The Girl in the Glass Case: Keep your girls safe. Boys safer. (Simone Singh Series)

I don’t think I’ve ever read a thriller that kept me this hooked from start to finish. I opened this book thinking I’d read a few chapters, and before I knew it, I was at the last page, my heart racing the whole time. The story revolves around two terrifying killers. The first, known as 'the Dollmaker', leaves his victim trapped in a chilling “glass case.” I won’t say if it’s a boy or a girl, but the story drops subtle hints that keep you guessing and make the suspense even stronger. Just when you think the tension can’t get higher, another killer—the 'Clipper'—resurfaces, cunning and ruthless, turning the hunt into a deadly race against time. At the center of it all is ASP Simone Singh, and I absolutely loved her. She’s smart, brave, and completely human. Watching her piece together clues and chase the killers kept me on edge the entire time. Simone isn’t perfect, and that’s what makes her so relatable and inspiring. Short, sharp chapters keep the suspense constant, and every twist makes you question what’s coming next. The psychological tension between the two killers adds an extra layer of darkness that’s unlike anything I’ve read before. The story doesn’t just focus on catching the killers—it dives into their twisted minds, making the chase even more intense. The writing is crisp and addictive. Even the small details—the way the tension builds in a room, the timing of a killer’s move, and the cops’ desperation—make the story feel immediate and alive. I found myself holding my breath, trying to guess the next twist, and silently cheering for Simone as she faced danger at every turn. This book is dark, gripping, and impossible to put down. If you love thrillers that combine suspense, psychological depth, this is an absolute must-read. I honestly loved every moment of it.

The Girl in the Glass Case is a gripping psychological crime thriller that takes you into a dark world where two serial killers compete for attention, and one woman must stop them before it is too late. The story follows ASP Simone Singh, a sharp but socially awkward police officer who returns from suspension only to face a horrifying case. A killer known as The Doll Maker is abducting children, dressing them up as Barbie dolls, and displaying them in glass cases. While the city is in shock, another murderer called The Clipper reappears, angry that his fame is being taken away. What begins as an investigation soon turns into a deadly race between two killers, and Simone must stop the growing number of murders before chaos takes over. The book is fast-paced and full of suspense. The short chapters and multiple perspectives make it an engaging and quick read. Devashish Sardana’s writing is simple, smooth, and cinematic. The detailed police work, clues, and unpredictable moments keep the reader hooked until the end. The story, however, reveals some important details too early, which makes it easier to guess certain twists. Despite that, the tension and thrill remain strong throughout. The book runs several subplots at once, which adds variety but also makes it slightly lengthy at times. The characters are well-written, especially the criminals, whose backgrounds and motives are dark and interesting. Simone Singh stands out as a strong and determined female lead who brings balance to the chaos around her. With over 300 pages of crime, mystery, and psychological tension, The Girl in the Glass Case is an intense read. The ending is surprising and satisfying, leaving a lasting impact. If you enjoy dark thrillers, complex characters, and fast-paced storytelling, this book is worth picking up. Verdict: A sharp and thrilling story that keeps you engaged from start to finish. ⭐ Rating: 4/5

Oh God! I really enjoyed the story. I love psycho thrillers. Be it books or movies. Gives me a glimpse of how in different hues human minds come in and how society is involved in creating such cases. The Indian backdrop was super easy relate with plus the plot with the case feels almost real. This book pulls us right from the start. The setup of a cold, no-nonsense officer like Simone ASP being paired with warm-hearted Zoya DSP made the story more layered than just a crime chase. I liked how both women, despite being so different, found a way to work together. Their bond grew slowly but surely, and that part felt real and meaningful. The idea of one serial killer trying to outdo another was something I hadn't come across before. It gave the story an extra push of suspense. The crimes were disturbing but handled in a way that didn’t feel overdone. I found myself pausing at times, thinking about the reasons behind such dark minds rather than just rushing to the end. Human psyche can be so crooked! The emotional weight remains. Its a fast-paced, gripping thriller that begins with a disturbing crime scene and then dives into the world of a bold and blunt police officer who has just returned from suspension. She’s not someone who cares about being liked, which makes her stand out. When she is forced to work with someone much more gentle, their clashing personalities bring both tension and depth to the story. The concept of two serial killers competing in the same city, the Doll Maker’s crimes all are proves of crooked human minds, it is shocking that it all feels real when the story touched on topics like domestic violence and childhood trauma. It shows how broken our society is making all of us broken too. Even though the crime scenes were dark, the writing didn’t feel heavy. In fact, it’s quite beginner-friendly. If you're looking for a crime thriller that gives both adrenaline and emotion, this one’s worth reading.

