat.u have thrown light on some very interesting facts of our customs. U are a shaiva :-))
May God bless you with great success. Give my love to lil angel.
Thanks for such a treat.u have thrown light on some very interesting facts of our customs. U are a shaiva :-))
May God bless you with great success. Give my love to lil angel.
July 28, 2015
I would begin by saying i am a person having deep faith(not superficial) in ancient Indian wisdoms. I believe they're timeless and endless for a true seeker. As they say people see what they want to see... Till lately my penchant on thriller in prose is on wane, I like it in movies though, may be due to growing impatience in the internet age....
Thus my take on the book will be from the perspective of an Indian Philosophy lover. I read & reread the book with respect to the portrait of ancient indian facts. I liked the plethora of information on Indian ancient connection with Science in the book...the riveting plot kept me hooked to the book in my first reading and i finished the book in 3 days....Even though this is a work of fiction, many facts were really startling and will make you more inquisitive towards ancient india.
The author's job is commendable, in spite of the voluminous work reader'd hardly lose interest given the intense story line and powerful narration.
However for me when in future while exploring scientific connection to ancient indian practice, I search Sage Kapila's contribution to Optics, it'll be because "Finders Keepers" stayed somewhere in the back of my mind and not because i read on Sage Kapila in Wiki. This book is not some thing am gonna use as an one time read, but I am treating it as a reference book, which I will be rereading.....
Thus my take on the book will be from the perspective of an Indian Philosophy lover. I read & reread the book with respect to the portrait of ancient indian facts. I liked the plethora of information on Indian ancient connection with Science in the book...the riveting plot kept me hooked to the book in my first reading and i finished the book in 3 days....Even though this is a work of fiction, many facts were really startling and will make you more inquisitive towards ancient india.
The author's job is commendable, in spite of the voluminous work reader'd hardly lose interest given the intense story line and powerful narration.
However for me when in future while exploring scientific connection to ancient indian practice, I search Sage Kapila's contribution to Optics, it'll be because "Finders Keepers" stayed somewhere in the back of my mind and not because i read on Sage Kapila in Wiki. This book is not some thing am gonna use as an one time read, but I am treating it as a reference book, which I will be rereading.....
January 14, 2015
Sapan's language might seem archaic to the modern reader.
Nevertheless, it is remarkably easy. The pace of the novel is quite good,
and several chapters are extremely gripping.
I must confess that I started to read this book with a little bit of reluctance.
The problem with a mythological fiction book is that we usually have a general idea about it even if
we haven’t read it. But instead of the boredom I expected, the experience turned out to be both
memorable and enriching. Finders,Keepers is one of the most complex and moving puzzle and riddle based story
I have ever read. The relationship between the four central characters come alive from the very beginning.
There are also mysteries to be solved- the urge to find out what happens next. The irresponsible
and immature Markandey is one of Sapan's most endearing characters. The numerous comic moments stand out, as do the moments of suspense,
mysteries or realization.Though I may say that few puzzles were quite easy ones, but were of interest. I have read this book more than once, and every read has been an entirely new experience.
Nevertheless, it is remarkably easy. The pace of the novel is quite good,
and several chapters are extremely gripping.
I must confess that I started to read this book with a little bit of reluctance.
The problem with a mythological fiction book is that we usually have a general idea about it even if
we haven’t read it. But instead of the boredom I expected, the experience turned out to be both
memorable and enriching. Finders,Keepers is one of the most complex and moving puzzle and riddle based story
I have ever read. The relationship between the four central characters come alive from the very beginning.
There are also mysteries to be solved- the urge to find out what happens next. The irresponsible
and immature Markandey is one of Sapan's most endearing characters. The numerous comic moments stand out, as do the moments of suspense,
mysteries or realization.Though I may say that few puzzles were quite easy ones, but were of interest. I have read this book more than once, and every read has been an entirely new experience.
January 14, 2015
Loved the book. One of the best mystery-mythology combo by an Indian author. Historical references, mythological elements, engaging conspiracy, riddles, secrets, and backed by a real good narration. The characters are nicely drawn, and the events presented beautifully. Kudos for the final twist, never saw that coming, yet it looks fascinating connecting the dots backwards.
The debate between science and religion has been one big paradox. Though I'm not at all religious, I like the way author gives both sides of the argument and tries to connect the two. Really impressed by the way the books combines a fictional story with mythological events and real locations of India. One thing that many Indian authors fail to do is, not dedicate enough material on developing characters. This one does a very good job on that front. Both the key characters Shoumik Haldar and Ishan Vajpayee given a nice introduction, and get developed beautifully as the story.
All in all, I really liked the book. a great read!
February 6, 2015
Picked it up at Oxford bookstore in Delhi.
Being a big fan of historical fiction, I picked this one up thinking it to be the story of Shiva or ancient India, judging by its cover. But surprisingly, it turned out to be a modern day story, with references from Indian history and mythology.
Cliched you would say? Yes, and that’s what I thought as well. But, interestingly, Sapan has told a very compelling story in very linear fashion, which is kind of unusual for such books, and has succeeded in binding your interest. Not much of a conspiracy theory at play here, but the world is definitely facing a danger unless three men save the world from the inevitable. And all they get are some clues and signs over the dead bodies. Cliched again? Not, how Sapan has told the story.
