Killing Time In Delhi by Ravi Shankar Etteth

Mar 22, 2019 Gayatri Saikia | per_fictionist rated it really liked it

Review : Killing Time in Delhi as the title suggests accounts the lifes of the high society of Delhi and the vices that surround them. Filled with dark humor and a certain merciless and raw style of writing makes you fall for the book instantly.

The protagonist Chaitanya,a worthless heir of one of the oldest royally rich families of Delhi is sucked into the messy murder of his gold digging girlfriend. But is that where bad luck for Charlie a.k.a Chaitanya ceases? No. As the plot progresses, the d ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 22, 2019 Mridula Gupta rated it really liked it

|3.5 stars|

Reading about the rich and self-proclaimed famous people wasn’t my thing until I came across this one. ‘Killing Time in Delhi’ screams rich, pretentious and treacherous.

The death of his money sucking, drug addict girlfriend sends Charlie Seth in a frenzy. With family money falling into his lap, Charli knows what the world (more like a typical hi class Delhi Lutyens society) expects of him. But he is unaware of the lemons life is about to throw at him and he doesn’t have a great coping ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 07, 2019 Ritu Mantri rated it it was amazing

Read this book if you love dry humor. The author was bang on all the time. He didn't let the protagonist Charlie, for once, go off the track even after witnessing a murder, an accidental death and being framed for murder, his property being usurped.

Read it for satire on Lutyens Delhi citizens and their parties which is only about dope, liquor and flesh. The sarcasm is dripping from every page like the water dribble from wet hairs.

The story has been structured with a lot of thought. In between th ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 01, 2019 Bodhisattya Pal rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-releases

Set in the capital Delhi, the novel zoomed into the lifestyle of crazy rich denizens. Charlie is one of them, who was 'playing' quite well untill the sudden series of hilarious events occurred! The event changes everything, the characters, colors, shadows & fate in the darker side of the city, where neon is only brightness!

Seductive, psychedelic, cool, funky, handsome, sarcastic, funny, humorous - still I can't describe this book. All I can say it's different, really different!

Don't expect a mur Set in the capital Delhi, the novel zoomed into the lifestyle of crazy rich denizens. Charlie is one of them, who was 'playing' quite well untill the sudden series of hilarious events occurred! The event changes everything, the characters, colors, shadows & fate in the darker side of the city, where neon is only brightness!

Seductive, psychedelic, cool, funky, handsome, sarcastic, funny, humorous - still I can't describe this book. All I can say it's different, really different!

Don't expect a murder mystery thriller or a whodunit type of thing, this 197 pages long cracker is something unique. Firstly it's a really interesting subject. The author choose a completely different setting from his last year's brilliant 'The Brahmin'. It's quite horrible to absorb the fact that the ultrarich of our capital is just living upon money, sex, drugs & parties. The author dealt with the matter very masterfully. You can get a superbly funny yet coherent look upon their lifestyle & culture. The novel mocks everywhere. The sentences are loaded with sarcasm & irony. The author started it from the title in fact. What a title! He 'trolled' almost all the politicians, police, film actors & practices quite genuinely. Brave attempt man! So it's really funny to inhale the ironies. The use of words from local slang to aristocrats brands were fine. But in course of trying something new, the experienced author didn't forget to add his typical magical writing here. The writing style is mesmerizing as expected.

The characters were also remarkable. Charlie & Mandy undoubtedly were perfect creation. But the author impresses with the side characters like Shamsher, Coke Rao, Nik, piggie everyone (not chow! I filled personally that the flow of that character was little unnatural & forced). Etteth's signature ability to match huge links is evident here also.

Amidst all the chaos & fun, I found a buried sadness, a melancholic overtone, when ever Charlie looked at the Mughal tomb or thought of Asha. Ravi did a fine job by changing the flavor. He quoted -

"Loneliness is neither the lack of a woman nor suddenly wishing you were elsewhere while standing on the deck of a cruise ship with a bimbette, who was invited purely on the merit of her magnificent as. Loneliness is not reading some poetry and getting an ache in your heart either. Loneliness is not even feeling out of place. Loneliness is not belonging to someone or somewhere. it is a nightclub singer with lung cancer. Or a pretty girl who steps into the car and is gone before you can even seen her face."

