What do you think?
Rate this book
8: The Game is On
History holds a lot in its pages. But till when can truth be hidden?
Neel is a cop investigating the mysterious death of a famous film director. In the middle of a divorce case with his wife Avantika and amidst thoughts of resigning from his job, will he be able to find the culprit?
A five-hundred-year old sunken ship belonging to Vasco da Gama is discovered off the coast in Oman. It is well known that the ship sank with thousands of artefacts in it. Out of them, eight artefacts are missing in specific. Do they have some connection with the film director’s death?
Neel tries to unearth the truth behind the missing artefacts to find clues to questions nobody else can answer. Join Neel as he tries to find the truth behind 8! 1 ship; 2 deaths; 3 cops; 400 murders; 500 years; 60 days; 7 countries; 8 artefacts – Let the adventure begin!
Neel is a cop investigating the mysterious death of a famous film director. In the middle of a divorce case with his wife Avantika and amidst thoughts of resigning from his job, will he be able to find the culprit?
A five-hundred-year old sunken ship belonging to Vasco da Gama is discovered off the coast in Oman. It is well known that the ship sank with thousands of artefacts in it. Out of them, eight artefacts are missing in specific. Do they have some connection with the film director’s death?
Neel tries to unearth the truth behind the missing artefacts to find clues to questions nobody else can answer. Join Neel as he tries to find the truth behind 8! 1 ship; 2 deaths; 3 cops; 400 murders; 500 years; 60 days; 7 countries; 8 artefacts – Let the adventure begin!
160 pages, Paperback
Published December 10, 2017
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 31, 2018
I selected "8: The Game is On" by Swapnil Khamkar when I checked the tagline on the back cover. '1 ship; 2 deaths; 3 cops; 400 murders; 500 years; 60 days; 7 countries; 8 artifacts – Let the adventure begin!'
A catchy line doesn't it...! Yes, I also thought same when I have first looked at this book.
The author started narrating the storyline in a thriller way by portraying a murder which was staged like suicide. A south Indian movie like cop comes to the story. With his Sherlock Holmes-like skill and observations, he excludes suicide and deduced it to a murder. As the murder investigation was just started getting somewhere the cop dropped the case and went to another plot only to meet the former afterward.
The story becomes romantic drama rather than a thriller in next part. Working with his would be divorced wife over a mission, clearing the misunderstanding and falling in love again. And after that, treasure hunt began. I found fewer details and more pace in this part.
No doubt the author has done some research over the whole Esmeralda Tragedy and also about the cities mentioned in the story. He has done a good work with that but after all, the story fails to hold. Swapnil Khamkar's writing skills are good as a debutant but I missed that touch. I wish him best luck in his future endeavor.
Detailed Book Review - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2018/01...
A catchy line doesn't it...! Yes, I also thought same when I have first looked at this book.
The author started narrating the storyline in a thriller way by portraying a murder which was staged like suicide. A south Indian movie like cop comes to the story. With his Sherlock Holmes-like skill and observations, he excludes suicide and deduced it to a murder. As the murder investigation was just started getting somewhere the cop dropped the case and went to another plot only to meet the former afterward.
The story becomes romantic drama rather than a thriller in next part. Working with his would be divorced wife over a mission, clearing the misunderstanding and falling in love again. And after that, treasure hunt began. I found fewer details and more pace in this part.
No doubt the author has done some research over the whole Esmeralda Tragedy and also about the cities mentioned in the story. He has done a good work with that but after all, the story fails to hold. Swapnil Khamkar's writing skills are good as a debutant but I missed that touch. I wish him best luck in his future endeavor.
Detailed Book Review - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2018/01...
December 31, 2017
Rating: ⭐⭐½
A mystery is a whodunit. You know what happened, but not how or who's behind it. A thriller, or a suspense, is a howdunit. You know what happened, and you usually know who did it, but you keep reading because you want to know how they pulled it off. When you read the blurb of 8: The Game is on you expect some whodunit and howdunit but wait! Does the story sound as good as it is in the blurb?
Neel is like a super cool cop like Dev from Ittefaq. well, I don't know why I compared Neel to Akshaye Khanna. Jay calls Neel to inform about the death of the famous movie director. And Neel arrives at the crime scene. There's also flashback running in Neel's head. What's the flashback? The story then takes us to Oman. Neel and Jay have been assigned with the new case; eight artifacts are missing and they need to find the culprit and as well as the artifacts. Will they able to find the artifacts? Of course, there's a connection between these two cases as you read in the blurb. But How and Why? What went wrong between Neel and his Wife Avantika?
