From the opening pages, the busy city of New Delhi is captured perfectly. I felt transported. I also felt the full impact of anxiety of a mother whose son ran away and was lost in the crowded streets. The emotional connection with the people and the amazing atmosphere of the variety of places visited continued throughout the story.
While there are lots of characters to take in at the beginning, they were all interesting and I got deeply invested in their complex lives.
This crime thriller raises awareness about the darker side of the world—human trafficking, acid attacks, violence against women. In so doing, it had some deeply unsettling moments. The story was made more chilling because it feels well researched. It felt real.
A great read.

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YOU BENEATH YOUR SKIN - A Gripping Urban Contemporary Crime Novel Kindle Edition
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- ASIN : B07X8WCKH6
- Language : English
- File size : 490 KB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
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- Print length : 259 pages
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4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
250 global ratings
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Reviewed in Australia on 16 November 2019
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Wow what a read this is! It is chilling, disturbing extremely intense and at times very hard to read. I had to put my kindle down a few times to catch my breath before I could read any further. Damyanti has laid it all out bare with this book and it will be one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
The story showcases the seedier and more corrupt side of India’s capital in a way that I could not have begun to image and challenged my romanticised view I had of the country. My naivety towards this really did shock me at times as the story progressed. In saying that, I am well aware that nothing is all good, just as nothing is all evil.
Damyanti has crafted a story that is a heartbreaking depiction of how women in poverty are treated and how they are subjected to the most horrific of acts imaginable. It is definitely not for the faint-hearted and deals with some very confronting issues which Damyanti does not sugarcoat over.
The story is a slow build to begin with as Damyanti lays the foundation, but she has a remarkable gift of being able to still keep you engaged through this time. When it does kick in, it does so full steam ahead and nothing gets in your way of wanting to keep reading. It just consumes and takes you over from start to finish.
I found Damyanti’s writing just breathtaking and flawless and as dark as this can be, has been beautifully written. As a debut novel, she really has nailed it on every aspect. She is a very gifted storyteller and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
You Beneath Your Skin is a gritty and raw crime thriller that has been masterfully plotted, has great characterisation, and is one that I can not highly recommend enough.
Thank you for reaching out to me Damyanti and offering me a complimentary copy of the ebook which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
The story showcases the seedier and more corrupt side of India’s capital in a way that I could not have begun to image and challenged my romanticised view I had of the country. My naivety towards this really did shock me at times as the story progressed. In saying that, I am well aware that nothing is all good, just as nothing is all evil.
Damyanti has crafted a story that is a heartbreaking depiction of how women in poverty are treated and how they are subjected to the most horrific of acts imaginable. It is definitely not for the faint-hearted and deals with some very confronting issues which Damyanti does not sugarcoat over.
The story is a slow build to begin with as Damyanti lays the foundation, but she has a remarkable gift of being able to still keep you engaged through this time. When it does kick in, it does so full steam ahead and nothing gets in your way of wanting to keep reading. It just consumes and takes you over from start to finish.
I found Damyanti’s writing just breathtaking and flawless and as dark as this can be, has been beautifully written. As a debut novel, she really has nailed it on every aspect. She is a very gifted storyteller and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
You Beneath Your Skin is a gritty and raw crime thriller that has been masterfully plotted, has great characterisation, and is one that I can not highly recommend enough.
Thank you for reaching out to me Damyanti and offering me a complimentary copy of the ebook which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Top reviews from other countries

Anna
5.0 out of 5 stars
Full of surprising twists and turns
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 September 2019Verified Purchase
You Beneath Your Skin is a chilling debut by Damyanti Biswas--a psychological thriller that delves deep into dysfunctional families, broken relationships, drug abuse, and violence, all wrapped up in an unpresuming police procedural set in Delhi. There's also the relentless Delhi politics that keeps Jatin Bhatt in a loveless marriage, receiving dirty money and participating in cover-ups for ministers, whilst staying friendly with the Union Home Secretary and his powerful family, so that he can keep Commissioner Mehra, his father-in-law and boss, happy in hopes that he will be able to succeed him as Delhi's Chief of Police. If that's not enough, Damyanti throws into the mix complications from Anjali's son's autism, ramping up the tension, especially with the hide and seek that she plays with the truth.
The heart of this story, though, isn't the politics or the crime or the misadventures in love, though all these provide an entertaining though heart wrenching background. It's the poor women trapped in poverty who are subjected to one of the most cruel and debilitating attacks of all--acid attacks. Damyanti brings sympathy to the women caught in this plight through no fault of their own. The fault lies squarely with the men who hold women's lives to no value. In that aspect, this novel is a little sordid--there's no escaping the dirt and squalor, or the horrible crimes of rape and mutilation in this novel.
