Author: Priya Nayak-Gole
Publisher: Bookscape Publishing (ISBN 978-1636060316)
Language: English
Genre: Thriller, Romance, Crime
Pages: (varies by edition)
Format: Paperback / Kindle
Riveting, brutal, and beautifully told. This book is intellectually honest. Priya grabs words, mixes them with emotions, and blends them to give what I consider one of the best literary works of an Indian writer. It is not easy to find this quality of literature amidst the number of books getting published. This book is a rare find.
The prologue starts with tragedy. Priya talks about how life will shatter you, break you, and promises that this book will break you too, but only to make you stronger. The cliché is what breaks you makes you stronger, isn’t it? Yet here, it does not feel like a cliché. It feels intentional. It feels lived.
The story is woven elegantly with braids of character development through six years, moving between past and present. The starting chapters promise to juggle you through the midst and mist of time. The transitions are smooth and purposeful, never confusing, always emotionally sharp.
One important thing to mention here is the way Priya describes the police investigation and research. Writing crime, hostage negotiation, and undercover work with such seamless flow requires depth of research and clarity of thought. The authenticity in the investigation scenes stands out. It feels grounded, real, and credible.
Priya brings the essence of South India alive with mentions of Coimbatore and even something as simple as Upma. These small cultural details add warmth and rootedness to the narrative. What I loved about this book is that the detailing is kept subtle. And that is indeed an art.
The protagonist Rewa Nagarajan, with her pain of losing a child and then her disappeared husband, begins the tale. The suspense grips you early. In flashback, Rewa is one of the most respected hostage negotiators for the Crime Branch, who falls in love with Rohan Sethi, a police officer. Her broken marriage left her burnt and scathed, shattering her dreams of happily ever after. Rewa has lost it all and is still grappling with closure even as the narrative pulls you deeper into her psyche and past.
Rewa’s characterization is one of the most beautiful aspects of this book. How can someone be strong on the outside yet fragile within, full of confusion and trust issues and still carry the weight of her world? This emotional duality becomes the backbone of the story. The author absolutely nails this balance. The scenes of intimacy will tingle you. The emotional sensitivities around loss, love, pregnancy, and trust are described with maturity and restraint. Nothing feels exaggerated. Everything feels honest.
This book is for adults who understand intimacy and emotional complexity. For readers who are interested in the highs and lows of relationships, grief, resilience, and healing. If I have one critical feedback, humor is a major miss. But that is okay. This book is meant to break you for good. Remember that.
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👉 Buy it here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.in/Break-Thriller-Priya-Nayak-Gole/dp/1636060315
