Author Hema Matalia’s latest suspense thriller, ‘Tables Always Turn’ is a mix of twists, secrets, and a shocking truth
DIANA FERNANDES| NT NETWORK
Hema Matalia’s new book ‘Tables Always Turn’ centres around the main character finding his way to the state following clues, in a bid to solve the case.
The book blends a tale of crime and passion that includes broken relationships, betrayal and distrust. “When things seem to finally fall into place, the tables turn,” says the Mumbai-based author who is married in Goa.
The story follows the main character Jay Raichura, an art entrepreneur whose life is thrown into chaos when a dying stranger whispers ‘Run… they are coming for you.’ He later learns the man was his former business partner Binny Verma, a person who had betrayed him by colluding with a criminal network that used their art venture as a facade. Raichura is now left with a dangerous secret- a document that could save or destroy his life. But when the villains close in, he realised he’s been outplayed.
Speaking about the book, Matalia says she likes to write stories that bring out the hidden detective in a reader. “At heart, everyone is a detective, especially if it’s a suspense thriller. As we read along, we make calculated guesses of who may have done it. It requires a logical way of looking at the facts to come to a logical conclusion and it is something that appeals to a lot of readers,” she says.
This is her third book. Her first one, ‘The Familiar Stranger’, won the Lift Magazine Award 2022 in the suspense thriller category. The book follows the story of Pamela who is forced to revisit her past, one that she had buried and moved on from. A photograph in a magazine turns her life as a wife, mother, and art teacher into a nightmare and her quest for answers takes her throughout the country: from Darjeeling to Kolkata and Mumbai. It tells a story of a woman who must unravel the truth behind the incident that changed her life and touches upon themes of sibling rivalry.
Matalia’s second book is a collection of short stories ‘Over A Cup of Tea’ that is aptly titled for a reader who can finish reading the book before their tea gets over. This book brings forth incidents in the form of short stories; that stand out in an otherwise mundane life. “Memories of some incidents and accidental friendships often leave an indelible mark on our minds,” she says. Some of the stories in the collection include what happens when a lawyer is hired by a wife who wants to kill her husband or when a girl is rejected by many prospective grooms or when two friends set out to conquer the world and their unwavering faith is tested.
While the theme of thriller suspense runs through her books, Matalia doesn’t feel the need to rush to complete them. “Very often, there are authors who generally release a book every year. But I took about two and half years to work and re-work ‘Tables Always Turn’ because I wanted it to be relatable. I want the reader to be comfortable when they read it,” says Matalia.