Brilliant!

The author dealt with some social family taboo lately which was little disturbing for me. Apart from that, the novel was pure brilliance, still that part was also relevant.

Thus mixing multiple genres, the genius storyteller is back with a book, which is completely unique. Give your soul a funky twist with this mesmerizing entertainer.

OVERALL RATING: 4/5 ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 06, 2019 Sahil Pradhan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A page turner that begins with a murder and travels through the murky by-lanes of Delhi’s property wars and offers an unusual view of the fast lives of Delhi’s rich and famous.

Bon vivant Charlie Seth, a privileged denizen of Lutyens’ Delhi, leads a life of idle luxury fuelled by money, drugs, sex and parties. A cocaine overdose kills his ditzy girlfriend, thrusting him into a maelstrom of conspiracy, murder, blackmail and promiscuity. As the world of Crazy Rich Punjabis unravels, Charlie’s futur A page turner that begins with a murder and travels through the murky by-lanes of Delhi’s property wars and offers an unusual view of the fast lives of Delhi’s rich and famous.

Bon vivant Charlie Seth, a privileged denizen of Lutyens’ Delhi, leads a life of idle luxury fuelled by money, drugs, sex and parties. A cocaine overdose kills his ditzy girlfriend, thrusting him into a maelstrom of conspiracy, murder, blackmail and promiscuity. As the world of Crazy Rich Punjabis unravels, Charlie’s future is suddenly at the mercy of an enigmatic woman, an unscrupulous swami, a society-obsessed policeman, a slippery drug pusher and a disloyal valet.

The only person who can help him is his missing aunt. Holed up in the country palace that his grandfather had won in a game of cards from a raja on Diwali, Charlie plots his revenge. Killing Time in Delhi is a brutally funny look into the shenanigans of Delhi’s ultrarich who live in the fast lane and are high on hypocrisy, borrowed money and dubious deals.

What makes Killing Time in Delhi a strong and bitter reality, is maybe the author’s own experience and account. When are through this book, you see how beautifully the city is embedded within the book, it’s lanes, streets, markets, buildings, by lanes, gullies, nukads, mohallas, roads, history, all that can be attached to a city as grand and as vast as Delhi is very well within this 200 page heavy handed and hardbound book.

Wow! was the first thing that came out of my mouth after I kept down this mammoth, for it’s too difficult to come out of the book once you are within it, for the book is not normal, it’s not at all normal, it’s something unearthly, for the language is not common, you need to understand and feel that vibe and words of the prose. The language is esoteric almost as if a taboo, for it’s the language of the city itself, as the author said me it’s how Delhi talks and the book is a representation and mirror of that. After reading Crazy Rich Asians, I am sure you are gonna love the characterisation of the crazy Rich Punjabis, for they are what can be called as the main artery of the book, for the whole story revolves around them.

It is clear that Etteth got wicked pleasure out of writing this novel — one can almost sense his literary chuckle and delightful drool rippling through the pages. His potshot at Delhi is a fun read. It is also a disturbing read about the slow corrosion of Delhi’s DNA. Once a city of gentle people, now a city of bipolar crooks. Etteth’s narrative at the end throws upon you the idea of how Delhi kills you, yes it does, now one knows it but it is true as if sunlight pouring from the pinholes of a rusted iron plate, the light too dim to light the room but it tries to warn the upcoming danger. Etteth tells you a tale of how Delhi shapes, changes, grows and finally devours you, thereby instructing you to kill time in Delhi before the time in Delhi kills you.

As always Etteth’s philosophy of short books makes it mandatory for the reader to read each word with patience, for you never know when the mystery is solved. Etteth’s love for details and the backdrop landscape too is persistent, you see every corner of Delhi keeps coming back and back in the prose.

