The Night of the Storm by Nishita Parekh is one that certainly started off pulling me right into the setting and story and I wish that I could say I kept up that excitement all the way through. I think this one was just layered with a little too much of the drama and not enough of the thrill for me. It almost felt as if it was all just a little too too much if that makes sense at all without me going into details. By the end I just felt this was an ok novel but not one that totally wowed me.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

The book wasn’t bad, I just ultimately ended up DNFing about 40% through. It wasn’t grabbing me like I hoped it would. Not a bad book, just not the book for me

The Night of the Storm by Nishita Parekh is reminiscent of an Agatha Christie mystery!

Parekh’s debut features many, many twists and turns, a thrilling setting and a creepy storm atmosphere but more than that it features incredible commentary on patriarchy and divorce in the South Asian community.

One of my favourite things about this book is the way in which Parekh describes the creepy “do-gooder” uncles that very much exist everywhere! But especially in South Asian/Desi communities where lines are evidently and uncomfortably crossed all in the name of “helping” and “assisting,” because something is always expected in return for those “helpful” tasks.

The Night of the Storm is a captivating mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Recommended for mystery fans – it is definitely more story and less thrilling so keep that in mind when picking this up!

I will be reading whatever Parekh writes next!

As a Houstonian, born and raised, I was intrigued to read about one of the most devasting hurricanes we've experienced with a murder twist. It felt surreal in a way to have firsthand knowledge of the emotions the storm brought about in the characters. Even the mention of a bar called Present Company, elicited memories for me.

I enjoyed the way this story was built and the different twists that the author used within. It was a quick read for me. The complicated family dynamics displayed by the characters amidst a tragedy were interesting as well, particularly how they related back to their Indian culture.

Thank you NetGalley, Nishita Parekh, and Dutton for this advanced copy. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more of Nishita Parekh's work someday.

Thank you NetGalley for this advance copy of The Night of the Storm by Nishita Parekh! I love locked-room thrillers, and this mystery was dark and spooky with lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed the very complicated family dynamics, and I learned so much about Indian-American culture. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys locked-room thrillers and Agatha Christie. I enjoyed this debut novel from Nishita Parekh, and look forward to this author’s future works!

The cover and premise caused me to be very excited to read this book. However, the mystery element just wasn’t set up in as much of an engaging fashion as I would have hoped. The story seemed a bit drawn out and confusing with the motive being a bit questionable. It was not bad, but this was not a novel that I can say I truly enjoyed. 3 stars ⭐️. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy for review.

“The real tragedy… was that we took our closest relationships for granted… Even though I lost so much that night, I got more than I could ever ask for, I got a lifelong friend.”

This story was wonderful. There was family drama, secrets, mystery men, a murderer, (possibly) two sketchy husbands & a sketchy ex-husband. You also get some background into the Indian family dynamics and politics and I thoroughly enjoyed that educational aspect.

This locked-room thriller will keep you guessing until the very end!

In addition to the eARC I was provided by NetGalley and Dutton in exchange for an honest review (thank you), I listened to the audiobook.

Soneela Nankani is the narrator and she is perfect. I look forward to listening to more audiobooks that she narrates!
Audiobook length: 10 hr 2 min

This book is out now!

The Night of the Storm is a multigenerational Indian american family drama. I would not label this as a thriller.

Set in Texas, a massive hurricane is predicted to make landfall and neighborhoods are being evacuated. This started out with some action and movement, but it just seemed to flop from there.
I had to pick this up twice in order to just get into it and the second time I just had to make myself read through. For me, that is not an enjoyable book. I struggled with the family dynamics, but that may just be a cultural lacking on my part. Others may find it interesting.

Overall, it wasn’t what I thought it would be.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in return for my honest review.

Pub date: 16 Jan 2024

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Unfortunately, this was not the thriller I thought it would be. The writing was very up and down, mainly lacking in creating any true tension or long lasting unease within the setting or characters. I feel like this was much more of a family drama than a thriller, which there definitely will be quite an audience for. I will definitely try out another book by this author, but this debut just really didn't work for me as I was really hoping it would.

My God. This book was AWFUL. I was so bored the entire time. By the time the story actually picked up, I truly could not be bothered to care what was happening. I hate ripping on debut authors/debut books, but this was just so boring. The idea had a lot of promise, which makes it all the more disappointing that the execution was so terrible.

