Delhi’s the backdrop of this thriller
Human remains found in a barrel in an upmarket area of South Delhi, and a serial killer on the loose, right in the middle of Delhi’s bustling streets,—this is the crime thriller Private Delhi, a novel by Ashwin Sanghi and American author James Patterson. “I’ve read so many crime thrillers from Scandinavian countries. The thriller is usually set in deserted and abandoned places... we wanted a killer who has anonymity and is lost among the millions,” says Sanghi.
This is Sanghi’s second thriller with Patterson, who has already written several books in the Private series. For those who are familiar with Patterson’s works, will see the return of the character Jack Morgan — but in an Indian setting, along with dark and brooding protagonist Santosh Wagh.
“The first novel, Private India was set in Mumbai, and had a distinct Bollywood flavour. The second book is set in Delhi, as I felt that Delhi can just lend itself to crime thrillers,” says Sanghi. Why does he think so? “Most cities have degenerated. Delhi is different…it has such a refreshing and in-your-face culture. It has so much going on, besides the strong cultural vibe, there’s power play, political intrigue, and the media element. And it’s these very aspects which we’ve used in the story. You’ll see how there’s a power struggle between the Chief Minister and Lt. Governor. There’s a medical element as well.”
The duo have worked hard to do justice to the city. “We’ve been cautious. We’ve included all the positive and negative aspects of Delhi,” he says.