Ravi Shankar Etteth’s ‘Killing Time In Delhi’ is a wild fictional cocktail of sex, drugs, crime and the dubious lives of the capital’s upper class. This novel takes a knife to the city’s Swiss set. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 18, 2019 Rishmitha Koppuravuri rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019

Wtf? That's the first thing that came to my mind after I finished reading the last page of this book.
It was a whirlwind of crazy. Do I love it? Yes. Do I hate it? Yes! Was I super frustrated and unsatisfied? Definitely Yes! Then why the hell do I love it? Good question!
The story has everything that screams raw life! Nothing is exaggerated nor is it superficial.
The characters in the plot are just humans, not some crazy gods on their high moral ground.
They make mistakes, they fall in love, they b Wtf? That's the first thing that came to my mind after I finished reading the last page of this book.
It was a whirlwind of crazy. Do I love it? Yes. Do I hate it? Yes! Was I super frustrated and unsatisfied? Definitely Yes! Then why the hell do I love it? Good question!
The story has everything that screams raw life! Nothing is exaggerated nor is it superficial.
The characters in the plot are just humans, not some crazy gods on their high moral ground.
They make mistakes, they fall in love, they backstab, they plot for revenge, they do everything that normal humans do and are not afraid to embrace their imperfections.
The fact that our guy Charlie isn't one with a spine and isn't a hero whatever the definition of the word may be, is surprisingly more alluring than repulsive.
And seeing him grow and evolve despite everything, makes his perspective of the story bearable.
The only thing about the entire novel that kills me and at the same time is the central essence, is that it shows you what your life is when you're not the one in control, when someone else is driving your half a million dollar Lamborghini and there's nothing you can do about it.
It shows you what life is when your hands are tied, when life just happens to you - on somebody's terms.
I like to think of life as something I can be the architect of, something I can dictate on my own terms and I usually like reading books that reinforce this idea but "Killing time in Delhi" is the complete opposite of it and might I add, very true! Sometimes things just don't work out and we can't be in a fairy-land when that happens.
Inspite of the drugs, booze and parties, this book is heavy if one only cares to read between the lines.
There's some very intelligent humor and observations that show readers what life is for the aristocracy in Delhi.
Coming back to why I have a love-hate relationship with this book. I hate the fact that everything I don't like happens in the story and I also love the fact everything I don't like happens in the story.
Ultimately, this book is what it feels like taking a big hit and getting back up. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 03, 2019 Anil Swarup rated it it was ok · review of another edition

The language is different and the narration too is unusual. The story line didn't make much of a sense. The occasional sense of humor kept me going and prevented me from abandoning the book ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 27, 2019 Sushanth Somayaji rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Absolute page turner, thriller to the core

The first book in a long time I didn't feel like putting down for even a minute. Ravi Shankar Etteth keeps the pace throughout the story making it an absolute pleasure to read page after page. You deserve it sir take a bow. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 24, 2019 John Trident rated it liked it

'Everything has a point, though we don't always know that in the beginning.'

'When things go wrong, love can make you lonely.'

'Fate is a slut who goes shopping 🛍. Never believe everything you hear or see.'

Cover is beautiful. It has been exceptionally designed. It's been such a long time since I've come across such a refine work of art. It strikes a great resemblance to some of the portraits which we encounter during our visits to museums or sacred places. That's the best part I felt about the boo 'Everything has a point, though we don't always know that in the beginning.'

'When things go wrong, love can make you lonely.'

'Fate is a slut who goes shopping 🛍. Never believe everything you hear or see.'

Cover is beautiful. It has been exceptionally designed. It's been such a long time since I've come across such a refine work of art. It strikes a great resemblance to some of the portraits which we encounter during our visits to museums or sacred places. That's the best part I felt about the book, it adds a feather to the cap accompanied by the attractive hardcover.

Title is apt. It has been chosen accordingly.

Often lifestyle pushes us in situations where we lose everything & circumstances are so severe that we lost the only person whom we love or care the most. It clouds one's conscience & devastates it completely. The amount of humor & pain incorporated in the book is worth commenting upon. It has been balanced throughout the book.

As one might see from the blurb, the book talks about murder, revenge, conspiracy, cheating, lies, deceit, immorality, etcetera & certain other factors via it's blurb & description. The book balances both fun & despair, encapsulated with sense of humour, portrays both happiness & sadness in a sappy manner. Written in a satirical way, the book presents us a contemplating thought of the protagonist in a convincing manner who has been cleverly framed in a untimely murder of a girl & gets involved without any choice. What makes matter worse is he's the prime suspect supposedly according to police & the people in the vicinity.