The characters were all so insufferable that I ended up rooting for the hurricane.

**3.5-stars rounded up**

The Night of the Storm is a debut novel from Nishita Parekh. Honestly, I've been a little scared to pick it up, because of the mixed reviews. However, I'm very happy to report that I'm part of Team Really Enjoyed It. Sure, I see flaws, but at the same time, it worked for me. I found it entertaining. I loved the set-up that left me feeling claustrophobic and unnerved. I love complicated family relationships, and this checked that box extremely well.

In this story, we're following Jia Shah, an Indian American woman who has recently separated from her husband and moved herself, as well as their 12-year old son, Ishaan, from the family home in Chicago to Houston, Texas. This is a big deal in her traditional Indian family, and she's definitely received blow-back stemming from her choices. In spite of other's disapproval however, Jia did what she knew to be right for her son and herself. She wasn't willing to live the rest of her life in an unhappy marriage.

It hasn't been easy though, especially for Ishaan, who she worries about constantly. In fact, Ishaan has newly been suspended from school after being in a fight. With all this going on, the last thing Jia needs to worry about is a mandatory evacuation order from their apartment building, but with Hurricane Harvey bearing down on the city, that's exactly what they get. Luckily, Jia's sister, Seema, who lives in an fancy house not far away in Sugar Land, has invited them to stay with her and her family to ride out the impending storm.

Jia and Ishaan make it to the house just in time, where they join Seema, her husband, their daughter, Seema's mother-in-law, as well as her husband's brother and his wife. It's a lot of people, but it's also a big house. They'll be okay. Unfortunately, you put that many people together in a house, with severe weather blazing outside and no means of escape, you're bound to see the tensions rise. Just as things start heating up inside the house, someone ends up dead...

Was it an accident, or is there a murderer amongst them?

For me, and this is completely my unprofessional opinion, I feel like this is more a case of people going into this expecting one thing and then getting another and feeling disappointed, than this being just a 3.21-star book. I've been there many times myself. I get it. When you're expecting an intense Thriller and you don't get the thrills, or even necessarily the intensity, your disappointed, and potentially leave an average, or lower, rating because of it.

I really enjoyed this, but I went into it without any real expectations. I feel like this is an engaging Domestic/Family Drama, with an underlying Mystery subplot. The gem in this for me was getting to know Jia and following along with her tumultuous journey. The storm and being trapped in the house were great bonuses, as I love those elements in any story, but yeah, the real hero of this is Jia.

She's a woman who has made a very difficult choice and who has had fallout from that. She lost her home and her friends. She's had to uproot her life. She's second-guessing her choices, while getting judged by everyone around her. She's trying to do what is best for her son, and her own mental health, all while navigating the not always kind outside world. I think everyone can relate to this in one way or another.
When we meet Jia, with the storm moving in, she's almost at wits end. Being trapped in the house, with these particular people, pushes her even further to the edge.

I like complicated families and this story definitely delivers in that area. I loved the set-up of the storm creating a forced proximity situation and I do feel like Parekh did a great job of revealing all the underlining things going on. The murder mystery was interesting as well. There were quite a few people acting suspicious, so I did like being with Jia as she tried to figure it out. The more it progressed, the more unsettling it became, leading up to the wild conclusion.

For a debut, I think this was very well done. I think Parekh should be proud of their work and I will definitely be picking up whatever she writes next. Do I think this book deserves a higher-rating? Absolutely.

Thank you to the publisher, Dutton, for providing me with a copy to read and review. We love supporting new authors in this house, and I can't wait for more from this one!

My expectations and excitement for this book could not have been higher. An Indian-American family stuck in a home during an intense hurricane with a murderer? YES PLEASE.

The book was definitely an enjoyable read that I recommend, but I felt that a lot of the family drama/backstory overtook what was going on in the present. I was looking for the murder mystery/thriller that I was promised, but this book mostly veered and stayed in the complex family issues lane.

Overall I look forward to what Parekh delivers next!

I was hooked from the start of this novel! The twists and turns surrounding the family dynamic were so well written.

Thank you Netgalley for an Advanced Copy to read and review!

