The Night of the Storm is the debut novel of Nishita Parekh. During the torrential rains of Hurricane Harvey, one family’s secrets are revealed. This thriller is quite the page turner. I thought I’d figured it out, but I was wrong. The narrator is a recently divorced Indian mom; the character has a strong and witty voice. The other characters are well developed and the story telling is illustrative and detailed. I look forward to reading this author’s future work.

Nishita Parekh’s debut thriller, The Night of the Storm, is a locked room mystery with several different twists. The Indian-American family stuck together in a mansion is trapped by Hurricane Harvey as it hits Houston. And, the protagonist is a single mother of a young teen, a divorcee trying to cope with her status in her culture as a divorced woman while struggling to take care of her son.

Six months after her divorce, Jia Shah doesn’t feel as if she’s a fit mother for her son, Ishaan. The twelve-year-old misses his father, and there have been a few behavioral issues. But, Jia’s determined that he not grow up like her ex, Dev. In the face of Hurricane Harvey, though, she feels even more inadequate. She’s waited too late to even get water, doesn’t know what to do in the face of the emergency, and finally gives in and ventures through the storm to her sister’s house. Seema and her husband, Vipul, live on higher ground, and Seema assures her it’s safe. But, something doesn’t feel right because the neighborhood seems deserted.

As the family gathers, with the addition of Vipul’s brother, Raj, and sister-in-law, Lisa, along with Vipul’s mother and toddler daughter, it’s easy to assume they’re a typical Indian family, eating Indian food, and observing traditional customs. But, the arrival of a neighbor in distress, and the continuing storm adds to the tension. When one person dies, and, then another is murdered, Jia realizes she’s trapped in the house with a killer, and it’s up to her to save herself and her son before she’s implicated in the deaths.

I’ve read a few reviews of The Night of the Storm, and I have to agree with others. I found it okay, but that’s about it. Jia lacks confidence in herself and her son, and that’s difficult to deal with for an entire book. It’s understandable because of the role of a woman in Indian culture, and her struggles as an immigrant. And, Parekh does deal with that in the story. But, Jia is a weak protagonist, and it’s difficult to care about her.

The Night of the Storm was an interesting debut because of the setting during a hurricane. It’s the atmosphere that will keep readers turning the pages, not the characters.

My first read by Parekh but hopefully, not my last.
Jia and her teen son Ishaan are forced to seek refuge from Hurricane Harvey with her sister and brother-in-law,
Vipul, l in their lavish and supposedly storm proof home in Sugarland, a very =y upscale suburb of Houston.
As the storm worsens and they discover the entire neighborhood has evacuated due to mandatory orders, she discovers Vipul has manipulated the entire refuge offer to her and another neighbor they have taken in.
So the mystery deepens, and terror enters the story as the storm rages, the house is broken in to and no one seems to be exactly who they portend to be.
Add in the unpredictable antics of her 3-year-old niece, and her brother-in-law's irascible mother, as well as Vipul's younger brother and wife and the plot, entangled as it initially appears, is really just one big surprise after another.
A really good mystery read with suspense nonstop and the best part for me: just when I thought I had it all figured out - I really was not even close.
Very good thriller.

One of my favorite mystery tropes is the “locked in” setup where there’s a killer amongst the group, so this was right up my alley. For the most part I liked this one. The characters were interesting and the plot was promising…I just think it could have been a little more developed with a few more layers to deepen the story. Overall it was a quick, easy read. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC!

Thanks to the publisher for inviting me to read this title!

Unfortunately I DNFed this around 20%--it's entirely possible that I'm just too burnt out on thrillers, but I just didn't find myself caring too much. I thought the main character's whole demeanor was irritating and no part of it was all that compelling for me.

I think plenty of people will like this book, but I didn't find that it stood out enough for me to push myself through it.

I went into this one with big expectations and was unfortunately let down a bit. I loved the family dynamics, but I was really left wanting more because the twist I saw coming halfway through so I wasn’t really WOWed like I expected to be.

Overall this was okay for me and I am looking forward to this authors next book and will be on the lookout for that!

Full of tension.

Jia took time to warm up too. She didn’t have a lot of confidence and was always assuming the worst. She was a nervous wreck who was always overwhelmed. The plot was captivating as it slowly built up to the explosive climax. The author’s slow build up kept the reader at a high level of tension. One of the best thrillers I’ve read this year.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

Atmospheric…but otherwise average, at best. Not a single likable character…and not a single believable character. No one acts/reacts the ways written here. At times, the narrative was choppy or inconsistent. The few twists were as weak and implausible as the storytelling.