I love Damyanti's code switching, the way she brings out the different accents of her characters in their Indian English alongside their use of Hindi phrases. I tend to skim over the longer phrases (some of which may or may not be Urdu poetry?), but I'm sure those who speak Hindi and Urdu would appreciate it. She deftly includes translations, and the repetition of certain key phrases is also very helpful.
All in all, You Beneath Your Skin is a thrilling read, full of surprising twists and turns.
The heart of this story, though, isn't the politics or the crime or the misadventures in love, though all these provide an entertaining though heart wrenching background. It's the poor women trapped in poverty who are subjected to one of the most cruel and debilitating attacks of all--acid attacks. Damyanti brings sympathy to the women caught in this plight through no fault of their own. The fault lies squarely with the men who hold women's lives to no value. In that aspect, this novel is a little sordid--there's no escaping the dirt and squalor, or the horrible crimes of rape and mutilation in this novel.
I love Damyanti's code switching, the way she brings out the different accents of her characters in their Indian English alongside their use of Hindi phrases. I tend to skim over the longer phrases (some of which may or may not be Urdu poetry?), but I'm sure those who speak Hindi and Urdu would appreciate it. She deftly includes translations, and the repetition of certain key phrases is also very helpful.
All in all, You Beneath Your Skin is a thrilling read, full of surprising twists and turns.
4 people found this helpful
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Indywrites
4.0 out of 5 stars
Skin Deep Dilemmas!
Reviewed in India on 5 October 2019Verified Purchase
Really Long Review Alert!!
Do we really know our loved ones? Are ever really sure that the face we see each day, cherish, nurture and love each day is not a facade?
Damyanti shatters a lot of assumptions in her book You Beneath Your Skin. It is not just a thriller trying to figure out the dark underbelly of Delhi but also the privileged criminals. The ones, who are whisked away under the garb of being too young, too rich, too powerful or just being born into privilege.
Anjali is trying to find the mother for a young girl, hoping to keep the siblings safe until the mother is found. A kind soul with enough problems of her own yet she puts in that extra bit to ensure the ones less fortunate have a chance.
Jatin the cop who tries to keep his path as clear as possible but as they say that if you work in the coalmines, you will catch the sooth. So does he, but what I found both predictable and relevant was how the crime follows him home.
For the longest time, I felt his wife was the greyest character in the story but there were surprises till the last page. The belligerent son, the self-absorbed father or the slick politician; or could it be the silly social worker- the suspects were many. The initial story about the love affair and the gruesome acid-induced murders felt a bit obvious considering it was Delhi and its crimes of passion but the story picked up with the unrelenting twists soon enough. Damyanti manages to tie all the ends, unravel all the knots and remind us that nothing is as it seems!
Well written and twisted with a balanced dose of reality, You Beneath Your Skin is an interesting story. The title is so perfect!!
You Beneath Your Skin is a crime-thriller that follows the lives of Anjali and Jatin. As the victims pile up, both of them are pulled in the murky business of drugs, poverty and corruption. I was up all night reading the book trying to find out if Anjali would fall into this corrupt void or is it Jatin who takes the fall.
The killers, the politicians, or the boys; who are the key players? Why is a simple, supportive, honest, kind woman being dragged into this mess? Can saving a life mean giving up your own? Or is it a loved one who doesn’t love you anymore? All these questions kept me reading no-stop.
You Beneath Your Skin is a pager-turner, emotional, heart-wrenching story with excellent writing. The author has portrayed a vivid picture of the dark underbelly of crimes against women, children and how innocents are sacrificed.
A book with a message, of not just love, acceptance but also of never giving up on yourself and your loved ones.
The book will tug at your heartstrings not just for the innocent in peril but also the subtle instances of love and emotions. The tiny gestures of love and endearment between Anjali and Jatin. The sweet and solid mother and son understanding. The brother who is a tough guy but a softy for his sister. I especially loved the subtle story arc of Pawan and Maya, keep an eye out for them and the simple yet powerful declaration by Pawan that made me a fan!
The most important reason I loved the book is the voice it gives to the innocent, voiceless victims. The mothers who are abused, killed and forgotten. The little girls who are sold, used as puppets, while their family is thankful for a member who can earn, no matter how! The author proceeds of You Beneath Your Skin go to the Project Why and Acid Attacks Victims. This makes it even more relevant since not only does the author talk about them in her book but also shows the misery they face.
You must read You Beneath Your Skin not just to know who you and your loved ones really are but to understand that no one truly knows anyone perfectly.
