The Sunday Philosophy Club

Take one sandwich with tea and wait for the rain to drizzle and then you will find the charm heightened as McCall Smith takes you in his adventure through the streets of Edinburgh. A philosopher gets entangled in a  murder mystery and more from an ethical point of view than from curiosity she tries to find the truth. Narrated in limited third person the story takes the reader through an enjoyable investigation quite unique in its format. Infact the finale is more philosophical than practical. In almost all events of her life Isabel Dalhousie tries to find the philosophy behind it and this naturally makes her an investigator who can clearly interpret actions and expressions. Though quite slow in its pace but the story is enjoyably calm with an underlying thrill. Actually the author defines mystery in every aspect of life. Whether it is to analyse behaviours of others or to find criminals, the motives behind each action and reactions thereof contain signatures of the hidden truth. Interpreting actions sometimes become prime and the motive follows merely to validate it.

The Mystery of the Whispering Mummy

What will an investigator do when approached with two cases simultaneously? On one hand is a 3000 year old mummy whispering ancient Arabic and in the other an Abyssinian cat with mismatched eyes go missing! The trio of Investigators - Jupe, Pete and Bob - will take both at once. Thus they get involved in a curious mystery filled with adventures inside mummy case, strange disguises, Oriental clients, speedy car chases and eerie accidents. How Jupe with his new innovation - walkie talkie sets - and with the help of the other investigators, catches the villains remains to be seen in this exciting adventure that are truly enjoyable for the young minds. Quite unlike the other stories, the strangeness of the central plot is masked quite early but the excitement remains throughout.

Chayamoy

http://calcuttatube.com/chayamoy-2013-bengali-movie-user-review/197847/

Hemendra Kumar Roy Rachanabali Vol-XXVII

The volume contains an assortment of sorts. It begins with Hatya Ebong Tarpor, containing a Jayanta Manik case of detection, and that too a good one, in the title content and then an equally well contrasted humourous one in Private Detective which, believe me is far less serious but equally enjoyable from what the title suggests. Then is an adventure story in Ek Diner Adventure with a touch of humour in this too. Then comes the short stories categorized under Galpo beginning with an horror episode in Shaitan, continuing the horror in Gangar Bibhishika, a Bimal Kumar adventure in Guhabaasi Bibhishan, which I personally felt a bit incomplete, an enjoyable read in Nakal Shikarir Shankat and finally a ghost story, which again felt short of expectation in Badshar Samadhi. Comparing these the best comes now beginning with the dual historical stories in Tin Samrater Trahyasparsha-Yog and Mahabharater Maharath, both depicting the downfall of two most important empires of medieval India viz. that of the Mughals and of Prithviraj the great. For the more inquisitive readers it may help to know that to enjoy the first one to the fullest please go through volume XII of Hemendra Kumar Roy Rachanabali though without it the document is complete in itself. Finally is a pleasing deviation from the author, something not for the children, mixing romance with adventure in Panchasharer Keerti, which is completely regionalized without any trace of its original source. This could have been immensely enjoyable but for a single fact that needs elaboration. It seemed the author, mostly conversant in writing gripping adventure stories for the young minds, was hesitant to make up his mind while writing for the older generation. So though the adventure was enthralling the underlying concept seemed a bit loosely composed.

Nante Fante Collection III

Continuing the humorous exploits of Nante Fante, the collection consists of chapters 7 thru 9. Sometimes playing pranks on each other (once in this collection and that too marked by a different style of sketching) the naughty duo often makes life miserable for the Superintendent Sir. But the greater pranks are stored for the wicked Keltu. Being boarders of hostels, their desire for sumptuous meals often becomes the central theme of the multipage plots and in these often Keltu becomes the sole competitor. Debnathbabu’s unique style of presentation and cartoons has made these children’s story a priceless gem in the world of Bengali comic strips. The collection also contains an advertisement cleverly concealed in the story, maybe one of the starters of its kind.

