Damyanti Biswas

You Beneath Your Skin

Lies. Ambition. Family. It’s a dark, smog-choked New Delhi winter. Indian American single mother Anjali Morgan juggles her job as a psychiatrist with caring for her autistic teenage son. She is in a long-standing affair with ambitious Police Commissioner Jatin Bhatt – an irresistible attraction that could destroy both their lives. Jatin’s home life is falling apart: his handsome and charming son is not all he appears to be, and his wife has too much on her plate to pay attention to either husband or son. But Jatin refuses to listen to anyone, not even his lovely younger sister, Maya, to whom he is deeply attached. Across the city there is a crime spree: slum women found stuffed in trash bags, faces and bodies disfigured by acid. And as events spiral out of control Anjali is horrifyingly at the centre of it all … In a sordid world of poverty, misogyny, and political corruption, Jatin must make some hard choices. But what he unearths is only the tip of the iceberg. Together with Anjali he must confront old wounds and uncover long-held secrets before it is too late. ??

Joana

What a ride!

Content Warning: Abuse, animal violence, graphic injuries, mention of child prostitution, mention of miscarriage, and mention of drug abuse.

You Beneath Your Skin is about discovering the true self, accepting it against all adversities, and still find happiness. This book is much more than just a thriller or a crime novel, it’s a beautiful story filled with hopes, dreams, and love set in a dreadful world.

The character development was the focal point of the story. Each character had to discover and get in touch with their true self. What they really wanted. How they really felt. Make amends with the past. Do what they thought was the best thing. Protect the loved ones. And forgive themselves.

Although, this is by far a happy tale. Much like real life, not everything ends well, and in some strange way, it’s very satisfying. Even when there isn’t any fairness, I still managed to take some comfort off seeing the characters be at peace with themselves. And in a world with so much crime and corruption, where everyone seems to be against Anjali, being able to feel hope and love is a blessing.

I’m so glad I grabbed the opportunity to read this book and embark on this jaw-dropping journey. As I kept on reading, more and more things continued to happen. So many revelations, drama, crime, lies, it was a surprise after another. I never knew what was going to happen, how it would all end.

You Beneath Your Skin

Reviews