Dawood's Mentor

Complimenting the unputdownable, Dongri to Dubai, the book sketches the life of the don who introduced white collar smuggling for the 1st time and brought character and a sense of value in a field where betrayal and treachery were the order of the day. The wrestler by his upbringing, a warrior at his heart, a brain graduated in economics, Khalid Khan aka Khalid Pehelwan had been the most dependable ally of Kaskar brothers in their most formative days. Upsetting a stalwart wrestler at a challenge, the young Khalid Khan was picked up by Bashu Dada as his closest bodyguard turned partner in the silver smuggling business that the later quickly turned to gold literally. But maybe fate had stored a different future for this duo. So, the humbler Khalid, was soon deserted by his mentor but was quickly to be united to his protege, Dawood, forging a long lasting friendship that saw a new era of underworld activity.

The book really is complimentary to the rise of the Mumbai mafia as narrated by the author in his other books and sketches a more detailed narrative of Sabir-Dawood-Khalid coalition that is interspersed with tragedy and thrilling sequences. Writing in his characteristic gripping style with a touch of subtle humour that blends well amid some tensed settings, the acknowledgment could be no less better than the way Husaain Zaidi expresses his gratitude to his mentors and mentee in his journey of investigative journalism.

Misir Ali Omnibus II

The opening thriller had been a most entertaining novel, titled Brihannala. With an introduction like any other Misir Ali novel, as the mystery unfolds, so does the solution apparently to the readers but the final twist will be sure to put them reeling with a truth so revealing that justifies why the Professor of Abnormal Behaviour was called upon to solve. The literary skill of the master storyteller, Humayun Ahmed, will be reminded again at the climax when it will be felt that the obvious hint were there right at the inception but for the enigmatic writing that concealed it in plain sight. Trivial surprises are also in store for  the inquisitive readers who will come to know that Psycholgy was Arts subject and not Science in university courses when this novel was designed. The next is about a mysterious lady who comes to Ali only to  be driven out shortly but leaves her belongings and money that incites the sleuth in revealing a curious mind with unnatural acumen. With clues hidden in a narrative and a letter, the investigator must find the problem and then solve it to help the distressed client in Tandrabilas. Everything remains justified in this suspense, including its intriguing incompleteness, but the mistake in a mathematical riddle remains its single technical flaw and another spoiler during the beginning mars the narrative slightly in the otherwise fascinatingly detailed gripping plot and queer incidents. The ultimate logical man meets the ultimate intuitive person in Himur Dwitiya Prahar which mixes humour, ingenuity, mystery and romance in the best possible way. Narrated by the protagonist, Himu, the story deals with his encounter with fear and how he approaches to overcome it. Ali appears for a lesser time but the portions are the best in this novel where the author excels himself in documenting dialogues for both of his legendary creations who are characteristically contrasting to each other. The story is not only endearing, but it resembles the style of Sanjib Chattopadhyay with a freshness that cheers the readers. This is my 1st Himu novel and it will be a refreshing relief in this intellectually overwhelming yet satisfying compilation of the adventure with the human psyche. Moving ahead is Amii Misir Ali, which had already been discussed earlier. The most terrifying case of the volume is Baghbandi Misir Ali, which is surprisingly unassuming in the start but midway onwards, three characters evolves so hurriedly that the reader is trapped in a mesh of psychic wits that stifles the breath away. The sleuth is, however, the target in this game and his honest wit is all there to deal with the situation. The psychopathic killer, a former patient and his current servant (who is, for a change, not a thief) are entangled in a chase to save a little girl as well as a severely sick victim. The final in the volume is a challenging puzzle in the form of a letter that includes the Kahen Kabi Kalidas riddle, which is not solved but the primary mystery is. Infact, the mystery is solved by the sleuth, sitting entirely at his home with a couple of communications with his students and some materials obtained on request from the client. With an array of less peculiar characters than is customary in his novel, the plot will surely keep the suspense alive as the sequences unfold. Curiously, it contains only two chapters with one encroaching the majority of the novel but the shorter one will be no less enthralling.