Gritty, edgy yet subtle, Damyanti’s writing will keep you awake!
Do we really know our loved ones? Are ever really sure that the face we see each day, cherish, nurture and love each day is not a facade?
Damyanti shatters a lot of assumptions in her book You Beneath Your Skin. It is not just a thriller trying to figure out the dark underbelly of Delhi but also the privileged criminals. The ones, who are whisked away under the garb of being too young, too rich, too powerful or just being born into privilege.
Anjali is trying to find the mother for a young girl, hoping to keep the siblings safe until the mother is found. A kind soul with enough problems of her own yet she puts in that extra bit to ensure the ones less fortunate have a chance.
Jatin the cop who tries to keep his path as clear as possible but as they say that if you work in the coalmines, you will catch the sooth. So does he, but what I found both predictable and relevant was how the crime follows him home.
For the longest time, I felt his wife was the greyest character in the story but there were surprises till the last page. The belligerent son, the self-absorbed father or the slick politician; or could it be the silly social worker- the suspects were many. The initial story about the love affair and the gruesome acid-induced murders felt a bit obvious considering it was Delhi and its crimes of passion but the story picked up with the unrelenting twists soon enough. Damyanti manages to tie all the ends, unravel all the knots and remind us that nothing is as it seems!
Well written and twisted with a balanced dose of reality, You Beneath Your Skin is an interesting story. The title is so perfect!!
You Beneath Your Skin is a crime-thriller that follows the lives of Anjali and Jatin. As the victims pile up, both of them are pulled in the murky business of drugs, poverty and corruption. I was up all night reading the book trying to find out if Anjali would fall into this corrupt void or is it Jatin who takes the fall.
The killers, the politicians, or the boys; who are the key players? Why is a simple, supportive, honest, kind woman being dragged into this mess? Can saving a life mean giving up your own? Or is it a loved one who doesn’t love you anymore? All these questions kept me reading no-stop.
You Beneath Your Skin is a pager-turner, emotional, heart-wrenching story with excellent writing. The author has portrayed a vivid picture of the dark underbelly of crimes against women, children and how innocents are sacrificed.
A book with a message, of not just love, acceptance but also of never giving up on yourself and your loved ones.
The book will tug at your heartstrings not just for the innocent in peril but also the subtle instances of love and emotions. The tiny gestures of love and endearment between Anjali and Jatin. The sweet and solid mother and son understanding. The brother who is a tough guy but a softy for his sister. I especially loved the subtle story arc of Pawan and Maya, keep an eye out for them and the simple yet powerful declaration by Pawan that made me a fan!
The most important reason I loved the book is the voice it gives to the innocent, voiceless victims. The mothers who are abused, killed and forgotten. The little girls who are sold, used as puppets, while their family is thankful for a member who can earn, no matter how! The author proceeds of You Beneath Your Skin go to the Project Why and Acid Attacks Victims. This makes it even more relevant since not only does the author talk about them in her book but also shows the misery they face.
You must read You Beneath Your Skin not just to know who you and your loved ones really are but to understand that no one truly knows anyone perfectly.
Gritty, edgy yet subtle, Damyanti’s writing will keep you awake!

4.0 out of 5 stars
Skin Deep Dilemmas!
Reviewed in India on 5 October 2019
Really Long Review Alert!!Reviewed in India on 5 October 2019
Do we really know our loved ones? Are ever really sure that the face we see each day, cherish, nurture and love each day is not a facade?
Damyanti shatters a lot of assumptions in her book You Beneath Your Skin. It is not just a thriller trying to figure out the dark underbelly of Delhi but also the privileged criminals. The ones, who are whisked away under the garb of being too young, too rich, too powerful or just being born into privilege.
Anjali is trying to find the mother for a young girl, hoping to keep the siblings safe until the mother is found. A kind soul with enough problems of her own yet she puts in that extra bit to ensure the ones less fortunate have a chance.
Jatin the cop who tries to keep his path as clear as possible but as they say that if you work in the coalmines, you will catch the sooth. So does he, but what I found both predictable and relevant was how the crime follows him home.
For the longest time, I felt his wife was the greyest character in the story but there were surprises till the last page. The belligerent son, the self-absorbed father or the slick politician; or could it be the silly social worker- the suspects were many. The initial story about the love affair and the gruesome acid-induced murders felt a bit obvious considering it was Delhi and its crimes of passion but the story picked up with the unrelenting twists soon enough. Damyanti manages to tie all the ends, unravel all the knots and remind us that nothing is as it seems!
Well written and twisted with a balanced dose of reality, You Beneath Your Skin is an interesting story. The title is so perfect!!
