Books and Beard || The Fixer || Suman Dubey || Rupa Publication || Indian Book Review ||

Title: The Fixer

Author: Suman Dubey

Publisher: Rupa Publication 

Genre: Fiction

Format: Paperback

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Author Suman Dubey's latest work 'The Fixer' takes us on a virtual journey to the mysterious world of Cricket, a sport though known as the 'gentleman's game' but over the years has lost its past glory due to various accusations and scandals. With the change of formats from test match to T20, many outsiders with money and power and with little or no knowledge of the game gradually entered into this world realising its potential as a profitable business to invest their money. In a land where cricket is loved by its billions of fans like a religion and cricketers enjoy the status of demi-gods, it is quite natural that many unsocial and unethical elements will mix with this game. Author Suman Dubey has unveiled that world where cricket not merely a game but a stage for people with money and power to spread their influence and earn profit beyond the imagination. 

The story revolves around Neil Upadhyay, an ex-sportsman who, though had the potential to become the next Kapil Dev, but due to various reasons decided to quit his twenty years career in cricket. Now after so many years the situation has changed and he wants to reclaim his past glory by building the best cricket team in the ICCL. But in a world where people only understands profit and there is no value for passion or emotion, soon Neil falls into a trap from which there is no escape. It didn't take much time for him to realise that behind the veil of fame and glamour, there lies a dark and mysterious world which is hughly controlled by the match-fixing gangs. As a respected member of the Upadhyay family will he be able to prove his worth both as a sportsman and a coach?

To know whether Neil becomes the next cricket superstar or an innocent victim of the battle for power between business tycoons and the mafia, you have to go through this exciting work.

The first thing that I loved the most about this work is the plot construction. Author Suman Dubey has brilliantly weaved the story with the mastery of his writing skills in such a vivid manner that you will definitely fall in love with the story. As far as the character construction is concerned it is done in a careful and suitable manner. The character construction of Neil, Nandini, divya and Akash is absolutely Mindblowing. Neil with his passion for the game has touched my heart. Similarly Nandini with her support for Neil has emerged as self-confident lady. Besides, Akash and Divya's penchant for power and influence makes the story far more interesting to read. They are in a positon where none can rely on anybody, not even their own family members. 

Author Dubey has presented both the good and bad sides of these characters to help us understand them in a better way. Also, the way the story begins with a highly tense incidence makes the reader instantly connected with the story. Throughout the story there was not a single episode where I felt bored or thought the story is overstretched. It is written in such a brilliant manner that you will witness the same thrill you felt watching the latest T20 matches. This exciting tale of power, money, conspiracy, sex and blood will keep you glued to your seat till the last page.

I have enjoyed going through it and highly recommend the novel to everyone. I give this work 4.5 stars for the plot and character construction, narration and overall presentation.