Story talks about crazy rich Punjabis & their exotic life in the busy buzzling guzzling nuzzling city of Delhi. The protagonist of the story is Chaitanya Seth who is commonly known as 'Charlie' by his friends. Charlie finds himself entangled in a dirty mess of murder, revenge, drugs, etc when his girlfriend dies of drug overdose. He's oblivious as to how to how to deal with such & eventually he ends up hiding the body. Sheepishly, there're some unperturbed unpeeled unpredictable unprecedented unprompted unprofessional turn of events which give way to hilarious consequences accompanied by grave circumstances. To make things worse, he is also suspected of a few more murders happening in the vicinity like I mentioned earlier.

Language is fantastic. It's well written with a lot of provoking words, excellent use of vocabulary. The writing style is another best thing about this book which I must commend upon. Narration is witty, humourous, quirky & funny indeed.

It talks on & on about Delhi & gives Delhi-ish vibes. Lays too much of emphasis on the preemptive native society & colloquial references. The inferences drawn around the mindset revolving Delhi which involves objectification of women, irked me upto certain extent. Another drawback I found was, the book uses a lot of obscenity, provocative references pertaining to sex & sexual language. Like this book can never be recommended to teenagers if you ask me. The inferences drawn upon the people who have all the riches in the world & take it for granted, while wasting it all away over drugs, alcohol, women & sex. To make things complicated, the author also used a lot of abusive words, language full of profanity which also led to a huge turnoff for me. Upto a certain extent, erotic language, drama, scenes are fine. But when crossed a certain limits, it exceeds my tolerance level, which this book apparently managed to accomplish!

Anyway, nonetheless, the book is a good onetime read. Especially for those who don't mind reading too much of abusive languages or sexual references. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 24, 2019 John Trident rated it liked it · review of another edition

'Everything has a point, though we don't always know that in the beginning.'

'When things go wrong, love can make you lonely.'

'Fate is a slut who goes shopping 🛍. Never believe everything you hear or see.'

Cover is beautiful. It has been exceptionally designed. It's been such a long time since I've come across such a refine work of art. It strikes a great resemblance to some of the portraits which we encounter during our visits to museums or sacred places. That's the best part I felt about the boo 'Everything has a point, though we don't always know that in the beginning.'

'When things go wrong, love can make you lonely.'

'Fate is a slut who goes shopping 🛍. Never believe everything you hear or see.'

Cover is beautiful. It has been exceptionally designed. It's been such a long time since I've come across such a refine work of art. It strikes a great resemblance to some of the portraits which we encounter during our visits to museums or sacred places. That's the best part I felt about the book, it adds a feather to the cap accompanied by the attractive hardcover.

Title is apt. It has been chosen accordingly.

Often lifestyle pushes us in situations where we lose everything & circumstances are so severe that we lost the only person whom we love or care the most. It clouds one's conscience & devastates it completely. The amount of humor & pain incorporated in the book is worth commenting upon. It has been balanced throughout the book.

As one might see from the blurb, the book talks about murder, revenge, conspiracy, cheating, lies, deceit, immorality, etcetera & certain other factors via it's blurb & description. The book balances both fun & despair, encapsulated with sense of humour, portrays both happiness & sadness in a sappy manner. Written in a satirical way, the book presents us a contemplating thought of the protagonist in a convincing manner who has been cleverly framed in a untimely murder of a girl & gets involved without any choice. What makes matter worse is he's the prime suspect supposedly according to police & the people in the vicinity.

Story talks about crazy rich Punjabis & their exotic life in the busy buzzling guzzling nuzzling city of Delhi. The protagonist of the story is Chaitanya Seth who is commonly known as 'Charlie' by his friends. Charlie finds himself entangled in a dirty mess of murder, revenge, drugs, etc when his girlfriend dies of drug overdose. He's oblivious as to how to how to deal with such & eventually he ends up hiding the body. Sheepishly, there're some unperturbed unpeeled unpredictable unprecedented unprompted unprofessional turn of events which give way to hilarious consequences accompanied by grave circumstances. To make things worse, he is also suspected of a few more murders happening in the vicinity like I mentioned earlier.

