The Belvoirbrooke Haunting-Abhirup Dhar

Book: The Belvoirbrooke Haunting
Author: Abhirup Dhar
Publisher: Redgrab Books

What is the scariest horror story you have heard?

The Belvoirbrooke Haunting by Abhirup Dhar is set in the tea gardens of Darjeeling in the year 1990 when a newly married couple Nihith and Jemisha come to live in the Belvoirbrooke Tea Estate, which was founded in 1865. After a few days of calm, somethings start happening that hint towards the presence of a paranormal entity in that place and drives Jemisha on the brink of insanity, or just bow down to the rules that govern the local legend. To soothe the nerves of his wife, Nihith hires Chitin Barman, a paranormal investigator and a clairvoyant psychic. Is the mystery of the haunting solved, or do they fall prey to an urban legend?

Horror is a genre that walks on thin ice. With subtle spine-chilling horror scenes and the continuous ominous mood, this story is a perfect horror story, one that scares you, but not beyond a point that it seems ridiculous. The plot is executed in a perfect arc that takes the reader through multiple levels of horror and the author has taken time to establish the horror in the story. The commendable thing about this book is the fact that while the book is quite short, almost a single sitting read, but there is no detail that Abhirup has skipped. There is explanation, paranormal investigation, horror, romance and a certain mystery that makes it an amazing read. The climax of the book was truly unexpected, and the last scene will tingle your spine, and not just because of the horror element. The one thing that could be improved in the book is the division of scenes with some markers.

Coming to the characters, I’ll take this opportunity to feature our beloved paranormal being and his scariness was truly hair raising. A being created with alacrity and one that does not overact, I loved the part he plays in this book. Chitin Barman is another quirky character that adds a certain charm to the book. The show, however, is stolen by Nihith and the manner in which his character develops through the book.

The book is a perfect Halloween read that scores a 4.5/5 for me.

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Murder Before Carnival-Sameer Kumar

Book: Murder Before Carnival: A Tale of the Floating Body 
Author: Sameer Kumar
Publisher: Flipping Pages

Which is your favorite murder mystery?

Murder Before Carnival by Sameer Kumar is the story of what happens when a dead body is found inside the idol of the Goddess on the last day of Durga Puja at the Red Road Carnival when it is being immersed. As the election dates are close, this becomes an important issue and the top echelons of the state machinery get involved. With the Chief Minister vowing to find the people responsible and bringing them to book within 48 hours. How does the power, politics and people’s emotions impact the investigation forms the story.

There are few murder mysteries that are able to execute the level of detail in a manner which can keep the reader hooked. Murder Before Carnival does that with relative ease. The plot is well planned and being the first book of a series, the amount of information presented is just enough to pique the reader’s interest for upcoming books. There are references to current scenarios as well as some interesting political powerplays that make the story seem authentic. Sameer has taken up the unique murder and the book has been well researched in terms of forensic science and investigation methods. The one thing that can be improved in the book is the editing and the grammar as I found that there were quite a few errors and that actually takes away the fun of such an amazing book. The climax of this book is quite intriguing, and I would love to see the next part come out real soon.

Coming to the characters, I loved the character of Aahana and the many shades of her that we see in the book. While she seems not to be the primary character of the book, the climax of the book suggests otherwise, and I am sure we’ll get to see more of her in the future books of MBC. Another set of characters that I loved were Pradeep, Sudipto and Parimal as they put some very interesting scenes out through the book. The professional rivalries between them was the spice that added fun to this book. I am hoping to see more of John Mark as he did seem to be an interesting piece of work.

Overall a good murder mystery that scores a 3.88/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book here.

Yama-Kevin Missal

Book: Yama
Author: Kevin Missal
Publisher: Simon and Schuster India

Would you be comfortable if someone else decided your fate?

Yama by Kevin Missal is the tale of a vigilante called Yama who is killing people across the country who are outed on social media for being corrupt and guilty. Things take a turn when Dhruvi Rajput, a psychotherapist gets a call from him. Already lost 2 people in her life, this call threatens to change her life forever. When the CBI gets this case to investigate, Basheer Ali, a Senior Inspector is assigned this case for his track record, but with his history of watching the rich and the powerful walk free, he finds himself on a crossroad. As the story moves across the country with Dhruvi and Basheer looking for the God of Death, would they choose the right thing, or the one that is moral?

