Penguin Random House India is thrilled to announce the acquisition of acclaimed author and screenwriter Riva Razdan Kapoor’s upcoming novel Death of a Gentleman. This gripping psychological thriller, set against the backdrop of Mumbai’s contrasting cultures, is slated for release in May 2025 and it will release under Penguin’s Ebury Press imprint.
Riva Razdan Kapoor has garnered widespread recognition for her storytelling, with short stories featured in publications like Harper’s Bazaar, The Telegraph, The Hindu, and Grazia Magazine. She is currently a screenwriter for Dharma Productions and Balaji Telefilms. Riva’s debut film is an upcoming original romance for Dharmatic Entertainment and Netflix. Her latest novel, Death of a Gentleman, takes readers on an emotionally charged journey through the halls of power, ambition, and family legacies in contemporary Mumbai.
As a tragic death shocks the upper echelons of society, a murder investigation unfolds, throwing the spotlight on a rising star in the entrepreneurial world. The investigation reveals deep-rooted rivalries and unresolved tensions, laying bare the brutal lengths people will go to in their quest for success and social standing. Set in the dazzling yet fiercely competitive world of Mumbai’s elite, this book unravels the dark secrets hidden beneath the city’s glamorous façade. With its stylish storytelling, sharp wit, and chilling twists, this thriller will leave readers questioning the true cost of power and what it means to survive in a world that thrives on appearances.
Commenting on the upcoming book, Riva said, ‘I’m very pleased to partner with Penguin and my editor Deepthi Talwar in bringing my third novel—a murder mystery—to light. Death of a Gentleman, a book that flits between the hardy new money of start-up culture in North Bombay and the secure traditionalism of wealthy South Bombay, is a psychological thriller about fathers and sons. In a conventional society, fathers determine our identities; their surnames give us legitimacy, and their personalities shape us into heroes, wallflowers, or villains. But when that father dies, his impression doesn’t fade—this murder mystery is an exploration of the hold an absent father can have on a child, and how it can shape him into both a hero and a villain.’
Deepthi Talwar, Executive Editor, Ebury Press, Penguin Random House India, says ‘I’ve been a fan of Riva’s writing for a while, and I’m delighted to commission this smart, incisive thriller for our list.’
Milee Ashwarya, Publisher, Adult Publishing Division, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Thriller is a genre that we are deeply committed to, and I am delighted to publish Riva Razdan as a fresh new voice in this space. Death of a Gentleman is a murder mystery that explores the complexity of human relationships, and how it influences our actions. I welcome Riva to Penguin Random House India, and hope the book reaches many readers across the world.’