AUTHOR : Tarun J Tejpal,

OUTLINE : A journalist who discovers five men were hired to kill him, triggering a dangerous investigation that exposes corruption, desire, and stark inequalities across modern India while forcing him to confront his own life and choices.

Rating – 3.5/5,
Pages – 526,
First Published – 01, Jan 2009,
Language – English,
Genres – Fiction, India, Mystery, Crime, Roman, Indian Literature, Asia

Synopsis:

The Story of My Assassins, based on true events, plunges readers into the life of a journalist who discovers that five hitmen have been caught en route to kill him, shaking his comfortable existence just as a passionate affair begins. Driven by curiosity and fear, he embarks on a gripping investigation into the lives of his would-be killers—a motley crew of street thugs and village waifs—and their mysterious mastermind, seeking answers to who wanted him dead and why.

As the investigation unfolds, it forces him to confront his own choices, his relationships, his career, and his complex feelings about the country that shaped his would-be assassins. Blending thriller, dark humor, and erotic tension, the novel sweeps readers from the opulent palaces of India’s elite to its most desperate slums, exploring corruption, ambition, passion, and the extremes of wealth and poverty.

With its sharp suspense and literary depth, The Story of My Assassins is a compelling journey into the heart of contemporary India, offering an unforgettable adventure through its power, peril, and human complexity.

My Experience:

I usually gravitate toward books by seasoned writers, the ones who paint life beyond just the central characters, capturing entire societies—and Tarun Tejpal is certainly one of them. It took me almost a year to finish this book (been doing parallel reading), mostly because I paused for a few months, letting other commitments take up my free time. Over the past month, though, I’ve returned to my regular rhythm with reading, and diving back into this book reminded me why I love literature so much.

Tejpal offers a sharp, unflinching view of society—a world where people are treated like animals in the name of business, where extramarital affairs are as casual as choosing tea or a soft drink, where many live on the edge, and brilliant minds make seismic impacts on the masses. He also brings to light the lives of the poorest people on Earth, stories that would have remained invisible to me had I skipped this book. True to his journalist’s instincts, the messages Tejpal conveys require careful reading between the lines.

On the surface, his writing can sting and challenge your sensibilities, but as you reflect, you realize there is much to learn here. Some passages, especially the dense descriptions, may feel slow, yet a compelling curiosity keeps you turning the pages—the need to understand the “assassins” gnawing at your mind. Tejpal closes the novel with a precision and elegance that few authors achieve. The story begins with a stray three-legged dog, kicked around by everyone in Tejpal’s society, and it ends with the same dog—this seemingly insignificant creature ultimately saving the narrator’s life and allowing him to recount The Story of His Assassins.

This is a book that leaves a mark, offering not only a thrilling story but also a profound reflection on human nature and society. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the India that exists both in plain sight and in the shadows.

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