kiss of Death : Malcolm rose

*Kiss of Death - A Mysterious Thriller by Malcolm Rose*

Hello! I picked up *Kiss of Death* by Malcolm Rose, drawn in by its captivating title and cover. It's a gripping thriller—less about scares, more about lingering questions and moral twists.

 

The story shows 17th-century history from Eyam village in Derbyshire, where villagers heroically quarantined themselves during the Black Death to protect others. This selfless act sets the stage for a tale of separation, loss, and enduring messages. The tragedy starts here: a young couple, Rowland Torre and Emmott, get separated due to the outbreak when the church decides to quarantine the village. Still, they meet daily from a distance. Rowland finds comfort knowing Emmott is safe, until one day she stops showing up. He later learns she died in April. Heartbroken, Rowland writes a message for Emmott on a lead plate and throws it into what becomes known as Mompesson's Well. Mompesson was the man who enforced the quarantine.

Jumping to the present, three friends—twins Kim and Seth (opposites in personality), plus Seth's best mate Wes—visit Eyam on a school tour. Bored by history lessons on Mompesson's Well and the plague, they get tempted by "wishing" coins and other items, sparking greed and trouble.

 Seth, though just a kid, always tries to stop them. But Kim and Wes don't listen. They steal donation money from Meadowhall shopping centre's fountain (meant for a hospital). Then, on a tour to Eboracum, they steal another historic item—a lead plate with something written in Latin.

As misdeeds pile up, mysterious plague-like illnesses strike, forcing young Seth to uncover connections to the past and fight to set things right. The book blends history with mystery in a short, thoughtful package—less intense thriller, more powerful lesson on consequences.

To save his sister and friend, Seth must return everything to its rightful place. He donates the Meadowhall money to the hospital—but things don't improve. Then he has to return Rowland's message coin (R.T.) to the well—a very difficult task. Seth doesn't lose hope. He does everything possible to save them. In the end, he wakes up in a hospital bed himself, but everyone recovers.

But there's a final twist! Kim gets into an accident with an ambulance. She was wearing the coat bought with money from Mompesson's Well, and the lead plate falls from her pocket. Written on it in Latin: *"He who wears another's cloak will be crushed to a rotting corpse."*

The collector (perhaps a guide or history lover) repeatedly warns them to return things to their original places, but the kids don't take it seriously. This causes all their suffering.

 

The book is good—a blend of history and mystery, short but deep. Less thriller, more lesson. Malcolm Rose shows how the greed can be deadly.

Also Seth's courage teaches us to have the bravery to correct mistakes. "Stealing others' things isn't just about money—it's stealing history and respect. Anything not in its rightful place becomes poison—whether an old coin or a new coat." Worth reading, especially for kids and teens. 4/5 ⭐

This story took me back to the covid times when everybody was so panicked about the disease. But very less people were there who were selfless like Mr. Mompesson & Mr Thomas Stanley.

Gunahon ka devta

Gunahon Ka Devta

(I just closed the book)

Rating: 4.5/5 (Because this book made me cry, even though I cursed Chandar after finishing it)

I just finished Gunahon Ka Devta. The pages are turned, but Chandar’s voice still clings to my ears – that voice which calls itself a ‘god’, yet crushes humanity at every step. This isn’t a story of love; it’s a story of crimes committed in the name of love. And the saddest part? The criminal is none other than our hero, Chandar – the same Chandar I once thought was pure in the beginning.

Chandar: Not a God, but the Biggest Predator of Sins

I hate Chandar. Throughout the book, he sees himself as the greatest sacrificer, the greatest philosopher, the greatest lover. But the truth is, he’s the biggest coward. He turns Sudha into a ‘goddess’, worships her, but when it comes to standing by her side, he backs down. In front of Dr. Shukla, in front of caste, in front of society - he bows. And this pushes Sudha into hell.

Sudha’s death wasn’t an illness. It was murder committed by Chandar. Slow, cruel, in the name of love.

She kept saying it, over and over, like a prayer. She didn’t even know it was love. It was pure, childlike devotion – the kind where Chandar was her world, her god, her everything. She wasn’t asking for marriage. She wasn’t demanding. She just wanted to stay.