Mr Tompkins Explores the Atom

This time, it is for Mr Tompkins to explore the curious world of atoms. The peculiarity of the quantum world had been revealed to the naive amateur student of physics in the earlier volume and the adventure to the uncertain world continues, thanks to his physicist father-in-law's lectures. The lectures seems to give the audience nightmares, which is very much apparent as not only does Mr Tompkins fall a prey for it, but so does his wife who had accompanied him to one of them! But sometimes, the father-in-law takes pity on our protagonist and asks him not to attend some of the difficult ones but the physics lover will not be the sufferer as the book contains all the lectures including the one that Mr Tompkins skipped. Science couldn't have been explained in more simpler terms! It is humorous, the tone is humble, the content is just magnificent. With the illustration by the author himself, as the regular illustrator abandons his post, the appeal of the volume seems to increase more as the author seems to keep the drawings, some of them, adapted from originals, as perfect as possible.

Mr Tompkins in Wonderland

This is the 1st in the series centering Mr Tompkins, who takes peek into the world of science, during his off hours of serving as a bank clerk.
His understanding of science sometimes leads to dreams that takes him to lands where the scientific constants are trimmed so that he could realize what happens in the microscopic world of which he could only grossly comprehend at most. But this only helps the reader, who are also benefitted to understand the complicated yet unavoidable philosophy that led to the birth of relativity, replacing the classical notions of space and time and quantum mechanics, replacing the classical notions of certainty in measurement. Consisting of a series of dreams and lectures, the marvels of physics could never be better revealed. Readers with basic understanding of physics will undoubtedly find a great appeal to the intricacies of nature which is explained in easy terms laced with humour that overcomes the difficulty of understanding and inspires confidence to study the subject in detail.

Mr Tompkins Learns the Facts of Life

At a very early age, I was introduced to the character, Mr Tompkins by my father. Well, from then onwards, I became the fan of both the protagonist of the series and the creator. The illustrations that were sketched by Gamow added to the enticement. Science could never have been more thrillingly humorous as when one sees it through the eyes of Mr Tompkins. Ever since I had become enthralled by the intricacies of the Mother Nature and the science She offers.
So, when I took this up, the 3rd in the series, motivated by my recent endeavour with The Body by Bill Bryson (certainly this is in no way related specifically with his body but the medical mystery of the human body, in general), the adventures seem not to have aged much in appeal.
These brought back nostalgic scientific memories. Maybe, it was due to my upgraded view of science the insights seem clearer. As the clerk, Mr Tomkins had shifted his interest from physics after his 1st couple sets of adventures, the readers stood to benefit. Blood, gene and brain were opened to them for investigation as was some rudimentary logic of digital computing. Added to this is a chapter to summarise how energy is harnessed by plants deriving from the solar source and channelled through the multitude of sinks which make up the living and breathing earth. The inquisitive reader can locate several pointers to direct their interest for the future while being glued to the literary wealth of the series.

The Body

After reading this book you will know what you don't know. You, actually, will understand how little we understand about human body, one of the most complex manifestations of evolution that we have witnessed. Starting from the tiny albeit significant cell, it divides numerous times, but remains more or less united, to give you a body to house yourself. The various parts of this mysterious structure works untiringly for you well being but curiously we take it all for granted. Maybe, after going through this book, you will appreciate the various mechanisms of the human body that defends you from all sorts of foreign invasions and remains unappreciated for the better part of their lives. This book is not only how the bodies function but it also gives a brief history of the human understanding of the biology of their bodies. Laced with endearing humour throughout, the author once more gives a fascinating insight of the subject that he documents which will help the layman in understanding what happens the next time anything physiologically happens.

