Welcome to another Win’s Books’ Book Spotlight, where we celebrate love through literature! Step right up, book lovers! In the literary world, where stories often mirror the complexities of human existence, “Beneath The Veneer” emerges as a compelling narrative that invites readers to delve into the depths of societal facades.
This intriguing work peels back the layers of its characters’ lives, revealing the stark realities hidden beneath the polished exteriors they present to the world. With its richly drawn characters and thought-provoking themes, the book promises a journey that not only entertains but also challenges readers to reflect on the veneers we all construct around our lives.
Whether through the lens of personal struggle, societal expectations, or the pursuit of authenticity, “Beneath The Veneer” holds up a mirror to the human condition, making it a must-read for those who seek to understand the complexities lurking just beneath the surface!
Book Cover
Book Description:
The newly sprouted town of Rangvihar has lured people with the promise of a safe haven, away from Delhi’s maddening din. But beneath its swanky veneer lurks a hidden evil that is devouring the town’s safety.
Six women with troubled pasts – Falguni, Kesri, Gunjan, Asha, Farzeen, and Rani, drawn to the town with the hope of starting their lives afresh, befriend one another to form a safety net. They discover the sinister side of Rangvihar as Falguni’s teenage daughter goes missing. It soon becomes evident that the disappearance is connected to a nefarious human trafficking racket in the town. The plot further thickens with more disappearances and the eventual death of suspects. As the layers of mystery peel off, all six find themselves embroiled in the crisis in unexpected ways.
Pushed to seek a way out of it, what secrets will they unearth about the town as well as each other? Will they be able to re-establish the golden equilibrium of peace and safety they had once come in search of? How heavy a price do they have to pay to protect themselves?
Price:
$6
Book Buyer Link:
Amazon.com: Beneath the Veneer eBook : Sarkar, Sreya: Kindle Store
Genre:
Crime Fiction/Social Thriller
Snippet from the book:
Rangvihar was not just a freshly minted, spanking town, it was a ray of hope, an opportunity to reboot and restart lives, especially for those who had been bruised with life’s trials and tribulations. Erected right outside the south-eastern boundaries of New Delhi, the town’s newly formed municipality advertised it as a modern mixed-use settlement built of steel and concrete floors stacked on top of each other in a regimented grid pattern. The town design offered an assortment of high-end shops on the ground floor with chic corporate offices above and, over them all, contemporary residential condominiums, housing a steady flow of employees who worked in private firms and corporations.
Beneath The Veneer
Despite its decidedly suave appearance, tucked along the periphery of this avant-garde citadel were some establishments not particularly favoured by the town administration. Rangvihar was flanked by a water treatment plant discharging frothy wastewater on one side and an industrial estate on the other, emitting odious chemical fumes. Land zoning could not do away with these pre-existing agencies that were environmentally hazardous, making the grimy air quality murkier and filling the narrow canal running alongside the town with filth.
The municipality had also made its reservation against the town’s pickle factory clear from the beginning since it occupied a substantial amount of land near the newer construction sites. The officials argued that the factory neither fit into the big industry bracket nor the fancy retail category. This kind of business just didn’t sit well with the rest of the town’s posh theme they had in mind, but the owner of the factory filed a case against the town to protect her rights. The court ruled in her favour and legally, the town could do nothing to stop her, so finally, the officials conceded to her wish, even if grudgingly.
Then there was the Rangvihar slum, which had spread out like an unwanted rash around perfectly manicured hands. It was that necessary evil that catered to the shiny rise of civilisation in the high-rise residential towers with maids and domestic workers, a support system for Generation X employees. Unlike the government quarter living at Shahjahan or Pandara Road where prearranged outhouses housed domestic help with a proper structure and decent amenities, this variety of slum living was accidental and piteous, a condensed mass of disadvantaged humanity.
“If you are craving to read a women-centric novel that will hold your attention from the beginning to the end read my book, Beneath the Veneer. It’s been inspired by a number of true stories hitting the headlines in India in the last decade. The novel seeks to blend multiple genres, most notably women’s fiction, suspense and human drama.”
About the Author:
Sreya Sarkar
Sreya Sarkar is a freelance writer based out of Massachusetts, with her fingers dipped in multiple writing projects. A public policy professional by training, she writes socio-political columns for Indian news magazines. She has published her debut novel and continues to pen more full-length fictions and short stories for literary magazines.
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