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Death of a Gentleman

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Yuvraaj Khanna is on the brink of the stupendous success he has dreamt about his whole life. His grocery delivery startup has just secured 900 million dollars in valuation, and he is engaged to the beautiful Sanjanaa Gandhi, a doctor from tony Malabar Hill.

And then, the death of his wealthy father disrupts everything. The father who had abandoned him when he was a child.

A murder investigation unfolds, throwing the spotlight on Yuvraaj and revealing deep-rooted rivalries and unresolved tensions, laying bare the brutal lengths people will go to in their quest for success and social standing

Set in the dazzling yet fiercely competitive world of Mumbai’s elite, Death of a Gentleman unravels the dark secrets hidden beneath the city’s glamorous façade. With its stylish storytelling, sharp wit and chilling twists, this gripping psychological thriller will leave readers questioning the true cost of power and what it means to survive in a world that thrives on appearances.

360 pages, Paperback

Published August 26, 2025

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Riva Razdan

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Raghu Nathan.
458 reviews87 followers
November 9, 2025
It has been a while since I read a novel by an Indian author in English. While on a recent trip to India, I saw favorable reviews of this book in online magazines like ‘scroll.in’ and traditional newspapers. Reviews praised it as a stylish novel, a psychological thriller and an intriguing murder mystery. I got the book and read it over several sittings. It is a “who done it?” sort of novel built around the rich people of affluent South Bombay. A death takes place early in the novel under suspicious circumstances. The rest of the novel mixes love affairs, high-society gossip and amateur investigations into the suspicious death. Unless it is Agatha Christie or Ellery Quuen, most murder mysteries meander around by casting doubts on various characters as the culprit. And then they reveal that the one person who seemed unblemished was the killer. I applied a similar process of elimination and zeroed in on the murderer halfway through the novel. The ending proved me correct, much to my disappointment. I expected better from a good murder mystery. The narrative did not grip me in a sustained way because the storyline veered off frequently into society gossip, mini love triangles and other distractions. It’s an exaggeration to label it a psycho-thriller. Reviewers call it stylish, perhaps because of the extensive screenshot reproductions from the smartphones of the protagonist and his girlfriend as part of the narrative. That device within the novel offers the sole innovation in this book.

The novel begins by introducing Yuvraj Khanna, a 28-year-old IT entrepreneur and CEO of Go-Go, a start-up delivering groceries in fifteen minutes. This sets the scene for a 2025-ish story. He lives with his doting mother, Anju Khatri, while being estranged from his father, Rana Khanna, who owns the upmarket Hotel Emperor and the palatial Lakshmi Mansions. Rana had walked out earlier on his wife and young son in favor of a younger, pretty Saarika and her mediocre son, Yudhishthir. Yuvraaj grows up in middle-class Thane but achieves success on his own with Go-Go, which is valued at $900 million. He has the beautiful Sanjanaa Gandhi, an oncologist from rich, trendy Malabar Hill, as his loving girlfriend. Yuvraaj’s goal is to make Go-Go a unicorn (valued over one billion dollars) and then marry Sanjanaa. It makes him a competitive workaholic.

When life was looking promising, two incidents disrupt Yuvraaj’s life. First, Yuvraaj gives an interview to a popular news magazine about his start-up company. In the interview, he launches a scathing attack on his father, mocking his struggling hotel business and contrasting it with the soaring success of his own IT start-up. The press craves such scandals, which then get discussed ad nauseam, generating a buzz about the business. Rana Khanna, Yuvraaj’s rich and absent father, suffers a fatal heart attack the same evening. He collapses while dining at the fancy restaurant, Neuma. His second wife, Saarika, and younger son Yudhishthir were with him, while Yuvraaj also was at Neuma at the same time at another table.

Soon, we learn that Rana Khanna left all of his properties, Hotel Emperor and the Lakshmi Mansion, to Yuvraaj instead of his second wife Saarika and her son. Saarika senses something suspicious. Why would Rana commit that act, given his prior desertion of his family? And why would he after Yuvraaj had mocked him in the news magazine interview? She suspects foul play by Yuvraaj, insinuating that he must have caused the heart attack in some devious way. Did he fudge Rana’s will through some intermediaries? The air is thick with distrust, and soon the police launch an investigation aimed at proving Yuvraaj’s guilt. As the murder mystery unravels, we discover Yuvraaj had a complicated and conflicted relationship with his father. Though he denounced his father, he also has a subconscious, desperate, unfulfilled desire for his father’s acknowledgment, approval and love. Though abandoned by her husband, his mother Anju seems to embody the traditional oppressed Indian woman who cannot find fault with her husband despite his treachery. A police officer begins an investigation, guiding us to the perpetrator.

