MY PSYCHO CHARACTER BY PRANAV SOOD

I have to admit, I'm very excited to share a spoiler review for this novel. However, I don't want to spoil the major twists for readers, so I'll keep my comments about the big plot points vague. This is essentially a spoiler-free review.

Here's an intriguing fact: there were numerous times while reading when I forgot to blink! (Especially when I read it at night)

Summary

This psychological thriller follows the story of Shivam Mehra, an up-and-coming, enthusiastic author who starts exploring crime thrillers after two of his romance novels were rejected by publishers.

That's when he gives life to a character named Madhav, a man who wears the mask of a diligent police officer for the world but in reality is a ruthless and sadistic serial killer. Most of the chapters in Shivam's book focus on Madhav's murderous 'escapades,' but he did not notice when his writing suddenly blurred the lines between fiction and reality as strange occurrences, including a mysterious break-in, nightmares, accidents and cryptic messages trapping him in a web of murders! This brings up a question:We know authors kill characters all the time, but what if a character escapes the novel to kill the author?

Review

Sood's story bears some resemblance to Stephen King's iconic novel 'The Dark Half', as both explore the theme of a creation turning against its creator and the consequences of manifesting evil through creativity. However, 'My Psycho Character' is a distinct and refreshing narrative that stands independently.

Shivam is a normal struggling author who's burdened by the abuse inflicted by his father in his childhood. As an adult, he leads a routine life, caring for his ailing mother and feeling frustrated with his estranged brother who left them. He is also in a relationship with Rea, a woman he longs to marry. Despite everything, he continues to feel resentment towards his father, who abandoned his sick wife to pursue relationships with other women. But instead of seeking therapy, he experiences catharsis in writing about a fictional character who happens to be a serial killer who murdered his abusive father to protect his mother. This is one of the most intriguing aspects of the novel for me as Shivam is nothing like Madhav, the fictional serial killer, yet he consciously writes Madhav as someone who harbors a soft spot for his mother.

But the similarities between the two characters end with their issues with fathers as the story progresses.

The problems start when Shivam begins hallucinating Madhav as a friendly yet psychotic figure (a manifestation of brainstorming) who helps him with new ideas for his story that motivate him to write himself into his story as Madhav's accomplice. But this so-called friendly 'collaboration' turns cryptic when Shivam's father dies unexpectedly, starting a chain of events that sets him down a dark path. Madhav mysteriously escapes the draft of Shivam's novel and allegedly starts killing people in the real world. Shivam's world turns upside down as he experiences mysterious break-ins, cryptic puzzles, and terrifying nightmares, all drawn together by one thing—the time 3:17. While the story itself is quite bleak, it has some necessary moments of levity through a poignant romance and family drama as Shivam unexpectedly bonds with his estranged brother and niece. Many psychological thrillers struggle to depict a healthy and supportive romance, but Sood beautifully builds Rea and Shivam's relationship as the two lovers choose to stand strong together through thick and thin. I don't mean to spoil the ending, but I assure you that it is so mind-boggling that it will change the way you perceive the entire story! In fact, you'll want to revisit some major chapters in the story (or maybe even read the entire book again) to spot the clues. And believe me, knowing the ending, you'll be reading an entirely new novel the next time you revisit it.

This chilling premise sets high expectations for what turns out to be one of the best thrillers I've ever read! Overall, it is a tightly paced story with compelling characters, nail-biting twists, and a climax that will stay with you long after you have closed the book!

If you are a fan of horror and psychological thrillers, or if you are a beginner who's planning to explore this genre, My Psycho Character is an amazing read!

Scary, mysterious, and heart-wrenching, I'd like to give this novel a rating of 5/5