#Review: 101 Twisted Tales by Dinesh Singh

101 Twisted Tales
Author: Dinesh Singh
Publisher: Rupa Publications
Rating: 4/5

101 Twisted Tales is an entire anthology of souls with attitude. These micro-stories — some
barely longer than a paragraph — manage to do what many full-length novels struggle with: provoke, amuse, and occasionally leave you slightly uncomfortable (in the best way possible).

Each tale ends with a twist — not the thriller movie kind, but the oh, that’s disturbingly true about life kind. The writing feels like a mirror held at a mischievous angle: what you see depends entirely on your own reflections, biases, and bruises.

Singh’s greatest strength is his restraint. He doesn’t spoon-feed morals or wrap his ideas in fancy words. His language is clean, his tone razor-sharp, and his punchlines land with quiet precision. There’s no indulgence here — just the thrill of suggestion.

Take stories like “Confession”, which brings a dark chuckle in the midst of pandemic gloom, or “Reunion”, where sentimentality and irony dance in the same breath. And then “Big Bangs”, which leaves you staring at the page longer than expected, wondering if you missed something — until you realize you didn’t. It just hit differently.

Visually, the book complements its style — minimalistic line illustrations and crisp design choices echo the clean economy of words. It’s the kind of book you can read in one sitting but will probably return to when you want a quick, smart dose of perspective.

Sure, not every tale lands equally well — a few twists feel more “quirky” than “impactful.” But that’s forgivable, considering the sheer audacity of maintaining intrigue across a hundred micro-stories.

At its core, 101 Twisted Tales is a study in brevity, irony, and the human condition. It makes you laugh at life’s ridiculousness and then, slyly, makes you question your own.

Verdict:
Short, sharp, and satisfying — like espresso shots of insight. A clever companion for readers who enjoy wit served without garnish.

Find this book here.