There is nothing better than starting the new year reading a good book. And today is time for me to share my thoughts on that book, You Beneath Your Skin by Damyanti Biswas. My many thanks to Anne Cater and to the author for allowing me to take part in this tour.

Author: Damyanti Biswas Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pages: 320 Genre: Mystery, Crime Thriller Publication: 17th September 2019

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Synopsis:

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 the sister 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.

My Review:

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.

And knowing that this book not only is entertaining but also brings awareness to crimes that are still a reality today, is the cherry on top of the cake. Buying a copy of this book helps children to get access to an education and women that have suffered from hate crimes with acid since all profits go to Project WHY and Stop Acid Attacks (respectively). When I started reading, I wasn’t aware this was more than a book, it was a way to help. For me, this was just a story, but for some women, this is a reality, and it’s important to discuss problems like these in our society.

The author did a great job not only exposing these types of crimes but also, giving a sense of hope to those who survived. Someone can burn off the skin but not what is underneath.

About the author:

Damyanti supports Project WHY, a programme that provides quality education to underprivileged children in New Delhi. Her short stories have been published in magazines in the USA, UK and Asia. She also helps edit the Forge Literary Magazine. Her work is represented by Ed Wilson from the Johnson & Alcock agency.

Damyanti’s reading journey started at the age of 3, and the obsession continues. Her most precious memories of her childhood are of summers spent reading books of all sizes, for all ages. Her favorite authors form a never-ending list that features names like Truman Capote, Kate Atkinson, Lionel Shriver, Margaret Atwood, Anton Chekov, Tana French, Jodi Picoult, Jo Nesbø, Amy Hempel, Toni Morisson, Gustave Flaubert, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Even as a child, she has always been intrigued by the lives behind the faces, the contrasts between appearances and reality. Most of her stories happen at a point of crisis in a character’s life because it is then that the layers peel away and the real person emerges. She’s been a reader of true crime, and books like ‘In Cold Blood’ by Truman Capote inspired her to write crime stories — narratives that would document the unravelling of characters, their relationships, and the society they are part of.

Apart from being a novelist, Damyanti is a blogger, animal-lover and a spiritualist. Though she loves dogs, her travel schedule doesn’t permit her one. She contents herself with keeping fish and is able to take care of them enough for them not to die on her watch. Except once, when someone happened to turn off the oxygen pump. There will be a story about it someday.

Damyanti enjoys working out of busy cafes and food courts, as that helps her focus. When not pottering about with her plants or her aquariums, you can find her nose deep in a book or baking up a storm. Her ambition has always been to live in a home with more books than anything else, and she continues to work towards that.

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Once again remember that all author proceeds for the book go to Project WHY and Stop Acid Attacks.

There are more stops on this tour so don’t miss out on more reviews, thoughts, and excerpts of You Beneath Your Skin.