Just like how a rope takes form with several small threads
binding together to make it strong, The Bankster by Ravi Subramanian combines
several stories to form together a novel that while having its problems is
certainly a standout among the brainless love story induced novels that are
tumbling out these days.
Staring from the diamond mines in Angola, South Africa, The
Bankster gives us a quick peek in what we are in for. As you turn the first few pages, you learn
about a family based in Kerala who are harassed by the police into admitting
guilt towards a crime they didn’t commit.
With its first chapter, the book introduces us to Vikram,
Head of Retail Banking in Greater
Bostan Global Bank or GB2 and
shows us how a bank of international standards works. From the start we get to know, that Vikram is
a womanizer and is a pro at office politics. Flirting with Tanuja, Head of the
HR department in the bank, he gets several things and pulls strings to make
employees within the bank dance on his terms.
The other aspect of the story relies upon Krishna Menon
trying to address the concerns about the Trikakulam Nuclear Plant, where he
feels the government has built something that is unsafe for everyone living
within Kerala and the whole country in general. He does this because he lost
his son in the terrible Chernobyl accident that happened in Russia. While this
should make us care about Krishna Menon more, I didn’t immediately care about
the characters. Explaining hurriedly in a few pages, we are thrown into situation
where is approached by an NGO named CNRI (Conservation of Natural Resources
through Innovative use of Technology). Teaming Together with Jaya, Head of
CNRI, Menon kick-starts a massive protest setting the nation ablaze.
On the bank’s side of things, we see a battle between the
RM’s and get to know that newcomer Zinaida Gomes is a hot-favourite among
everyone as she is not only beautiful, but also very cunning and smart. This
makes the veteran RM Harshitha jealous of her and she heads for mental breakdown
as she obsesses over her losses turning into Zinaida’s profits. Harshita
feeling overworked over things decides to takes a holiday and heads up to
Vienna where we get the first irritating product placement in novel. Yes, you
read that right; a product placement in a novel.
I don’t know whether it was intentional or part of the
story, but I thoroughly hated that fact that the character of Harshitha went on
and on and on about the free Wi-fi in Coffee Day in Vienna. I hated that fact
in the story. Later on the Author explains about Apple iPad’s cloud technology
too. That didn’t feel forced and seemed necessary for the story, but the free
Wi-fi thing was irritating to read.
Anyway, both of these
stories move at a steady pace introducing new characters and addressing their
concerns. Seemingly unconnected, both stories have a massive impact on one
another. As the novel moves from a
simple bank story into a murder mystery and conspiracy of international
proportions, we are introduced to the brain child who uncoils every major
secret in the story, Mr Karan Panjabi.
Karan Panjabi learns various things and many shocking and
dirty secrets tumble out. The climax of the story is good and throughout the
novel I wasn’t bored, except those product placement pages where the author
went on and on about the products rather than concentrating in the story.
I loved the research in the books and several other things
that were related to banking. All were neatly explained and some of the facts
actually surprised me. In that way the novel was enjoyable.
I
give the novel a solid 3.5 stars and it deserves every star of I give. I want
to give it a 4, but that Coffee Day free Wi-fi thing is the reason that
snatches the half a star away from it. Pick it up if you are planning a long
ride back to home in a train. You won’t be disappointed.
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