Sunday, February 22, 2015

Spider's Web

Based on the play of Christie, Spider's Web is an interesting murder mystery novelised by Charles Osborne. Owing to its source, the settings of the narrative makes it less a novel than a multi act play. But with that too, the story is full of suspense interspersed with humour - the original being categorized aptly in the tailpiece as a comedy-thriller - with a signature Christie twist at the climax. It all starts when the wife of a Government official, stumbles upon a body, clearly the victim of a murder, in their library. The man is found to be a sleazy drug dealer and an womanizer, intenseley loathed by her step daughter. To protect the immediate suspect, the daughter of her husband, she tries to take the help of three of her visitors in dumping off the body and concocts a story to support their alibi. But before being able to carry out the part, a mysterious caller informs the police about the murder. As the police arrives and holds an inquest, the situation becomes more confused as each tries to make a story of their own. It becomes more complicated as the body seems to vanish as the medical officer arrives. The house itself, filled with camouflaged passages and furnitures with secret recesses, makes the investigation still more complex. Added to this is the absence of any apparent motive. The backdrop thus set the suspense is heightened and it remains upon the innocents to prove what is wrong and which is right. A very enthralling mystery where the web is woven with care it remains a refreshing read by virtue of its unique style of storytelling.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Lubdhak

Of all the Nabarun Bhattacharya's works that I've read this is by far the best. This is just poetry phrased as a narrative. Depicting the magic realism where dogs are being butchered by men, it just mirrors the suffering of the oppressed class by the whims of the oppressors. In this when hopes seem to be vanish, the sufferers always find someone who guides them from misery.
At that point a strange bond unites them that washes away differences and there arises a silent revolution whose might is feared by the powerful. As Doomsday approaches in its steady steps, it is only the ruthless that is punished. The author has painted the reality with his signature style of analogies that is unique indeed. Interestingly this will inspire hope in the hearts of the confused and the lonely. Though the mind may be numbed but the conscience will be clearer as the readers reach the closing pages.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Kolkatar Shaitan

Himanish Goswami's sleuth stories featuring Kittu in the forefront and the actual brains Baghakaka, in the shadows had been my favourite in my younger days. So when I found this relic among the bright covers in the Bookfair I lost no time but bought it at a price that also was reminiscent of slightly older days. But it was a bit disappointing to find that these stories, meant not for young, could not come up to the mark. The first story bearing the title of the book Kolkatar Shaitan was more of an adventure than a proper mystery while the other Khaturiar Jibanabasan had the ingredients and really fooled me with an obvious clue but lacked enthusiasm and it was only Supriyapishi's refreshing snippets that proved to be the highlights in both the narratives.

Sunday, February 08, 2015

Goenda Gayeb

The justification of the title is apparent only slightly as the reader goes thru the 1st but the climax in the 2nd really bears a link to the same. That the book contains a couple story is in itself a surprise and the later one is really more interesting than the other. Unforutunately, there is no new title to the later story and thus we have to refer to them as first and second only!
In the first Sunanda, with his band of young adventurers solves the crime somewhat stumbling on the clues, but in the second, his deductions are more like professionals. Also the second one contains a very interesting episode, where it explains the events following one of the earlier stories, whose conclusion posed to the readers several questions as to the fate of the young detective. Infact as I read the story, I started to remember the same from the pages of Anandamela which first introduced me to the young sleuth.
Coming back to the main storylines, the first introduces the plot but finally the motives of the murders remains unexplained. Contrastingly, the other one is more interesting and though the band of detectives is not present, but Sunanda cleverly directs his own investigations with his unsuspecting companion in the correct path.
In both, help comes from the officials during unexpected yet welcome moments and the emotions of the boy detective in distress is very realistically revealed in the final story. Devoid of cell phones and other modern modes of communications, these charming old world scenario make these adventures more exciting.