But Chandar?

He didn’t listen.

He didn’t stand up.

Instead, he forced her.

Sacrifice? Whose sacrifice was it, really?

He pushed her into Kailash’s arms – a man she didn’t love, didn’t want, didn’t even know how to want.

He convinced her it was duty.

He called it love for her father.

He wrapped it in friendship.

Sudha didn’t walk into that marriage.

She was dragged.

By the man she worshipped.

By the man who claimed to worship her.

And the worst part?

She agreed.

Not because she wanted to.

But because Chandar asked her to.

Because she loved him that much, and a piece of Sudha died in that moment. In the end, all that remained was an empty shell.

 

 

Then Promila. Chandar uses her like a ‘comfort’. When Sudha drifts away, when his heart breaks – he goes into Promila’s arms. But was it love? No. Just solace.

And Binti? That innocent girl who truly loved Chandar – he rejected her too, simply because she wasn’t ‘divine’ like Sudha.

Even Berty – that drunk, that weak man – was more honest than Chandar. At least he never pretended to be in love. Kailash too, who was straightforward, wasn’t two-faced like Chandar.

But… Is Chandar Just a Villain?

No. That’s the power of this book. Chandar isn’t a monster. He’s one of us. He’s that boy who loves but lacks courage. He’s that person who thinks sacrificing makes him great, but in reality, he’s just running away. Dharmvir Bharati has crafted Chandar with such nuance that I hate him.

How many of us have stayed silent in a relationship? How many have sacrificed love in the name of ‘society’, ‘family’, ‘honor’? Chandar’s sin isn’t just his – it’s society’s sin, our weakness’s sin.

Sudha: The Highest Price of Love

Sudha… my eyes well up while writing this. That girl who saw Chandar as a god, who was ready to do anything for him – what did she get? A broken heart, a ruined life, and a slow death. Until her last breath, she kept forgiving Chandar. Is this love? Or love’s cruelest form?

In the End…

Gunahon Ka Devta isn’t a love story. It’s a scream. It doesn’t give me peace; it leaves me restless.

Chandar ruined everyone’s life. But perhaps that’s what Bharati wanted to say: when love mixes with ego, even a god becomes the god of sins.

Scars of of 1947 : Real Partition Stories

Today I am writing review about scars of 1947 by Rajeev Shukla. As we all know India got independence on August 15^th, 1947, but this independence has left a scar with itself, on people from both sides. The country, when got independence was already divided into two lands.  And a large population had been displaced from here & there, and that is main content of book. Rajeev Shukla is not a writer only he was former journalist; he is an Indian politician, and he is also connected to BCCI as he was chairman of IPL. Importance of this book can be understood by that this book has been reviewed by some of greatest personalities “Sourav Ganguly, Shashi Tharoor, Priyanka Gandhi, Sunil Shetty, Sanjay Dutt” before that the more important thing is facts, feeling and stories hidden in this book. Before you jump to any conclusions this book is not a history book just, but it is compilations of stories of different people affected from the partition and how they experienced the divide of India into two different countries. The book talk abouts lot of people. There is one common thing in this book and that is everyone suffered during partition up to some extent. Some people managed to grow out of that, but some people unfortunately didn’t. this book tells what Pakistan is and how it was created. In one of these stories there is something which tells that During the devastation partition, those whom we considered as outsiders turned out to be our own and those who were our own also fell prey to the greed of money. During read, one question will arise many times that why this separation happened. It also mentions those people who played their role and contributed in the partition of the country. This is a story of compassion. This is the story of separation of individuals due to politics or ambition. This is story of bloodshed, but there is life after those doors also.

And love is the basic element which can save you. This message has been given with this book.

Something I Never Told You by Shravya Bhinder

Something I Never Told You.

Shravya Bhinder

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

From the name of book itself we can imagine it is a book about someone who wants to share His thoughts with someone very important to him. And that thing was really needed to be told, and yes he did. But, life had other plans. 

This book is about life of a Boy/Man named Raunak who is kind of shy person, not have much friends and social life. He falls in one sided love with a Girl who is Paying guest at one of his relatives. He tried to tell her but in actual he never did. He tried but just in his mind, and later he left alone with memories of adira only, because she shifted to another place and lost contact with her. 