The plot of the story is crafted with a lot of detail, and as it progresses, one cannot help but sympthasise with the vigilante as things unfold. The pace of the book is good and there are no moments where the story drops or seems boring. The central premise of the book seems eerily relevant in the times we live in and the way it is presented, one might actually stop and take a break to let the story sink in. As is with Kevin’s other books, the book is well researched and the mythological references in the story are interesting, though this one is a bit light in the mythological aspect. As a vigilante book, this is well told, however I seem to have come across a similar plot some years earlier as well, but the two are different on many aspects as well. An unputdownable book, each chapter is so engaging that a reader will definitely move on to the next one immediately. Filled with contemporary references, the plot is well sketched and well executed. I would have loved to read a bit more about Rahul Rajput and Pia and their backstories which would have given a bit more credence to the story.

The characters are the backbone of this story as it hinges on their moral compass and their beliefs. Dhruvi Rajput as a character is quite interesting and the manner in which she reacts to various situations was quite interesting and there are times when you actually question her role in the story. The character of Basheer Ali is an enigma and his arc throughout the story was the one that propels the story forward. Onto our protagonist, who I felt was the star of the book. With an admirable sense of style in the manner in which he dresses, I became a fan from the first page itself. The manner in which the identity is revealed is something that will surely surprise any reader.

Overall, an interesting book that takes up multiple topics, yet binds them together seamlessly. The book scores a 3.88/5 for me.

P.S. The cover makes sense when you reach the climax.

Get your copy here.

Once Upon a Spy-Suvash Dev

Book: Once Upon a Spy
Author: Suvash Dev
Publisher: Kalamos Literary Services

Which is the best fictional spy you have come across?

Once Upon a Spy by Suvash Dev is the story of Vishwamitra Saini, an Indian spy who falls in love with a girl and which leads to him blowing his cover. As a result, he is put on the shelf and is then he decides that the line has been crossed and he defects to Pakistan, putting the secrets in jeopardy. As the agencies start looking for Saini, they stumble upon a mysterious person, The Rook, who wants to trade information from the other side, but has not yet shown all his cards. As Saini navigates through a web of politics, betrayal, love and spy craft, we journey through a story about people who, in the business of pretending, have left their true selves behind.

The plot of the book starts on an excellent note with some very interesting scenes that would engage the reader into the premise of the book and the story of Saini. As the story moves ahead, things start getting a bit hazy as the lines between truth and lies get blurred. While this is a good thing in a book on spies that focuses on people double crossing, too much of this tends to make things confusing for the reader, which is what happens. The manner in which the story has been told is quite interesting and Suvash as a storyteller can go places with the eye for detail that he has. The premise of the story is well crafted, but I felt that the execution could have been a bit better. The climax of the story started on an amazing note, but did not do justice to the level I expected from it.

Coming to the characters, the story has some of the best characters that can be present in a story about spooks. With tragic backstories and nefarious pasts, each one has their own agenda and throughout the book, the reader is kept guessing the identity of the Rook. Personally, Vishwamitra was one of the favorites because of the manner in which his arc develops and the manner in which he twists and turns the story to his advantage. Hayat was another character that caught my fancy in the way he carried himself, and how his mannerisms changed.

Overall, a good spy novel that scores a 3.50/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here. 

Twilight in a Knotted World-Siddhartha Sarma

Book: Twilight in a Knotted World
Author: Siddhartha Sarma
Publisher: Simon and Schuster India

What is the most interesting account of the thugs during the British period have you come across?

Twilight in a Knotted World by Siddhartha Sarma is set in the years when the British East India Company had just come to India and was just making its mark in the subcontinent. Captain William Sleeman was posted in Jabalpur and was looking for the long-buried remains of a long-dead giant, along with his wife Amelie, when he is given an additional task of investigating a class of criminals who strangle their victims called as Phasigars. Together with Lieutenant Reynolds, he embarks on a discovery that surprises him with a completely different set of beliefs, language and a very unique style of criminals. As they move further, they realise the key to their answers is a legend among the Phasigars. This is a story that presents a completely new dimension of a country to our protagonists, as it intertwines caste, religion and the basic will to survive.

The plot of the book is extremely interesting in the manner it is constructed. The author took up the main plotline of the idea of the problem of the Phasigars to talk about our society as a whole. Through the eyes of the characters, we journey through a transitional time in the Indian Modern History. While the plot is fictional, the contexts seem oddly real with the social commentary on the practice of Sati, the Indian Caste system and the idea of creating a penal code for the country. The book opens with an interesting scene that sets the context of the entire book in a very wonderful manner, and specially the callback to the first chapter of the book in the later parts is quite interesting. Siddhartha’s storytelling is not pacy, rather it lets the reader soak in the events that have passed, making sure that one does not miss out on the nitty gritties of the book. I loved the manner in which the central plot of the book unfolded slowly, after setting up the scenes around it. Personally, I loved the part of the book where the salt traders are stopped at the check post and the manner in which things unfold post that. Another aspect of the book that I liked was that of Captain Sleeman’s summary of the events in the climax and how that ties up the entire plot. The story has infact now motivated me to go and read up a bit more about the Thugs of India and the legends that surround them.

