Murder, She Wrote, in the Swimming Pool! [Review]

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Title: The Body in the Swimming Pool: The Chicken Pox Club Investigates
Author: Shabnam Minwalla
Type: Paperback
Length: 200 pages
Publisher: Talking Cub (an imprint of Speaking Tiger Books)
Age group: 12 years+

What would happen if an old (actually ancient), English teacher cum author stumbled upon the not so accidental death of her students and was coming closer to the truth? What would happen if she confronted killers with no backup and was pushed off a building? What would happen if four curious and bored teenagers (honestly the deadliest combo of emotions a teen can have!) with chicken pox were put into a room with the freedom to explore? Read on to find out 🙂

The book, typical of all Shabnam Minwalla’s books, captures the essence of a teenager (the sass mainly). She writes exactly how I think to the point where sometimes I forget she’s an adult. She never bores you with endless details because I’ve noticed, somehow every line in every book of hers, grabs your attention and takes the plot to a whole other angle. Only she and my mum are capable of this level of creativity (I’ve read a lot from both of them so I can say that with full confidence ;D )

The story starts off with chaos. Murder. Missing evidence. An HDFC Bank Diary. Chicken pox. Followed by a detective club formed by the super rich luxury complex with a Starbucks and library – that our chicken pox club lives in, crafted by one of the most pompous architects in all of Mumbai. Paromita, along with her 3 other chicken pox stricken friends, go on a long road of buried people in hidden cemeteries, gibberish poems written by dead people, a hiking accident, cold cases, forged identities, a council of gossiping old ladies who are not what they seem to be and a serial killer who won’t stop to keep their secret hidden. All because their neighbour, an old English teacher, was pushed off her balcony, into the pool below leading to her death. Now who would have targeted sweet old Ma’am Sandra Saldanha? Was it one of the fashionable mafia aunties? A student? A cop? A lover perhaps? Or maybe it was a ghost :).

Every single one of Shabnam’s books always quotes or has a niche reference of some piece of literature – not traditionally learnt in schools; and after reading them, I always get motivated to buy every poetry book out there. Also, there’s always enough in the story to keep it brief and interesting which is especially good since I get distracted easily. 

Her stories are always eerie and this was the eerriiest of all especially since I was reading it at night. Her style of writing makes for a perfect murder mystery esque cliffhanger after every chapter – capable of being better than most shows’ plots.

I just turned 17, so why would I read a book that’s meant for tweens and early teens? Not because my mom negotiated 3 new dresses for my b’day if I reviewed this book! But simply because, I really am a huge Shabnam Minwalla fangirl. There! I said it out loud.

Saira Zariwala Is Afraid is another book by Shabnam Minwalla which kept me on the edge. Like really on the edge. You can read my review of her award winning book MURDER AT DAISY APARTMENTS here.
All of her other books are available on Amazon here.

If you enjoyed this review and wish to sink your fangs into a juicy murder mystery, grab the book from Amazon (kbc affiliate link),

CLICK & BUY NOW!

 

Disclaimer: Aarini (now 17), Vinay and Asha are a part of the #kbcReviewerSquad and received this book as a review copy from the publisher via kbc.