- The Girl in the Glass Case

Oh God! I really enjoyed the story. I love psycho thrillers. Be it books or movies. Gives me a glimpse of how in different hues human minds come in and how society is involved in creating such cases. The Indian backdrop was super easy relate with plus the plot with the case feels almost real. This book pulls us right from the start. The setup of a cold, no-nonsense officer like Simone ASP being paired with warm-hearted Zoya DSP made the story more layered than just a crime chase. I liked how both women, despite being so different, found a way to work together. Their bond grew slowly but surely, and that part felt real and meaningful. The idea of one serial killer trying to outdo another was something I hadn't come across before. It gave the story an extra push of suspense. The crimes were disturbing but handled in a way that didn’t feel overdone. I found myself pausing at times, thinking about the reasons behind such dark minds rather than just rushing to the end. Human psyche can be so crooked! The emotional weight remains. Its a fast-paced, gripping thriller that begins with a disturbing crime scene and then dives into the world of a bold and blunt police officer who has just returned from suspension. She’s not someone who cares about being liked, which makes her stand out. When she is forced to work with someone much more gentle, their clashing personalities bring both tension and depth to the story. The concept of two serial killers competing in the same city, the Doll Maker’s crimes all are proves of crooked human minds, it is shocking that it all feels real when the story touched on topics like domestic violence and childhood trauma. It shows how broken our society is making all of us broken too. Even though the crime scenes were dark, the writing didn’t feel heavy. In fact, it’s quite beginner-friendly. If you're looking for a crime thriller that gives both adrenaline and emotion, this one’s worth reading.

The Girl in the Glass Case is a gripping psychological crime thriller that takes you into a dark world where two serial killers compete for attention, and one woman must stop them before it is too late. The story follows ASP Simone Singh, a sharp but socially awkward police officer who returns from suspension only to face a horrifying case. A killer known as The Doll Maker is abducting children, dressing them up as Barbie dolls, and displaying them in glass cases. While the city is in shock, another murderer called The Clipper reappears, angry that his fame is being taken away. What begins as an investigation soon turns into a deadly race between two killers, and Simone must stop the growing number of murders before chaos takes over. The book is fast-paced and full of suspense. The short chapters and multiple perspectives make it an engaging and quick read. Devashish Sardana’s writing is simple, smooth, and cinematic. The detailed police work, clues, and unpredictable moments keep the reader hooked until the end. The story, however, reveals some important details too early, which makes it easier to guess certain twists. Despite that, the tension and thrill remain strong throughout. The book runs several subplots at once, which adds variety but also makes it slightly lengthy at times. The characters are well-written, especially the criminals, whose backgrounds and motives are dark and interesting. Simone Singh stands out as a strong and determined female lead who brings balance to the chaos around her. With over 300 pages of crime, mystery, and psychological tension, The Girl in the Glass Case is an intense read. The ending is surprising and satisfying, leaving a lasting impact. If you enjoy dark thrillers, complex characters, and fast-paced storytelling, this book is worth picking up. Verdict: A sharp and thrilling story that keeps you engaged from start to finish. ⭐ Rating: 4/5

Book Review: The Girl in the Glass Case by Devashish Sardana Rating: 5🌟 Devashish Sardana makes a stunning entry into the psychological thriller genre with The Girl in the Glass Case, a gripping first book in the Simone Singh series. With a premise dripping with suspense and eerie stakes, Sardana weaves a tale as habit-forming as it is unnerving. At its core is a hard-nosed assistant superintendent of police named Simone Singh, who'd sooner catch serial killers than contend with politics or chitchat. Dragged into a nightmare where two merciless killers, the Doll Maker and the Clipper, engage in a gory game of rivalry, Simone fights against the clock to put a halt to the mayhem before other innocent lives are destroyed. The Doll Maker, with his ghastly signature of dressing up the victims as dolls and putting them inside glass containers, initiates a spine-chilling new trend. Things take a turn for the worse, however, when the Clipper, eager to recreate his lost reputation, re-empowers himself as a serial killer. Sardana depicts both killers with clinical coldness, causing each chapter to throb with a feeling of impending disaster. The mind games of the two assassins, and the unyielding determination of Simone to beat them, are the novel's pounding heart. Breathtaking action is balanced by rich suspense storytelling by Sardana, who keeps readers gripped as bodies accumulate and the tension builds. Dark, gritty, and unrelenting, The Girl in the Glass Case will appeal to readers of gritty crime fiction, strong heroines, and mind-bending plots. Simone Singh is a compelling new crime thriller voice—who is flawed, fearless, and impossible to resist.

