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Vish Dhamija

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Vish Dhamija
Vish Dhamija
Vish Dhamija
Born30 July
Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
OccupationDigital Marketer; Crime Fiction Writer
LanguageEnglish
EducationMBA
Alma materAlliance Manchester Business School
GenreCrime Fiction; Legal Thrillers; Psychological Thrillers
Years active2010 to present
Notable worksRita Ferreira Series
Website
vishdhamija.com

Vish Dhamija is an International award-winning, British Indian, crime-fiction writer. He is the first writer of Indian origin to win the prestigious Gran Prix for International Crime Novel at Festival Polar de Cognac for his novel, Le Magnat in 2024. The French Press celebrated him as one the five crime writers not to be missed.

According to the Indian Press he is India's Best Page-Turner[1] and one of the ten most popular Indian thriller authors.[2][3] He is the only writer of Indian origin listed among the major legal thriller authors of the world. He is also known for his psychological thrillers.[4]

In August 2015, at the release of his first legal fiction (his third novel) Déjà Karma, Glimpse Magazine called him India's John Grisham [5][6] for stimulating the genre of legal fiction in India which was almost non-existent before his arrival on the scene.[7] In a survey by eBooks India website, Vish Dhamija was listed along the top 51 Indian authors you must follow.[8] The Asian Age and The Times of India have cited him as the only legal fiction writer in India.[9][10]

Dhamija's stories have been published in India (Pan Macmillan, Harper Collins, Srishti Publishers), in the United States (Blackstone, Tantor Media) and in France (Mera Éditions).

In March 2024, Amazon India announced that Bhumi Pedenkar would play Vish Dhamija's fictional DCP Rita Ferreira, based on his bestselling book, Bhendi Bazaar.[11]

Early life

[edit]

Dhamija grew up in Ajmer, Rajasthan, where he spent the first twenty years of his life. He attended St. Anselm's School, a convent school in Ajmer. He earned his B.Com. from Government College, Ajmer. Dhamija dropped out of law school after his first year, and then attended Jodhpur University for a degree in management. After a few years of working in the corporate world in India, he left for Manchester Business School in the UK for an MBA in Marketing and Strategy.

In school, Dhamija was very active in literary and stage activities. He was the President of the school's Literary Society.

Writing career

[edit]

Dhamija's first book, Nothing Lasts Forever, a crime thriller was published in 2010 by Srishti Publishers; it was long-listed for "Vodafone-Crossword Book Award 2011.".[12]

Bhendi Bazaar and tells the story of a serial killer and the police officer[13] who attempts to identify the pattern behind the killer's murders before she becomes the next victim. The book spent over a year in India's Top 100 list for 'Crime, Thriller, and Mystery', and has been noted for its ingenious plot and rich characters.[14][15][16]

Dhamija has said in interviews that crime fiction, which is mainly what he reads, is the only genre in which he can imagine himself writing for the time being.[17]

In August 2015, Déjà Karma (Dhamija's third book and first legal and psychological thriller) became a bestseller and was featured on both The Financial Express[18] and Crossword Bookstores[19] lists for two consecutive weeks.

His next book, Doosra – The Other One* was released in Feb 2016, and Business Standard featured it in March, calling it a "…must read.".[20] Dhamija's fifth book - Nothing Else Matters was launched at the Kumaon Literary Festival in October. In November it reached number 6 on WH Smith charts on both, domestic and international airports in New Delhi. Bloggers rated it as one of the top 10 books by Indian authors in 2016 [21] and top 10 romance novels of 2016 by Iindian authors.[22] HarperCollins India released Dhamija's sixth book, Unlawful Justice[23] in June 2017,[3] which The Times of India called: "a gripping legal thriller[24]". Unlawful Justice was recognized by Amazon India as one of the Memorable Books of 2017, and The Asian Age included it in its annual listing of the Best Books of 2017.[25]

Dhamija's seventh book (his third legal fiction), The Mogul was released in July 2018 by HarperCollins. "Gripping", said The Times of India.[26] The Indian Express, in its review, called out that "Dhamija has set the sky as the limit, figuratively and literally."[27] The Telegraph praised, The Heist Artist (Dhamija's eighth book, a crime caper) saying: “It’s difficult to find a single dull moment in this book...”.[28] The Heist Artist was the only Indian author/publication to be included in The Times of India list of "Crime fiction and thrillers you should read in 2019"[29] and is listed as one of the eight crime fiction novels that other crime writers must read.[30]

In June 2019, Abundantia Entertainment[31] announced that it had acquired the rights to Dhamija's much sought-after "Rita Ferreira" series (Bhendi Bazaar, Doosra & Lipstick) to adapt the books into a multi-season, premium original digital series.[32]

Dhamija's second psychological thriller, Prisoner's Dilemma, was published by Pan Macmillan in April 2021.[33] It had a slow start due to COVID-19, but it has been on the WH Smith charts (at airport) even a year after launch.

Cold Justice, Dhamija's fourth legal thriller, released on July 4, 2022, and The Times of India called it: "A gripping, heart-stopping novel… a must-read recommendation for thriller lovers."[34]

Déjà Karma was republished by Pan Macmillan India in 2023. It was called, "The Most Riveting Courtroom Drama of The Year" by Deccan Chronicle.