Jia and her 12-year-old son Ishaan have recently moved closer to her sister,Seema.Jia is divorced, and struggling with her son, who misses his father, and trying to make a life for the two of them. With Hurricane Harvey about to hit, they leave their apartment and go to stay with her sister’s family. Now they’re in a big house which Vipul (Seema’s husband) is confident will withstand the storm. But Jia has reason to avoid Vipul and being in his house, makes her extremely uncomfortable.
As the storm gets progressively worse, coming here may have been a huge mistake. Soon someone is dead, the neighborhood deserted, and Jia has to figure out how to keep her son safe from the storm and a killer.
The pacing of this story was a bit slower than I liked. I really wanted to get caught up in the drama of the storm, as well as figuring out the identity of the killer. Even when I got closer to the end, I just never had that wonderful feeling of wanting to read just one more chapter. Perhaps it was just a case of the wrong book at the wrong time, but even the ending just didn’t make up for it. Still, I’d read the author’s next book since I was drawn in at the beginning and it wasn’t poorly written. The pacing just was off for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the advanced reading copy of this book. The below review is my honest opinion and contains no spoilers.
The Night Storm to me it started a bit slow, however around page 40 it started picking up the pace and got me hooked trying to figure out whodunit. This was the first novel I read where people were trapped due to weather and I enjoyed how the weather affected the characters in the book. The author was able to show complex family dynamics and how those can stand out in a locked room scenario. I give this book a 3.5, rounding it up to 4 stars on here as I feel as it deserves more than just 3 stars.

The Night Of The Storm
Nishita Parekh
Genre:Thriller/Suspense
Pace: Medium
Releasing: January 2024

Debut author Nishita Parekh, gives us a fresh take on the classic locked-room thriller, about a multigenerational Indian American family marooned in a house with a murderer during Hurricane Harvey

For reeeaaall, I cannot even put into words how much this plot impacted my thought process as a mother

There were so many moments I related to the mother son relationship. Y'all I highlighted so many of these pages, no lie

Yes this was an isolated thriller which I absolutely love regardless but the character building and atmospheric descriptions just pulled me in and didn't let me go until the very last page

The Indian heritage references were so refreshing to read about as I don't see that very often. I learned ALOT

Although there were moments that kind of lagged and felt disconnected a little bit and pulled me away from the main plot a bit, I still COULD NOT stop reading. I NEEDED answers.

And dang that ending just got me so good

A Perfect summertime read for those that like locked-room thrillers with some familial drama in the spotlight

Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange my honost thoughts and opinions 🖤

I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with the opportunity to read this book. The Night of the Storm marks Nishita Parekh's debut novel, a gripping thriller that takes place amidst the chaos of Hurricane Harvey. Through its exploration of family dynamics, this novel delivers an unexpected twist that will leave readers captivated.

I love that I was able to have the chance to read a debut novel. I was allured to this book, sparked by the captivating cover and its intriguing storyline. As an avid thriller reader, I was eager to dive in. The cover itself evoked a sense of mystery, set against the backdrop of a stormy night in a grand mansion. Who wouldn't be excited by that? I had just finished a locked room concept and this one promised a thrilling tale with everyone as a potential suspect, amplifying the anticipation of uncovering the truth.

This story had numerous positive aspects that resonated with me as a reader. One of the highlights was the exploration of different cultures through fiction, which I find immensely enjoyable. It was fascinating to delve into the intricacies of Indian family dynamics (as this is all new to me) and the expectations placed upon Indian-Americans or Indian immigrants living in America. This played a significant role in the narrative, providing valuable insights for me as the reader..

Additionally, I must commend Parekh on her exceptional use of imagery throughout the novel. The vivid depictions of the surroundings and the characters themselves were truly remarkable. It felt as though I was transported into the story, allowing me to immerse myself fully and become emotionally invested in the characters' journeys. This I think is sometimes hard for authors to do and I loved every aspect of it in her writing.

While there were certainly positives to be found in this story, there were also a few aspects that I personally found challenging. Initially, I struggled to fully engage with the novel, which is not typically the case when I read thrillers and having just read a locked room thriller I was not expecting it be as hard to get into. The way the events were presented in a predetermined way to the reader, felt like it took a while to progress and develop smoothly from one stage to the next. I would of loved to have seen this book's series of events not be arranged in any particular order thus allowing readers to choose the path in which the narrative follows.

I think one of the issues was the author exploring the intricacies of certain relationships throughout the story, rather than briefly mentioning them at the beginning and concluding them at the end, the narrative could have been enriched.

