No Illusions in Xanadu

Professor Shantanu Bose #2

by Ruby Gupta

When the devilishly handsome, legendary Bollywood superstar Rajvir Kapoor is found dead in the thirtieth-floor study of his swanky new home, Xanadu, the entire country is aghast.
Barely hours before his death, Xanadu, had been teeming with the pick of the country’s elite: hot-shot celebrities, business magnates and close friends and family of the iconic actor – all of whom had come together for the grandest party Mumbai had ever seen.
Investigations reveal that Rajvir Kapoor was murdered, and now everyone is a suspect.
Professor Shantanu Bose, eminent nano-expert and part-time sleuth, a house-guest at the time, is willy-nilly forced to join the investigation. He finds himself in an alien world of the glitterati and their idiosyncrasies, where murky secrets are revealed and facts muddled. As Shantanu struggles to piece together the puzzle amidst the confusing moral codes adopted by the people of this starry realm, glamorous Mumbai seduces him and he finds himself irresistibly attracted to the enchanting prime suspect …
Will the professor manage the tightrope walk between emotions and justice?

242 pages, Paperback

Published June 18, 2019

About the author

Based amidst the misty Himalayan foothills, Dr. Ruby Gupta is the best-selling author of nine books. She has been honoured as the International Writer-in-Residence at the International Agatha Christie Festival in England.

She is a Double Gold Medallist in English Literature, an awardee of the GSE for USA by Rotary International, bestowed with the Pratibha Samman Award for Journalism, and the recipient of the Nation Builder Award.

Her conspiracy thriller The Secret of Leifeng Pagoda was unveiled at the International Agatha Christie Festival in England. It is inspired by the true events of the mysterious deaths of Indian nuclear scientists and is being adapted on screen by Almighty Motion Picture. It is the third in her crime fiction series -- No Illusions in Xanadu (Bloomsbury) and A Degree in Death (Crossword Award Long Listed).

Her previous books include Maya - A Novel, Khushwant Singh: Reality and Myth, The Fulfilment: A Collection of Short Stories, Basic Technical Communication, Advanced Technical Communication and Creativity Decoded: Mind and Art of Selected Poets.

Two of her short stories are published in an anthology by Penguin Random House and Romedy Now. Her books on Technical Communication (Cambridge University Press) are included in the syllabi of various universities.

She has worked as the regional correspondent for Mirror Today magazine, feature writer for The Tribune and M.P. Chronicle, and columnist for The Free Press Journal.

She has been teaching MBA/B.Tech/BA/BSc students, guiding PhD scholars and writing for over 31 years. She was the Coordinator, DIT-MIT (USA) research programme, and Coordinator, TEQIP (Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme), World Bank Project under MHRD, Govt of India.

An avid traveller and adventure lover, she has explored over 25 countries. Currently working as Professor & HOD at the Indian Military Academy, she loves to concoct heady mixes of mystery and emotion.

Reviews

[Sharda Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is based in the city of Mumbai where a superstar is murdered in his own house, during a party. The doubt goes on everyone present in the elite gathering, including the superstars, friends, and family.
There is detailed plot and character development. There were no loopholes, or unfinished moments.
Definitely a page turner. I couldn't guess the murderer even at the last moment.
It also managed to show a glimpse into the charming lives of superstars, and the reality beneath the shiny surface.
The book presented a perfect combination of mystery, emotions, love, lust and greed; making it all the more interesting.
I was reminded of Agatha Christe while reading this one.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I hope you do too.

[Dhwani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover of the book shows the landscape of Mumbai with the blood splattered on it. It matches perfectly with the storyline and the title does too. The narration will keep you gripped to the book but at times there seems a lot of information about unnecessary things. The character development has been done in detail. The pace of the book is moderate and the story will keep you hooked to the book. The ending left me shocked and the author has done a pretty good job. This is one of the very few books by an Indian author that is up to the mark in the crime thriller genre. The theme of the book isn't anything new but the addition of Bollywood in thriller will certainly entertain you.

[Roma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this novel. It reminded me of Sidney Sheldon in the way the different characters are introduced. The development of the characters was really interesting. Then the manner of the crime and the way all the suspects are present in Xanadu reminded me of Agatha Christie. Several of her novels also have all the suspects within one place. And I think there was a novel of Christie where a murder occurs during a party, just like the murder of Rajvir Kapoor in No Illusions in Xanadu. I was totally immersed in this racy novel and read it in one sitting. The ending was the proverbial icing on the cake and I did not see it coming :). Look forward to more novels by Ruby Gupta.

[Nathan Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book cover look great plus the title is unique
Written in easy language
And the narration is good
Plus the plot
I'm not a Thriller fan tho but this is kinda good
Character are very well defined and described nicely.
Overall an nice book
Recommend to every Thriller lovers
This one will hooked you up till the end

[Anil Malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thriller, a good read.

