ALLEY OF DECEPTION BY JIYYAD SHAHUL - A BOOK REVIEW

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‘Alley of Deception’, Jiyyad Shahul’s maiden book, starts with a scene that shocks the reader with its suggestion of betrayal. It is a tale of four friends who have been together since childhood – Charlie, Prasad, Simon and Shoukath, the narrator. All of them are “unemployed engineers” who had graduated from Oxford Engineering College, Calicut, and who travel from Thrissur  to the city of Bensham in search of greener pastures. Shoukath, the protagonist,   had failed to secure a job. He had no option for higher studies as his family could not afford to send him for MBA or MTech, unlike Cousin Iqbal, a topper, who had top companies lining up to recruit him.

Through Shabeena, Shoukath’s optimistic sister, the author’s philosophy is revealed. “Happiness is a state of mind.” She advises her brother, saying, “…if you opt for a course just to get a job, you may not get anywhere, let alone scale great heights. Life should be a platform to do things that you love, cherish, and something that you are talented in.”

The four boys live life to the hilt, despite their straitened circumstances, attending ‘nikkahs’ and wedding receptions mainly for the free food. Shoukath’s cousin, Luqman, gets him a job interview at Basselos with its headquarters at the business city of Bensham. Charlie, the one with the roving eye, also attends the interview. Both are selected. The bond of their friendship is so strong that all four go to Bensham to begin a set of golden years together. Despite a few disagreements, their bond is unbreakable.

Just as they get into the skin of their new jobs, the US market crash occurs, inflation strikes, rents go up and their lives take a nosedive, resulting in their losing their jobs. The desperation of losing his house over a loan brings Shoukath and his friends to Vishni Gowda, the mafia don, the power behind the government of Jalpradesh. On the other side is Mr. Jayachandran Menon, IPS, the Commissioner of Bensham.

The novel takes an intriguing turn as the four boys take up new challenges that test their endurance and turn their lives around. What are the young men expected to do to be accepted by Gowda? How do they sail through a crisis that seems unsurmountable? These and many questions remain in the mind of the reader till the moment of truth, Jiyyad Shahul shows promise in his first book, which is fast paced enough to keep the reader at the edge of his seat. His language is easy and uncomplicated, his narrative compelling enough to be seen as a coming-of-age story in which friendship is one of the main tropes, along with ambition and survival.

The author has obviously thought about a sequel to this book for it ends with the promise - “To be continued in the second part….” A promise which will be looked forward to by readers who have enjoyed his ‘Alley of Deception’.

520 words

MAGZTER

Number of pages: 190

Published by BFC Publishers

Paperback cost: Rs. 238; Kindle cost: Rs. 96

Buying Link:

https://www.amazon.in/Alley-Deception-Jiyyad-Shahul-ebook/dp/B0DJL45QH6


Comments

  1. Jiyyad Mohammed2/11/2025 06:21:00 PM

    Thanks a lot for your blog mam...It is very nice and astounding

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. deepti menon2/11/2025 07:55:00 PM

      That's music to my ears, Jiyyad. Thank you so much!

      Delete

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