William Rhode: Paperback Raita

By JAN TRELIVING-BROWN

Clever name, clever storyline. Each decade has produced its own slant on murder/mystery/intrigue and now we have Paperback Raita begging for a television series. William Rhode deftly sidesteps the baby boomers in this quirky adventure and goes straight to work on Generation X. The hero is Josh and the book has all the elements - drugs, diamonds, exotic location, sexy girl and a plan that goes horribly wrong.

Josh's father has died of a Viagra overdose, leaving Josh with a promissory note: five million pounds, on condition he writes a bestseller with his father in it. Josh's passion to write has long departed and he is trapped in Delhi's deep, dark, drug-saturated heart.

About now Rhode cranks up the involvement of Josh's friend Sanjay and the comely Yasmin with the 10-out-of-10 body who desperately needs a bundle of cash to spring boyfriend James out of jail.

Predictably, Josh is smitten. He enlists Yasmin and Sanjay on his mission to double-cross the Mr Big of the drug world. But Josh is under suspicion following the murder of a Bollywood superstar and Josh and Yasmin must take a trip overland to Jaisalmer on an old Enfield motorbike.

Get used to the rat-tat-tat staccato style. Sentences rarely breach two lines. Whole chapters can last all of four pages, sometimes only managing one. There's a spasmodic, limber switching to the past; flashbacks to Josh's childhood that add depth to his character. Since the book is written in the first person, it's only sensible padding.

Unravelling the inconsistencies, the subtleties of all that is India creates much of the charm of Paperback Raita. Don't be put off by yet another writer writing about writing. It's not like that. But do be prepared for a book that's the Boys Own version of the chick-flick. Nice touchy-feely ending though.

Macmillan

$34.95

* Jan Treliving-Brown is a freelance writer.