Sapan’s style of developing a plot shares some similarities with Dan Brown's style. Nevertheless, Sapan managed to get readers attention with loads of interesting facts about Indian's, its civilization and the Vedas.At times it was tough separating facts from fiction. All in all, a must-read
Being a big fan of historical fiction, I picked this one up thinking it to be the story of Shiva or ancient India, judging by its cover. But surprisingly, it turned out to be a modern day story, with references from Indian history and mythology.
Cliched you would say? Yes, and that’s what I thought as well. But, interestingly, Sapan has told a very compelling story in very linear fashion, which is kind of unusual for such books, and has succeeded in binding your interest. Not much of a conspiracy theory at play here, but the world is definitely facing a danger unless three men save the world from the inevitable. And all they get are some clues and signs over the dead bodies. Cliched again? Not, how Sapan has told the story.
Sapan’s style of developing a plot shares some similarities with Dan Brown's style. Nevertheless, Sapan managed to get readers attention with loads of interesting facts about Indian's, its civilization and the Vedas.At times it was tough separating facts from fiction. All in all, a must-read
February 24, 2015
Amazing story and great execution of the concept. Taut amalgamation of mythology with thrilling crime, the clues and process to solve the puzzles were gripping. For the initial some chapters, I did lose my interest sometimes, but once the story was set forth I found it impossible to keep the book down. I would say it almost reached the thrill of Angels and Demons written by Dan brown.
I say almost because the story still had some loop holes which i wont be discussing here because of the possible spoilers. Sometimes few events happened in the book just to push the story further, but it didn't feel natural, it felt forced. In the same scenario, in a real world situation, a logical person would take a decision which could avoid a lot of chaos. Sometimes some decisions felt out of character.
But still I would say its a great start, and exceeds expectations as a first novel, and I would recommend this novel to every reader out there who loves thrillers.
Great work Sapan Saxena, keep it up, India needs good writers like you.
I say almost because the story still had some loop holes which i wont be discussing here because of the possible spoilers. Sometimes few events happened in the book just to push the story further, but it didn't feel natural, it felt forced. In the same scenario, in a real world situation, a logical person would take a decision which could avoid a lot of chaos. Sometimes some decisions felt out of character.
But still I would say its a great start, and exceeds expectations as a first novel, and I would recommend this novel to every reader out there who loves thrillers.
Great work Sapan Saxena, keep it up, India needs good writers like you.
February 17, 2015
"Finders, Keepers" came to my bookshelf through a review in a daily, read reviews and decided to read it. At first instance, the cover looked like Amish Tripathi’s “Immortals of Meluha” and the synopsis like Dan Brown books. The book, however, seems to take inspiration from Dan Brown’s work and is completely unrelated to Amish’s work. The inspiration is however, limited only to the concept, and that certainly doesn’t make Sapan’s work any inferior. In fact, the book does seem well researched and a lot of mysteries about India get uncovered.
The story works on two major plots, one where Shiva and his attributes and his rise to super Godly status is described. This doesn’t take anything from Meluha and yet is completely logical in its flow. The second subplot concerns more about the presence of a fictional sect
The former subplot forms the base of the story and turns out to be more interesting than the latter one. It is full of twists and the writer never lets you leave the book inspite of it being a healthy good size. The book is engrossing and never is there a dull moment.
The story works on two major plots, one where Shiva and his attributes and his rise to super Godly status is described. This doesn’t take anything from Meluha and yet is completely logical in its flow. The second subplot concerns more about the presence of a fictional sect
The former subplot forms the base of the story and turns out to be more interesting than the latter one. It is full of twists and the writer never lets you leave the book inspite of it being a healthy good size. The book is engrossing and never is there a dull moment.
February 2, 2015
Since the success of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, there has been an influx of such books and Indian literary scene is no different. Historical fiction is something which a lot of new age Indian writers are attempting these days. However, Sapan does take a different path and intelligently combines mythology, sciences and history in his book. The prime theme of the book is Shiva and a sub-theme involving ancient Indian history. The book keeps your interest almost all the time. The story is written linear. The climax, most importantly the last line gave me goosebumps. The storyline flows like Ganga, starts on a turbulent note, then embarks on a plainland and finally ends up on a very serene and peaceful note. The characters are real and of present age, the situations interesting and really gripping. For me, this was a winner completely.
February 2, 2015
I got this book as a gift by my wife on our anniversary, so gave it a shot. The story is compelling, and to finish up 620 pages in 5 days flat is no small a deal, I had to give up my daily dose of newshour though
The writing style is mature, and the author very well knows how to handle the subject he has picked up. For a good suspense fiction, the writer’s strength probably lies mostly is how to create a puzzle, and the writer succeeds here hands down. Finally, my search of a good writer who can tackle such a complex story in such intelligent fashion is complete.
The book has potential, and all the right ingredients, both in quantity and quality.
The way the puzzles are solved in the end, are the longest and the most breath taking part of the entire book.
The writing style is mature, and the author very well knows how to handle the subject he has picked up. For a good suspense fiction, the writer’s strength probably lies mostly is how to create a puzzle, and the writer succeeds here hands down. Finally, my search of a good writer who can tackle such a complex story in such intelligent fashion is complete.
The book has potential, and all the right ingredients, both in quantity and quality.
The way the puzzles are solved in the end, are the longest and the most breath taking part of the entire book.
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