But “life is like a miracle” gave him another chance after couple of years. He met with same girl at his own office, now as team member and got a chance to visit Melbourne with her “for business”. He was still missing the chance to ask her out as he was too shy to tell her about his feeling. His boss Rajbir came into picture and told him about his life story.

Suggested him something important, that the answer is “no” until you ask. When you ask, you give “yes” a chance. There is a 50 per cent probability that the odds will be in your favour. Always give the other person a chance to between a “ yes” and a “no” for you, for your love; instead of choosing a “no” yourself. 

I am sure you would have heard that saying that an “oops” is way better than a “what if”.

It can be just one day or day one…. It is for you to decide.

And from here their story starts. Story of Adira and Raunak. 

Adira was the Girl raunak always wanted to be with.

Adira’s parents marriage was broken, that’s why she never believed in love. After failing in love once and seeing her parents marriage fall apart, she was scared be in love again. She believed that love dies with time. At a time according to her love was an overrated emotion. Once it leaves your side, you are left alone. 

But she loved the idea of of love when Runak Finally approached.

I had recently learnt that you do not always need a plan. Sometimes all you need is a little trust, Trust what life offers you, take a deep breath and let go of all your inhibitions. Once you do that, life presents to you all the miracles it is capable of

Finally Adira and Ruanak were together,

But Something happened that changed the life of everyone in this book. They will never be able to even talk to each other. Something unexpected happened. 

Never take things for granted, otherwise one will say 

“something I should have told you”

                             or

“something I could never told you”

And will never out of this trauma. Because one couldn’t escape the emptiness. 

Mr. Faujdar : Book Review

 1st of all thankyou @authorsatishanand sir for this amazing Book. Not only this book but you were always have been great inspiration for me. 

Talk about this book, 

Its really a amazing book. I loved the way you portrayed the real life story of your father. 

The statement " No matter what we do, we can never be like our parents. The sacrifices, compromises parents do for their children, it may be impossible for the children to do that for their parents" is very true. 

It is absolutely right that, "It is only parent's love that you get free of cost or else, you have to pay something or the other for the rest of the relationship"

This is for everyone out there "Win the hearts of your parents, you will be successful or else, even after winning the whole world you will be a loser. 

I can truly relate with this "Even our Stubborness gets fulfilled if father is with us. When i am disappointed or fail to bring good marks in exam, it is my father who encourages me. He is the only one who always takes sadness and hands us happiness and that is why we are able to live so happily in life. 

Who Moved my cheese

Thanks, @shubham346verma recommending and sharing this book. 

"Who Moved My Cheese"written by "Spencer Johnson" llustrates many instructive lessons, that anyone can apply to your their life. 

I felt myself in the character of *Hem*, but now I will change my self into Haw. 

This is a fictional book having four characters, two mice sniff and scurry and two little people Hem and Haw. 

All these characters are having different perspectives and different ways of gaining success or Cheese. Actually we all have same perspectives towards life. And these perspectives towards success makes us successful. I found myself like Haw. I always feel myself comfortable in static life or position. But whenever I tried to come out of that zone. I found myself more happy and successful. If you are too afraid of things that will happen if you change, be the change.

The Girl in the Red Lipsticks by Ajay K Pandey

Ajay k Pandey, my all time favorite writer again did marvelous work in writing this book. He's no less than jk Rowling in terms of writing emotions. In this book he picked up very sensitive issue of this society "prosititution". 

In this book Ajay Pandey has tried to change view and bevaiour of many of people towards ladies who are forcibly entered into this trade. 

Thanks!! Once again Pandey ji, for this amazing book 

Always call a Prostitute a lady; you have no idea what she has been through 

Ajay k Pandey 

Studies from Wikipedia shows that Most of the research done by the development organisation indicates that the majority of sex workers in India work as prostitutes due to lacking resources to support themselves or their children. Most do not choose this profession but out of necessity, often after the breakup of a marriage or after being disowned and thrown out of their homes by their families. The children of sex workers are much more likely to get involved in this kind of work as well.