Dinesh Arya is an entrepreneur and author, best known for his debut murder mystery, Echoes of Deception. An IIT Mumbai alumnus, he co-promotes an executive search firm specializing in C-suite talent acquisition. From humble beginnings in Dongri to a successful business career, Dinesh combines his corporate experience and passion for writing to craft thrilling stories centered on power and ambition.
The Literature Times: What inspired you to write Echoes of Deception and delve into the world of corporate ambition and murder?
Dinesh Arya: A combination of Enid Blyton in primary and Agatha Christie in later years till the 9th standard. Plus my English teacher Mrs D’souza (ANZA school Byculla) who encouraged me to write. Also some influence of Readers Digest which both my mom and dad read to us.
The Literature Times: How did your experiences in the corporate world influence the portrayal of characters and relationships in the novel?
Dinesh Arya: Well I thought of this story in the 9th standard based on poisoning by Cobra venom. My own experience in corporate world was very exhilarating and fairly apolitical. It was at the age of 55 that I got exposed to the world outside of me and my own experience. When I started out in CXO level on hiring for other corporate. This helped me in creating the ambience of this novel.
The Literature Times: Can you tell us more about Senior Inspector Pratap Rao Singh? What makes him stand out as a detective in your story?
Dinesh Arya: Well he has shades of me as a person in pursuit of truth. Also a dabbler in occult sciences which I learnt from my father. He was a hypnotist , a palmist and an astrologer. Pratap does use some of these in his investigation. He will use more of it in the next two novels.
The Literature Times: The novel weaves together themes of power, loyalty, and ambition. How do you think these themes resonate with today’s corporate world?
Dinesh Arya: Today’s world is of cutthroat competition, with reduced loyalty and high ambition.
The Literature Times: In your opinion, what role does deception play in the success and downfall of characters in the book?
Dinesh Arya: Deception is built into most of us. One face for the outside world and one the true face. Double standard is normal. Also sometimes we even deceive ourselves.
The Literature Times: As an author, how do you balance creating unpredictable twists with maintaining a coherent narrative in a murder mystery?
Dinesh Arya: Very difficult for a first timer like me. Here I did get help from my publisher. I will surely improve with every new novel.
The Literature Times: What was the most challenging part of writing Echoes of Deception and how did you overcome it?
Dinesh Arya: It was how the poison was administered. I would like the reader to discover it.
The Literature Times: This book is part of a trilogy. Can you give us a glimpse of what’s to come in the next books and how the story will evolve?
Dinesh Arya: There are 2 themes which will be common. Poison as a tool of murder and Inspector Pratap. Also there will be a change of location and use Astrology stand palmistry to unravel the murderer.
The Literature Times: You have a diverse background in business, astrology, and writing. How have these different aspects of your life influenced your writing style and storytelling?
Dinesh Arya: The reality is that storytelling was in my bucket list before I kick the bucket!