A Literary and Psycological Study of Saurabh Mukherjee’s “The Highway Murders”

EKTA SHARMA

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i04.50015

A Literary and Psycological Study of Saurabh Mukherjee’s “The Highway Murders”

Author(s)	Ms. EKTA SHARMA
Country	India
Abstract	Saurabh Mukherjee's "The Highway Murders" deftly transcends the boundaries of traditional crime thrillers, masterfully intertwining psychological realism, incisive social commentary, and groundbreaking genre elements. This paper examines the complex psychological profiles of the characters, particularly the killer, and the symbolic importance of the highway as a liminal space. It also critiques institutional failures, such as those found within the police and media, while situating the novel within the broader context of Indian English literature. Using a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates trauma studies, postmodern narrative theory, and criminological psychology, this study asserts that "The Highway Murders" is not merely a genre novel but a significant literary work that reflects contemporary Indian realities. The work stands out in the Indian thriller genre for its psychological depth and social realism. This paper explores the narrative structure, thematic richness, and character development, demonstrating how Mukherjee redefines genre fiction in the Indian context. Through a close reading, the study investigates how Mukherjee portrays societal trauma, institutional failure, and the complexities of justice through the motif of a serial killer on Indian highways.
Keywords	Indian Thriller Fiction, Psychological Trauma, Highway Symbolism, Serial Killers in Literature, Postmodern Crime Narrative, Contemporary Indian Fiction
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 4, July-August 2025
Published On	2025-07-03
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i04.50015
Short DOI	https://doi.org/g9r7n7

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A Literary and Psycological Study of Saurabh Mukherjee’s “The Highway Murders”

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