Rusty The Boy from the Hills

Once more reading through the early life of Rusty gave a feeling of serene India and her beauty. The boy that grew up with his grandparents mostly, lost a mother to divorce, half lost his life during war, lost his father all of a sudden and almost lost his home, did not ever lose the spirit of life. This is the true essence of Rusty stories where humour and tragedy goes hand in hand which never feels out of place. The love for the land where he was born seems to pull Rusty always towards his home whenever there lurks a chance to draw him out to places far away. In this book Rusty presents a wonderful narrative of how he grew up in his childhood among his nature loving Grandfather, his rationally optimistic father, his eccentric yet harmless uncle and above all his loving Grandmother who made his life complete in his childhood. With them it actually helped the child to grow to a young boy who could be happy with the simple ways of life that infused him with strength as well as hope for the coming uncertain future.

Dwi-Baibahik K(n)ata

If acute loquaciousness is the downside of the story multiple twists at the climax is certainly credit to same. When a case of bigamy turns up corpse in the residence of a renowned businessman resulting in arrest of a salesgirl then it remains upon a cool brain to unravel the knots of the mystery. A fast paced novel with a thrilling courtroom drama leaves all but the prime sleuth in awe. With subtle cheatings during the unraveling, the narrative is supremely enjoyable as well as intensely suspenseful. Interspersing passion with mystery the author presents the anecdote with his signature style and acknowledges an obvious mistake in introductory explanations without which I would have failed to notice it.

A Short History of Nearly Everything

The book had been recommended by one of my very senior colleagues and it proved to be a most worthwhile and enjoyable item. Nowhere ever had I found a more enjoyable narrative of the history of earth and its evolution. With a lucid flow of language some of the most defining discoveries of the world as we know have been described. The events that prompted a finding, the snubbings received by a few, the interpretations of some that may well have been otherwise explained and some actions that obliterated the last of the evidences, these are but a few of the facts penned in minutest detail in this wonderful anecdote of the history of the planet earth. Funny yet serious the book will humour thoughtful readers.

Black Coffee

Poirot’s fussiness to neatness and order could not have been better utilized than this narrative as an immensely important clue is due to that which is pointed out by Hastings surprisingly. Adapted from Christie’s play, the story is set in a single room where a curious murder occurs and the murderer seems seemingly obvious. But with the signature Christie twist the perspective is suddenly changed by the detective. A case of poisoning and theft, the mystery must be solved before the evidence is destroyed and the stolen goods recovered before it falls in wrong hands. A sublime suspense reigns throughout where each suspects the other and it remains to be seen how the secrets are unraveled and misunderstandings cleared.

The Mystery of Wreckers' Rock

My first three investigators book that

was a gift at a time when English books had seemed nightmare. But when I reread it after ageing a bit, I realized what treasure it was. Now when I read it, this seems rather simple story yet not a bit less thrilling. As a boat is found with signs of a possible drowning near an age old rock that seems to be den of ghosts and werewolves the plot seems a bit thick. Also when the investigating trio is hunted for some innocent snaps there is no turning back. The mystery closes the series yet remains one of the most enticing.

The World of Nagaraj

Nagaraj belonged to the elite Kabir street family and so didn’t have to care for a living. Infact he didn’t have a care in the world except writing his masterpiece on Narada. But life was soon to change when Tim, his nephew came to live with him forever. Social confusions seem to get in his way but his meek nature prevented to find a solution and so he remained only the silent spectator to the drama of life that revolved around him. Contrary to his ways of life, his wife though doted on the nephew but wished to be strict. But her wise means were easily foiled by her husband who had proper sense but lacked the courage to use it. To make matters worse sometimes the stubborn brother visited him and made his life even more miserable. Then came the daughter-in-law with her harmonium that seemed to create enough noise for Nagaraj to change his daily routine. There are also a few more characters of varied prominence including the Talkative Man who really breathed more fun to the already humourous mood of the narrative. But amidst all the chaos the focus to write about the great sage never became blurred and he tried every avenue to write his manuscript on Narada who was his idol. The entire pace of the story is perfect throughout but for the closing chapter that seemed a bit abrupt. The humorous perspective is most prominent but it adds a bit of sober romance that heightens its appeal more.

The All Bengali Crime Detectives II The Mysterious Death of Probhat Sanyal

When I had read the first in the series, or what would promise to be the first in a series beyond the expectation of the writer as acknowledged at the closing pages, it was a real entertainment. But as it happened this one is a bit short on the expectations of the readers. As a case is presented to the ABCD by one of the collegemates of a member of the club, of a reported eerie happening in the past and followed by unexpected death of a Kolkata based businessman, the sole witness to the creepy event, the energy of the senior citizens are boosted to solve the mystery. Soon arrests follows and the events take some unexpected turns. But here the thrill is marred by a host of side events and coincidences that does not do justice to the central plot. Compromising the suspense to some extent at the cost of the size of the novel I think the side plot of the roadside Romeo could have been itself a wonderful Barogolpo but when clubbed with a mystery loses both its fun, barring its climax after the actual mystery is solved, and tries in vain to breath relief to the already relaxed mood of the mystery. Also using the Bengali lingo to its colloquial extremity including the spelling of several characters and references to the story it does not do justice to the ‘Rasik Bangali’ culture and it makes it even more improbable for a club in Golf Garden organizing a jatra instead of a play that is too much far fetched in my view. Also after going thru the story I will comment that don’t be its judge by its cover as contrary to the expectation that most of the story might be in the backdrop of the hills and forests, it is only a minute part that references the hills. So though a wonderful mystery with a final twist quite unique it is not as gripping and compact as its predecessor which maintained the balance of the central plot with the right blend of refreshing anecdotes.

