Curvalor Baksha

I started reading Arjun stories when it used to be only detective stories. But later on the stories became less of detection but more of sci-fi adventures. "Curvalor Baksha" is one of them.
A Ramchandra Ray suddenly hears strange audio signals emanating and disappearing every night into a box left in his house by his friend Curvalo. With this, he also feels that his chronic gout pains are vanishing. But as he realizes that for some part of the night he is acting uncontrollably under the influence of some external force he reports to the police. Though the police is a bit doubtful of the sanity of Ray, but Arjun, who had coincidentally dropped by the police station at the same time, is interested. He accompanies the complainant to his house to examine the box. As he opens the box with the help of a local, once shady, locksmith, it reveals some interesting contents. When it is ascertained that the audio signals are affecting only a few, the investigations indicates a high chance of the instruments in the box to be of alien origin.
Then starts the trail for the truth that is pleasantly mysterious yet somewhat predictable. This is one of the Majumdar's stories that is recommended for all ages. I had read the story earlier but now understand that a bit more detailing could have made the story even  more thrilling. The culmination is a bit abrupt yet unsurprising.

Kikira Samagra II

Consisting of six novels, the volume is adventure combined with magic, suspense and mystery. It starts with Mayurganjer Nrisingha Sadan which revolves about a cursed family heirloom. A magical appearance of a fire walking ascetic unnerves the sole witness which is followed by a death in the same place. The eerie magical mystery seems a problem for a wizard sleuth. So came Kikira, self abbreviated Kinkar Kishore Ray. With him are the duo Tarapada (Tara), an accounting clerk and Chandan (Ch(n)adu), the doctor, who is lovingly referred lovingly by Kikira as sandalwood, the literal translation of his name. Next is the Jadukarer Rahasyamoy Mrityu where a magician is killed on stage and his magical harmonium vanishes. Though it mainly revolves around smuggled goods, it is a bit of a disappointment as the fate smuggled items are never revealed. Case closes without a hint to how all clues are obtained by the investigators. In Circus Theke Palie a performing motorcyclist escapes from circus accusing his fellow senior of threats and attempt to murder. As Kikira takes up the case on insistence of Chandan only to find that all concerned are not revealing the truth. It seems mysterious about why the motorist escapes and goes to hiding. Abrupt ending mars the climax in this thriller that is gripping yet satisfyingly slow. The following is Holod Palak B(n)adha Teer where the story reveals the magician turned detective's MO which is to collect as much information as possible so that others understand the solutions without the sleuth requiring to spell it out specifically. A businessman suffers a paralysing stroke while visiting a place to negotiate a deal in Ghatsheela. But two persons think otherwise. So Kikira is called to take the case. Tarapada accompanies him to Ghatsheela. Mystery revolves as the place of murder reveals some curious clues like a glove with a missing place for a finger, yellow feathers. Chandan is present for short crucial chapters. The mystery actually increases the appeal of the volume which somehow was dampened before this. An odd advertisement, sets the tone of Turuper Shesh Tas, hinting foul play to a death startles the business partner of the deceased. Along with that there is a constant blackmail by a supposed relative. The victim is confused and Kikira is consulted in the matter. A slight similarity with a previous adventure is felt in the plot but the finale is pleasantly different. The case of a missing young man is apparently central to Sonar Ghorir Kh(n)oje but Kikira feels that the gold watch, kept as a fond remembrance to his grandfather and also as a family heirloom, which is also missing, holds the key to the mystery.
The stories of the unassuming Kikira are a bit different from others in the genre and adds another dimension to the tradition of detective fictions. Bimal Kar allows the stories to meander easily but they never loose focus on the actual course.

