Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor was one of my most highly anticipated new releases of 2023, so I was excited to dive in. Months prior, I had seen a rave review from Dennis @scaredstraightreads and knew I needed to add this book to my reading list.
Synopsis:
Set in New Delhi, India, this mystery thriller that follows three different characters whose lives intersect: a gangster family’s young chauffeur, a son who wants to break the cycle of violence and a young female journalist. Part crime thriller, part family saga, it is a novel of gangsters and lovers, false friendships, forbidden romance and the consequences of corruption.
Review:
This book felt like two of my favorite sub-genres (complex family dynamics & high-octane thriller) had a baby, so I was excited to dive in. I will say, the 500+ pages was intimidating, but I settled in and accepted that this one would be a long ride.
Age of Vice starts out with a bang. From the first few chapters, the reader is thrown into the action. As the story progresses, it ebbs and flows. Some parts felt like they dragged, while others picked up the pace. In my opinion, it could have been a couple hundred pages shorter. There is a lot going on in this story. It melds a crime drama with complex family dynamics and caste system interference. Between the three main characters, so much happens in their lives before and after the event that is the catalyst for this book. There are also some trigger/content warnings to be aware of, including sexual assault, murder, child abuse, gang related crimes, addiction and substance abuse, abortion.
It is hard to give this book a rightful review because there is so much that happens. If you are a lover of high-octane thrillers, like Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby, I think you will enjoy this book.
Rating:
3.5 stars
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