Book Review: Bollywood Wives by Alex Khan

Available here

Bollywood Wives by Alex Khan has been described as sexy, addictive and gripping ... well just so you know ... it is all three of those things and more. 

It's not often you get a UK crime fiction novel with a cover like this, is it? And for me this is just the icing on a rather delectable cake. This story is refreshingly different from anything else out there and takes British crime fiction into new territory. It's also a damn good read.


Khan takes us into the world of Bollywood superstar Zara Das where it's not all glamour, make-up and designer clothes (although there is a fair amount of that too). Privy to the bitchiness, the tension, the malaise that lingers malevolently just beneath the surface and often breaks through, we are soon draw into a fragile world that looks set to implode. 


The Blurb 
Zara Das is Bollywood’s hottest property, her every move watched by the eyes of the press. Riding high from the success of a string of blockbusters, she has the world at her feet, but the scandal from her latest film threatens to dethrone her as Bollywood’s reigning queen. 

So when superstar director Raj Dillon stages a lavish retelling of Pride and Prejudice, moving the shoot from Mumbai’s soundstages to London, Zara knows this is the role that could put her back on top. Coming with them are the Bollywood Wives - Jackie, Sasha, and Rani - bringing their own off-screen drama.

But behind the diamonds, designer clothes and seven-star hotels lies the truth of how Zara reached the top. And when a dead body is found in her hotel room, it seems that someone is determined to take Zara down - and will stop at nothing to expose her darkest secrets. 

Zara has spent years running from her past. But now it’s caught up with her… 

My Thoughts

Khan skillfully draws a well rounded flawed, yet charismatic character in Zara by drip feeding snippets of her backstory into the mix of up market rivalry and jealousy. Having narrowly escaped a murder attempt after acting in a controversial role in Bollywood, Zara flees to London to work opposite a sought after leading man in a remake of Pride and Prejudice. 
Her life under threat, brooding bodyguard Dan heading a team that surrounds her and further attempts on her life leave Zara in need of friends - but all she has are the Bollywood Wives - the directors wife Jackie, Zara's on screen lover's wife Sasha and Rani, the wife of prominent elder statesman actor Ajay

This is a quick and enthusiastic read filled with high drama and over the top behavior tempered by death threats and underlying uncertainties. As a character Zara 's story is the real hook. Who doesn't love a rags to riches story? But like all good rags to riches stories there are always those who with to harm you.  

Khan brings perception and humour to the glamorous world he has set his novel in - there were some real full on chortle moments as his characters let loose as only the wealthy and indulged can. The characters all carry secrets and it is these that bring a commonality between the reader and the novel. Strip away the glitz, glitter and glamour and many of these human issues could play out equally well on the set of Eastenders or Corrie. Khan shows us that human nature is the same the world over, but it is oh so refreshing to read about it as if the plot was one massive Bollywood, star studded extravaganza. 

Oh.... I nearly forgot ...  Sex! 
Khan brings the sexy juiciness to the whole suburban (Indian) theme by not shying away from the sex scenes ... and how could he when sex and jealousy  and how sex is used is one of the prevailing themes through the novel and is pivotal to the tense, narcissistic, atmosphere?