In conclusion, the book ended up being just okay for me. It failed to immediately captivate my attention at the start, and I found the pacing to be rather slow. I was missing that gripping factor that keeps one eagerly turning pages, whether physical or virtual, anticipating what will happen next. It was only during the final twenty percent of the book that the excitement truly kicked in, leaving me wishing for a more engaging experience throughout. Even with that said it is a promising start and I am particularly impressed that this is the author's debut novel. Excited for more to come from Nishita Parekh!

Thank you to the publisher, and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was extremely excited about this book, but was left a little down. First I do want to highlight some good points. First, the cover is amazing! It really sets the mood, and it does scream creepy, unsettling, and thrilling. Good job.

The book is good, but it's not amazing. I loved the setting. A house in the middle of a hurricane. That's great. I was sadly just a little let down. I didn't really like any of the characters, but maybe I really wasn't supposed to like anyone? The family is really dysfunctional, which does set the mood. I know I wouldn't want to be trapped in a house with just my family for company. I do like how the story unfolded as the night went on,and the storms got stronger. The mix between affairs, and drama was not as exciting in this as I've read in other thrillers.

I will also say this. I'm not going to give up on Nishita Parekh. I think she has lots of potential, and just because this wasn't an amazing hit for me. It may be for someone else. Like I said,even though I didn't love it. I did like it. Thank you again for a chance to review this novel.

Thank you to Net Galley, penguin publishers, and the author, Nishita Parekh for an ARC of The Night of the Storm. I am generally a fan of locked room mysteries - the slow burn and the character development usually keeps me engaged over the course of the story. This one, however, did not do that for me. The story centers around Jia, a single mother who is desperately trying to keep her son from her ex-husband. As Hurricane Harvey is beating down on their Texas town, Jia accepts an invitation to stay at her sister's house until the storm is over. Jia soon discovers that she and her son are not the only "guests" at the house and during the course of the night, two murders occur and varies secrets of the guests are exposed. I very much wanted to like this story because the title and the cover of the book really drew me in when I requested the ARC. I unfortunately found myself wanting the story to end and just couldn't get into the story as it unfolded, the end was also a disappointment. What I did find interesting was the number of Indian traditions and meals that were described in the book and found that to be what I looked forward to the most. This is the author's debut novel and I found it was more of a fiction book about a family than a locked room mystery. All in all, it was an Ok read for me, I would definitely consider reading future books of this author based on the genre.

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great! I really enjoyed the writing style as well as the plot. Jia is a divorced woman who divorced her husband under mysterious circumstances. Because she is Indian, she is ostracized by many in bereaved life. But, her sister, Seema, has stood by her side and helped her navigate a new life in Houston after leaving Chicago behind. Her brother in law, Vipul, also helps her-until he begins to cross the line.

After waiting too long to evacuate, Jia and her 12 year old son seek shelter with Seema and her family in their McMansion. Because it’s atop a steep hill, she is reassured they will be safe. Vipul’s brother and sister in law join the family and that’s when things start going awry.

This was a gripping thriller. The hurricane really adds an intense layer of suspense to the story. If you enjoy locked room murder mysteries, you’ll enjoy this story.

I did guess part of the ending, but I didn’t see a few parts coming. This was a great debut from a new author and I’ll gladly read her next book as well!

Hurricane Harvey is coming towards Houston. A tight knit family decides to ride the storm out together. That is when people start dying and Jim is determined to get to the bottom of it and survive the storm. This was a quick read that keeps you guessing.

This is a gripping and suspenseful novel that not only explores the complexities of family relationships but also thrusts its characters into a life-or-death situation. As readers accompany Jia on her harrowing journey, they'll be on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning pages to uncover the real culprit while rooting for her to clear her name. This thrilling tale of survival amidst the chaos of a natural disaster will keep readers guessing until the very end. The author has masterfully crafted a story that combines the elements of a gripping thriller with the emotional depth of family drama, making this a must-read for fans of suspenseful fiction.

You won't regret picking this one up to read. I also loved the locked-room element of this book. There's nothing more claustrophobic than being stuck in the confines of a place you just want to escape.

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

I went into this book blind but excited. I was expecting a "Who dun it" and was not disappointed. Jia our main character is going through it. A divorce, having to move, single motherhood, a storm, and overbearing family, now a murder. What else could go wrong for her?

There were times when I was just so enraged at Jia's family. I felt so angry for her. Their treatment felt like bullying. It made me question how we treat women vs men.

But on to the story, there is a murder and then another and a twist. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend. Thank you Nishita Parekh and Netgallery for letting me read it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

I was so excited about this book, and I just didn't think it worked the way I wanted it too. While I do enjoy family drama, this one just felt off to me. I wish I had enjoyed it more.