A single betrayal can cost you everything… 1998. Twenty-two-year-old Mina is moving to the US from Bangalore to begin a new life with her husband. Then there’s a horrific murder and her life is turned upside down. Mina’s best friend Neelu helps her out of the abyss.Overall, What Mina Did explores grief, friendship, love, heartbreak and unity among families who are with you for better or worse, it\’s more of a Family drama than the mystery thriller. I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about real life issues and how people deal with it.
Mina gradually leaves her past behind and settles into a new life in the US. Years later, she is forced to return to India and is confronted by the demons from her past. In her fragile mental state, she is unable to support Neelu in her time of need. Their friendship hits rock bottom. Mina goes back to the US and faces further hurdles, this time on the work front. She tries to make amends with Neelu, but their friendship ends with Neelu accusing Mina of something unimaginable related to the murder.
Something, that deep down, Mina knows is true… Will Mina redeem herself? Will the people she loves forgive her for what she did? Alternating between flashbacks and the present day, What Mina Did explores how one betrayal can have catastrophic consequences, while delving into the complex bonds that link mothers and daughters, and best friends.
Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: Rupa Publications India (20 May 2019)
Language: English
Genre: Crime, Thriller & Mystery
Source: Publicist’ Review Copy
Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌠
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The story starts with Mina landing at the Bangalore airport with her husband Vijay and her toddler Yamini, welcomed by Mina’s best friend Neelu. Soon the stories are scattered through the flashbacks, in which Mina is haunted by the horrifying events, where murder is involved which completely changed her life. What’s her link with the murder? Was she responsible for all those events? Was there a chance to stop all this? These are the questions that run in the mind of the readers, which will get answered eventually.
The book explores the PTSD side of the protagonist and how it is important to the events of the stories that’s happening around Mina. The story has a scope for Neelu as much as it is for Mina, both the stories are blended perfectly. The story is divided into two parts. The first half of the story happens in Bangalore and the second in Silicon Valley, California.
It’s the first part which builds the curiosity in the reader, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the first half. But, as the story moves forward in the second part it seems to be going off the crime/murder thriller genre, it starts unidimensional. Which is something I didn’t expect of, there wasn’t any suspense or the thrilling elements that would focus on the murder or the crime, like I expected. Albeit I enjoyed reading the book.
As a reader, it is easy to say that you understand what the person goes through just by reading their books, journals, notes, or having a conversation with them. And I notice that when someone mentions PTSD it is used as a diagnosis, or someone saying just give them drugs for their problems, or just side stepping the topic entirely. But placing ourselves in someone else’s shoes with the hurt, pain, suffering, happiness, love, and everything in between is hard to do.
Overall, What Mina Did explores grief, friendship, love, heartbreak and unity among families who are with you for better or worse, it’s more of a Family drama than the mystery thriller. I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about real life issues and how people deal with it.
Geeta Menon grew up in Bangalore and moved to the US in the nineties. After completing her MBA in Philadelphia, she moved to Silicon Valley. Like any author, she draws upon her personal and professional experiences in writing her Simon and Schuster First Chapters award-winning book What Mina Did, but the book isn’t autobiographical. She lives in Silicon Valley with her husband, son and adorable pug, Blackberry.
Retrospect, On My Take! 