Book Review : Fraudster - By R V Raman

\n\nThere are people who will do anything to silence those who come in their way, who will stop at nothing, including murder.\n\nA young banker is found dead a day after she deposes before a commission investigating large- scale financial fraud…\n\nA doyen of Corporate India falls to is death from his South Bombay flat…\n\nA high- security server room of a multinational accounting firm is hacked, and the hackers aren’t just looking for company secrets.\n\n

\n\n \n\nWHAT I FELT ABOUT THE BOOK? \n\nStory line � Interesting, intriguing, insightful. The plot is topical and gripping right from the word ‘go’. ‘Fraudster’ is not just an ordinary crime- thriller or murder mystery. It is an insight into the greed, the treachery lurking inside the corridors of Corporate India.\n\n

\n\n�It is a story of corruption, manipulations and the rot that has set in the banking circles.Here we get to see a web of crime driven by the greed for illicit finance. When the stakes are high crime and vicious manipulation come to the fore to defeat the well meaning. Caution is thrown to the winds and rules and procedures take a backseat. The strong and well- connected use their clout to scuttle investigations, frame the terms of investigation to their advantage and in the process it is the innocent, the well- meaning individuals/ employees who get trapped. ‘Fraudster’ is in fact the story of the fate that awaits the honest and innocent.\n\nWe hear that every criminal leaves behind a trail . Here in ‘Fraudster’ too the trail is there. But it is only towards the latter half that we slowly start seeing it, recognizing it.\n\nThe plot is tight and devoid of sensationalization. It is realistic. The author’s knowledge and his financial background have come in handy thereby giving it a touch of authenticity.\n\nCharacterization � The characters of the main protagonists are well etched. The author has done a commendable job in the characterization of the edgy and stressed-out Kamini, the sharp and shrewd Inspector Ranade, the sweet- talking Ashok, the mysterious Kunal and the brave Varsha. One can easily relate to each one of them. One can also relate to the turmoil that Shruthi Mathur the 26- year old banker goes through on being fired from her job for a wrong credit decision taken without any malafide intention as well as the sense of helplessness and remorse that Mr. R.C.Visht, a member on the commission enquiring into the fraud feels on not being able to exonerate her.\n\nLanguage and Length � Simple and crisp. The scenes, the situations are well drawn. One can visualize them as the story progresses. The style of narration is engaging. The author holds the readers till the very end. In short ‘Fraudster’ is an action-packed, fast-paced novel.\n\nTO WRAP UP\n\nIf you are looking for fast- paced, nail- biting, gripping thriller that can keep you on your toes till the last word, then this is it. If you are interested in getting an insight into the world of deceit, corruption, swindling and the way the brains behind the financial frauds work, then this may be one you’d like to read.\n————————————————————————————————————————–\n\n