Language is fantastic. It's well written with a lot of provoking words, excellent use of vocabulary. The writing style is another best thing about this book which I must commend upon. Narration is witty, humourous, quirky & funny indeed.

It talks on & on about Delhi & gives Delhi-ish vibes. Lays too much of emphasis on the preemptive native society & colloquial references. The inferences drawn around the mindset revolving Delhi which involves objectification of women, irked me upto certain extent. Another drawback I found was, the book uses a lot of obscenity, provocative references pertaining to sex & sexual language. Like this book can never be recommended to teenagers if you ask me. The inferences drawn upon the people who have all the riches in the world & take it for granted, while wasting it all away over drugs, alcohol, women & sex. To make things complicated, the author also used a lot of abusive words, language full of profanity which also led to a huge turnoff for me. Upto a certain extent, erotic language, drama, scenes are fine. But when crossed a certain limits, it exceeds my tolerance level, which this book apparently managed to accomplish!

Anyway, nonetheless, the book is a good onetime read. Especially for those who don't mind reading too much of abusive languages or sexual references. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 24, 2019 John Trident rated it liked it · review of another edition

'Everything has a point, though we don't always know that in the beginning.'

'When things go wrong, love can make you lonely.'

'Fate is a slut who goes shopping 🛍. Never believe everything you hear or see.'

Cover is beautiful. It has been exceptionally designed. It's been such a long time since I've come across such a refine work of art. It strikes a great resemblance to some of the portraits which we encounter during our visits to museums or sacred places. That's the best part I felt about the boo 'Everything has a point, though we don't always know that in the beginning.'

'When things go wrong, love can make you lonely.'

'Fate is a slut who goes shopping 🛍. Never believe everything you hear or see.'

Cover is beautiful. It has been exceptionally designed. It's been such a long time since I've come across such a refine work of art. It strikes a great resemblance to some of the portraits which we encounter during our visits to museums or sacred places. That's the best part I felt about the book, it adds a feather to the cap accompanied by the attractive hardcover.

Title is apt. It has been chosen accordingly.

Often lifestyle pushes us in situations where we lose everything & circumstances are so severe that we lost the only person whom we love or care the most. It clouds one's conscience & devastates it completely. The amount of humor & pain incorporated in the book is worth commenting upon. It has been balanced throughout the book.

As one might see from the blurb, the book talks about murder, revenge, conspiracy, cheating, lies, deceit, immorality, etcetera & certain other factors via it's blurb & description. The book balances both fun & despair, encapsulated with sense of humour, portrays both happiness & sadness in a sappy manner. Written in a satirical way, the book presents us a contemplating thought of the protagonist in a convincing manner who has been cleverly framed in a untimely murder of a girl & gets involved without any choice. What makes matter worse is he's the prime suspect supposedly according to police & the people in the vicinity.

Story talks about crazy rich Punjabis & their exotic life in the busy buzzling guzzling nuzzling city of Delhi. The protagonist of the story is Chaitanya Seth who is commonly known as 'Charlie' by his friends. Charlie finds himself entangled in a dirty mess of murder, revenge, drugs, etc when his girlfriend dies of drug overdose. He's oblivious as to how to how to deal with such & eventually he ends up hiding the body. Sheepishly, there're some unperturbed unpeeled unpredictable unprecedented unprompted unprofessional turn of events which give way to hilarious consequences accompanied by grave circumstances. To make things worse, he is also suspected of a few more murders happening in the vicinity like I mentioned earlier.

Language is fantastic. It's well written with a lot of provoking words, excellent use of vocabulary. The writing style is another best thing about this book which I must commend upon. Narration is witty, humourous, quirky & funny indeed.