Goynar Baksho

Eager with the curiosity of what the story is all about that is to be brought to screen recently I started reading the novel and surprising myself, I finished it at record pace. This has been my first approach to Shirshendu's stories for the adult and I became more obsessed to continue reading his stories of the genre as I completed this. A story encompassing three generations, the style that is followed, has at once kept the readers engrossed, not only by its content but also in the element of surprise. Written from the perspective of two ladies the plot has unfolded itself centering a jewellery box left in the possession of apparently the least likely family member. Curiously enough the story consists of ghost but the seriousness of the central theme has not at all compromised. The finale is also reminiscent of a classic where the readers know what the culmination is but the subtlety is reserved for the imaginative ones. The virtues of generations contrasting with frustrations and worries, the decaying Bengalee nobility with their false ego, the spirit of the present generation, the confusions  surrounding true romance, all had been sketched to perfection to bring out a grand orchestra. Being a fan of his stories for the young, I once more fell in love with the works of Mukhopadhyay, this time for the older readers.

Nante Fante Collection IV

The collection contains chapters 10, 11, 12 though one of the strips has been juxtaposed incorrectly. The humorous exploits of the duo continues as they face Keltuda and his chums who try to provoke them unjustly. The superintendent sir also plays his part and as always remains all the more comical. The use of colloquial language increases the charm though the slang always remains well within the aesthetic limit. Proving once more that age is never a bar for this kind of entertainment the heart always longs for more for it. An interesting fact is that though the practical jokes remains the main theme of each strip but it is never indecent. Finally another important fact is that though the teachers sometimes becomes the unsuspecting targets of the jokes but they are always highlighted respectfully. With delightful cartoons the chapters will no doubt appeal to readers of all age.

Chanakya's Chant

Interspersing past with the present, Ashwin Sanghi takes the reader in his quest to understand the intricacies of Arthasastra as composed by Chanakya, the shrewd Brahmin who emerged as the most famous kingmaker in the history of India. Driven by vengeance, Chanakya’s tactics to overthrow Dhanananda, unite Bharat under a single ruler and shield the country against foreign dominance will no doubt amaze the ordinary. Drawing parallel to the historic character, Sanghi develops an equally shrewd yet unassuming Gangasagar Misra as he evolves on his way to place his protégé Chandini Gupta as the PM of India. To this effect he stops at nothing and emerges as ruthless opportunist with a political cunning surpassing all the peers of the country. Though fast paced in the first quarter, the storyline clearly becomes over dramatic in the rest where Chanakya’s part remains gripping but Gangasagar becomes ordinary characterwise. At the start I thought we now have a Mario Puzo in Sanghi but my premonition was obliterated as the story progressed. One of the most important fallacies of the fiction part was that Gangasagar’s character evolution was rapid that seemed to catapult his maturity in the most convenient time rather than what would have been correct. His mentor in diplomacy, Agrawalji seemed unjustifiably to lose his cunning as the same matured in Gangasagar. Also the dramatic dialogues, more interesting for a Bollywood endeavour, became a mere repetition of style that compromised the seriousness that the plot demanded. But the most glaring problem, which I don’t know how the writer missed, was that Gangasagar did not have a clearly justified goal in his otherwise clearly defined mission. Chanakya was motivated by revenge and then came his dream of unification of the country. Puzo’s dons aspired to rule the criminal syndicates for business and security for their family. But Gangasagar seemed all of a sudden bent to make a female PM deriving inspiration from an age old rock craving allegedly attributed to Vishnugupta. For this he never wavered to kill the innocent who seemed inconvenient obstacle and placed all the evil men in his side to rule the country (of innocent?). So though a smooth reading material but the story as a whole remains a bit ordinary.