Coming to the characters, I admired the manner in which the characters have been sketched through the course of the story and how each scene is important to each character that lives through it. Captain Sleeman is an interesting character study as we see him graduate from looking for bones of animals to searching for the victims of the Phasigars. His eye for detail, and following the letter of the law, and yet choose the right thing on a crossroad is extremely commendable. Another character that I liked was that of his wife, Amelie, who supported Sleeman in all his endeavors, and acted as his moral compass during testing times as well. I liked the fact that she added the much-required human touch to the entire plot. Lastly, the Phasigars as a group add to my list of favorites in the book because of the dedication they had towards their craft, as well as the sheer brilliance of the planning and execution they exhibited in the crimes they committed.

Overall, an excellent book that scores a 4.63/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

A Tea-stall by the Side of the Road-Murad Jawed

Book: A Tea-stall by the Side of the Road
Author: Murad Jawed
Publisher: Bluerose Publications

Do you believe that ghosts exist?

A Tea-stall by the Side of the Road is a collection of 8 stories across various genres that depict the human nature. Based on the local folklore and urban legends from across India, the stories are presented in first first-person narrative. These stories are based on actual experiences shared by people with the author. From recounting a love story lost to the sands of time in Megha: A Forgotten Love Story, to a couple of dramatic stories titled A Train Journey to Pune where the tales of a corporate employee is told, and The Peepal Tree. With the thrilling tale of The Closure, we move towards the triad of horror tales titled The Shadow Man, Scary Story and The Haunted Diaries.

The plot of each of the 8 stories is well crafted with attention to detail such that one cannot easily find loopholes in them. True to the genre of each story, the elements in the stories will make you feel the way the story is progressing. In the sole romantic story, one can actually feel the pain of the lovers and in the triad of the horror stories, each one of them makes the hair stand. The storytelling is quite fluid, and helps you create vivid imagery that makes you live the story, not just read in, and I believe that is the best thing that one can do while penning them. In the drama stories, however, I felt a bit more of substance could have been added as they seemed paler in comparison to the other stories. The climax of each of the stories is excellent though, and personally, I would love to see more horror stories from the author’s pen.

The characters of the book are ordinary with extra ordinary stories. These are people that can be found among us, and even the situations that he has penned are almost quite real, and the reactions help establish a feeling of connect with the characters. I loved the characters in the horror stories, and I connected a lot with the character in A Train Journey to Pune.

Overall, a good collection of stories that scores a 3.69/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

The Captive-Lavanya Nukavarapu

Book: The Captive
Author: Lavanya Nukavarapu
Publisher: Eka Press

Do you think we all have demons inside of us?

The Captive by Lavanya Nukavarapu is the story of how things unfold when a when a kidnapped girl escapes and sets the alarms ringing on at least 15 unsolved murder cases, mostly involving female victims. Kruthi Shah who escaped from the wooden cabin after killing one of her abductors. She makes it her life’s purpose to dish out what she sees as the punishment to the perpetrators of this crime. Madhuri Mahiwal, the Officer In-Charge, wants nothing but justice for Kruthi. How does the team crack the case and find the one who held Kruthi and the others?

The plot of the story seemed captivating in the beginning and had a solid start in the beginning as we saw how Kruthi was kept as a captive, but the plot unraveled too fast. I loved the manner in which the search operation was shown and the subsequent unravelling the mastermind of the story. Frankly, the search for the boss was one of the best parts of the book and how the author actually told the backstory, telling it one piece at a time. the title of the book holds many meanings in the book and as they show themselves, it is almost as if a sweater is unravelling, one thread at a time. The thing that could have been improved was the that the suspense could have been held on for a longer period. I would have loved to see a bit more of the wild goose chases in the story. The climax was fresh and interesting.

Coming to the characters, Kruthi as a character did fascinate me with her mental strength and personality as she faced all adversities, yet does not flinch. The way her arc has been established is noteworthy and I loved the surprise in the end. Avinash is another interesting part of the story that does make you think twice before coming to any assumptions as to his role in the story. The character of Madhuri as a police officer and her quest for justice seemed genuine and there was an earnestness in his character that appealed to me.

Overall, a good book that scores a 3.75/5 for me.

 Grab a copy of the book here.