It talks on & on about Delhi & gives Delhi-ish vibes. Lays too much of emphasis on the preemptive native society & colloquial references. The inferences drawn around the mindset revolving Delhi which involves objectification of women, irked me upto certain extent. Another drawback I found was, the book uses a lot of obscenity, provocative references pertaining to sex & sexual language. Like this book can never be recommended to teenagers if you ask me. The inferences drawn upon the people who have all the riches in the world & take it for granted, while wasting it all away over drugs, alcohol, women & sex. To make things complicated, the author also used a lot of abusive words, language full of profanity which also led to a huge turnoff for me. Upto a certain extent, erotic language, drama, scenes are fine. But when crossed a certain limits, it exceeds my tolerance level, which this book apparently managed to accomplish!

Anyway, nonetheless, the book is a good onetime read. Especially for those who don't mind reading too much of abusive languages or sexual references. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 08, 2019 Ashrut Arya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Took this as a random read from my options, and the book certainly exceeded expectations. Till 60% of the book, it's like you can't even understand what the story really is about and what the heck is going on, but later on, the things start to tie up, and you get to see how insane the storyline is. Something totally different from the other books.

One thing which I like the most about this is that the book screams "Delhi" in each and every sentence without fail. A Delhite would probably understa ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 23, 2019 Pretty Bibliophile rated it really liked it

Shelves: indian-literature

Killing Time in Delhi was a really fun read for me. I wholeheartedly devoured this book and finished it in actually one sitting.
What I really loved about this book is that while it shows so much about the extravagant and decadent lives of the ultra-rich of Delhi, it is also, for me, a book of art. Because interspersed among all the events in this narrative, are also old tales of such beauty and splendor of times gone y that it was naturally a book that I was bound to enjoy every page of. This m ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 15, 2019 Wanderingg__soul rated it liked it

As the blurb states, the book is about crazy rich Punjabis and life amidst chaotic Delhi. The protagonist of the story is Chaitanya Seth who is called Charlie by his friends. Charlie finds himself entangled in a mess of murder, revenge, drugs, etc when his girlfriend dies of drug overdose. Not knowing how to Dela with the situation his servant helps him hide the body. This leads to hilarious events ahead. He is suspected of a few more murders around. I found the story more interesting after the ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 22, 2019 Solitude and books rated it really liked it

Authored by Ravi Shankar Etteth @ravishankaretteth , KILLING TIME IN DELHI as the title suggests is set in Delhi . The book is published by West land books. @westland_books

Cover looks absolutely stunning with such beautiful illustrations with vivid hues .

Full review on Blog.
Here are few of my thoughts.
_______________________
The lifestyle of a particular section of population is described in this fiction in a story breezy manner that uses lucid language about the ones who are overly wealthy , ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 12, 2019 bongbooksandcoffee rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I had high expectations from 'Killing Time In Delhi' after reading 'The Brahmin' by the same author. But then, success comes in waves and troughs. The blurb appeared promising and I was looking forward to a smashing thriller. But alas! This book was a huge letdown. I really struggled to reach the last page and all I have to say for it is - 'It Killed My Time'
.
Now, let's get to the weak watery plot that has driven me to tears, out of sheer boredom, predictability, zero punches and multiple gaps i ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 27, 2019 Manali rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Name of the book - Killing Time in Delhi by Ravi Shankar Etteth
Stars given - 5 on 5 with some gold biscuits and tea served on platinum plates.
My take on the book -
If anyone had told me before that I would read, let alone like reading about the rich and famous, I would have said - Hell to the freaking no!
Call me mean, but all those 'rich problems' don't seem like problems to me. Had I been rich I would have been like, I am upset - Let's buy a few hundred books and gets lots of puppies and eat som ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 25, 2019 Asha (Storyteller_womaniya) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Killing Time in Delhi by Ravi Shankar Etteth is a thriller which starts with not one but two murders within first few pages itself. Charlie, our protagonist is a rich and kind of snob initially who is super rich and juggling with multiple problems including accusation of a murder. His girlfriend dies of drug overdose and to have a solid alibi, he goes to a party in the same evening to witness one more murder and he ends up becoming the prime suspect of the murder! Now he has to rely on Mandy and ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2019 Anupama C K(b0rn_2_read) rated it liked it

Shelves: gifted-for-review

3.5 stars
Thanks to WritersMelon and the publisher for the review copy

The story is told from the POV of Chaitanya Seth who is known as Charlie to everyone. Both of his parents died when he was eleven and he was brought by his Uncle. When he is current girlfriend OD’s in his bedroom Charlie’s whole world falls apart. What happens next? Read to find out
The revelation at the end of the book, didn’t surprise coz I did expect it already. There were times the book made me cringe and times it made me la ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 11, 2019 Ankit Chouhan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Killing time in Delhi by Ravi Shankar Etteth is one of a different kind of novel in itself.

