#Review: The Figure in the Fog by Manini Brar

The Figure in the Fog by Manini Brar is one of those rare legal thrillers that isn’t interested in racing from one courtroom twist to the next. Instead, it patiently builds a world where law, folklore, politics, tribal identity, and power intersect in uncomfortable ways. I went into the book expecting a conventional courtroom drama, but what I found was far more layered. The central premise—a young tribal boy confessing to the murder of a djinn—sounds fantastical, yet the novel uses that impossibility to ask a very real question: What is truth when justice itself is shaped by those who control the narrative?

What impressed me most was Malti Jakhar. She is sharp without being infallible, empathetic without becoming sentimental. Through her investigation, the novel gradually peels back the complexities of indigenous communities, language barriers, bureaucratic apathy, and the uneasy relationship between modern law and traditional belief systems. I also appreciated how the author resisted turning the tribal characters into stereotypes. Their customs and beliefs are presented with dignity, allowing readers to understand rather than dismiss them.

The title, The Figure in the Fog, feels especially apt by the end. The “figure” is not merely the mysterious djinn everyone talks about; it becomes a metaphor for truth itself—always visible enough to chase, yet never clear enough to grasp completely. The deeper Malti ventures into the case, the more every certainty dissolves into fog, reminding us that justice often depends less on facts than on who gets to tell the story.

That said, the novel does demand patience. The pacing in the middle slows considerably as legal procedures, cultural context, and investigative details take precedence over suspense. Readers looking for relentless action or frequent plot twists may occasionally find themselves wishing the narrative moved faster. At times, the exposition feels a little too detailed, momentarily interrupting the momentum.

Even with those minor reservations, I found The Figure in the Fog to be an intelligent and thought-provoking debut. It succeeds not just as a courtroom mystery but as a commentary on marginalised voices, institutional power, and the fragile nature of truth. It’s the kind of book that lingers after the final page—not because it answers every question, but because it leaves you wondering how much of what we call justice is still hidden in the fog.

Find the book here.