A former anesthesiologist searches for a missing investigator in Rajagopal’s mystery/thriller, one in a series.

Still coming to grips with her husband’s murder after two years have passed, Samantha “Sam” Arnsson attempts to begin a new chapter of her life in Dallas with her son, “little Vic,” and Quincy “Quin” Duncan, a new love interest. A data analyst for one of the government’s “alphabet soups of various security agencies,” Sam asks her brother-in-law, Jick (an amateur sleuth with experience investigating crimes), for help with a missing person case in Hawaii. A Honolulu-based investigator named Alicia Kehaulani Rogers disappeared almost eight months earlier while investigating a wealthy businessman, George Sturgis, who may or may not be involved in research involving the cloning of humans. Sam believes the probability of the investigator dying from an accident to be high and assumes that sending Jick to the Big Island will be a relatively easy—and safe—assignment. But following the investigator’s trail leads Jick into a tangled web of seemingly contradictory information and rumors. Sturgis suffered a traumatic brain injury while scuba diving and hasn’t been the same since the accident; he also may have been involved in a plan for him and his wife to have a child through a surrogate decades ago in Greece. Alicia was last seen near a hundred-acre parcel of land owned by Sturgis, a remote stretch of forest that Sturgis’ reclusive adult son calls his “playground.” Before Jick realizes, he’s entangled in a grand-scale conspiracy that spans decades and involves numerous murders and more than a few psychopaths.

Rajagopal’s third outing to feature former anesthesiologist Dr. Jayant “Jick” Arnsson (after 2023’s Rubato) is an utterly readable and impressively original fusion of amateur sleuth mystery, mainstream thriller, and speculative SF. The brilliance of this novel—and series—is in this blend of genre elements. The sheer unpredictability is glorious; buffeted by jaw-dropping revelations and bombshell plot twists, readers will be kept on the edges of their proverbial seats until the very last pages. The author’s use of multiple plot threads and nonlinear timelines makes Jick’s investigation even more complex and intriguing. Rajagopal’s writing style is immersive, with rich descriptions that place the reader fully in the narrative, living vicariously through the characters. In one scene, Jick experiences the breathtaking beauty of Hawaii: “Colorful orchids grew out of niches formed in the rock wall. A shoulder of vibrant emerald-green grass flanked either side of the road, its texture so smooth it could have doubled as a putting green. A ribbon of impossibly colorful ground orchids studded natural crevices in the lava rock where the grass met the lava field. Palm trees lined either side of the road; between the palms, alternating red and white bougainvillea bushes waved like pom-poms.” The natural beauty of the setting is balanced by the story’s dark undertones and unapologetically violent sequences, which are startling and more than a little disturbing: “he ambled into view carrying two decapitated heads like trophies.”

Virtually unputdownable, a stay-up-all-night-until-your-eyes-blur kind of read.

In this debut thriller, an antique and apparently supernatural mask may lead a Texas physician to a murderer.

Dr. Jayant “Jick” Arnsson is a successful anesthesiologist living in one of the richest suburbs of Dallas. But that doesn’t mean he’s happy; the divorced Anglo-Indian doctor is nearing retirement with, he feels, no real sense of accomplishment. That may change after Jick stumbles onto a millennia-old, wooden, dome-shaped mask at an antiques store. This Mask Mortem—the reputed “Healer of Life,” contrary to the literal translation, “mask of death”—makes a nice souvenir to brighten up Jick’s office at a local hospital. As time passes, the surprisingly animated mask oscillates between a “lifeless” face and an inexplicable vibrancy. One day, when it’s particularly vibrant, Jick tries it on only to experience a disorienting vision. He’s convinced he saw the last few minutes of life of a patient who recently died on the table. Later, he tries the mask again and, through the eyes of a shooting victim, sees her killer. When his supernatural-enhanced visions link this murderer to the deaths of homeless men, Jick fears more homicides will follow. But who will believe his claim? Maybe someone he trusts unconditionally—his little brother, Vic. Keen investigative reporter Vic puts in the footwork needed to track down a murderer seemingly targeting the homeless. Unfortunately, the culprit is just as clever, and when Jick realizes the killer is wise to his brother’s probing, he rushes to save Vic— and learns the full extent of the Healer of Life’s powers.