You Beneath Your Skin is a crime-thriller that follows the lives of Anjali and Jatin. As the victims pile up, both of them are pulled in the murky business of drugs, poverty and corruption. I was up all night reading the book trying to find out if Anjali would fall into this corrupt void or is it Jatin who takes the fall.
The killers, the politicians, or the boys; who are the key players? Why is a simple, supportive, honest, kind woman being dragged into this mess? Can saving a life mean giving up your own? Or is it a loved one who doesn’t love you anymore? All these questions kept me reading no-stop.
You Beneath Your Skin is a pager-turner, emotional, heart-wrenching story with excellent writing. The author has portrayed a vivid picture of the dark underbelly of crimes against women, children and how innocents are sacrificed.
A book with a message, of not just love, acceptance but also of never giving up on yourself and your loved ones.
The book will tug at your heartstrings not just for the innocent in peril but also the subtle instances of love and emotions. The tiny gestures of love and endearment between Anjali and Jatin. The sweet and solid mother and son understanding. The brother who is a tough guy but a softy for his sister. I especially loved the subtle story arc of Pawan and Maya, keep an eye out for them and the simple yet powerful declaration by Pawan that made me a fan!
The most important reason I loved the book is the voice it gives to the innocent, voiceless victims. The mothers who are abused, killed and forgotten. The little girls who are sold, used as puppets, while their family is thankful for a member who can earn, no matter how! The author proceeds of You Beneath Your Skin go to the Project Why and Acid Attacks Victims. This makes it even more relevant since not only does the author talk about them in her book but also shows the misery they face.
You must read You Beneath Your Skin not just to know who you and your loved ones really are but to understand that no one truly knows anyone perfectly.
Gritty, edgy yet subtle, Damyanti’s writing will keep you awake!
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23 people found this helpful
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Mr R.
5.0 out of 5 stars
As rich in characterisation and atmosphere as any book I've EVER read ... Simply Superb!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 October 2019Verified Purchase
The story centres around Anjali, an Indian woman with an American born mother and an autistic son, Nikhil, and Jatin, her married Delhi policeman and on/off lover. Nikhil and their personal lives aside, Anjali and Jatin are involved in the investigation of a new spate of serial murders, rapes, and vicious attacks on poor young women in Deli. Parallel to this, Anjali also volunteers in various other roles to help the poor and underprivileged of Delhi, especially the children. Set against the backdrop of their friends, colleagues, and relations, and all the social and cultural problems that beset Delhi, there are innumerable minor storylines, from tentative romance, drug dealing, to family secrets and eventual revelations as brutal, horrific, and surprising as is possible to imagine
If one were to rely solely on the Amazon book description, a reader might be drawn into thinking the central premise of the book is a series of brutal attacks and murders of vulnerable women, and the subsequent efforts to bring those responsible to justice. Really though, 'You Beneath Your Skin' is so much more than a simple detective or police investigation; yes, the brutal attacks/murders, i.e. drugging women before raping/murdering them, and/or throwing acid in their faces form an integral part of the story, but it's far from being what the book is really about. Whereas in a more, say, 'traditional' crime and murder story, such violence would be at its heart, perhaps for its shock value or to emphasise the need for a resolution to the crimes. In truth, the actual violence here is little more than a backdrop to the rich characterisation of everyone involved, and of the lives and society in which the multiple storylines take place; if anything, the real violence here, and indeed tragedy, is that fact that the murders and attacks are downplayed to some extent, a reflection of the equal or even great horror that such acid attacks and the like are so commonplace they've become an accepted part of Indian culture/society in much the same way mass shootings in America or European terrorist attacks no longer shock or surprise us they way they once did.Â
The writing is executed to perfection, with every character vividly brought to life through their likes and prejudices, their interactions with each other, their place in Indian society, and in way too many other subtle ways to mention in a single review. I was pleased to see the author in no way tried to pander or adapt her writing to accommodate the expectations of a western or European audience, which in my opinion makes for a better reading experience for anyone who reads this book. Having said that, some of the dialogue does, albeit only occasionally, switch to Hindi, which as a European reader, I obviously skimmed past. Also, it will take some readers a little while to get used to some of the Indian conventions of speech and dialogue, i.e. of people being addressed in different ways, and by different names/titles depending on the relationship between whose speaking (some parallels can be found in German, in the way you might address a child or someone you know personally or only a little).
It's still difficult for me to appreciate this a debut novel rather than maybe the umpteenth from a well-established and best-selling author. As well as being a well-crafted tale of the most horrific crimes, their investigation, and a somewhat cynical conclusion, it's also a brutally honest and illuminating look at and commentary on Indian society, both good and bad. Captivating, enthralling, and a real page-turner - a superb work of crime and social literature!