[Hardipsinh Vansadiya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say this one is well narrated but quite slow paced mystery thriller for me. Just a couple of pages n u feels right into the thrilling events. It's a about murder mystery of famous super start Rajvir who found killed by his own gun in his study room, now suspicions follows to all family members, who are sharing same shade of Xanadu, the luxurious home of super star Rajvir kapoor & friends who were present at the night of murder in party. Inspector Bhogle who is investigating the case & professor Shantanu both characters are leading the story of solving the murder mystery. Professor Shantanu Bose, eminent nano-expert and part time sleuth, house guest at the time is willy-nilly forced to join investigation. He finds himself in an alien world of brutality, where murky secrets are revealed and facts muddled. As Shatanu piece together the puzzle amidst and confusing moral codes adopted by the people of this starry realm, glamourous mumbai seduces him and he finds himself irresistibly attracted to enchanting prime suspect.
I found it milti narrated story and author does complete justice to each one of them. Characterization is heart of any mystery novel because it connects the reader to get into it & author has done it well, Though I have found repeated questions & dragging aspects many times which was quite irritating. Climax looks like fair attempt to answer each and every questions which might crossed a reader's point all the while reading the novel. Still it's brilliantly written & gripping mystery tale.

[Sanyukta Thakare · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disclaimer, I was provided with a copy for review by the publishing company.

No Illusions in Xanadu is a knockoff every wannabe thriller show you could find. The book incidentally follows no one is particularly but an incident that takes place and people around it.

Rajvir, the biggest film start in Bollywood is dead, and the mystery of his death must be solved. The entirety of the book is a set up to drag the reader away from the crime only for a random professor that we know nothing about to solve it like a killer giving away all details to his crime.

We literally have a chapter in the end which is a narration by a random character to another as to how everything happened. Characters are dropped in and out of the story like flies. I didn't have a single moment where I could relate to anyone in the story.

Ruby Gupta presents her own views into the book and her woves perspective into the characters which rids them of their personality. The story feels like a screenplay which is filled with dialogues which are unrealistic and bookish. We have more than 7 characters talking to themselves with two interacting with the intention of sharing information with the reader.

The murder mystery which is at the center of the story seems rather illogical and larger blizzard like most of the story. We have one character complaining about the other dragging the matter at hand and that's how I felt about the book too.

[Shoma Abhyankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Illusions in Xanadu by Ruby Gupta is about the mystery that revolves around death of renowned actor, superstar Rajiv Kapoor. Almost everyone of his family who is set to gain from his death is a prime suspect. Professor Shantanu Bose, an accidental sleuth, studies and investigates every close associate of the dead actor. What intrigues him that the house is under surveillance and yet the murderer escapes. During his investigations, professor stumbles upon more skeletons in the family cupboard. The actor's past affairs, Casanova tendencies, another love child and more. Amidst the intensifying plot, twist comes in form of death of actor's second wife's son who was set to debut in his first film. The professor detective ultimately hunts down the real murderer after many twists and turns.

I liked the pace of the story and it kept me curious. A good mystery story. Read more detailed review at https://shomabhagwat.wordpress.com/20...

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an engrossing novel! It hooked me from the word go. I absolutely loved it. Would recommend it to all fans of the mystery genre. It also reminded me of real people in the Mumbai film industry, I mean the characters; like - Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, Aishwarya Rai, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, and others related to them. Gosh, I felt like I was actually living in their world! And Xanadu seems a take off of Mukesh Ambani's Antilla. This piece of fiction is as real as it gets!

[Namrata Advani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first met Prof Shantanu Bose in Ruby Gupta's A Degree in Death and was intrigued by him. And not after No Illusions In Xanadu I sort of love him. He is good looking and has brains too, what more does one want in a detective? I loved the novel too, it was fast paced and the mystery kept me enthralled till the end. I would recommend it to everyone who loves mystery, suspense and murders!

[Rajdeep Dixit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel reminded me of Agatha Christie's novels. I found the characters intriguing and the story was fast paced and ensured I finished the novel in one go. Actually it was the fantastic cover and the mysterious 'Xanadu' that prompted me to pick up the book and boy am I glad I did :). Read it to find out more...

[Bhuvan Chandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, normally I don't read Indian authors. But this book by Ruby Gupta got me hooked from page one. Actually the name made me pick it up. I thought, No Illusions In Xanadu? What's that? And then the mystery, the murder, the suspense kept me glued to it. Really loved it.
PS: Couldn't guess the murderer till the end!

[PRABHU NATH · Rating 5 out of 5]

'No illusions in Xanadu' is a masterpiece. One of the best crime thrillers to have read in the recent past. Glued to reading till the end. Strongly suggested for investigating agencies as part of their academic syllabus. Rated 4.5 out of 5

[Vibhore Khandelwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing piece of work from Dr. Ruby Gupta. Really thought through, plotted, knitted and well written. Superb!! Look forward to more reads from Dr.Gupta. Good wishes.

