The book is the brainchild of an online bookstore Firstandsecond.com, who collaborated with American Software company Adobe Systems Inc.
Indian actress Tara Deshpande is attempting to raise her profile in cyberspace by launching India's first online novel.
The book is the brainchild of an online bookstore Firstandsecond.com, who collaborated with American Software company Adobe Systems Inc.
Backers of the online suspense thriller, called The Motive, say that it gives computer users the opportunity to make their own contributions to the story.
They say that this is the first time such a venture has been launched in India.
The first chapter of the free downloadable book is available at an internet address (www.themotive.net) - but readers are invited to write subsequent chapters themselves.
The selected entries will win prizes - including a trip to South Asia.
Global reach
Speaking to the BBC in Delhi, Tara Deshpande said the discretion to edit and choose the entries will lie with her and she will round it off with her own final chapter.
She said that she expected readers from all over the world to make contributions to the story.
Critics argue the whole scheme is little more than a publicity stunt which ultimately will not succeed.
They say that few people from abroad or in India will take part in the project, pointing out that only half a million out of India's population of over a billion have access to the internet.