Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor

This is the age of vice, where pleasure and power are everything, and the family ties that bind can also kill New Delhi, 3 a.m. A speeding Mercedes jumps the kerb, and in the blink of an eye five people are dead. It's a rich man's car, but when the dust settles there is no rich man at all, just a shell-shocked servant who cannot explain the strange series of events that led to this crime. Nor can he foresee the dark drama that is about to unfold. Deftly shifting through time and perspective in contemporary India, Age of Vice is an epic, action-packed story propelled by the seductive wealth, startling corruption, and bloodthirsty violence of the Wadia family-loved by some, loathed by others, feared by all. In the shadow of lavish estates, extravagant parties, predatory business deals, and calculated political influence, three lives become dangerously intertwined: Ajay is the watchful servant, born into poverty, who rises through the family's ranks. Sunny is the playboy heir who dreams of outshining his father, whatever the cost. And Neda is the curious journalist caught between morality and desire. Against a sweeping plot fueled by loss, pleasure, greed, yearning, violence, and revenge, will these characters' connections become a path to escape, or a trigger of further destruction? Equal parts crime thriller and family saga, transporting readers from the dusty villages of Uttar Pradesh to the urban energy of New Delhi, Age of Vice is an intoxicating novel of gangsters and lovers, false friendships, forbidden romance, and the consequences of corruption. It is binge-worthy entertainment at its literary best. Review The book has all the energy of a high-concept crime thriller . . . Ill-fated love and toxic family power struggles provide emotional drive for this big dynastic saga of organised crime that could be India's answer to The Godfather . . . Not so much a slow burn as a constantly sparking fuse . . . Age of Vice certainly does not disappoint as a commercial crime thriller . . . but it deserves literary plaudits as well, for its depth and relevance, and for proving once more that the novel remains the supreme medium of long-form narrative drama for us to binge upon -- Jake Arnott Guardian A devilishly engrossing crime drama . . . Age of Vice is populated by a host of other characters - cops, goons, politicians, undercover agents, snitches, petty thieves, reporters, spiritual advisers, assassins and human traffickers - who collude and collide explosively. One can only hope that Kapoor is working fast on the second and third instalments Times Literary Supplement Kapoor's sprawling yet propulsiveblockbuster of a novel is an addictive and socially conscious thriller portraying contemporary India in mesmerizing complexity Oprah Daily The most dazzling explosions to herald 2023 come from Deepti Kapoor's novel Age of Vice . . .For days, I was torn between gorging or rationing out the chapters to make them last. Finally free from the book's grip, now all I want to do is get others hooked . . . I have only one word of advice: Hurry' -- Washington Post Ron Charles Cinematic...A luxe thriller...As a storyteller, Kapoor is a natural New York Times If you could conjure up a literary lovechild of Succession and The Godfather with a sprinkling of Slumdog Millionaire, Age Of Vice by Deepti Kapoor (Fleet) would fit the bill perfectly . . . one of the most gripping books I've read in a long time Stylist Age of Vice is truly epic . . . it paints a picture of greed, crime, violence and corruption in India, building to a towering crescendo i paper Kapoor's prose is electric and her characterisation subline . . . Complex, thought-provoking and cinematic in pace and scope Woman&Home Aspiring novelists should read this. The narrative is clean and lean, the story unputdownable. Every word counts. This is how it's done when it's done exactly right -- Stephen King Age of Vice is a good old-fashioned gangster story, impossible to put down. It's a novel garlanded with Shakespearean flourishes-star-crossed lovers, secret identities, complicated conspiracies-exploring timeless questions of family, loyalty, and fate -- Rumaan Alam, National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author of LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND Sensationally good - huge, epic, immersive and absorbing ... certain to be a book of the year -- Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author of the JACK REACHER series This book. This epic, crazy, shocking, mind-blowing, brutal, tender, heartbreaking book is one of the best I've read -- Marlon James, Booker Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author of MOON WITCH, SPIDER KING Kapoor's violent and bitter story is deeply addictive; this spellbinder would be easy to devour in one big gulp, but it's worth savoring for Neda's uncompromising take on what she terms India's losing age, the age of vice. The