The Devil’s Autopsy is a riveting read-one that we highly recommend to anyone who loves a good scare.
Vignesh Sivasankar
Horror in literature is often underexplored in India. While our mythology is teeming with ghosts, demons, and spirits, few authors have managed to harness these tales into something that grips the reader in spine-chilling fear. Names like Ruskin Bond, Neil D’Silva, and K. Harikumar have made their mark in Indian horror, but even they find it hard to compare to global horror giants like Stephen King or Dean Koontz. Yet, there’s an author who is quietly making waves and redefining the landscape of Indian horror literature: Vignesh Sivasankar.
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Vignesh’s latest release, The Devil’s Autopsy, is an exceptional masterpiece in the world of horror. The very title sends shivers down your spine, and the cover design-dark and eerie-immediately draws you into a world of supernatural suspense. There’s an adage: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But when it comes to horror, the more spine-tingling the cover, the better, and Vignesh’s team certainly nailed that aspect.
The blurb of The Devil’s Autopsy alone is enough to give anyone goosebumps: “The Devil is dead. It’s time for its autopsy. What happens when crime investigators spot a deluge of paranormal forces in their examinations? A normal autopsy isn’t sufficient. What they need is a different autopsy-the devil’s autopsy.” Sounds terrifying, doesn’t it? And we can assure you-the book does not disappoint.
The Devil’s Autopsy consists of five novellas, each set in different parts of India, and inspired by real-life crimes. The twist? Each crime spirals into the paranormal, leaving readers questioning what’s real and what’s not. The concept reminded us a bit of the Bollywood film Talaash, starring Aamir Khan, where the lines between the natural and supernatural blur in the most unexpected ways. But unlike films, where the visual experience often takes precedence, Vignesh’s real talent lies in the way he uses words to evoke visceral emotions.
One standout feature of the book is how the author uses true stories as the backbone of his narratives, only to twist them with fictional supernatural elements. This blend of reality and fantasy, of the ordinary meeting the extraordinary, is what keeps the pages turning, as readers are eager to discover the horrific truth behind each story. Vignesh’s storytelling deserves applause for its lucidity and the way it builds suspense. His narrative is dark, his characters believable, and the chills? Utterly genuine.
We had the chance to speak to Vignesh Sivasankar about his work, and he offered a fascinating insight into his creative process. He explained, “I’ve always been fascinated by fear-how it controls us, how it motivates us. My stories explore that basic human emotion. The thrill that my readers feel is a way for them to mentally prepare to fight evil, whether it’s supernatural or human.”
Vignesh is based in Chennai, where he juggles his day job as a marketing professional with his writing career. His experience in marketing seems to inform his work as well; he knows just how to capture a reader’s attention and hold it until the final word. And by the sound of it, much of his writing happens late at night, when the rest of the world is asleep-perhaps the perfect time to conjure up his eerie tales.
This isn’t Vignesh’s first foray into horror. His previous work, The Ten Commandments of Evil, was shortlisted for the prestigious Sahitya Akademi’s Yuva Puraskar Awards in 2022, cementing his status as one of India’s most exciting new voices in the horror genre.
The Devil’s Autopsy is a riveting read-one that we highly recommend to anyone who loves a good scare. Published by Readomania, the book is available in major bookstores across India. For those who can’t wait, it’s also available on Amazon!
Prepare to be terrified. One story at a time.
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