As COVID-19 brings the world to its knees, one woman’s obsession threatens to upend a relationship in Lockdown Alpha, a thrilling new novel by Karl Shergill. When a blossoming romance is suddenly locked down alongside the rest of society, a would-be lover’s all-consuming infatuation spirals into stalking. Isolated and impervious to rejection, she ensnares her desired partner in a web of escalating manipulation and control. Interlaced with scenes of the pandemic remaking familiar landscapes into ghost towns, this psychological page-turner explores the terror of individuals trying to connect in a fractured world. Skirting the line between insidious and insane, the stalker’s disturbing yet magnetic presence permeates the story as both a fitting avatar for these unmoored times and an unsettling embodiment of them. Lockdown Alpha fuses interpersonal horror with societal collapse, while asking pressing questions about what happens when our handles on reality start to fray.
A doctor and writer who traversed continents long before a pandemic brought our worlds to a standstill, Padmashree Mukand taps into both the scientific and creative spirit. Born in India, Dr. Karl Shergill carved an inspiring career across medicine and literature. After earning his MBBS and becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, he lent his talents to the NHS—all while cultivating parallel passions for poetry and prose. The author of over 10 books and plays that have garnered acclaim in Punjabi and English, his writing often explores the immigrant experience and what it means to heal others as well as ourselves. From early-career accolades like the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to researching GI disorders to recently translating his own novel into a second tongue, Dr. Karl Shergill’s works reflect the vision of a citizen at home in the world. His observations lend insight and empathy equally into the consulting room and the human condition.
Previous works:
Pandhravan Lal Cross (Fifteenth Crossover), short story collection in Punjabi, 1990
Hun Main Ajnabi Nahin (I Am Stranger No More), poetry collection in Punjabi, 2019
Kaun Suturdhar (Who Is The Creator), poetry collection in Punjabi, 2021
Lockdown Alpha, novel in Punjabi, 2022
Lockdown Alpha, novel translated into English, 2023
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Well done Karl. I have just finished reading Lockdown Alpha. What a thrilling read, couldn't put it down. So many twists and turns. The ending didn't disappoint, with Theo & Anamika. Infact there is room for a follow on novel. Maybe called "Lockdown Alpha II". Everyone needs to read it, hope it's a best seller
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