BOOK DETAILS :
- Publisher : Clever Fox Publishing
- Publication date : 19 March 2026
- Language : English
- Print length : 366 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9375000168
- ISBN-13 : 978-9375000167
ABOUT THE AUTHOR :
Bhooma, a Chennai native, is a wife, mother, and storyteller whose imagination thrives on everyday chaos and curiosity. Between managing her inquisitive ten-year-old and indulging in thriller marathons, she crafts stories that explore the complexities of human behavior.
With over 18 years of experience as an Assistant Vice President in banking IT, Bhooma brings a sharp understanding of people, power, and hidden motivations into her writing. Her debut novel, As the Clock Strikes - A Chateau Luxe Murder, blends psychological depth with gripping suspense, uncovering the darker truths beneath polished lives.
When she’s not writing, you might spot her navigating Chennai traffic-with a determined look and a story unfolding in her mind-on her way to her next plot twist.
BOOK REVIEW :
There’s something deeply unsettling about stories where glamour masks decay, and “As The Clock Strikes” thrives in that exact space.
Set against the dazzling backdrop of Chennai’s elite society, this psychological thriller wastes no time pulling you into its world. A luxurious New Year’s Eve party at Chateau Luxe. Glittering lights. Powerful families. And then, midnight strikes, and everything fractures with the discovery of a dead body on the terrace.
What follows is not just a murder investigation, but a slow, deliberate unravelling of lives built on secrets.
The narrative cleverly weaves together three timelines, giving the story a layered intensity that keeps you constantly recalibrating what you think you know. Each character: Mukund, Hima, Jayant, Jaanu, Sanjay, and Shreya, carries their own emotional weight, and none of them feel incidental. Their personal crises, corporate betrayal, political scandal, and fragile relationships, blend seamlessly into the larger mystery.
And then comes ACP Eswaran; the anchor of the chaos. His investigation isn’t straightforward; it’s messy, frustrating, and deeply human. Missing evidence, tampered footage, and the disappearance of a key witness create a tension that feels real rather than convenient. The addition of a cryptic diary and morally ambiguous alliances adds a psychological depth that elevates the story beyond a conventional whodunit.
What I appreciated most is that this book isn’t obsessed with just who committed the crime; it is far more interested in why. And that “why” is where the story truly hits. It explores ambition, revenge, grief, and the quiet rot beneath privilege with surprising nuance.
The pacing is sharp, especially in the latter half, where revelations begin to land one after another without feeling rushed. If there’s one thing this book does well, it’s keeping you slightly off-balance, never fully trusting any character, never fully comfortable with your assumptions.
Lastly, I would say that this title is not just about solving a murder; it’s about understanding the cost of secrets and the inevitability of truth. It’s the kind of thriller where the tension lingers even after you’ve turned the last page.
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