This is a fast-paced thriller that follows police officer Simone Singh as she investigates two serial killers striking simultaneously. The book's unique premise and alternating perspectives kept me hooked from the start. Simone Singh is a quiet, sincere and introverted lead investigator who's relatable and real. With keen eye for details and strict personality, she slowly detangles the crucial aspects of the murder mysteries and sets off to find the culprits of the serial killings. This book gives you chills equivalent to the movie cuttputlli. The serial killers are creepy and psychologically complex, with tragic backstories that add emotional depth to the plot. With its relentless pace, plot twists, and chilling storyline, this book is impossible to put down. The cat-and-mouse game between the police and killers will keep you on the edge of your seat. The writing style is engaging, and the short chapters make it easy to devour in one sitting. If you enjoy crime psychological thrillers with complex characters and shocking twists, this book is for you. Highly recommend this book for murder mystery fans!

The book arrived in excellent condition. As for the story- it is a solid, beginner-friendly thriller that keeps the pages turning with a mix of psychological suspense and dark secrets. Devashish Sardana weaves a plot that’s engaging and accessible, making it a great entry point for readers new to the thriller genre. Some of the twists were fairly easy to anticipate if you’re a regular thriller reader, but there were still a few unexpected turns that kept me invested. The pacing is quick, the writing is straightforward, and the storyline holds enough intrigue to push you through in just a few sittings. Overall, it’s a good read—not overly complex, but definitely enjoyable. A nice choice if you’re looking for something tense, dark, and not too heavy.

Decent story, okay pacing. But I didn't expect to read the word "THAR" SO many times, over and over. And dropping brand names does not do the book any favours. Also, some details are needlessly drawn out, like the author had to hit X number of words. Would have enjoyed it more had it not been for these issues.

QOTD: Do you love psychological trillers? If yes, then "The Girl in the Glass Case" by Devashish Sardana is perfect to read over a weekend. Story is set in the city of Bhopal where two Serial killers are creating a terror by going on a killing spree to compete with each other. Two Police officers are set to put a stop to the killings and bring the murderer's to justice. Being a mystery/ psycho drama, you will skim through the pages at a very fast pace. There are many parallel plots running but being an avid Agatha Christie fan and read through multiple murder mysteries, it was easy to follow for me. It might be a tinest issue for beginners. However the language is easy and the flow of the story is lucid so even a beginner would enjoy the book. However, the storyline at times takes a very emotional turn and makes the reader's anxious (It made me really really anxious). The tag line says - Keep your girls safe....Boys safer!!! It literally means this. It makes you think about the world around us the crimes happening and the care that we need to take to keep ourselves and our loved one's safe. It also made me thankful to the Police who put their lives in line to keep us safe from such hazards. Coming back to the story, initially you feel that the author has given away the twists very early but the end will leave you shocked to the core. All the plots are tied in so beautifully that you are left stunned. I loved the storyline and have immediately picked up the other book in the same line

The story follows chilling murders happening in Bhopal and two police officers Simone and Zoya are partnered together for a new suspecting serial killer in town who is targeting little children. Meanwhile Supridendent of police officer Irshad is facing his own demons following a nine year long chase of another serial killer. First of let me tell you how excited I got seeing the book based in Bhopal never in my reading years have I been this excited for my home state which seems ironic seeing its a thriller but let me have my moment! I was hooked on this book from the prologue. While I had no intention of reading it yet I was flipping through it and I was hooked! The story is fast paced with breadcrumbs of clues spread across as you follow these officers as they crack the cases. The plot actually felt like a true crime documentary or a castle, Rassoli and Isles or an CSI episode to me. I enjoyed the writing style of the book and I was truly surprised at the end and the suspense. The author managed to keep me on the verge of my seat till the very last sentence. I didn't see any of the twists or reveal coming which it my eyes is a perfect thriller book! As for characters I loved Zoya but I had some trouble getting used to Simone simply because she had a chip on her shoulder and complex on smallest things but she did have redeemable qualities and I enjoyed the multitude of villainous arc. And I don't know about Officer Irshad like Simone he did have redeeming qualities but for me it was not nearly enough. Though the book is written in a police procedural style with alot of heavy and dark themes like child murder, adult theme and psychosis I highly recommend checking the trigger warrings if any of above is not your cup of tea. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and I'm looking forward to reading other books in this series!