Book Review: Lost Girl by Sana Shetty.

 

Book: Lost Girl 

Author: Sana Shetty 

Publisher: Harper Collins India 

Pages: 324

How Long it Took Me To Read: 2 days (with many breaks) 

Read On: Kindle 

Plot Summary: In the nondescript town of Fagu, a few kilometres from Shimla, retired police officer Vanessa and her husband Aidan are coasting through a blissful post-retirement life and running their quaint cafe. One day, on their usual morning trek in the mountains, they notice something in the bushes, something that shouldn't be there. At the end of a hidden track, there's a young girl, barely in her twenties, badly hurt and unconscious.

Two years later, the lost girl is now called Shanaya, and she helps out at her foster parents' cafe. Every resident of Fagu is aware of the mystery behind Shanaya's past, but she herself remembers nothing of it.

The residents of Fagu have kept Shanaya's secret, and protected her from harm. She is one of them, and her life is peaceful, until a stranger arrives in town, triggering within Shanaya a flood of memories and nightmares. Determined to learn the truth about her past, Shanaya lets the stranger lead her on a dangerous path of discovery.

Things I Liked: 

1. The premise of the book seemed really interesting! A young woman who'd been in some kind of an attack and had lost her memory. So, who can she trust? Who was after her life? How did she get to this tiny mountain hamlet in the first place? Who are some mysterious men who seem to be following her and her adoptive parents? Lots of questions that the book posed, which served as solid and engaging mystery for most part of the book. 

2. The book is quite fast-paced and multiple events keep you engrossed and interested. There are several twists and red herrings and many suspicious characters thrown into the mix. At various points, we end up suspecting various people, including Shanaya herself. Is she really suffering from amnesia or is she pretending? Whose dead body is found close to the spot where Shanaya was found two years ago? Who is the tall, well-built guy who has been keeping an eye on Shanaya and the Josephs (the couple who've adopted Shanaya)? So, there is lots to keep you engaged and interested in the book. 

3. The big mystery- why was someone after Shanaya and who was she?- is quite unexpected. You'd think it is one thing but it turns out to be something totally different, which is always nice. Don't want to give too much away but the reason why Shanaya was in the little Himachal village and why someone wanted her dead is quite nicely done. 

4. This book has some nicely written female characters. There is Vanessa- Shanaya's adoptive mother. She is an ex-IPS officer, who is honest and strong and does everything in her power to keep her safe. Then there is Namita- the SI of the local police station. She is tough, resourceful and is the only one who is not corrupt in the entire set up. Shanaya herself is also quite strong and tough once we get to learn her whole story. 

Things I Didn't Like: 

1. Small things really. When Shanaya is found, she speaks with an accent. I don't want to reveal which country's accent but it is a pronounced and distinctive accent. It wouldn't have been difficult for Vanessa (an ex-IPS officer) to reach out to the Embassy of the country concerned and find out her identity. As to why she wouldn't do that, there is no clear explanation. Like I said, it is a small detail and I am willing to let it slide. 

Rating: 3.5/5

This is a good fast-paced thriller if you're looking for something to read over the weekend.