“Everything in this world is but a hallucination.” this quote from ‘The Hauntup’ by Deepti Srivatsan best describes the tone of this supernatural thriller. A very easy yet riveting read. I am a slow reader, but those of you who finish a book in one sitting, this one is totally doable. Srivatsan’s debut novel is fast paced without being frivolous and detailed without being boring. A simple writing style with short crisp sentences grasps your attention. The best part is, the author doesn’t try hard to be a literary guru ( like so many new authors do these days). The book even has a short youtube video to give you an idea about what it’s all about.You van view it HERE. If you want to know more about the book or the author, there are some links at the end of this post.

I’ll try not to divulge any spoilers while trying to give you some idea of what ‘The Hauntup’ is all about in this review

As the name suggests, there are elements of the supernatural nicely woven into the plot. In fact, the first few chapters made the hairs at the back of my neck stand. While the first few chapters point to a ghost story, the plot soon meanders towards “Man” being the BAD GUY and not the ghost. Five seemingly unrelated young people in Chennai are brought together by @thehauntup on twitter. Yet, from the beginning one suspects that they will all be related…somehow and in someway. And yes, they are related…some by blood and others by the homicides committed many years ago.

What is endearing about the story is how Srivatsan has intertwined the flavors of south India in the story. The book not only has a distinct South Indian sapor to it, the modern and traditional are constantly juxtaposed. The reader is following the constant coffee drinking and sambar loving gang’s adventures. But they also visit cafes and indulge in cappuccinos. They are seen sleuthing around in the distinctive roads and localities of Chennai (Nunggambakam, Kotturpuram), and there is mention of film stars of yester-years like Kamal Hasan and most importantly the intermittent use of Tamil songs and sayings keeps you feeling that you have been transported to Chennai.

What really struck me was how real the characters were. Being raised in southern part of India for the first half of my life, I can easily identify with Priya or Radhika. They’re modern, well educated and independent girls, yet bound in tradition. Be it the way they address their elders (akka, amma) in spite of straightening their hair in salons. Thus modern day India has been seamlessly fused with the conventional.

While the homicides in the story are sad and brings out the evil that is in man. It is balanced by the innate goodness of more characters than one. A mother gives up her own child to take care of another’s or even how the main characters have each other’s backs. Srivatsan even sends out the message that all cops aren’t corrupt, which is heartening.

Overall a very interesting and thrilling book. If you’re looking to read a book that is gripping yet not depressing, (we have enough around us these days) this is the book you should pick up. And who knows – you might just finish it in one read.

• Deepti Srivatsan’s Goodreads page
• NotionPress page for Deepti Srivatsan
• Deepti Srivatsan’s website