If one were to rely solely on the Amazon book description, a reader might be drawn into thinking the central premise of the book is a series of brutal attacks and murders of vulnerable women, and the subsequent efforts to bring those responsible to justice. Really though, 'You Beneath Your Skin' is so much more than a simple detective or police investigation; yes, the brutal attacks/murders, i.e. drugging women before raping/murdering them, and/or throwing acid in their faces form an integral part of the story, but it's far from being what the book is really about. Whereas in a more, say, 'traditional' crime and murder story, such violence would be at its heart, perhaps for its shock value or to emphasise the need for a resolution to the crimes. In truth, the actual violence here is little more than a backdrop to the rich characterisation of everyone involved, and of the lives and society in which the multiple storylines take place; if anything, the real violence here, and indeed tragedy, is that fact that the murders and attacks are downplayed to some extent, a reflection of the equal or even great horror that such acid attacks and the like are so commonplace they've become an accepted part of Indian culture/society in much the same way mass shootings in America or European terrorist attacks no longer shock or surprise us they way they once did.Â
The writing is executed to perfection, with every character vividly brought to life through their likes and prejudices, their interactions with each other, their place in Indian society, and in way too many other subtle ways to mention in a single review. I was pleased to see the author in no way tried to pander or adapt her writing to accommodate the expectations of a western or European audience, which in my opinion makes for a better reading experience for anyone who reads this book. Having said that, some of the dialogue does, albeit only occasionally, switch to Hindi, which as a European reader, I obviously skimmed past. Also, it will take some readers a little while to get used to some of the Indian conventions of speech and dialogue, i.e. of people being addressed in different ways, and by different names/titles depending on the relationship between whose speaking (some parallels can be found in German, in the way you might address a child or someone you know personally or only a little).
It's still difficult for me to appreciate this a debut novel rather than maybe the umpteenth from a well-established and best-selling author. As well as being a well-crafted tale of the most horrific crimes, their investigation, and a somewhat cynical conclusion, it's also a brutally honest and illuminating look at and commentary on Indian society, both good and bad. Captivating, enthralling, and a real page-turner - a superb work of crime and social literature!
3 people found this helpful
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eppingstrider
5.0 out of 5 stars
rich and powerful even when writing about the poor and powerless
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 August 2020Verified Purchase
Damyanti Biswas writes incredible short fiction on her blog. This is her first major venture into a novel, and boy, what a novel. Set in a large city in India, the characters leap from the page, and most of them scare me silly. Some of this is for their health, safety or other form of welfare, others simply scare me for my own welfare.
The storyline twists around an investigation into what appears to be serial murders of faceless women. That’s literally faceless; their features have been obliterated with sulphuric acid. The one found in the jurisdiction of Jatin is traced to a local slum. Those of you who have read about life in such slums can imagine the filth and the poverty all too well.
You Beneath Your Skin has an incredibly twisted plot that covers many levels of Indian society and the problems each character has in staying one step ahead of their own ruin. The writing is rich and powerful even when talking about the poor and powerless.
There are themes which many will find hard to stomach, but you will find an unforgettable reading experience between these pages.
The storyline twists around an investigation into what appears to be serial murders of faceless women. That’s literally faceless; their features have been obliterated with sulphuric acid. The one found in the jurisdiction of Jatin is traced to a local slum. Those of you who have read about life in such slums can imagine the filth and the poverty all too well.
You Beneath Your Skin has an incredibly twisted plot that covers many levels of Indian society and the problems each character has in staying one step ahead of their own ruin. The writing is rich and powerful even when talking about the poor and powerless.
There are themes which many will find hard to stomach, but you will find an unforgettable reading experience between these pages.
2 people found this helpful
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Trypsin
5.0 out of 5 stars
A finger on the pulse of crime in Delhi.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 January 2020Verified Purchase
This is tense and gripping crime thriller set in India with multiple layers, and a sharp look at class and corruption. Strong attention to fine and keenly observed detail, add gravitas and quality to the story, and give it a clear insight into what life is like for some sections of society in winter-time Delhi. The author draws complex family relationships, and their interactions are both fascinating and tragic. The author doesn't hold back when describing the attacks that are inflicted on female victims, and underlying corruption and violence that are all too common. The narrative and characters are believable, and the plot kept me turning the pages. The author takes inspiration from a charity that supports justice and aid for attack survivors, and another that supports children's education. Author income from book sales is used to support the charities. Highly recommended.
2 people found this helpful
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