The book is based on the Pilgrim Ship incident which is related to Vaso da Gama. The author has done enough research to write this book. The linking of historical events to the story have been written well. The story moves in a fast-track which is substantial in the mystery novels. The 150 and odd page can easily finish it one-sit-reading. But there are certainly many things I didn't like in the story. Neel and Jay are investigating the famous film director case and all of a sudden they will be assigned to some other case. Neel is so close to find whodunit in the first case, but he doesn't bother about it as soon as he gets assigned with some other case. Neel's wife Avantika is also a cop, and I don't know how she helped in solving the case. She was either preparing coffee or roaming with Neel, it was kind of free International Honeymoon Trip. Never happened to see her cop avatar throughout the story. At least Jay tried few things, although his character didn't leave any impact on the story. Overall, the suspense was missing in the story. I didn't find any eureka moment. But the author definitely has scope to come up with good stories in the future. I give this book 2.5 out of 5 stars.
A mystery is a whodunit. You know what happened, but not how or who's behind it. A thriller, or a suspense, is a howdunit. You know what happened, and you usually know who did it, but you keep reading because you want to know how they pulled it off. When you read the blurb of 8: The Game is on you expect some whodunit and howdunit but wait! Does the story sound as good as it is in the blurb?
Neel is like a super cool cop like Dev from Ittefaq. well, I don't know why I compared Neel to Akshaye Khanna. Jay calls Neel to inform about the death of the famous movie director. And Neel arrives at the crime scene. There's also flashback running in Neel's head. What's the flashback? The story then takes us to Oman. Neel and Jay have been assigned with the new case; eight artifacts are missing and they need to find the culprit and as well as the artifacts. Will they able to find the artifacts? Of course, there's a connection between these two cases as you read in the blurb. But How and Why? What went wrong between Neel and his Wife Avantika?
The book is based on the Pilgrim Ship incident which is related to Vaso da Gama. The author has done enough research to write this book. The linking of historical events to the story have been written well. The story moves in a fast-track which is substantial in the mystery novels. The 150 and odd page can easily finish it one-sit-reading. But there are certainly many things I didn't like in the story. Neel and Jay are investigating the famous film director case and all of a sudden they will be assigned to some other case. Neel is so close to find whodunit in the first case, but he doesn't bother about it as soon as he gets assigned with some other case. Neel's wife Avantika is also a cop, and I don't know how she helped in solving the case. She was either preparing coffee or roaming with Neel, it was kind of free International Honeymoon Trip. Never happened to see her cop avatar throughout the story. At least Jay tried few things, although his character didn't leave any impact on the story. Overall, the suspense was missing in the story. I didn't find any eureka moment. But the author definitely has scope to come up with good stories in the future. I give this book 2.5 out of 5 stars.
December 14, 2018
2.5 Stars
8! 1 ship; 2 deaths; 3 cops; 400 murders; 500 years; 60 days; 7 countries; 8 artefacts – Let the adventure begin!
This line was what sold me to the book. There’s so much scope in that one line. When I picked it up, I braced myself for a thrilling ride but the book wasn’t that.
The author was in great touch with the baseline of the story, the history part was well researched and smartly inserted in the story. Although the book could have done wonders only following this story line, I don’t know why Neel and Avantika’s stupid marital problems were added. In 1/3rd of the book, it turned from a decent thriller to a crappy romance story. Being cops them acting this way was so unwarranted, even after being in the same profession if this is how they react to situations and if this is what almost fails their marriage then God help their relationship.
Because of their story being introduced, the main story took a back seat. Where 3-4 pages were needed to find the first artifact, the last was found in a paragraph of 3 lines. Also, Raghu, their senior, sends Avantika with Neel and Jay (sidekick) to help their relationship. Excuse me? This is an international issue where you already have an incompetent officer (Neel) and you add his love interest, who by the way does nothing for the case, she either keeps making coffee or keeps romancing Neel in a real cringy way.
Neel was tried to be portrayed as this naturally talented officer who is really good at his job but the way he is written, he instead comes across as a really mean and arrogant person, who is incompetent but tries to hide it by talking people down and taking credit for their work.
The first story of the director is left hanging in order to pursue the artifacts storyline then that is forgotten because of Neel and Avantika (if you could not figure out, they frustrated me because they took a lot away from a story that could otherwise have been really good) and then we are again introduced to the first story line as a conclusion after rushing through the second one.
The climax was really anticlimactic, it seemed more of the TV series CID style. There were a lot of editing mistakes as well and then I looked at the name of the publishing company. I don’t know why but all the books that I have read from this publishing company are riddled with mistakes.
The idea and research that went behind it is really great, which is why I would love to read more from the author. You can see that he really has a great vision, this being his debut novel I feel the pressure to add romance to make it sell-able actually backfired.
8! 1 ship; 2 deaths; 3 cops; 400 murders; 500 years; 60 days; 7 countries; 8 artefacts – Let the adventure begin!
This line was what sold me to the book. There’s so much scope in that one line. When I picked it up, I braced myself for a thrilling ride but the book wasn’t that.
The author was in great touch with the baseline of the story, the history part was well researched and smartly inserted in the story. Although the book could have done wonders only following this story line, I don’t know why Neel and Avantika’s stupid marital problems were added. In 1/3rd of the book, it turned from a decent thriller to a crappy romance story. Being cops them acting this way was so unwarranted, even after being in the same profession if this is how they react to situations and if this is what almost fails their marriage then God help their relationship.