Rajagopal’s novel begins with measured character development. The story, for example, tends to highlight Jick’s “routine” workdays. Readers unfamiliar with his field, however, may find the vivid details of his job fascinating: “Jick cleaned the area and placed a sterile drape over it. It took less than a minute to numb [the patient’s] skin and place the thin spinal needle in the right place. Jick removed the stylet, the small inner wire in the needle, and noted the crystal clear spinal fluid.” The author gradually introduces an enthralling cast of Dallasites whose connections to Jick (or the mask) aren’t immediately evident; there’s hedge fund manager Peter Northrup, on the verge of a midlife crisis, as well as dispirited housewife Tiffany Jensen, who has an abusive husband. Meanwhile, the appealing, sympathetic protagonist lives under “the Black Cloud” of his anxiety, for which he takes meds, and yearns for a lasting romance. The novel’s latter half picks up considerably once the killer, whom readers know right away, seeks out victims. The culprit’s methodical approach to homicide is unnerving and elevates the suspense as Jick and Vic each inch closer to the murderer. While the mask’s supernatural capacity provides a significant narrative turn, Rajagopal incorporates it subtly; Jick treats these short, “fuzzy” visions as evidence that might help solve a mystery. Still, the ending is a doozy, veering in a direction most readers won’t anticipate. The author aptly wraps up the murders, the vision-inducing mask, and even a certain character’s personal dilemma with astounding satisfaction.

A quiet, character-driven murder mystery with an understated paranormal bent.

A thriller focuses on one man’s quest in a small Utah town.

Rajagopal follows Mask Mortem (2022) with this novel that features the return of protagonist Jayant “Jick” Arnsson. In the previous work, Jick was a 64-year-old physician before switching bodies with a younger man thanks to an ancient mask. Jick now finds himself with a bundle of cash, a healthy body, and a hankering for Indian food. After he arrives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he meets a woman named Brenda.Brenda is searching for her sister, who joined a cult. Jick is inspired after an evening of “wild sex” with Brenda. He will help her find her sister and hopefully have more sexual escapades along the way. Their journey takes them to the humble town of Vernon, Utah, where an organization called the Church of the Time Lord runs a 50-acre compound. The leader is a man who calls himself Rubato. While Rubato may not be much to look at with his small stature and Florida-shaped birthmark, he has some strange physical abilities that make him almost supernatural. Never mind trying to stab him; his body will avoid the knife due to an unexplainable phenomenon. Rubato has a long criminal record, but thanks to his abilities and charisma, his followers tend to be loyal. Of course, the fact that he regularly drugs them and has command over local law enforcement helps. Brenda decides to become a Time Lord member in order to find her sister. Although she has regular contact with Jick, the church develops a hold on her. When she is murdered, Jick contemplates revenge. But how does one infiltrate such a place and fight a leader who is seemingly untouchable?

The book begins with an extensive backstory for Rubato that largely proves unnecessary. There is a lengthy explanation of how Rubato (initially called Arlen Finch) developed an affection for the drug Khat, and the leader summarizes this all again later. The main tale doesn’t really begin until Jick steps off the bus in New Mexico. Jick may not have any identification or credit cards, but he is clearly ready for some excitement. The town of Vernon is an apt place for such an adventure. Small though Vernon may be, the Time Lord headquarters is a mystery to most residents and a pull for readers. Throw in the fact that Jick can’t trust the police, and the tension is set in this engrossing tale. Still, some aspects of the story can slow developments. There is an awful lot of talk about food. Readers tend to learn exactly what Jick is eating regardless of the importance (his breakfast of “two eggs, two sausages, two slices of toast, and hash browns”). While this may introduce novel concepts like funeral potatoes (“it’s a Utah thing”), bland statements, such as “Let me have some ketchup and mayo for the burger,” detract from more pressing issues. After all, Jick’s desire for retribution creates an internal conflict. He is, as one character points out, a physician, not a vigilante. Even if he can find a way to attack Rubato, is it the right thing to do? The answer is not easily forthcoming in this complex story.

An absorbing revenge tale with a multifaceted protagonist who faces a sinister cult leader.