A twisted serial killer who transforms his victims into dolls. A second killer who craves for the spotlight. And two powerful women racing against time. This novel was dark, creepy, and flat-out addictive. The novel begins with a blood-chilling murder, a young girl exhibited in a glass case like a Barbie doll. The murderer calls himself The Doll Maker. But before you can even get your mind around that, another psycho shows up. And he doesn't want to share the spotlight. ASP Simone Singh is quick-witted, fearless, and unflinching. DSP Zoya is composed, earthy, and emotionally aware. Together, the two women are an unstoppable force and observing how their dynamic played out was definitely one of the highlights for me. Short chapters, snappy prose, and back to back plot twists make this book an absolute page turner. It goes deep into the psychology of trauma and the darkness that can develop from it. Although it gets graphic at times, it never feels unnecessary, just deeply engrossing. Read if you enjoy: Serial killer thrillers, complicated female protagonists, and books that keep you guessing until the very end. Chilling, fast-paced, and seriously unputdownable.

Book Review: The Girl in the Glass Case by Devashish Sardana Rating: 5🌟 Devashish Sardana makes a stunning entry into the psychological thriller genre with The Girl in the Glass Case, a gripping first book in the Simone Singh series. With a premise dripping with suspense and eerie stakes, Sardana weaves a tale as habit-forming as it is unnerving. At its core is a hard-nosed assistant superintendent of police named Simone Singh, who'd sooner catch serial killers than contend with politics or chitchat. Dragged into a nightmare where two merciless killers, the Doll Maker and the Clipper, engage in a gory game of rivalry, Simone fights against the clock to put a halt to the mayhem before other innocent lives are destroyed. The Doll Maker, with his ghastly signature of dressing up the victims as dolls and putting them inside glass containers, initiates a spine-chilling new trend. Things take a turn for the worse, however, when the Clipper, eager to recreate his lost reputation, re-empowers himself as a serial killer. Sardana depicts both killers with clinical coldness, causing each chapter to throb with a feeling of impending disaster. The mind games of the two assassins, and the unyielding determination of Simone to beat them, are the novel's pounding heart. Breathtaking action is balanced by rich suspense storytelling by Sardana, who keeps readers gripped as bodies accumulate and the tension builds. Dark, gritty, and unrelenting, The Girl in the Glass Case will appeal to readers of gritty crime fiction, strong heroines, and mind-bending plots. Simone Singh is a compelling new crime thriller voice—who is flawed, fearless, and impossible to resist.

Decent story, okay pacing. But I didn't expect to read the word "THAR" SO many times, over and over. And dropping brand names does not do the book any favours. Also, some details are needlessly drawn out, like the author had to hit X number of words. Would have enjoyed it more had it not been for these issues.

This book was such a pleasant surprise. I never expected an Indian thriller to be this gripping, but once I started reading, I was completely hooked. The story moves at a fast pace, the chapters are short, and there wasn't a single moment where I felt bored. It keeps throwing twists after twist. The final reveal genuinely shocked me, and although I was slightly confused while connecting all the pieces at the end, it didn't take away from the overall experience. If you're looking for a thriller filled with jaw-dropping twists and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very last page, this one is definitely worth picking up.

The story follows chilling murders happening in Bhopal and two police officers Simone and Zoya are partnered together for a new suspecting serial killer in town who is targeting little children. Meanwhile Supridendent of police officer Irshad is facing his own demons following a nine year long chase of another serial killer. First of let me tell you how excited I got seeing the book based in Bhopal never in my reading years have I been this excited for my home state which seems ironic seeing its a thriller but let me have my moment! I was hooked on this book from the prologue. While I had no intention of reading it yet I was flipping through it and I was hooked! The story is fast paced with breadcrumbs of clues spread across as you follow these officers as they crack the cases. The plot actually felt like a true crime documentary or a castle, Rassoli and Isles or an CSI episode to me. I enjoyed the writing style of the book and I was truly surprised at the end and the suspense. The author managed to keep me on the verge of my seat till the very last sentence. I didn't see any of the twists or reveal coming which it my eyes is a perfect thriller book! As for characters I loved Zoya but I had some trouble getting used to Simone simply because she had a chip on her shoulder and complex on smallest things but she did have redeemable qualities and I enjoyed the multitude of villainous arc. And I don't know about Officer Irshad like Simone he did have redeeming qualities but for me it was not nearly enough. Though the book is written in a police procedural style with alot of heavy and dark themes like child murder, adult theme and psychosis I highly recommend checking the trigger warrings if any of above is not your cup of tea. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and I'm looking forward to reading other books in this series!

One of the best thrillers I have read in a while. There is a twist at every turn. It is a wonderful book to read. A much recommended book.