It talks about murder, revenge through it's Blurb but their is something more to it and that too on the funny and sad side of it. The book also describes it's protagonist Charlie as a rich man but with lot of problems, who is supposed to be prime suspect of murders that happened around. Overall the plot is quite unique and different from what we read in regular novels.

Narration and writing style is that im ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 09, 2019 Mayank Dixit rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Not a rational one.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 28, 2019 Nishant Bhagat rated it liked it · review of another edition

Entertaining!!

This book has quite a scandalous plot line wading through the murky world of Delhi's high society circuit.

I would love to have a life like Charlies! Loads of money in the bank and no work to do! So when bad things start to happen in his life there was a degree of schadenfreude.

What I liked about the book is its pace. It hits the ground running. At no point are any words wasted on unnecessary back stories (a la sacred games), nor any judgements passed on the lives of the rich and ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 26, 2020 Akshay Bonala rated it liked it

This Mystery novel is a quick read and gives a glimpse of South Delhi's rich society. It was a moderate read.

This review is spoiler-free...

This book is having a very basic plot like the protagonist falls as a suspect for the things he has not done and in the end, he comes out of it. This event takes place at South Delhi, so it gives a minute glimpse into the way of their lives. There were some twists and turns but they were expected.

This was a 2.5 star read because of the very basic plot, not a ...more

flag Like · see review

Aug 02, 2020 Rohit Asopa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Fast paced and satisfying read

I am a second generation Australian with Indian blood that goes back to UP and Rajasthan. For me this was a very entertaining and fascinating read. A fast paced, funny story about the seediness of the elite circles and the complexity of family. Really nice job by the author; I will be looking for more of his work.

flag Like · see review

Aug 06, 2019 Sneha rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Pretty meh. Predictable.

flag Like · see review

Aug 12, 2019 Ashish rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Waste of time

A story which doesn't have anything going for it from lead characters which are half drawn to the plot which meanders to reach the end. Waste of time. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 17, 2020 Lucio Mesquita rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Weirdly entertaining

I picked up this book with no expectations. I found it quite entertaining. The best part was that it had quite a twist.

flag Like · see review

Mar 20, 2019 Taanya Ahuja rated it really liked it

Title: Killing Time In Delhi
Author : Ravi Shankar Etteth
Publisher: Westland Ltd
Published on: 25th January 2019
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN:9789387894815

BLURB

Bon vivant Charlie Seth, a privileged denizen of Lutyens’ Delhi, leads a life of idle luxury fuelled by money, drugs, sex and parties. A cocaine overdose kills his ditzy girlfriend, thrusting him into a maelstrom of conspiracy, murder, blackmail and promiscuity. As the world of Crazy Rich Punjabis unravels, Charlie’s future is suddenly at the me ...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 27, 2019 Anu Lal rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Killing Time in Delhi:

Ravi Shankar Etteth has a remarkable gift as an author. With his words, he can take the reader's subconscious self to places he wants the reader to see, feel, and experience. Whether the amaltas tree that we see at the beginning or the tomb of the deal Mughal that appears as a recurring image, the reader is taken into the vista of colourful images and portraits that enrich the taut narrative of the life of a young protagonist.

The protagonist of Killing Time In Delhi is Ch Killing Time in Delhi:

Ravi Shankar Etteth has a remarkable gift as an author. With his words, he can take the reader's subconscious self to places he wants the reader to see, feel, and experience. Whether the amaltas tree that we see at the beginning or the tomb of the deal Mughal that appears as a recurring image, the reader is taken into the vista of colourful images and portraits that enrich the taut narrative of the life of a young protagonist.

