THE EX DAUGHTERS OF TOLSTOY HOUSE BY ARUNIMA TENZIN TARA

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BOOK NAME: THE EX DAUGHTERS OF TOLSTOY HOUSE

AUTHOR NAME: ARUNIMA TENZIN TARA

GENRE: PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER 

PUBLISHER: SPEAKING TIGER

BOOK BUY LINK: https://amzn.in/d/2ZS5UBV

BOOK RATING: 5/5


BOOK COVER IMAGE




BOOK REVIEW

Every family is complicated and harbours secrets, but none like those who live in the Tolstoy house. ‘Tolstoy house’ is home to a seemingly perfect family living in Delhi. From the outside, Ambarish and Meera appear to be the ideal parents any child could wish for. Ambarish, a surgeon trained in China, is smart and successful, while his wife Meera is the epitome of grace and loyalty. They raise their three daughters with culture and lots of love, ensuring they carry forward their family’s values without any questions. But beneath the surface lie stories and secrets that would leave anyone’s blood curdling.


Sujata, Kavita, and Naina were taught to obey their father’s every order and to never reveal what he is truly up to. But unlike any normal father, Ambarish doesn’t expect just respect and obedience. He demands secrecy and silence and the daughters are forced to soak up the blood he leaves behind. Every woman he has encountered and loved knows about his dark passion for murder and how he collects a memento from each of his victims. Yet no one dares question him, such is the control he holds over them. Meera and Rini compete for Ambarish’s love, even grooming and endangering their own children in the process. But will the daughters ever escape the black hole that is the Tolstoy house?


This book literally gave me chills and stayed with me long after I finished it. It is a powerful parallel between a gothic, macabre mystery and deeply rooted patriarchal family values. At many points, I found myself gasping at the extent of control the parents had over their children, leaving them with no choice but to obey. There was an intense rage and urgency within me to pull the daughters out of the book and into safety. The mystery is laid open from the start, yet the storytelling is so intense and passionate that you can’t stop reading.


This book reveals the terrifying lengths to which women may go to win the man they love and how much damage parents can inflict on their own children. Also, the author’s reference to Tolstoy when writing about an unhappy family was a clever literary touch. I definitely hadn’t heard of this book before Blogchatter listed it, and now I can’t imagine not having read it. You will absolutely love it for the fine details and intricate storytelling. 


I read this from the #blogchatterbooklist

#penbooksandscalpel


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