author possesses a talent great enough to match the massive scope of her subject. Publishers Weekly (starred review) This is a masterpiece. Age of Vice is epic but intimate, its glittering, sharp scenes building into an astonishing geometry. It is an unforgettable story of corruption and excess, of ruthless power and the will to fight back -- Flynn Berry, New York Times bestselling author of NORTHERN SPY Opening in medias res from this tragedy, Kapoor spins a dizzying ride, painting an India where money is the only religion . . . Weaving the backstories of Ajay, Neda, and Sunny together, Kapoor's frenetic and colourful novel highlights the new global pecking order, one forged by capitalism, in which the rich always win. In the age of vice, as Neha says, the wheel will keep turning toward the dissolution that will swallow us all. But as this gripping tale shows, even the weakest deserve one last gasp of dignity' -- Poornima Apte Booklist, starred review Impossible to put down; Kapoor is the real thing -- Library Journal (starred review) David Keymer Fascinating . . . a compelling and immersive thriller -- Myles McWeeney Irish Independent [Age of Vice] paints a picture of greed, crime, violence and corruption in India, building to a towering crescendo . . . a captivating crime caper with believable characters -- Prudence Wade Scotsman Kapoor's prose is electric and her characterisation sublime; you'll find yourself sympathising with all the damaged protagonists right until the end. Complex, thought-provoking and cinematic in pace and scope Woman Sensationally good - huge, epic, immersive and absorbing . . . certain to be a book of the year Lee Child Book Description A gripping literary thriller, one of the most anticipated novels of 2023, rights sold in fifteen territories, 20-way bidding war for film rights won by FX and Fox 21. From the Back Cover 'Sensationally good - huge, epic, immersive and absorbing . . . certain to be a book of the year' Lee Child New Delhi, 3am: a speeding Mercedes jumps the kerb, and in an instant five people are dead. It's a rich man's car, but when the dust settles there is no rich man at all, only a shell-shocked servant who cannot explain what has led to this carnage. Age of Vice is a novel propelled by the enormous wealth, startling corruption and bloody violence of the Wadia family - loved by some, loathed by others, feared by all. Among the lavish estates, decadent parties, predatory business tactics and political manoeuvring, three lives become dangerously entwined. Ajay is the watchful servant, born into poverty, who rises through the Wadia ranks as a trusted servant and fixer. Sunny is the playboy heir who dreams of escaping from and outshining his father, whatever the cost. And Neda is the inquiring journalist, caught between her morality and her desire. In a world fuelled by loss, pleasure, greed, yearning, violence and revenge, will these characters' connections become a path to escape, or to annihilation? Part thriller, part family saga, Age of Vice leaps off the page, taking us from the unimaginable poverty of the villages of Uttar Pradesh to the teeming streets, marble mansions and gleaming corporat headquarters of New Delhi. It is an intoxicating novel of gangsters and lovers, false friendships, forbidden love and the consequences of corruption. You won't be able to look away - because here is the age of vice, where money, pleasure and power are everything, and the ties that bind can also kill. 'This book. This epic, crazy, shocking, mind-blowing, brutal, tender, heartbreaking book is one of the best I've read' Marlon James, Booker Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author of MOON WITCH, SPIDER KING 'A good old-fashioned gangster story, impossible to put down. It's a novel garlanded with Shakespearean flourishes - star-crossed lovers, secret identities, complicated conspiracies - exploring timeless questions of family, loyalty, and fate' Rumaan Alam, National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author of Leave the World Behind 'Kapoor spins a dizzying ride, painting an India where money is the only religion . . . Weaving the backstories of Ajay, Neda, and Sunny together, this frenetic and colourful novel highlights the new global pecking order, one forged by capitalism, in which the rich always win' Booklist, starred review 'Deeply addictive; this spellbinder would be easy to devour in one big gulp, but it's worth savoring . . . the author possesses a talent great enough to match the massive scope of her subject' Publishers Weekly (starred review) About the Author Deepti Kapoor grew up in northern India and worked for several years as a journalist in New Delhi. The author of the novel Bad Character, she lives in Portugal with her husband. About the Author Deepti Kapoor grew up in northern India and worked for several years as a journalist in New Delhi. The author of the novel Bad Character, she lives in Portugal with her husband.