The novel blends a murder mystery with corruption, hedonism, love, greed, and deceit. The story explores these failings of the South Bombay elite against the backdrop of India’s current gilded age. None of the characters stay in the reader’s mind. Yuvraaj, his mother and Sanjanaa are the main players and they come off rather shallow, except perhaps for Sanjanaa. The author highlights Sanjanaa, a doctor from the affluent Malabar Hill, as the modern Indian woman. She embodies beauty, femininity, and intelligence, nurturing yet capable of fierce action when the situation demands. Her presence anchors Yuvraaj’s chaotic world. Others like Saarika, Yudhishthir, Rana, etc., are even worse. Yudhishthir’s role perplexes, given his inclusion within this novel. Since I couldn’t identify with any of them, it was difficult to feel sympathetic toward their problems or achievements. The story gave me the impression that wealthy young people, who have never experienced the struggles of ordinary people, were reveling in their own self-inflicted problems.

The novel lacks pace and absorption because there is no sustained focus on solving the murder. We wander into the high-society gossip of Mumbai, the mother-son drama between Yuvraaj and his mom, and the lovers' quarrel between Yuvraaj and Sanjanaa. There is no throbbing suspense that keeps you gripped. The psychological aspects are weak. Yuvraaj seeks his father’s approval. His mother remains loyal to her husband despite his betrayal. Saarika schemes for the Khanna properties’ wealth. No psychological intrigue in all this.

‘Death of a Gentleman’ is a lazy detective novel that you would read when you want something light-hearted that does not tax your brain.

Profile Image for Aparna Prabhu.
596 reviews43 followers
May 23, 2025
“What a strange, twisted thing love is. Even when it soured to hatred, it leaves an indelible instinct of protectiveness within us.”

- Riva Razdan, Death of a Gentleman

Elderly don't frequent gastropubs unlike sixty five year old Rana Khanna, who was a regular visitor at pubs with his wife Saarika. On an unfateful night, in a sleek hot-shot joint, Neuma, Rana died with Saarika by his side. He is survived by his younger son Yudhishtir Khanna.

”It sickened me a little, how everything came down to currency. All integrity could be bought and sold, for a few thousand rupees in Bombay”

Enter Yuvraaj Khanna, the elder son of Rana who secured a $900 million in funding for his food delivery start-up, Go-Go. He had his fiance Dr. Sanjana Gandhi and his doting cancer stricken mom, Anju Khatri beside him. But the wedding date was stalled as Khanna wanted his start-up to achieve unicorn status. Hailing from a broken home transformed Yuvraaj into a calculative businessman with subtle hints of grey. The circumstantial evidence made Yuvraaj the prime suspect of his father's untimely death.

Amidst the shimmering glitzy glam of Mumbai, the story unfolds like unforecasted monsoon -intense, soaked in unexpected whispers. The revelation of the second son, Yudhishthir, stirred a mix of shock and disbelief as the blurb was devoid of his existence. The narrative mostly comprises of Yuvraaj's POV and is further enhanced by newspaper clippings, snapshots of chat messages and flashbacks that serve shocking twists to the plot. The vivid well-crafted interaction between the characters builds palpable tension giving you an immersive reading experience. The crisply defined chapters and the turn of events make you flip the pages in anticipation.
Profile Image for Sohinee Reads & Reviews (Bookarlo).
351 reviews275 followers
June 16, 2025
In the world of glamour and secrets, power always comes at a cost. But, how far are you willing to go?

65-year-old Rana Khanna didn't see his de@th coming. How could he when he was still out there enjoying his life. A frequent visitor to gastropubs along with his wife, Rana was still in his best years, according to him.

Although his son, Yudhishtir, survives the unforeseen event, it's Yuvraaj Khanna who ends up in the cross hairs of the ongoing murder investigation.

A prime suspect.

But how does Yuvraaj accept this fate when his own father hadn't accepted him when he was alive? Right at a pivotal phase in his life - when his grocery delivery start-up has reached $900 million in valuation and he is engaged to Dr. Sanjaana Gandhi, how could his father remind him of his existence even in his de@th?!

When the investigation begins and the glamour fades, long- buried secrets come to light and threaten to destroy the reputation all the elites had built over years.

But not everything is as they seem. When truths feel like lies and lies mask as truths, what would you believe in?

This book was such a well-written psychological thriller with all the plot twists, suspense and mystery that I ate it up!

I had previously read and loved Arzu by the same author and this book didn't disappoint either. If you love mystery and psychological thrillers, definitely add it to your TBR!
Profile Image for Kanwarpal Singh.
1,043 reviews8 followers
September 27, 2025
This book is theme thriller, murder mystery story of businessman and hotel "emperor" owner Rana Khanna is death while drinking on new years eve. With Saarika , Yudhishthir the step son one side. Anju and Yuvrraj Khanna on another side.

Story start with when attorney announced that father had willed the real son all the properties whom ge didn't contacted and Yuvraaj was in revenge mode. Her fiance Dr. Sanjanaa the keeper of a person stand with from his days worst to this day.

But when Saarika found a proof against Anju things changes and Yuvraaj gave up his inheritance to safeguard his mother but story had a twist when they came to know that who all conspire to kill Rana Khanna his father and while the truth unfolds he became a vengeful and bitter like his father and lines of right and wrong dimnishes he almost lost his success start-up and his relationship, but things came to stabilize when truth unveiled and he knows what to do and how to get rid of toxicity in life and work on himself and his future.