The World As I See It

Portraying the world as he saw it during the Great Wars and the Holocaust in his various essays, addresses, correspondences and some that he received, the book is one of the greatest that I have the privilege to come across. Written by the man, to whom, the whole world attributes for the solution of some of the greatest mysteries of nature, the rationale of human behaviour, the irrationality of human cruelty inflicted on their fellow beings, the solution for a peaceful world, the ode to the artists who tries to make the world a beautiful place, the reverence to the sacrifices of humanity, all of them are composed with a frankness, that does not, for a single moment compromise the urge to shun the evils of the society that threaten all that is peaceful and conducive to evolution of harmonious living with understanding across various views of societies. Explaining a variety of subjects ranging from politics, economy, citizenship, education, religion, values, with the approach, more scientifically aligned yet lucidly philosophical, Einstein curves out his design for a better world. Insolent letters from the people, cornered by his ruthlessly appropriate logic and witty humility that he ushers to pacify the unsatisfied yet faulty complainant, both find places in this collection which is abridged to clamp the scientific correspondences out of this translated edition making it incomplete yet complete in a different perspective.

George's Secret Key To The Universe

One of the fascinating science based fictions I have ever read since the Tompkins series. Basically a book for astronomy enthusiasts, it can motivate the ordinary to get a taste of the basics.
An intergalactic adventure awaits George, whose scientific ambitions had been always snubbed down by his environment conscious parents. It was about to change when his pig breaks boundaries to poke into the next door neighbours. The mysteries of the universe awaits to be unfolded soon as did the mystery of their neighbours and their computer. As George stumbles on the marvels of the universe by the chance meeting, the crooked forces are also in the move, thwarting the aims of the noble minds while trying to use science for petty advantages.
Written lucidly by the brilliant Stephen Hawking and his scientist daughter Lucy Hawking with the charming illustrations of Garry Parsons, this book, once recommended by my father, had satisfied both his son and his grandson with its facts of science presented in the package of fiction with the touch of suspense to appeal the readers of varied ages.

Appointment With Death

In the remote outskirts of Petra, sat the still deadbody of Mrs Boynton, the sadist head of the Boynton family. Was she killed or did she died a natural death? With the remaining members of the Boynton family having chances and motives for killing the cruel lady whose hypnotic spell had, so far, kept them mentally exhausted, it remains on Poirot to clear the doubts. Without the findings of autopsy, it depends on Poirot to analyze the psychology of the witnesses to sieve through their interviews to arrive at the truth.
A revelation, that I had here was, the hypothesis of Poirot that if criminals are allowed to speak, the truth is automatically leaked out by them, which I found quite enlightening.

After the Funeral

It all happened after a funeral when the sudden remark of one of the attendees gave a new perspective to the apparently normal death of Richard Abbernethie. Added to the mystery was the brutal murder of his sister, Cora, by a hatchet in her own home. This unsettled the mind of Richard's solicitor, Mr Entwhistle, who consulted the self proclaimed best brain in the business, Poirot. The psychological game had been already set afoot and mishap was waiting round the corner. The web of evil had been spun that tried to entangle the others. When the members of the Abernethie clan was shedding doubts on each other, Poirot entered the arena in disguise. But the disguise was shortlived, as was the mist that engulfed the minds of people. What remained was how the evil was trapped in this enjoyable whodunit which might not keep you guessing till the climax but will surely keep its grip on your mind till all is revealed. Presented in the signature Christie style of narrating from various perspectives save a few that includes the sleuth, the investigator is introduced quite near the finale that gave the characters the required space to make impression to make the mystery even more enticing.

