Book Review – The Missing Connection

Nov 24
NabanitaDhar

Title: The Missing Connection
Written By: Ketaki Patwardhan Nirkhi

source: Goodreads.com

About Ketaki Patwardhan Nirkhi (From the book) –
Dr. Ketaki Patwardhan Nirkhi is a doctor by profession and writer by passion. Her debut novel ‘Those Enchanted four and a half years’ was a love story in the back drop of events occurring in a medical college, loosely based on her own life experiences while in medical college. Her short stories and poems have been published on various ezines like Indus woman writing, Short story book, Bloggers Park, Creative writing, Poetry craze, Litizen, Muse India, Your story club, Fountain pen guild, Wishbo, Spoken stories and Writers Café.
Apart from writing, she loves reading suspense thrillers, travelling and playing casio. She works as an anesthetist in J.J Hospital and stays in Mumbai with husband Dr, Aniruddha and little daughter Isha.
ISBN:978-81-926926-0-9
Cover Price: Rs. 150.00
Rating:  4/5
Something about the book (from the book’s cover):
Dr.Neha Dixit, an anaesthetist lives in Mumbai with her loving husband Dr.Ashutosh. Her life is almost perfect, except for two problems. First problem is the nightmares she has had since childhood, the same ones where she hears screams, where she sees blood. Everyone assumes that these nightmares have something to do with her past, but she cannot recollect any such incidence. The other problem is they are childless, despite all efforts, and she’s craving for one. And one fine day, her life takes an unexpected twist…
While working at the hospital, Neha sees a patient, Susan. Neha has the feeling that she has seen this woman somewhere, a sense of Déjà vu. And Susan too keeps staring at her, as if she too reciprocates the same feeling. From that day, suddenly the frequency of her nightmares increases. The hazel brown eyes of Susan start haunting her. Neha goes to the hospital to find out who Susan is…only to find her absconding. And thus begins Neha’s cross country hunt to find Susan and to find out who she really is. And during this hunt, she realizes that Susan too is following her. Who is Susan? Why does she seem familiar? What is her connection to Neha’s nightmares? Why is she following her? Will hypnotic age regression, as suggested by psychiatrist Dr.Ram, help her? As Neha comes closer to finding who Susan really is, she thinks the problem of her nightmares is going to end. What she doesn’t know is that she is close to unraveling a horrific secret buried in the past.
Now for my View:
I had read Ketaki’s first book last year and just finished her second today. And I must tell you, she has grown so much as a writer since then. I am not an authority in writing abilities definitely but as a reader, I must admit I loved her second book much more than her first. I might be wrong but I think this is the genre she always wanted to write in and I love the fact that she has done just that.
As mentioned in the ‘Something about the book’ section, the story revolves around Dr. Neha and a secret from her past. The dreams rather the nightmares, the feeling of déjà vu, the cross country chase for the truth, this book has it all; all the right ingredients for a perfect book!
I’m so glad that Ketaki chose this genre to write on. It truly was like a breath of fresh air after book after book on romance.
What I loved most about the book was Ketaki’s hold on the tale. Of course, there were a few moments during the chase that the grip seemed to have slackened a bit. But overall, I was amazed by the pace. The Missing Connection is a thriller that has been very well written indeed.
Ketaki has also used the knowledge of her profession background in her story exceptionally well. I loved the way she described the Hypnotic age regression for tracing one’s past in the book.
The character of the protagonist was very well sketched. I also liked the mystery around Susan and the way her character was woven around that. Of course, more could have been done, there’s always that room for improvement. But overall, it was a well-rounded story.
Leaving aside some editing errors and a slight lack of detailing in some areas, this is a great book. Read it for the story and the chase. Read it for the thrill and the fact that an Indian author has broken away from the mundane college bound romance setting for a tale of substance.

8 thoughts on “Book Review – The Missing Connection”

  2. a tale of substance…..just the words I want to see in a review. I love the fact that you dont call yourself an expert and just share you views as a reader, I am sure Ketaki will be thrilled when she reads this review.

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