Murari’s Orwellian Thriller (?): Book Review of T.N. Murari’s “Chicanery”
A narrative that leaves you breathless and questioning the very nature of control
Chicanery
Noun
Origin:
Early 17th century: from French chicanerie, from chicaner meaning ‘to quibble’ (from Old French chican ‘petty dispute’).
Meanings:
The use of deception, subterfuge, or trickery to achieve a particular purpose, especially in legal, financial, or political contexts. (Oxford English Dictionary)
Chicanery is a thrilling plunge into a dystopian world where power, deception, and survival intertwine in a narrative that leaves you breathless and questioning the very nature of control. Timeri N. Murari, best known for The Taliban Cricket Club, brings his sharp storytelling prowess into a dark, speculative future, exploring the fragility of truth and the complex machinery of authoritarianism.
The story follows David Richelieu, a former Prime Minister who returns to his homeland after two decades of exile, knowing full well that an execution order awaits him. It’s a baffling choice — why would anyone walk straight into such danger? From the moment Richelieu is arrested and confronted by the Minister of Culture and his enigmatic assistant, the suspense mounts. The Minister is determined to uncover Richelieu’s true motives, while the assistant, a quiet yet dangerous figure, might just be the puppet master pulling the strings. This tense dynamic between Richelieu, the Minister, and the President plays out like a high-stakes chess match, filled with sharp dialogues and hidden agendas. What’s Richelieu really after? Is it love, or is he planning something much more dangerous? The novel keeps you guessing with its intricate character work, offering a complex, flawed protagonist who is as much an enigma as the regime he’s up against. And the Minister? He’s a paradox, embodying the system’s worst qualities while evoking a strange sympathy from the reader.
Murari’s writing is razor-sharp, each sentence carrying weight, with every scene revealing another layer of the puzzle. The world he crafts — a walled-in country where life is stifled, and freedom is a distant memory — feels all too plausible. Inspired by his impressions of North Korea, South America, and Europe, the setting in Chicanery is a chilling Orwellian state, where surveillance is constant, and dissent is crushed with precision. Murari’s portrayal of technology — AI systems, cameras, and data manipulation — isn’t just a futuristic cautionary tale; it’s a reflection of the pervasive control that technology can have in our own world. There’s no escape, not even in your thoughts. This creates an oppressive atmosphere where the emotional and psychological toll on the characters is palpable. What’s most remarkable is that Murari doesn’t preach; he simply lets the characters’ experiences speak for themselves, leading the reader to draw their own conclusions about the world we live in.
A key aspect of Chicanery is how it handles the treatment of women. Women aren’t just passive figures in this narrative — they are pivotal players in the intricate game of power. Through characters like Lady, Sasale, and Marge, Murari explores the intersection of resistance and subjugation. These women are survivors of the regime’s brutality, yet they wield their intellect and beauty as tools for survival and power. They challenge the very notion of victimhood, turning their oppression into a form of strength. The hidden memory sticks in the yellow blouse, microchip inside the earrings, and female hackers from India who breakdown the regime’s firewalls all serve as symbols of women’s immense ability of clean deception and how powerful it can be in face of systemic oppression. Murari’s world is one where even the smallest objects can hold explosive potential. Technology, which is used to control the masses, is also used by the oppressed to fight back — subtly and ingeniously.
Murari’s exploration of technology is chillingly realistic. It doesn’t feel like distant sci-fi; it feels like a threat we’re already living with. The ways in which surveillance, social media manipulation, and data control are used to oppress the population resonate deeply in today’s world. Yet, within this technological dystopia, there are sparks of defiance. Murari’s characters find ways to subvert the system — whether through coded language, networks of information hidden in plain sight, hacking and stealing money and data or acts of rebellion that evade the all-seeing eyes of the regime. These moments of resistance offer hope, even in a world where it feels like nothing can escape the watchful gaze of the state.
What elevates Chicanery beyond a typical political thriller is its focus on how power infiltrates every aspect of life. It’s not just about political machinations at the top — it’s about how these power structures shape relationships, identities, and even the very concept of freedom. Murari’s narrative digs deep into the personal, showing how authoritarian regimes bleed into the intimate corners of everyday life, leaving no room for privacy or self-determination.
By the end of the book, you’re left reflecting on the questions it raises about loyalty, truth, and power. If you’ve read Murari’s previous works, like The Taliban Cricket Club or Taj: A Story of Mughal India, you’ll recognize familiar themes — politics, human complexity, and the struggle for power. But Chicanery takes those themes into a new realm, exploring a speculative future that feels eerily close to home. It’s a bold shift, and it works. This novel is a searing commentary on our contemporary world, illustrating how technology and power are intertwined in ways we often don’t recognize. Chicanery isn’t just a novel — it’s a warning, one that should not be ignored.
This review is written by in exchange for a review copy from Niyogi Books, India.
