I picked up Tarun Mehrishi's debut novel, "The Portrait of a Secret," from a book store, on the back of its blurb and an intriguing cover, and what a fantastic discovery it turned out to be!
Personally, I believe that Indian authors have vacated the space for international spy thrillers, so it was such a pleasant surprise to find a book that not only does a wonderful job of filling that void, but also of giving any Western spy thriller a run for its money. It is an intensely gripping and intricately woven spy-thriller, that seamlessly blends historical events with fictional intrigue on the back of strong and believable characters. Spanning a century, from the tumultuous days of the Bolshevik Revolution to the contemporary complexities of terrorism and espionage in India, the Indian subcontinent and indeed the world today, Mehrishi's evocative prose and playfulness with words captivated me from the very beginning and held me bound right till the last word.
Most simplistically, "The Portrait of a Secret" revolves around the theft of two priceless paintings by legendary artist Svetoslav Roerich from a government institute in a picturesque hill town in India. The stolen artworks are only brought to the Indian bureaucracy’s attention when they appear for sale at Sotheby's, the prestigious auction house, with a base price of 20 million pounds each. As the bureaucracy overcomes its inertia to gather the evidence it needs to make its claim to the paintings, Indian intelligence, working feverishly to prevent a nuclear strike against India, is drawn into the fray as they realize what the proceeds from the sale will be used for.
But, if it was just that simplistic story, I doubt I would have managed to get through it. On these pillars, Mehrishi builds a remarkable edifice of sub plots around the accession of Kashmir, Partition, the tumultuous birth of Bangladesh, the death of a former prime minister, Dawood Ibrahim, the shadowy world of intelligence agencies and terrorist organizations and even a beautiful love story between a legendary artist and a doyen of Indian cinema. All of these are stories in themselves, layered on top of each other and finally connected to a secret buried in these paintings but lost in the fires of partition before being brought together in the last few chapters for a devastatingly effective surprise ending.
Mehrishi’s multiple experiences as a lawyer turned sports marketer turned entrepreneur, shine through. A multi-layered plot and depth of research across a dozen subjects seem to leverage his legal training, while his ability to grab and hold attention has likely been honed in his sports marketing days. In its breath of ambition and execution, it is every bit as entrepreneurial as any venture.
Some may argue that liberties have been taken with historical facts – maybe they have. But, as I lay in my sofa, immersed in the suspense, it always felt as if the historical events were used as aids to creative expression and the creation of a dynamic and unpredictable story, without losing their essence. As Mehrishi says - It is a work of fiction and not of history.
To my mind, it is among this year’s must reads, not least because of Mehrishi’s craft with words. Despite the non-linear narrative that may have otherwise been challenging for some readers, the book is easy to read and unpretentious, making it accessible to a wide audience. Its chapters are bite sized treats, each building the suspense and creating anticipation for the next one. And, courtesy its extensive research of every setting and well-thought-out character development, it offers a convincing, intricate and fascinating narrative that leaves one wondering what is true and what is not.
For fans of Indian writing and of espionage, historical fiction, and suspense, the Portrait of a Secret will certainly leave you wanting more from the author. Move aside Patterson and Clancy, we have a new kid on the block!