Choyti Rahasya Upanyas

Picked up this book at the bookfair and it proved to be a gem of a choice. This premier collection consists of six mystery stories by Kalyani Basu, sister to Bani Basu, with a signature style of her own though reflecting a similar trait in the plots. Author introduces about her works in a higher octave but seems her expectations are a bit too ambitious. Though there  is thrill and suspense yet the introduction could have been toned down a little for the future.
Featuring police detective Avra Chatterjee in four of the cases, the first one is Golmuktar Bala where a murder follows theft but criminals are unmasked following a set of bad clues. The suspense is weaved at the very beginning but the solution becomes a bit obvious as the story progresses. Actually the absence of a clear motive makes it a bit easy to understand who the perpetrators are. The next case for the detective is in Boomerang where the possessive and suspicious husband contemplated the contract murder of the wife but is killed instead. Here the central theme of the book becomes more  prominent that hypothesizes that crime is the result of circumstances that forces persons to become evil. Infact the fate of the villain being uncertain during the closing seems fitting for the case. Avra remains a bit passive in Shikarakti where a serial killing targetting a set of four friends keeps the suspense high. A depressed girl is about to be married to one of the friends while getting over her psychological trauma but the killing starts suddenly that threatens the dream of a settled life. This fast paced suspense is a real thriller. The detective reappears in Arya Aasche where a long lost step brother is about to return after thirty four years to claim his right over a family heirloom. A mysterious twist of false identities and murder threatens the calm life of the family that seems to feel the ripple of past magnified to a dangerous scale.
There are two other stories, the intensely psychological thriller Sutapa Ekhono Bari Fereni, where a wife goes missing after leaving for home from her school. Clues are cleverly weaved that subtly casts shadows of doubt that fades but persists throughout to keep the thrill focussed. With merely a handful of characters, this is not a professional investigation style narrative yet suspense runs high as the mystery unfolds. The other is titled B(n)ashbon  which might be termed as a mystery with a difference where a hateful crime is committed but nobody finds a clue. The usual suspects rare rounded but are forced to be released due to insufficient evidence. An unsolved mystery seems to await. The surprise comes as justice is served the natural way with a punishment which is violently just.
Mystery lovers may go through the thrill that promises a unique perspective to crime as well as punishment.

Clouds of Witness

A man, the would be brother-in-law of Lord Peter is killed. The chief accused is his brother while the chief witness is their sister. No doubt that drama starts from the very first page that continues with a steady pace till the closing chapters. An incredible finale is in store in this essentially courtroom case. As evidence piles up it seems that mystery is not one but many. Some witness goes missing while some clouds the judgement. It remains to be seen how the sleuth uncovers the truth assisted by Bunter along with Inspector Parker who acts as the faithful satellite while remaining mostly unbiased as his post demands. Support also comes from Peter's mother, the wise Dowager Duchess whose abilities display the trait that her son uses in his sleuthing. With an introduction by the fictitious uncle of Lord Peter this Sayers saga of crime and passion is light yet satisfying.

Kiriti Omnibus Vol II

The introduction by Shri Gajendrakumar Mitra is the best in this volume of Kiriti. Sketching a compact to the extreme history of detective fiction till that time, the introducer did not miss to acknowledge the premieres of the trade yet criticizing the authors where they are due. But in this regard it seems he was a bit biased to the Kiriti genre as his analysis of appeal seemed a bit far fetched. Following this is Duti Katha by the author where he justifies the marriage of his sleuth. Then the volume starts with Holud Shaitan that takes the sleuth with his associate overseas on a hunt for a sinister assassin, continues with Dainir B(n)ashi aka Ishkaboner Bibi Harataner Saheb which could have been the best of the fictions had it not been for the unnecessary lengthening in the closing chapters. After this is Dragon which bridges two sets of incidents by the murderer but it seems a bit forced that both murderers are the same along with the fact that the sleuth enjoys holidays while on the scent of criminal without trying to wrap it quickly. The next piece is Momer Alo where a wife is killed with the father-in-law accusing his son for the crime. This is followed by Basanta Rajani where an old acquaintance of the sleuth is found dead that starts a trail of queer revelations and Kalo Pakhi links a murder with theft but fails to justify the link clearly.

Acceptable Risk

Based on the Salem Witch trial and trying to give a rational of the events the story revolves around a mould unearthed in one of the mansions in Salem. The mould seems an apparent anti-depressants and when it promises a billion dollar future for a set of doctors and a businessman with a medical background sky seems the only limit. But things starts a bit awry with mutilated animals turning up in the neighbourhood and the researchers, playing guineapigs among themselves, find themselves dishevelled and sleep walking awakening on their rooms but with dirt and injury on their beings. A fine border that remains between medical ethics and incessant profiteering seems to become blurred by lust and Robin Cook once again proves that the world needs a balance and a rationale approach for its betterment where hurrying may lead to danger that might become uncontrolled becoming irreparable.