The protagonist of Killing Time In Delhi is Charlie. His real name is Chaithanya. He is one of the young super-rich of New Delhi. The story of Killing Time In Delhi revolves with Charlie at its centre. Also, you’ll find the city of Delhi appearing as a solid character in the story.

In his recent novel, The Brahmin, Etteth had attempted a historical saga of a mysterious Brahmin that left readers spellbound and wanting for more. If you are a fan of The Brahmin, it’s certain that you’ll expect a story in the same vein, at least in terms of its narrative schemata. However, Killing Time In Delhi sets the versatility of Etteth as a writer, once and for all. The language of Killing Time In Delhi is not at all the same way lyrical as the tone of language used in The Brahmin.

However, Killing Time In Delhi is a superb read. The language used by Etteth is contemporary, inherently satirical with a shade of dark humour.

The crimson front and deep blue back cover of the book hold the reader for a moment. It is certainly a well designed prompt for making any reader pick up the book. It is not just the cover though. Once the pages of the book turn, every reader is sucked into the whirlwind of conspiracy and danger along with the protagonist.

The advantage of Etteth over other writers of the conspiracy, crime, and thriller genre is that the books he writes are not merely genre fiction. Although one may find all these factors clearly as an entertaining undercurrent in his books, they are never merely about what they are on their surface. In its scope and breadth, Killing Time In Delhi is a remarkable achievement.

“Ravi Shankar Etteth is a Delhi based journalist, satirist, graphic designer and author. He has worked as the editorial cartoonist of Indian Express, creative director of the Observer Group of Publications, editor at India Today, and Sunday Standard, and CEO and editor-in-chief of Voice of India and Millionaire. In 1996, Etteth Published his first book of short stories, The Scream of the Dragonflies.” (From the data on the book cover flap) His recent book is The Brahmin, which I reviewed on my blog at WritersMelon.
...more

flag Like · see review

Mar 06, 2019 Kiranmayi rated it it was amazing

Full review on my blog:
https://medium.com/@kiranmayi.g/book-...

Chaitanya Seth, who likes to be called Charlie, suddenly finds himself in middle of trouble when his girlfriend dies of drug overdose. While he tries to get an alibi by reaching a party the same evening, there is one more dead body found and Charlie turns the prime suspect, thanks to the policeman Nik who had been non-friendly forever with Charlie.

Thus starts the cat and mouse chase where Charlie suddenly finds himself entangled in Full review on my blog:
https://medium.com/@kiranmayi.g/book-...

Chaitanya Seth, who likes to be called Charlie, suddenly finds himself in middle of trouble when his girlfriend dies of drug overdose. While he tries to get an alibi by reaching a party the same evening, there is one more dead body found and Charlie turns the prime suspect, thanks to the policeman Nik who had been non-friendly forever with Charlie.

Thus starts the cat and mouse chase where Charlie suddenly finds himself entangled in infinite mess, people he thought are trust worthy change loyalties, and two mysterious people Mandy and Shamsher who are dictating Charlie’s life. Will Charlie who had been this rich spoilt brat all his life, finally take control of his life? Are there more puzzles to be solved and mysteries to be unraveled forms the rest of the story.

Charlie is not the person as he tries to portray to the world and as the story unfolds, his different shades also come out. But the most interesting character of all is Mandy, the very smart woman who storms into Charlie’s life and plays her A game with much finesse. The nick names given to each of the characters is hilarious as well as interesting. Each time the story seems to get into a known territory, there is an unexpected twist and turn, keeping the narrative engaging till the end.
The wit, dark humour and the author’s writing style are the biggest highlight for the book. The tone of the story is unmistakable from the word go and the author succeeds in maintaining it. While seasoned readers can guess some details middle way through the story, the narration does keep them hooked till the end. As much as the book is a strong satire on the rich and famous of Delhi, it retains its connect to Charlie’s family and how he bounces back when his world falls apart. The witty one liners and the unique characters stand out.

Pick this one for the entertainment it has to offer with a story that is engaging all through. I enjoyed this one like no other story in recent times. At the end, I would definitely love to meet a person like Mandy in real; she does stay with you for longer than the story. ...more

flag Like · see review