Age of Vice

A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)

By: Deepti Kapoor

Narrated by: Vidish Athavale

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK

Named a Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly, Oprah Daily and NPR!

“Dazzling...Finally free from the book’s grip, now all I want to do is get others hooked.”— The Washington Post

“A page-turning social novel…It stirs the pulse while digging into the entrenched and evolving structures and contradictions of modern India.” —NPR

“Cinematic…As a storyteller, Kapoor is a natural.”—The New York Times

New Delhi, 3 a.m. A speeding Mercedes jumps the curb and in the blink of an eye, five people are dead. It’s a rich man’s car, but when the dust settles there is no rich man at all, just a shell-shocked servant who cannot explain the strange series of events that led to this crime. Nor can he foresee the dark drama that is about to unfold.

Deftly shifting through time and perspective in contemporary India, Age of Vice is an epic, action-packed story propelled by the seductive wealth, startling corruption, and bloodthirsty violence of the Wadia family -- loved by some, loathed by others, feared by all.

In the shadow of lavish estates, extravagant parties, predatory business deals and calculated political influence, three lives become dangerously intertwined: Ajay is the watchful servant, born into poverty, who rises through the family’s ranks. Sunny is the playboy heir who dreams of outshining his father, whatever the cost. And Neda is the curious journalist caught between morality and desire. Against a sweeping plot fueled by loss, pleasure, greed, yearning, violence and revenge, will these characters’ connections become a path to escape, or a trigger of further destruction?

Equal parts crime thriller and family saga, transporting readers from the dusty villages of Uttar Pradesh to the urban energy of New Delhi, Age of Vice is an intoxicating novel of gangsters and lovers, false friendships, forbidden romance, and the consequences of corruption. It is binge-worthy entertainment at its literary best.

Could’ve been a 5-er :(

Started off SO good I was convinced I’d found a new favorite but then 1) it moved its attention away from its most interesting character, ajay (sp?), and his motivations 2) seemed to severely lack editing toward the latter half or so, as it included way more dull, unnecessary detail than needed. I literally took a nap with an hour left in this audiobook, woke up to it still playing and realized I’d missed nothing. I’d rather a book be boring from the get go than do this to me, ugh

Expressive, visceral, and effortlessly intellectual

Oh my gosh, I devoured this title. I heard about it on Dan Harris’s Ten Percent Happier podcast and by chance downloaded it for my next listen. The story is SO engrossing that I could barely think about anything else until I had finished it. The detail is just immense, I felt like I was there. I love the beautiful exposure of human relationships in the midst of impeccable storytelling, for which the author commands so much admiration. The narrator is just incredible, too. I just learned this is part of a planned trilogy, and I’m salivating for the next.

Sadly, loses focus and drifts into mediocrity

Great story, very evocative for the first 3/5ths. Last part turgid and boring. Lost interest in characters.

Fast paced, Indian mafia crime thriller

I loved this book and really enjoyed the narrator. Skillfully written with a unique plot and characters. I can’t wait for the sequel and the FX series. This book is going to be amazing on screen!

Captivating!

Excellent storyline and very captivating. I found myself wanting to listen straight through. Story is filled with some surprising twist.