Dadur Keerti

Like the other Sanjib Chattopadhyay classics, these are also a collection of homely stories for the young  minds. Based on the central character of Dadu or the grand old grandfather of the house, the stories fleet from subject to subject. Sometimes it is about the searching for a home for his brother in Dadur Bagan, sometimes about the loss of the loved ones depicted in Dadur K(n)athal that affects the rich and the poor alike. Some are about the rodents in the house in which makes life miserable but when they are caught and are on the verge of getting thrashed, the apparent unhappiness of the hapless creatures makes the soul miserable still. Dadur I(n)dur, Dadur Dwitiyo I(n)dur are both of such category. Some stories are pure comic like Dadur D(n)ad(n)adano B(n)aat, where the new set of false teeth comes in way, not only while eating but also between justice in remarkably funny way. I had read all these stories in my childhood as part of some other collection of the author, but to collect these again seemed to bring back cherished memories of the youth. Some stories are understandably not in chronological sequence of the plots as are Dadur Shesh Khawa that narrates the tragic mishap of the house cat which apparently came to the family as described in the following Dadur Biral, as are some of the details that seems a bit confusing, but on the whole, the entire volume is a fantastic mould of sorrow, humour and hope.

The Secret of Chimneys

As you go through the book, you will feel that you are going through the scenes of a drama rather than a novel. Yes, the description of events are more filled with discussions rather than reflections on the mysteries. The loquaciousness is the only consistent thing about the story that contains at least three mysteries woven into a single fabric and no dearth of suspects. Interestingly, as the mystery gathers pace, the number of sleuths increase. We have Battle, then comes the detective from the French police. Several other amateurs and professionals in the respective field also tries their hand at trying to crack the mystery that consists of a murder, a theft from days past, attempted robbery which attracts the suspects and the detectives in the same place.
The Chimneys, the great country estate seems to hold secrets that threatens the Royalty and the politics of a small fictional country ruled by the monarchy and which had seen much bloodshed and scandals. Curiously, the supposed errand of the apparent unrelated yet adventurous young man, puts him and his life in the midst of the dangerous race for control. As a murder occurs in the premises where several political personage has taken residence, the professionals are called.
The shrewdly deceptive Battle enters and so does several other mystery seekers. A gem, stolen long ago but apparently hidden in the Chimneys, seems again to attract the thief who stole it. The person, released from the gallows gives the slip to the police and seems to lurk in the vicinity. A master of disguise, he seems to blend with the others in plain sight. Attempt of robbery for a particular manuscript of allegedly risky memoir threatens the balance of nations. Added to this is another death and a bundle of scandalous letters.
As the reader will find, that there is no dearth of mystery but however, the entire novel along with the signature Christie twists will fall short of expectations at the major portions where adventure predominates over mystery.

Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta

The rise of the powerful Raavan is sketched in this book as he transforms himself into the enemy of his motherland. This book actually converges where the other two had converged which completes the introduction for the mighty battle to follow. The inherent sadism that defined the character, the intense hatred borne of a childhood devoid of love, the frustration for a society where people were caste away owing to abnormal physical features, the justified rage with unjustified tendency to massacre for the sake of a handful, the undue obsession to achieve the best at the cost of ethics, the lust to dominate supreme, blended with the passion for fine arts made the trader of Lanka a force to reckon it. Not only he became the ruler of the island kingdom but also forced the the rulers of the Sapt Sindhu to bow before his diktat in one swift yet shrewd attack. But his continuing rage against his very own motherland made him the delicate pawn by an obsessive yet brilliant strategist. Treading along a fine line between control and the loss of it, the insecurity of the obsessive mind keeps the future of the innocents at stake. Getting hint of this fact and trying to save Raavan from drowning his soul further in crime, Kumbhakarna tries to force his sibling to the righteous course, time and again, but to no avail. So it remains to be seen, what final challenge Raavan throws to the motherland.
Though, it is a part of the series, but practically it is the remaining perspective that converges at more or less the same scene that the other two culminated. But, the surprise flashback at the finale, hinted several times in the other two books, will actually alter the thinking when yet another perspective will loom large.
The author uses sensuality for the first time and justifies, at places, the rage of the ruthless. These are the only embellishes in the otherwise thrilling jigsaw piece, which, notwithstanding the obvious predictability of the climax due to its convergence criteria, remains well knit with suspense throughout.