Let me say this upfront: Sacred Games is not a book but an addiction. Vikram Chandra’s sprawling fiction mystery book isn’t just a crime novel; it’s a 900-page plunge into Mumbai’s darkest corners, where gangsters, cops, and spies blur the line between good and evil. If you’re looking for a book review of Sacred Games that’s exciting and can’t be missed, get ready to clear your schedule!
The Story (No Spoilers, Just Ruthless Suspense)
Here’s the Sacred Games book by Vikram Chandra in a nutshell: Sartaj Singh, a jaded Mumbai police inspector, gets a tip about Ganesh Gaitonde, a legendary gangster hiding in a bunker. What starts as a routine raid spirals into a labyrinth of murder, betrayal, and political conspiracy stretching back decades. The story zigzags between Sartaj’s present-day investigation and Gaitonde’s rise from street thug to underworld kingpin.
If you want to live in the city you have to think ahead three turns, and look behind a lie to see the truth and then behind that truth to see the lie.
Why This Book Will Capture Your Attention?
Chandra’s genius is his ability to make Mumbai itself a character. You’ll smell the stench of slums, taste the grease of street-side vada pav, and feel the claustrophobia of a city overflowing with lies. Sartaj isn’t your typical hero, he’s divorced, cynical, and haunted by his Sikh identity in a Hindu-majority police force. Gaitonde, though? He’s magnetic. A philosopher-gangster who quotes Hindu scriptures while ordering hits, he’s the kind of villain you’ll hate to love.
What makes this Sacred Games book a titan among fiction mystery books is its layers. Every side character like the trafficked girl, a washed-up actor, a conflicted spy all has a story that ties into the central mystery. The pacing is calculated, but once the threads connect, you’ll burn through pages like Gaitonde burns through rivals.
Heads-Up: This Isn’t a Beach Read
At 900+ pages, Sacred Games demands commitment. The Hindi slang and cultural references might trip up non-Indian readers, and the sheer number of subplots could overwhelm. But that’s the point. Chandra doesn’t spoon-feed you; rather he throws you into Mumbai’s chaos and says, “Keep up.”
Should You Read It?
YES. If you love fiction mystery books that double as societal deep-dives, Sacred Games is a masterpiece. Pair it with the Netflix series (loosely based on the book) for a visual feast, but know the book’s depth is unmatched.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – This Sacred Games book review doesn’t do justice to its brilliance. Read it—you’ll never look at Mumbai (or mystery novels) the same way.
Craving more pulse-pounding stories? Explore our fiction mystery books list, including this Sacred Games book by Vikram Chandra and other thrillers that redefine the genre. Spoiler: Sleep is overrated.