Le Magnat was published in French by Mera Editions in April 2024.

The Secret Diary of a Conman, Dhamija's twelfth book, published by Pan Macmillan India, was launched in July 2024. Written in epistolary form, it was one of the first books that featured a playlist that worked in tandem with the story (every chapter has a corresponding track). By August, the book was a bestseller in Amazon Crime and at W H Smith and Relay bookstores.

Personal life

[edit]

Dhamija worked in marketing and retailing for almost two decades for global brands like Ford, Kodak and United Colors of Benetton. He is now a public speaker, and runs a nursery school. He is married to Nidhi Singh, the great-granddaughter of Raja Mahendra Pratap. Vish spends his time between UK and India.

Bibliography

[edit]
Books
Stand Alone Works Nothing Lasts Forever
Nothing Else Matters
The Heist Artist
Prisoner's Dilemma
The Secret Diary of a Conman
DCP Rita Ferriera Series Bhendi Bazaar
Doosra
Lipstick
Legal Thrillers Déjà Karma
Unlawful Justice
The Mogul
Cold Justice
Le Magnat (French)

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kolkata, Times LitFest (2018-11-23). "This terrific writer can surely give his readers an adrenaline rush. Satiate your appetite for thrill with #VishDhamija as he drags you into his gripping session at #TimesLitFestKolkata To know more: http://toi.in/timeslitfestkolkata … @vishdhamija #Kolkata #BookLovers #TollygungeClubpic.twitter.com/SPTdlZbuZf". @timeslitfestkol. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  2. ^ "10 Most Popular Indian Thriller Authors - MyBookPick.com". mybookpick.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Nuanced noir: As Indian readers devour crime fiction, desi writers are producing great stories - Firstpost". Firstpost. 2016-12-25. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  4. ^ Varma, Nikhil (2015-09-22). "A psychological thriller". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  5. ^ "Rumour Books India's Photos - Rumour Books India | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  6. ^ "The Indian Express". The New Indian Express. 2019-11-24. Retrieved 2017-01-06.
  7. ^ "Book Review: Deja Karma". The Tales Pensieve. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
  8. ^ The Indian Express, The Indian Express (24 November 2019). "Dhamija is regarded as 'top 51 Indian authors to follow' by ebooks India". The Indian Express.
  9. ^ "Twists in the courtroom tale". The Asian Age. 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  10. ^ "Micro review: 'Cold Justice' by Vish Dhamija - Times of India". The Times of India.
  11. ^ IANS (2024-03-20). "Bhumi to play Vish Dhamija's fictional DCP Rita Ferreira tracking a serial killer". www.dtnext.in. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  12. ^ "Asia Writes". asiawrites.org. Archived from the original on 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2014-05-03.
  13. ^ "Who's Lurking to Kill Behind the Bazaar?". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015.
  14. ^ "Crime on your shelves". dna. 2015-02-14.
  15. ^ "Review of Bhendi Bazaar". 2015-06-09.
  16. ^ "Bhendi Bazaar By Vish Dhamija – Book Review - The Author's Blog". The Author's Blog. 8 May 2015.
  17. ^ "Vish Dhamija Interview - Bhendi Bazaar Book -". WriterStory. 2015-06-16.
  18. ^ "Top 10 Fiction, Non-Fiction books". Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  19. ^ "Timeline Photos - Crossword Bookstores Ltd. | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  20. ^ "Excitement of a crime thriller, chasing dreams and Ayurvedic diets (IANS Books This Weekend)". Business Standard India. 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  21. ^ "10 Best books of 2016 by Indian authors". Books N Elegance. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  22. ^ Alfred, Maya (2016-12-20). "10 Novels By Indian Authors, Published In 2016, Are Perfect For The Romantic At Heart". Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  23. ^ "HarperCollinsPublishers India | Vish Dhamija". harpercollins.co.in. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  24. ^ "Micro review: 'Unlawful Justice' is a gripping legal thriller - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2017-07-31.
  25. ^ "Bibliomania, Biblioboom: Best Books of 2017". asianage.com/. 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  26. ^ "Vish Dhamija is back with another gripping thriller - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  27. ^ Wasserman, Nina (January 1988). "Having an IMPACT, Figuratively and Literally!". Kappa Delta Pi Record. 24 (2): 54–55. doi:10.1080/00228958.1988.10517836. ISSN 0022-8958.
  28. ^ "t2 RECOMMENDS TWO READS -- A COLLECTION OF SLICE-OF-LIFE STORIES AND ONE FOR THE THRILLER JUNKIE t2 RECOMMENDS TWO READS -- A COLLECTION OF SLICE-OF-LIFE STORIES AND ONE FOR THE THRILLER JUNKIE". epaper.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  29. ^ "Crime fiction and thrillers you should read in 2019". The Times of India. 2019-07-04. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  30. ^ "8 Indian Crime Fiction Novels To Inspire Crime Writers". BOUND. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
  31. ^ "Abundantia Entertainment Film Production Houses Mumbai - Official Site". www.abundantiaentertainment.com. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  32. ^ "Abundantia to produce a multi-season show based on the popular 'The Rita Ferreira Series'". Mumbai Live. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  33. ^ "Vish Dhamija reveals new book cover - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
  34. ^ "Micro review: 'Cold Justice' by Vish Dhamija - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-07-04.


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