Belashesher Kolahol

http://calcuttatube.com/belashesher-kolahol-bengali-play-user-review/197837/

Mafia Queens of Mumbai Stories of Women from the Ganglands

As I was reading through the anecdotes of the queens of the underworld, the first thing that struck me was these were the missing pieces of the puzzles that were left incomplete in the Zaidi's narrative of the male dons of Mumbai. Infact the narrative was compact and even more fast paced as compiled by Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges. The murky lands of the underworld, traversed prominently by the masculine hand had always been guided by the feminine shadow, at least in several cases, as has been documented here. With chill running down the spine, the readers may find truth a bit more harsh and a bit more scaring than it appears. Be it the story of love and lust, crime and revenge, manipulations and politics - the ladies were in no way less scheming than the others. Plotting crimes of the deadliest kind they played their part whenever the men found the heat rising. Starting from housewives to abandoned elopers, the aspirations to rise high in crime or the desperation catapulted them in their path to the evil corners of society. Some became dangerous, some generous while for some the fate could not have been worse. But it all created a new facet of the crime world - that portrayed by shrewd ladies which challenged the security of many.

Postern of Fate

The couple that unearthed secrets of the enemy camp has now aged and wants to retire to a village life devoid of sleuthing. But mystery seems always to follow them and so does murder. Thus again the aged duo teams up with the police and the like to unearth a long lasting secret that left clues in certain particular places. Though the excitement starts early but it dampens midway, so unlike Christie novel, but the rambling of the aged couple seems sometimes too much and near the end it is not with the signature Christie twist. The mystery was woven fantastically but it seemed an abrupt way of unravelling it. Another disappointing fact was that several of their earlier exploits have been quoted here and may prove a spoiler for those who reads this before the others.

Colonel Samagra Vol XV

The omnibus edition again presents five of the Colonel's adventures unmasking the criminals of which certain are by the Colonel's own narration of events. The stories are

• Coloneler Journal Theke

As evident from the name itself it is documented  in Colonel's journal and curiously enough not so exciting a narration as compared to the more popular Jayanta's perspective. The case is mysterious but not so exciting as the plot unfolds.

• Arale Mrityur Phand

A trap is sprung in the entertainment industry and it is upto Colonel and Haldermoshai to save the innocent while Jayanta remains the witness of the adventure.

• Alexander Rahasya

Though this mutiplot story, again narrated by Colonel begins quite interestingly, but becomes very obvious before the actual climax.

•  Lalubabur Antardhyan Rahasya

Clearly the best of the collection this fast paced thriller includes Colonel, Haldermoshai and is narrated by Jayanta involving an interesting riddle that, though is not the central plot, but keeps the suspense running.

• Mukhosher Mukh

Another good short story that traps the villain in an abrupt move.

Though these mystery stories are quite good to read but a major dissapointment is the undue fast pace and the less focus on diversification of characters.

John Thorndyke's Cases

Eight curious cases each more peculiar than the preceding one but in no way less absorbing has been arranged in this compilation according to

• The Man with the Nailed Shoes
• The Stranger's Latchkey
• The Anthropologist at Large
• The Blue Sequin
• The Moabite Cipher
• The Mandarin's Pearl
• The Aluminium Dagger
• A Message from the Deep Sea

With precise methods and an eye towards detail, the forensic investigator Dr. Thorndyke solves cases that baffles the ordinary minds. Criminals are never spared and the innocent are saved as Thorndyke produces evidence that leads to the ultimate truth. Told from Dr. Jervis' perspective, the short stories are made even more realistic by H.M. Brock's fantastic drawings that breathes life to the story. But the most important facet of the writing is that, though categorised under mystery fictions, but attention is given to the way the evidences are collected and the truth is obtained. Thus analytical aspect of the stories make them league apart from ordinary medical mystery novels. The philosophy of Dr. Thorndyke, not only on the importance of evidence, but also on the way it is being sampled remains a guideline for the analytic mind. Each story, albeit a fiction, is both entertaining and intellectually satisfying.