An Unusual Game Of Horror

Against a backdrop of a surreal setting a bunch of boys and girls of indeterminate age get unwittingly involved in a Game of Death led by a sinister human puppeteer named Shadow Weaver.

The game begins with self questioning and coming face to face with misdeeds of the past, however, soon changing contours wherein personal vendetta, lust for power and unleashing a reign of terror become pivotal.

I am talking about Aparna J’s latest endeavour Flora Villa The Game Of Death. I guess it’s her first attempt at horror mystery. There is an unmistakable flavour of magic realism of J K Rowling in the unfolding of the narrative and a beguiling touch of Enid Blyton.

Detective Amelia receives an anonymous call late night about people going missing or diappearing from Flora Villa. The owner of the Villa, Victor, is known to Amelia. She confides in him and to investigate the matter further attends a gathering in the Villa where the invitees who are old friends are spooked to participate in a deadly game egged on by leading instructions imparted at intervals by an unidentified Voldemort-ish persona called the Shadow Weaver.

Flora Villa has the promising premise of a bigger novel which is disappointingly cut short for reasons best known to the author. Some diligent editing and steady build up of characters with a little more detailed revealing of their past would have made the read more interesting. The passage of time in the narration connecting the dots could have been more unhurried giving a chance to the readers to savour the gradual flow of story telling essential to the execution and unraveling of a whodunnit.

Hope Aparna’s next would be an elaborate saga of intriguing conspiracies tickling the readers towards a surprising denouement.

Wishing her all the best for her next venture.

Shared with Goodreads