Because of their story being introduced, the main story took a back seat. Where 3-4 pages were needed to find the first artifact, the last was found in a paragraph of 3 lines. Also, Raghu, their senior, sends Avantika with Neel and Jay (sidekick) to help their relationship. Excuse me? This is an international issue where you already have an incompetent officer (Neel) and you add his love interest, who by the way does nothing for the case, she either keeps making coffee or keeps romancing Neel in a real cringy way.
Neel was tried to be portrayed as this naturally talented officer who is really good at his job but the way he is written, he instead comes across as a really mean and arrogant person, who is incompetent but tries to hide it by talking people down and taking credit for their work.
The first story of the director is left hanging in order to pursue the artifacts storyline then that is forgotten because of Neel and Avantika (if you could not figure out, they frustrated me because they took a lot away from a story that could otherwise have been really good) and then we are again introduced to the first story line as a conclusion after rushing through the second one.
The climax was really anticlimactic, it seemed more of the TV series CID style. There were a lot of editing mistakes as well and then I looked at the name of the publishing company. I don’t know why but all the books that I have read from this publishing company are riddled with mistakes.
The idea and research that went behind it is really great, which is why I would love to read more from the author. You can see that he really has a great vision, this being his debut novel I feel the pressure to add romance to make it sell-able actually backfired.
February 24, 2018
As mentioned in the blurb 8 incidents are present in this book which are connected to each other, and that's why the title of the book is "8 The Game Is On".
The story started with the death of a one of the famous film director Akash Gupta. and Jay with his police team Reposted to the crime scene and there a new and Lead character Neel was introduced by the Author. Neel was a Police Officer who left the police department by giving a resignation letter to his Senior officer. There was a personal reason behind this. Neel and Jay were a friend and colleagues too. Neel and His wife Avantika who were a police officer too, both were separated just because of one misunderstanding which was occurred while Nell was on a mission of Police department. Raghu the head of them had assigned the Mission to Neel and Jay by letting down the current mission of Akash Gupta. A mission of the Robbery of the 8 Artefacts from the Ship which is related to Vasco Da Gama... and after some time Raghu called them Back for the Akash Gupta case and one more officer joined them, Who was Avantika Neel's Wife. and at some points author had tried to show a love story of Neel and Avantika.
The Story runs with all Incidents which is mentioned in the Blurb. at some stages, it looks like the author had just jumped to another scene.
Will they get succeed to there mission?
will Neel and Avantika will give another chance to there Relationship?
for all the answer you have to read this book.
The story started with the death of a one of the famous film director Akash Gupta. and Jay with his police team Reposted to the crime scene and there a new and Lead character Neel was introduced by the Author. Neel was a Police Officer who left the police department by giving a resignation letter to his Senior officer. There was a personal reason behind this. Neel and Jay were a friend and colleagues too. Neel and His wife Avantika who were a police officer too, both were separated just because of one misunderstanding which was occurred while Nell was on a mission of Police department. Raghu the head of them had assigned the Mission to Neel and Jay by letting down the current mission of Akash Gupta. A mission of the Robbery of the 8 Artefacts from the Ship which is related to Vasco Da Gama... and after some time Raghu called them Back for the Akash Gupta case and one more officer joined them, Who was Avantika Neel's Wife. and at some points author had tried to show a love story of Neel and Avantika.
The Story runs with all Incidents which is mentioned in the Blurb. at some stages, it looks like the author had just jumped to another scene.
Will they get succeed to there mission?
will Neel and Avantika will give another chance to there Relationship?
for all the answer you have to read this book.
August 27, 2023
I have given minimal rating for the following reasons
1. Sub optimal plot.
2. Shallow characterization
3. Pathetic grammer
4. Poor english
Spoilers are that 😨😱😤
1. You may doze off while reading the novel.
2. You would rue that it is a terrible choice to read this novel.
I had aforementioned nightmare while reading it.
1. Sub optimal plot.
2. Shallow characterization
3. Pathetic grammer
4. Poor english
Spoilers are that 😨😱😤
1. You may doze off while reading the novel.
2. You would rue that it is a terrible choice to read this novel.
I had aforementioned nightmare while reading it.
July 12, 2018
When someone buys a thriller off the bookshelf, they expect it to be one. 1/3 rd through this one becomes romantic instead! Even suspense is minimal and motive behind the criminal’s antics are kiddish. Mr Khamkar, you need a little bit more of writing skills. Kuch kam kar! Pun intended 🤓
March 12, 2019
Extremely ordinary writing.
Written at times like an essay. No meat in the characters. Simplistic plot. Does not engage or create excitement. No application of mind required.
Please avoid
Written at times like an essay. No meat in the characters. Simplistic plot. Does not engage or create excitement. No application of mind required.
Please avoid
April 11, 2020
Around 7 stars out of 10.
[Detailed #BookReview at: https://thinkerviews.com/books/englis... ]
[Detailed #BookReview at: https://thinkerviews.com/books/englis... ]
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews