Simzy World

Book Name: A Murder in Dehradun
Author: Siddharth Maheshwari
Pages: 280 (approx.)
Publisher: Paper Towns Publisher, Exclusive Distributions by Simon & Schuster India
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
My Ratings: 3.8/5
Recommended To: People who want to get started with murder mysteries and thrillers, or those looking for a book to help them get out of a reading slump. If you are a seasoned mystery reader, this book might feel flat in some areas, but the writing and story have potential, so it is still engaging. Fun fact: not just me, but my entire family was hooked on this book because I kept dictating the plot to them while we were on a trip!

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Summary/Blurb

A sprawling estate. A sudden inheritance worth 700 crore rupees. A family weighed down by legacy, secrets, and old grudges.

When a shocking murder occurst, the Dinshaw family finds themselves trapped in their lavish Dehradun home, completely cut off from the outside world because of snowstorm. With 13 potential suspects under one roof, tensions rise, alliances shift, and the truth grows murkier by the hour. Enter Shehnaz Contractor, a journalist and an old family friend, who decides to piece together the puzzle, interviewing each family member to uncover the real story. But as new revelations come to light, it becomes clear that in this house, no one is entirely innocent.

Review/My Thoughts

I picked up this book for its title, intriguing cover, and, of course, the impressive marketing done by thebookoholics. With all the buzz about it being the next ‘Indian Agatha Christie’ novel, I had to see for myself if it lived up to the hype.

Things That Worked for Me:

• The Atmosphere: A locked-room mystery, a snowstorm trapping everyone inside, and a house full of secrets—this book had all the right elements.
• The Whodunit Plot: A wealthy family, a sudden inheritance, and a murder—classic mystery ingredients that kept the tension high with 13 suspects.
• The Maps and Family Tree: The detailed estate map and house blueprint made tracking movements and alibis much easier. The family tree was a lifesaver, please tell me I was not the only one flipping back to figure out who was who! The graphics of all the characters in between chapters were also a great addition and helped visualize the large cast.
• The Character Depth (or Lack Thereof): There was an effort to build backstories, but it often felt like a lot of telling rather than showing.
• The Business Quotes: Some lines felt like they belonged in a self-help book, but oddly enough, they worked in a mystery novel.
• The Mystery Kept Me Guessing: Despite using all my brainpower to figure out the murderer, both my guesses were wrong, which at least kept me engaged till the end.

Things That Did Not Work for Me:

• The Dialogues Felt Unnatural: Some conversations felt forced. If the book had been set in the 1970s, I would have bought it—but in a modern setting, no one talks like that. The overuse of words like amateur sleuth made the dialogue stiff rather than engaging.
• Murder Reasoning & the Second Murder Felt Weak: The motive behind the murder felt underdeveloped, and the twist about the real target could have been used for a stronger impact. The second murder was supposed to be shocking, but it lacked the surprise or satisfaction I was hoping for.

Top Quotes from the Book

1. Winning is not about not failing, but about never quitting, and so I must persevere. Hitting a roadblock should not shake my quest. I am determined and will not quit until I have achieved my goal.
2. Overnight fame and growth are never sustainable.
3. A venture that becomes successful without hard work can only be termed as a gamble and not a business.
4. Not everything in life needs to be scaled into a million-dollar business.

Final Thoughts

A Murder in Dehradun had massive potential. It had the right setting, an engaging premise, and some fantastic structural elements (the maps and family tree were genius). However, the execution faltered in place, especially in dialogue and the final reveal. If you love a good locked-room mystery with an Indian twist, it is still worth a read. Just do not go in expecting a Murder on the Orient Express level of brilliance.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but with tempered expectations.