Aroon Raman’s debut novel The Shadow Throne is an exciting page-turner with action that moves from India to Pakistan to its hair-raising climax in Afghanistan

September 04, 2012, New Delhi: Pan Macmillan India is delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of Aroon Raman’s debut thriller, The Shadow Throneon September 11, 2012. An entrepreneur in the area of materials science, debut writer Aroon Raman, has penned a chillingly believable thriller that promises to keep you engrossed with its taut writing and nail-biting suspense.

Moving away from the traditional rivalry between India’s RAW and Pakistan’s ISI, in The Shadow Throne, the two government agencies come together to avert a sub-continental nuclear disaster set in place by a rogue group that intends to damage both countries. Enter, what promises to be an enduring trio in the genre of thriller writing in India, an ace journalist, a cop and a history professor who are thrust into this deadly game against the shadowy forces that would harm both countries.

The story begins with a mysterious murder at the Qutub Minar that triggers a call to Chandrasekhar, the ace journalist from Inspector Syed Ali Hassan, his cop acquaintance. The victim is unlike anyone Chandra has ever seen: a white Caucasian male who has all the looks of a throwback to Greek antiquity. Soon after, Hassan calls in to report the case has been taken away from him – in all likelihood by RAW – the Research & Analysis Wing, the uber-agency of Indian intelligence.

What begins as a murder enquiry soon morphs into a deadly game of hide-and-seek within the shadowy world of the ISI and RAW; and Chandra, his friend, history professor Meenakshi Pirzada, and Hassan find themselves in a race against time to avert a sub-continental disaster. As the action moves to its hairraising climax among the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan, Chandra must also face up to the fact that Inspector Hassan is not all that he seems.

Speaking on the publication of his novel Aroon Raman says, ‘Thriller writing in the Indian context is still a relatively less-explored genre. We lack gripping stories of adventure and action of our own; an Indian Wilbur Smith or Ken Follett is yet to emerge. The Shadow Throne is meant to hook the Indian (and international) reader with a yarn that is fast-paced and also believable, set against a sub-continental backdrop. Its release on September 11 is also symbolic.’

Saugata Mukherjee, Publisher, Pan Macmillan India adds on the forthcoming release of the book, ‘We are absolutely delighted to be publishing The Shadow Throne in our Pan imprint, a befitting debut in a list that boasts of some great thriller writers. The Shadow Throne is a delectable mix of superb storytelling with exquisite detailing. Aroon Raman is special talent – watch out!’