Varanasi

by Jae Watson

Following the break-up of her relationship and unsure of her life’s direction, Marianne leaves a London still reverberating from the terrorist bombings to travel for a year with the mysterious and beautiful Sara.

However, deep into the heart of chaotic and mystical India, events take a dramatic turn and, in the Holy City of Varanasi, Sara’s body is discovered floating in the Ganges. As the investigation ensues, unexpected and shocking revelations cast a new light on Sara and take Marianne on a painful but vital journey to uncover the truth about her friend and also her own life.

'A great novel, vibrant and colourful with a rich vein of insights, wit and wisdom' Geoff Mather

'A fascinating read that kept me intrigued to the end. It is a novel that defies expectation and provides no cosy solutions' Writewords.co.uk

'Must be a winner. Books, after all, don't just furnish a room. They fit very neatly into backpacks' N16 Magazine

'Ambitious and bold...this is a book which ventures off the beaten track' Roundtable Review

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2019

Reviews

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I rarely stop reading a book but I shelved it about 30% . Wrote a long review but deleted it thinking it was too harsh. We meet Marianne in India where she is traveling with the mysterious and thrill seeking Sara. The two woman are very different in personality and it is inevitable that they clash. Sara goes off on her own and they decide to meet up later on.

The book appealed to me at the beginning. The author wrote of the vibrant colours, markets, fragrances, people, tourist sites, transport,and the crowded streets and chaos of India. A vivid sense of place was established.

Then we spend too much time in the discontented, and seemingly neurotic mind of Marianne as she attempts a journey of self-discovery. Her attempts to know herself and to understand herself in relationship with others through human psychology, mystical books, amateur philosophy, and pondering the meaning of life did not appeal to me. Her inner dialogue and conversations with others caused me to find the character annoying and not a person I wanted to spend any more time reading about.

Moving on to other books.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy-to-read book about 2 young women who decide to travel to India together. The story is deceptively simple but draws you in from the beginning. Marianne and Sara meet in London under difficult circumstances. They don't know each other very well. When they reach Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges lots of things start to go wrong. Marianne is recovering from a broken relationship but she doesn't really know or understand the exotic and sometimes alarming Sara. Sara doesn't obey the rules, disappears at times, is irresponsible and selfish - at least so Marianne thinks. The book is seen through the eyes of Marianne as she realises how little she knows of Sara and how dangerous their situation has become as they travel through India.

I loved this book - it had the feel of Kristin Hannah or Lianne Moriarty - in that it is very much character-driven but the plot moves well. The setting of Varanasi itself is a major part of the story and the author, Jae Watson, seems to know the place. The descriptions, the local life and culture are used to deepen the story until the ending arrives with a few twists to surprise the reader. I will definitely read this author again.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this copy from Netgalley.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure where this was headed for the first 50 pages, after that I read the rest in just 2 sittings (I had to sleep invetween). Incredible book and one I'm recommending to others 👍

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an unusual book in as much as it is hard to tie it to any one genre. Part travel, part crime fiction, part psychology/philosophy - this story covers all this and more.
Marianne meets the mysterious Sara under odd circumstances at the time of a turning point in her young life when she is trying to decide which direction she should take. Soon after she breaks up with her boyfriend and when Sara suggests they leave their life in London behind and go travelling for a year she readily agrees.
They find themselves in the colourful chaos of India but when visiting the holy city of Varanasi events take a tragic turn when Sara disappears and her body is later found floating in the Ganges. As Marianne searches for answers to her friends sudden death she comes upon unexpected revelations and learns as much about herself and her own life as that of Sara's.
I enjoyed this rich and colourful story set in a vibrant, ever changing location - there were many twists and turns along the way and I was interested in the philosophy and exploration of Indian Mysticism that cropped up along the way.

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Legend Press for the eARC.
I loved this book, it was well written and features two different but fascinating women on the trip of a lifetime.
Because I spent my last three years of high school in Mumbai, India, where the sight of European and N. American travellers was a common and puzzling one (mostly hippies staying in dingy hotels and high as kites...looking for enlightenment?!) to us who who lived there, I was able to transport myself back in time. It was great!
It's a mystery, a travel guide and the story of an unlikely, but moving friendship between two women from London, who each had her own reasons for escaping her day-to-day life.
Highly recommended.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sara and her story is captivating, both to the people she comes across and to the reader learning of her life.

From the moment Marianne tells us of how they met, we know there is more to Sara to find out and we’re compelled to keep reading until all is unveiled.

I didn’t want to put this book down. I needed to unravel the mystery of Sara, in life and in death.

The journey of Marianne, our narrator, feels incidental but necessary. The travelling is an awakening for Marianne, a finding of who she is on her own. I’ll forgive the few pages of her excessive naval gazing (the writing verging on being more textbook-like than novel-like) simply because I became so wrapped up in Sara.

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could have gone either way for me; if the accuracies or stereotypes were too distracting, it could have ruined it for me. However, the author did well (enough) with those details and even very well in some cases. The first part of the book especially read like a travel memoir. I had to remind myself a few times that this was a writing of fiction. Overall, an enjoyable quick read, appealed to my love for India, my enjoyment of mysteries, and some character depth.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just spent years in Varanasi and what these characters experienced is waaay different from my own life in the city.

However I realized that the story is not about the city but the story of a young woman coming to terms with a lot of things.

While some parts were enjoyable, there were things about this that really irked me.

Overall it was fine.

[Deliah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went back and forth with this book. The beginning was slow, but I knew that Sara's impending death was crawling closer with each chapter read. I found Sara and Marianne to be somewhat dislikeable to follow. However, I eventually decided on 3 stars rather than two because I did get some pearls of wisdom from this book and found it to be relatable in some regards to character journey.

[Julie Thomason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book difficult to get into, a hint of a psychological thriller that I don't like. However, when it reached part two, it took off and I sat and finished it in one sitting. A combination of murder mystery, philosophical and spiritual reflection with travels in India. Enjoyable of you enjoy books on India. Found the imagistic style easy to read.

[Jean Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised that I really enjoyed this book. It was so easy to read with a flowing style of writing. It was part travel, part crime, part philosophy, part romance but nothing too deep and was just the right kind of book for me.

[Abi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ultra thin plot, peppered with lectures on spirituality that lead to nothing. Weak characters that don’t seem to develop, despite apparent insights and epiphanies, which are dropped like stones. The author did do a good job of bringing India to life but the plot wasn’t there to back it up.

[Theresa Zlonkiewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off well. The author can definitely write well. I enjoyed the first 50 per cent but after that it got cliched and I just felt irritated.

[Tilly Borsboom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A murder mystery set in India

Loved reading this book with thought provoking paragraphs and unexpected twists. Great description of a journey and experiences through India.