Bankers build their careers on trust, or so everyone thinks, till a series of murders threaten to destroy the reputation that the Greater Boston Global Bank (GB2) has built over the years. Who is behind these killings, and what is their motive? Is the banker at GB2 fast turning into a bankster? Or was he always one?
When Karan Panjabi, press reporter and ex-banker, digs deeper, he realizes that he has stumbled upon a global conspiracy with far-reaching ramifications - a secret that could not only destroy the bank, but also cast a shadow on the entire nation.
With only thirty-six hours at his disposal, he must fight the clock and trust no one if he is to stay alive and uncover the truth.The cover of the book is appealing. The use of dark shades and the person in shadow with a briefcase in one hand and a revolver in another in the backdrop of the skyline gives you an impression of an impressive thriller. The cover is sure to catch your attention and shine out among others on a book shelf.
The story is like a jig saw puzzle. Four completely different stories going on, but when the jig saw puzzle completes itself towards a meaning, it just blows away your mind.
Mumbai: Four key employees of GB2 have committed suicide, or that's what it seems like. When Karan Panjabi digs deep into the actual cause of such ruthful vents, he realizes that he is now a part of a global conspiracy, and there is no wayturning back.
Kerela: Krishnan Menon, would do anything to fulfill his promise made to his dying son, who died in a nuclear disaster in Ukraine. He actively leads a protest against a nuclear power plant to be set up in the vicinity of his neighborhood. Gaining support from an NGO and a local MLA, it is too late for him to realize what he is now a part of.
Angola: Mr. Joseph Braganza, a covert CIA agent, completes a deal for armaments and blood diamonds worth millions of dollars.
Vienna: When two capable investigating officers comes to know what they had assumed to be an accident, is actually a murder, they'll give whatever it takes to reach the culprits to keep their success rate unchanged.
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The way the author switches between these four stories in a seamless manner is athing to be appreciated. The plot will definitively keep you hooked. The protagonist arrives pretty late in the plot, but once he is there the plot progresses at a blazing speed. You'd just want to read more and more. And what happens in the end, will leave you completely dumbstruck. All the while, whatever calculations you make about the end, it turns out to be completely opposite. You'll wish for the story to stay in Mumbai when it'll take you to Kerala which makes you keep turning the pages.Never during your whole read you'll feel that you are left fragmented, it's the beauty of the author's narration that everything seems to be in a flow. Author's knowledge about the banking industry clearly stands out in the plot.
CHARACTERS:
Indrani - the CEO of the bank, Vikram the ruthless go-getter who is constantly looking for new ways to make money, Raymond - the brainy but lonely chap from the Fraud department, Harshita - a hardworking sales person whose importance in the organization diminishes when a sexy siren who is not afraid of using her assets to her best advantage are characters that you will find echoes of in the people around you.
There are many crucial things we can make ourselves aware of from The Bankster. First of all, it’s the loopholes present in the system we live by. Ravi has very honestly written about the flaws in the system and shown how lack of proper co-ordination in proper regulation can gift disastrous repercussions such as loss of life. He goes ahead to show the mismanagement of power at the hands of people working in the system using it for their own good. Money laundering is not only related to public entities but it is at the peak in private, reputed firms. Now this is where you will also learn how to effectively and efficiently use your knowledge in your own domain and be imaginative as well as creative in explaining it to others. The next thing is about the protest: here, it presents an unprejudiced situation wherein we can easily relate things happening in reality. He has carefully analyzed the nuances laying bare open in such hoax protests which are otherwise not visible in the fog created by media. Yes, we should be aware of consequences pertaining to our safety but not at the cost of dancing on someone’s tune. No, these words aren’t Ravi’s, but this is the perception he tries to induce in his readers which is absolutely commendable and welcoming. If such social and corporate issues are merged, with a perfect tinge of suspense and thrill, we get one of the best reads.
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CONCLUSION:
The story is magnificently chartered and beautifully distributed across, Mumbai, Vienna and the Middle-East and a handful of well-placed characters. The highest point for the story is its unpredictability which is well supplemented and supported by Ravi's characters. The Bankster is a recommended read by me and is much more than just a financial thriller, the mystery and action adds flavour to the whole story.
REVIEWED BY
MAYTREE SENGUPTA
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