The first time I ever came across the word crepuscular was in a vocabulary list way back in school in the days when school children had to know such grand words. This was the first time ever that I’ve come across this word in a book and that too in a book about thoroughly modern times  written by a thoroughly modern author. This was just one of the delightful discoveries of this book – the others being that this book was a wonderful read from start to finish.

Looking at the cover of the book which consists of a man coming in the range of a gun sight, it comes as a bit of a surprise to find that the hero of the book is really Mehrunisa Khosa a young art historian, “five foot nine, with straight black hair, grey green eyes and a marmoreal complexion” working as a consultant with the Archeological Survey of India. What started out as an ordinary day in her life becomes stranger by the minute as Raghav, Mehrunisa’s friend based in Kashmir invites her to visit Srinagar to confirm if a newly excavated pond was really a pond from the Mughal era.

Sensing this to be a flimsy excuse to pull her out of Delhi, Mehrunisa is hesitant but when she is told that there is a plane waiting for her, there is just no way she can refuse. Her hunch proves to be correct and she finds herself in a situation which she just cannot refuse for what is at stake is the security of the nation . Mehrunisa must find and discover the secret of the Kohinoor.  Within hours, Delhi becomes a distant dream as Raghav and Mehrunisa find themselves in Pakistan and unbeknown to her, the start of an unimaginable adventure that takes her from Kashmir to Bora Bora.

Set against the backdrop of the Taliban and the Afghan war, Manreet Sodhi Someshwar spins a great yarn in a page turner that is believable with its eye to detail and meticulous research. Babur Khan, RP Singh, Jag Mishra and Harry  the Snow Leopard  are just some of the characters we meet in her quest for the Kohinoor.

“The Hunt for Kohinoor” actually is a story that lasts barely 96 hours but one which traverses many cultures and many eras, taking us from elegant drawing rooms, to  harsh mountainous terrain,government offices, historic forts and everyday regular Sufi mosques.

Mehrunisa is no ordinary girl, she is modern and yet a traditionalist with a passion for things both simple and sophisticated and of course she is the heroine of this story. So does Mehrunissa succeed in her mission impossible? What is the security risk?  Read this unputdownable novel to find out.

As for me, I’m waiting for Mehrunisa’s next adventure!

Verdict : Perfect for a train journey, or a poolside read.