With honeytrap to contract killing, evidence killer to manipulation, loyalty change to greed , adultery to sabotage reputation, Lust and power struggle this book have it all and make it a wonderful read.
368 reviews
November 19, 2025
It's a story that draws you in with its charm, emotional tension, and complex relationships.

The book is about a successful young entrepreneur named Yuvraaj Khanna, who has everything – money, fame and a perfect fiancée. But when his estranged father suddenly dies, his world begins to unravel, revealing secrets, rivalries, and wounds he thought he had buried long ago.

What I liked most was how the author balanced the glamorous world of Mumbai's rich people with real human emotions. Yuvraj's struggle for recognition, his insecurities, and the way he constantly questions his worth make him relatable despite his opulent background. Sanjana is also a down-to-earth force—strong, honest, and beautifully written.

The book moves quickly, with twists and turns at every turn. It's a bit dramatic at times, but it's also fun and keeps you turning the pages. Beneath the mystery, this is really a story about fathers and sons, ambition, and the price we pay for trying to fit into worlds that were never meant for us.

Overall, this is an engaging and emotional book, filled with a mix of glamour, mystery, and heart. If you enjoy character-driven stories with high-society drama, this one will keep you hooked.
Profile Image for Aashna Godha.
66 reviews1 follower
November 13, 2025
Death of a Gentleman by Riva Razdan doesn't begin like a story—it begins like a heartbreak you thought you'd outrun, showing up on your doorstep anyway.

It's not just about a man, but about the mythology we build around love, class, and charm-the glossy picture we pin to the wall until the edges curl and the colors fade.

The Author writes with a precision that feels like silk unraveling, delicate yet impossible to ignore. The gentleman here is an idea more than a character: a promise of safety, nobility, and romance that slowly reveals itself as a mirage.

Watching it disintegrate feels like standing in the rain outside a burning house-helpless, but unable to look away. The characters are messy, vulnerable, and uncomfortably real. They hold onto love the way we hold onto a chorus we've sung too many times-knowing it's doomed, but unable to stop.

The narrative has weight without being heavy; it carries you into the darker corners of privilege and betrayal, all while whispering that some illusions are meant to break.
Profile Image for Surbhi Jain.
264 reviews5 followers
December 3, 2025
Reading Death of a Gentleman felt like stepping into the glittering, cut-throat world of Mumbai’s elite, only to realise how dark it truly is beneath the surface. I was instantly pulled into Yuvraaj Khanna’s life, a man on the brink of extraordinary success when his past comes crashing back through his father’s sudden death.

What I truly loved was how the story blends ambition, family wounds, and moral dilemmas so seamlessly. The murder investigation doesn’t just uncover secrets, it exposes the emotional fractures Yuvraaj has been carrying for years.

Riva Razdan’s writing is sharp, stylish, and addictive. The psychological tension builds beautifully. I especially enjoyed the way she portrays power, not just as something people chase, but something that can consume them. The setting of Mumbai’s high society felt vivid and cinematic, making every twist even more chilling.

For me, the best part was how the book made me question what success really costs. It’s gripping, emotional, and impossible to put down.
16 reviews
November 24, 2025
There is so much tea in this book - text msgs, emails and snarky conversations
You'd be like 🤏(clock it!), 🤌(Perfect reply!)
Very well put together with characters from all walks of life
This story is a blend of a lot of drama, hidden secrets and rivalry. Second wife, half brothers and one rich family. Fighting over one man's will. Some of the names, and business name might be confusing. You'll have to spend some time getting a hold of the story and what's going on. Overall, great twists and a good read.
Profile Image for Bidisha Das.
276 reviews65 followers
July 22, 2025
A page-turning romp. This would make a binge worthy miniseries. Love it when women write men.
Profile Image for Shipra Arora.
231 reviews10 followers
January 9, 2026
Money builds walls.
Love breaks them.
Secrets destroy them.
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Death of a Gentleman is a story where every smile hides a secret… and every secret is dangerous.
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Yuvraaj Khanna has everything people dream of a rich fiancée, a famous startup, and a future full of power. But the night his father dies, his world breaks like glass. The police call it a heart attack… but the truth smells like murder.
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Why does the father’s will leave everything to the son he abandoned years ago?¿?¿?
.
Why was Yuvraaj at the same restaurant that night?¿?¿?
.
Who wanted the old man dead and why?¿?¿?
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Slowly, lies start to crawl out of the dark.
Friends turn into strangers.
Family becomes threat.
Love becomes a trap.
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With every chapter, i felt the tension tightening as if someone is always watching.
The rich and classy world of Mumbai shows its ugly face jealousy, revenge, broken hearts, and blood-red ambition.
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This book asks one chilling question:
How far will a gentleman go… when he has everything to lose?¿?¿?¿?¿?
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews