Book Review: The Bankster

Title: The Bankster
Author: Ravi Subramanian
Genre: Crime Fiction

Ravi Subramanian is the author of four successful books about the banking industry and the recipient of the Golden Quill Book award. Being called 'the John Grisham of Banking' by The Wall Street Journal is no mean feat and that raised my expectations about the book.

The Plot

A CIA agent exchanges weapons for diamonds - in Angola, South Africa. 
An old man protests against the commissioning of a nuclear plant - in Devikulam, Kerala
A series of employee deaths shatter the peace in an international bank - in Mumbai

What is the link between these three seemingly unrelated events? That is what 'The Bankster' is all about.  

Bank officials at the top of the ladder with secret agendas,
Young minds who will do anything and everything for success,
A Veteran employee who feels overshadowed by the younger generation,
An old man who is fighting a losing battle till an NGO steps in,
A sincere employee who gets frequent transfers due to his short temper,
A double agent who shuttles between continents,
A honest police officer who works hard to make his country crime free and
An ex-banker turned press reporter who discovers a conspiracy of epic proportions

All these characters in a single story make for a roller coaster ride of a plot. It is the perfect potboiler with all the necessary ingredients of success.

The book leaves you with the premise- has the banker become a gangster?

What I liked about the book

• The author has created a complex plot with three parallel stories beautifully interwoven into it. 

• The extensive research that has been done and the fictionalization of true incidents. This is obvious to the reader and evokes interest.

• The author's expertise in the banking sector is showcased in his liberal use of related jargon in the story. But what's good about it is the fact that he simplifies them enough so that the uninitiated reader can understand them well.

• There is not a dull moment in the book. There are so many things simultaneously happening that vie for the reader's attention.

• A totally unexpected twist as to who the real culprit is! 

What I disliked about the book

• The narration is peppered with little doses of Hindi, and it could have been avoided. Then, its reach would be universal.

• Typos and the use of colloquial language hamper an otherwise well laid out plot. 

• A 'know it all' hero; it is hard to believe that he is thorough in so many fields and can solve such a difficult crime in under 48 hours!

Verdict

The story begins to unfold slowly, but once the ground has been established, it picks up pace and  becomes a gripping tale. Except for a few minor glitches, the Bankster has all the qualities of a great thriller and it is no wonder that it impresses. 

Rating: 3.5/5 


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P.S

1) I got an autographed copy of the book and it made my day! :) 

2)This is the first time I read a book written by Ravi Subramanian and needless to say,  I'm eager to read all his previous books!