[Ranjit Pingle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Ruby Guptas finest when it comes to the the construction of characters and the easy pace of the plot. Though the murder is committed right at the beginning, there is enough time spent on character and background building right till the last page, and at a pace that somehow convinces you to think that you've got hold of the plot and unexpectedly there comes the twist...... The ending is as usual quite unique where the story continues even after the culprits have been apprehended, thereby finally connecting the who's to the why's, even though you have desparately tried to guess it right....
This is my type of story line which moves like a Carribbean luxury cruiseliner rather than a Ferrari on the Daytona tracks..... !!! Go for this and youll be reminded of the great Agatha Christie..... !!!

[Enakshi J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading murder mysteries because they have the ability to keep you hooked to your seat until the very last moment. After a long haul, I finally chanced upon No Illusions in Xanadu and it would be an understatement if I say that the book passes the muster.

This story traces the aftermath of Rajvir’s murder. Rajvir, a top-notch actor, is found dead in his study. The murder weapon is found easily yet the police are unable to knit all threads together. Helpless and hapless, they try everything but to no avail. Layered writing and continuing narrative add to the mystery as several new characters are introduced. Rajvir’s personality is revealed gradually and the instant hatred towards him becomes unavoidable because of his keen interest in women. A handsome lothario, Rajvir has a wife, Pallavi, and two children, Mridula and Amar. He has an illegitimate relationship with another woman, Jyotika and has a son with her, Chandra Prakash. Sociable and quite an extrovert, Rajvir has a vast circle of friends and some of them who form the pivot of the plot include Dinkar and Professor Shantanu.

Read the complete review here: https://aliveshadow.com/category-book...

[Ritu | Bohemian Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed a good mystery. Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple are my favorites. Author Ruby Gupta is considered Dehradun’s answer to Agatha Christie. And the book promised an edge of your seat whodunnit.

When a popular superstar Rajvir Kapoor is murdered, almost everyone is a suspect. Professor Shantanu Bose, an eminent nano-expert and a part-time sleuth, is more or less forced into the investigation. With a knack of reading between the lines, he tries to piece together the puzzle while struggling to not get personally involved.

Set in Mumbai, the book explores the dark side of money. The trifecta of power, drugs, and sex. Where no one is a saint. The primary characters are well-etched and layered. I felt the book had too many characters and it was an effort to keep up with them. It could have done without a few. In spite of that, the author manages to keep the narration well-paced.

One of my pet peeves with murder mysteries is the oversimplification of the climax. It should be open to interpretation. It was quite similar here too.

All said, I liked the book. If you like whodunnits with layered characters, this is the book for you.

[Anu Lal · Rating 4 out of 5]

NO ILLUSIONS IN XANADU BY RUBY GUPTA: A Review

"Superstar Rajvir Kapoor is dead!"

The beginning of the novel introduces us to gazillion possibilities with the death of the protagonist of a nation's biggest murder mystery.

Professor Shantanu Bose is an intelligent teacher, and an avid researcher, who is forced by fate to join the investigations of the death of the actor. Those who are familiar with Ruby Gupta's writing might know Professor Shantanu Bose. He appeared in her first novel A Degree in Death, published in 2012.

The journey of Professor Shantanu Bose into the world of glitter and glamour is the crux of the philosophical underpinning of the story. No Illusions in Xanadu is written in a language easily accessible to the modern reading public in India. Most of this demographic are probably under thirty. The world of films often draws young minds, especially its glamour and pomp. No Illusions in Xanadu due to its depiction of such a world is highly relevant to this demographic.

for more read https://anu-lal.blogspot.com/

[Shailja Raj · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this novel for the myriad relationships it describes. From page one I kept getting immersed and engrossed in the family ties of Rajvir Kapoor. It all seemed so real, like seeing a movie. Come to think of it, this novel would translate very well on the big screen. And the murders take the book to another level. The mystery and suspense kept me glued to the book till the end. Good job, Ruby Gupta!

[Raman R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel should be made into a movie. It has all the masala for a Bollywood potboiler. I really do think so. There is the superstar Rajvir Kapoor, the glamorous Pallavi, the renowned Swamiji...and murders...

[Yamuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading now. Fully Engrossed! Well written plot.

[Anandita Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind blowing, simply wonderful to read such an exciting book. The plot and the characters have you glued till the last page.

[Suneet Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

[Lakshmi Negi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another milestone in her thriller series.. while reading it, I felt as if I was also being a part..... wonderful novel. I recommend it to all who novel lover....👌👌👌👌👌

[Ravi Mylarapu · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Mumbai” The land of dreams also “haadson ka sheher “. Both these essences captured very delicately. Ruby 👌

[Kishore Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great mystery. Good to read a refreshing story after a long time

[Dr. Sakshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful mystery thriller. An interesting story that reminded me of Sidney Sheldon's novels. The development of the plot is really interesting. I would love to more novels by Ruby Gupta.

[Upasana · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insanely gripping plot, brilliantly scripted by the author. A must read for the thrill lovers.

[Shachi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Well narrated mystery thriller. The development of characters have been beautifully done. Loved it ❤

[Sandeep Jaitly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written book. It's an interesting read