Review: Intriguing Story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 26, 2013
Rani of Rampur is not a typical murder mystery. It takes place in India, and it revolves around a dysfunctional and estranged family. Rani is a young journalist who grew up in a big city with not a lot of money. While there are issues at home with her unhappy mother and alcoholic father, she learns more about her extended family's dark past when she is invited to help with a wedding. She heads to a small village and stays on the wealthy estate where she meets her aunt, uncle, and cousins for the first time. Her mother wants her to go, hoping she can find a way to inherit what is rightfully hers from her father that passed away. There, Rani finds out first hand out evil her uncle is and what he has done to become wealthy and powerful.Rani is very likeable; an intelligent and caring girl who sees the world for what it really is. In contrast, the author did a good job at showing how horrible her uncle was. I was so disgusted by him that I kept telling my husband about him as I was reading it.It was fascinating to learn more about the Indian culture--both the good and the bad that are a part of every culture. Between the Indian caste system where there is a distinct divide between the rich and the poor and the political corruption, it was intriguing the whole way through. There was some romance as well, and that always holds my interest! I also loved the imagery with the swing on the tree, which looks great on the book cover.The story flowed nicely; it was a quick read that I didn't want to put down (even when I had to). I would definitely recommend it!