Thirty Years That Shook Physics: The Story Of Quantum Theory

Introducing the modern physics as it shaped in the hands of the giants of the subject the chapters wittily introduce the complex physical concepts in a playful manner. You will enjoy reading the major breathtaking basic mysteries that unfolded in the era between 1900 to 1930 that offered the insight into the atom and its nucleus from a perspective that was at once beautiful yet surprising. The thrill of unlocking the suspense of the universe will grip you firmly while going thru the chapters in order. Being one of the chief protagonists in shaping the modern physics, Gamow offers a vantage point view of the limitations of classical physics, quantum theory, uncertainty principle, anti particles, wave mechanics and presents it in the most layman's terms along with penning some classic illustrations, humorous anecdotes that offers reliefs, some informal snaps of the most celebrated physicists of all times along with conference plates also. The thrill of the book closes with Barabara Gamow's translation of a satirical version of a German dramatization of how the modern physics unfolded which is a gain a masterpiece in its own right.

Pikur Diary o Onyanya

This book had been among the prohibited few that my parents asked me to keep at bay for the right age. So when that age came, at least when I felt it came, I pounced on it in the bookshop to be introduced to the writings for the adults by Ray, who is more famous for his literary creations for the young. The book consists of Pikur Diary, where the diary of Piku reveals the daily details of his family in the coarse form that is to be expected from a child of his age but which also reveals the genius of Ray as he used the dialect of the child along with the obvious spelling mistakes while revealing the mature details with subtle clues. The next is the script for the movie Piku, which actually is a major deviation from the story and is acknowledged in the introduction by the writer himself. There is also another script of Shakha-Prasakha, but it is again one of the earlier versions for the movie. There are a couple of science fiction, Sabuj Manush and Mayurkanthi Jelly, with the latter more suspenseful than the former. But the most hilarious is Aryashekharer Janma o Mrityu which shows how the intellectual impetus of an unfortunate genius becomes too much for the society as well as for his self. The book with its various hues will be enjoyable for its cohesive diversity.

The Clocks

An unidentified man lies dead in a blind woman's house. Surrounded by four stopped clocks, the body is discovered by a typewritist. An apparently innocent passer by, who is also in knowhow with the police and Poirot, coordinates with the authorities. Narrated mostly from his perspective, the story unfolds its hues as one of the most perplexing investigations due chiefly to no identification of the victim. So when police seems to crawl through the sleuthing, the master is challenged to solve the crime sitting in the drawing room. A couple of more deaths occur. As doubts on many creep up it seems Poirot can only solve it. But he is actually primarily absent in most of the situations. So the way he solves the crime is a real revelation for all.
Written in an uncharacteristic slackened pace with a riddle subtly hinted upon to solve for the readers this Christie will rank a bit on the lower side but its unique style of crime keeps the signature intact..

Good old Secret Seven

Something strange was happening in a far off ruin of a castle. Had it not been for the telescope that came handy for the Secret Seven it would not have been discovered. Once piqued, it was no stopping the seven adventurers who tumbled onto something yet more serious. With their dog Scamper in tow, Peter, Janet, Jack, George, Colin, Pam and Barbara resolved to get to the bottom of the mystery while the ever annoying Susie and Binkie posed some additional problems. What were being continuously guarded at the castle? Why residents jackdaws were unsettled? Was there a wailing spirit? Or is it something more sinister? To know all these the book is a must read for the young readers. But I will say that this birthday present of my son gave some merry moments of nostalgia that was refreshing as well as enjoyably thrilling. This book had the smell of the school days when detective fiction at its enjoyably best were offered by the authors who wrote solely for the young dreamers.

The Man Who Knew Too Much

A collection of political mysteries with a flavour that is slightly different from conventional mystery stories. Infact the sleuth is related to the PM, the FM and several other in the higher rungs which gives him ample chance to study the intricacies of regional along with private politics. So it is not surprising that each story unveils the crimes in private circles but the actual perpetrators are sometimes to be excused from bringing to justice just to avoid a greater political chaos. So Horne Fisher, the investigator with the self proclaimed omniscient knowledge of almost everything finds it hard to bear the burden of information that he is cursed with. His analytical mind gets easily to the truth but diplomacy prevents unmasking the villains publicly quite a few times. Fisher vents his solutions to Harold March, a political journalist who gets attached to Fisher in a case that is supposed to be the first for the duo. Besides this case and the final one, the others are not chronologically arranged. The stories are unique in the sense that philosophy plays a greater part than concrete evidence in unveiling the truth but the finale remains convincing always. The final case is a bit predictive that has seemed to influence Christie in one of her masterpieces where the master falls after preventing the calamity in the way that is tragic yet supremely heroic satisfying justice. The signature style of Chesterton can be felt in the subtle cues, the serenity of the ambience that makes the stories gripping yet calm. Written from the third person perspective, the contents are as follows

1. The Face in the Target
2. The Vanishing Prince
3. The Soul of the Schoolboy
4. The Bottomless Well
5. The Fad of the Fisherman
6. The Hole in the Wall
7. The Temple of Silence
8. The Vengeance of the Statue

What Happened to Netaji?