## The Night of the Storm: A Gripping Family Thriller with Room for Growth

Nishita Parekh's debut novel, *The Night of the Storm*, is a suspenseful thriller that throws a Houston family into chaos during a raging hurricane. Jia Shah, a recently divorced single mom, finds herself trapped in a luxurious mansion with her estranged in-laws as the storm intensifies. Tensions rise further when a mysterious death occurs, forcing Jia to become an amateur detective while fearing for her own son's safety.

The novel excels at creating a claustrophobic and suspenseful atmosphere. The hurricane's fury mirrors the churning emotions within the family, rife with long-held resentments and hidden secrets. The story unfolds at a fast pace, keeping the reader guessing about the killer's identity.

One of the book's strengths is its exploration of complex family dynamics. The characters, particularly the formidable grandmother, are well-drawn, each harboring their own baggage. However, some readers might wish for a deeper dive into their motivations.

While the plot is engaging, some might find the mystery elements a tad predictable. The focus on Jia's perspective limits the reader's understanding of the other characters.

Overall, *The Night of the Storm* is a thrilling and fast-paced read, perfect for fans of domestic suspense with a touch of Agatha Christie-style locked-room mystery. While it might not be a groundbreaking novel, it's a promising debut from Parekh, leaving readers eager to see what she comes up with next.

This was my first novel by this author and I can’t wait to pick up more. This was such a thrilling read. I didn’t want to put it down.

During a catastrophic hurricane, Hurricane Harvey, single mother Jia and her son Ishaan, spend The Night of the Storm with her wealthy sister Seema and her family at her mansion in Sugarland, Texas. They're joined by Seema's husband Vipul, toddler daughter Asha, and Vipul's brother and wife, to shelter in place. Unfortunately, secrets along with destructive winds, massive amounts of flood water, and an unexpected death, threaten to blow apart the family in this debut novel by Nishita Parekh.

At first, I thought the premise sounded good because these people are all trapped together, and you know that sisters Jia and Seema have some kind of rivalry brewing. After you meet Vipul and his younger brother Raj, you discover there's a rivalry there as well. Add a traditional Indian woman, the mother of Vipul and Raj, and you have a lot of familial tension that gets worse as the storm worsens. The writing, too, moves along, letting you know about the issues that Jia has with her ex-husband who seems to want custody of troubled tween son Ishaan.

One problem I had with the book is that it takes too long to get to the part where Jia is accused of murder. You're almost nearing the end of the book, so it's more of a rushed plot. I think the exposition and some of the red herrings take too long to explain and lay out. However, it's not a slow burn that rewards you in the end. It just feels too hurried.

While the ending wraps everything up, I felt like the villains of the story do not get much of a come-uppance. They're basically let off the hook, which was the most shocking thing about the book. Where are the murderer's just desserts? That was a real disappointment because it wasn't like they didn't deserve it, and it wasn't like they expertly deflected the charges or the evidence. It was solid and even admitted by the perpetrator to more than one person. The last chapter was pretty clever, but, please, punish the right people--they murdered someone!

Since this book focuses on an Indian family trapped together during a storm, I did like the focus on Indian culture and mores that infiltrate the book. That made the story more well-rounded and interesting. The characters definitely felt alive and fully formed. I appreciated hearing the story from that angle, and how some characters wanted to stay true to their culture while others wanted to branch out. It felt seamlessly done and made everyone sound distinct.

I realize this is a first effort, and the book is well-written and engaging, but the ending was not rewarding in the way it should be. Who gets away with murder like this? Anyway, this was a decent book but definitely not the best.

Oof, this was a rough read for me.

It felt very slow, and the MC acted very unrealistically/irrationally for the circumstances. Because of this and the constant complaining, I just didn't feel much for her, which really bogged down my enthusiasm to keep reading.

I really don't like giving low star ratings because I know how much time and dedication goes into writing a book. I also know that, while many debut novels are award-winning, there are also authors who release ok debuts and then spectacular books somewhere down the line. I hope this is the case for Miss Parekh.

The Night of the Storm has surprises around every corner. You may see them coming, but you have to admit this book is jam-packed with action.

This thriller was nothing like I was expecting. I enjoyed every page and binged it in just a day. It just felt like it was missing something. I wish there was more thriller before the flood happened during there dinner. That part just fell short.
All in all it was a good read.