This is the million dollar question for the admirers of Netaji that needs to be answered truthfully. That too in such a fashion as to leave no doubt to the enquirer. Three enquiry commissions, confusing outcomes, glaring mistakes that is overruled in accepting some inferences, clues strewn all over the globe, but still there is no clear cut revelation about what really happened to Netaji after the Taipei conundrum. Is this what we deserve? By we, I mean the Indians. The plight of INA after the WWII is also another query that needs to be clearly clarified. Those brave soldiers who wanted to free the motherland and fought the British led army of Indians, who actually massacred the Jalianwalabagh innocents, were branded as traitors! Is this a joke? I think it is for the ministers who won't divulge the secret facts of Netaji who kept freedom of India as his top priority always. But there is still hope. This can be said after we find people like Anuj Dhar tiring out every bit of his investigative journalism in excavating the bits of truth that is to be pieced together to find the truth whose secrecy is like the Holy Grail for the country. His efforts had already been published in two books and this actually summarises his efforts with some logic put forward to give credibility to his findings. In fact some chapters points out what he thinks is the dilemma of the governments to declassify the top secrets and some files graded above that. It is quite convincing to the layman why Congress might have tried to hide facts about their only rival in the political career. But what about Janata Dal and BJP? Why did they not reveal the files for the countrymen? It is apparently not very obvious. But the author has actually tried to clarify that too in a manner that requires deep thinking. So doubts might be there after completing it but one thing is certain which is the  mystery that is shrouded under layers of secrecy across multiple countries is not to be left as it is and this admiring team of experience and skill will give all their efforts to unravel this.
So with all the best to the researchers this book is recommended for all those who feels indebted to the freedom etched out by the blood of the unsung fighters.

Bhut Samagra

Spanning over the varied human emotions from intense tragedies to suspenseful narratives the one element that is common to all in this collection is the spirits. Actually reference to spirit is deliberate as spirituality and not raw horror is the core of the book. Sometimes it becomes autobiographical as the author dwells on the untimely death of his Mother in a haunted residence and how he witnessed his revered Chotodadu (Grandfather) alleviating misfortunes of the needy with rituals that defies logic for the layman and makes the events no less than miracles. Also various events in the lives of Ramakrishna Sarada and their greatest disciple Swamiji have been depicted that borders presence of some forces that is subtle yet true. With a suitable note as introduction the content of this volume includes
• Raat barota
• Haat na daal
• Bhut adbhut
• Nishir daak
• Bhuter khela
• Morgan saheber bagan
• Sei raat
• Gaganer maach
• Bhutera bhuteder kichu korte pare na
• S(n)iri
• Kach
• Sei adbhut manushti
• Bhut samparke duchar katha
• Brahmadaityake ekghanta gaan shunie thakurda bari firlen
• Teel matite pora matroi jwale uthlo
• Maa bole daklen, gaganvedi chitkar
• Chotodadu cancer rogta nijer shorire tule niechilen
• Ekti chobi, ekti chobi. Khaskhas shabdo
• S(n)aibaba aloukik Shorire Gopinath kabirajke Kaashite dekhe gelen
• Hatath dekhi chaire Gaurida, tarpori nei, tablee sudhu swet sankha
• ‘Eki tumi ekhane!’ Prashner uttar ajo khuje beracchi
• Aenae dekhte gie dekhi jantranaklishta bridhhar mukh
• Siddha Tantriker shesh Puja Chinnamasta, Amabasyae rakto die Maaer Pujo korbo
• Amar kono naam nei. Ami Maaer Santan, bolei adrishya holen
• Ekta jhoro hawa boe gelo, gaacher daal bhangatr shabdo holo
• Bina meghe bajrapaat
• Kichu loukik kichu aloukik
• Charte deshlai kathi
• Gobheer raate
• Bhuter bor saja
• Ashade nnoe
Witty remarks refreshes the stories at places that balances the philosophical bend of quite a few anecdotes.