Sparkling Cyanide

I had bought this book at a second hand store and with it brought By The Pricking of My Thumbs as well. It will always be a good bargain as had I not bought the same, I would not have got to read parts of this book as by the virtue of a mistake in the stitching, parts of the books have been interchanged. It seems more of a coincidence that I bought them at once.
Well enough of the interesting shopping, let us now look at the story. A rich heiress to a fortune marries a person years older than her and brings her only little sister to live with them. At a party tragedy strikes as the depressed heiress collapses, revealing cyanide poisoning to be the cause of the apparent suicide. Curiousness strikes the husband days later as he gets anonymous letters pointing it to be a murder. The sister also unearths some doubts as to her faithfulness. With clues strewn here and there, the husband sets to trap the murderer in the same setting about a year later. But tragedy strikes once more as the husband is murdered in front of everyone at the same way.
With several characters to investigate upon, the primary investigators find a sleuth hidden among the suspects. With revelations as surprising as the actual mastermind of the heinous crimes, the accessory of the murder will not be so surprising when identified.

Greatest Stories

This had been a very old book in my shelf. The short chronicles are arranged as
• Hostage to Momus
• The Gift of the Magi
• Telemachus, Friend
• A Ramble in Aphasia
• The Passing of Black Eagle
• The Shamrock and the Palm
• Jeff Peters as a Personal Magnet
• Past One at Rooney’s
• The Princess and the Puma
• The Moment of Victory
• The Atavism of John Tom Little Bear
• The Brief Debut of Tildy
• The cop and the Anthem
• The Last of the Troubadours
• The Memento
• A Ruler of Men
• The Man Higher Up
• A Municipal Report
Going thru the signature twists in the plots in each of them brought back the enjoyment in the fullest. It seemed that age has ripened the flavour even more. It is not that these all commence in comedies but tragedies too had been wrapped up in such a pleasant ambience that it steals a moment to contemplate whether to lament or laugh. The collection inspires a promising vacuum to be satisfied by a host of similar others.

Bhuteder Niie Goppo

Sieving thru the bookself searching for something different, suddenly this one caught the eyes. Standing in a forgotten corner was my childhood's happy companion whose contents run as

• Raat Jakhan Barota

• Kustir Pyanch

• Nishi Kabrej
• Kogramer Madhupandit
• Dui Paloan
• Purano Jinish
• Nayanchand
Though these are for the children, yet they brought a sense of nostalgia and fun devoid of malice. Chiefly belonging to the ghost genre but some are exceptions that are no less entertaining. This, for a change, brought some fond moments back once more.

The Mystery of the Two-Toed Pigeon

A nervous winking man, a caged pigeon, a murdered magpie that used to bring pearls, some dead hawks, a message scripted with Japanese letters, Jupiter, Pete and Bob have to find who is killing the birds and why is their pigeon swapped suddenly. Traversing thru the nostalgia, the story was savoured with its gentle yet firm pace. Recommended for the young people, the elders can also enjoy the rationale that clears away all the queries which were posed. Clues abound there is a chance that part of the mystery may be guessed a bit early.

Jana-Aranya

After I've seen "Jana-Aranya" I had longed to read the book with a feeling may be to better understand the characters. But after going thru the story I discovered not one but two stories - one penned by author and the other by the director which is not only different although a masterpiece but is a merely an adaptation only.

The life of an educated ordinary yet honest unemployed youth turned mediocre businessman who not only witnesses the dark steps towards success but ultimately boards them remains central to the plot. With this revolves several parallel themes that rediscovers the life of order suppliers in their various avatars. Also the socioeconomic condition of the society is revealed that disrobes the social and sophisticated standings of the people. Thus its significance is still apparent and remains as a timeless warning to society and their politics.

The Jayjayanti edition has added attractions of the writer's autograph and the stories behind the story that inspired the author to create the characters for which debt is due to that anonymous lady who convinced the author to reveal them.

Shri Shri Ramakrishna Rahasyamrita

A mystery that had cast a melancholy yet mysterious shadow on the Bansha Biswas family of Howrah for more than hundred years seems to be unfolded by the combined effort of Harimoy Chowdhury, editor of the periodical Chamcham with HQ at the Hidaram Halder Lane, Howrah, Bhabanath Sen, a renowned writer, Piklu, a management undergraduate from Bombay, a DIG and Banshagolap Biswas who has returned to his roots after a series of grievous episodes made the Biswas to partially relocate at Benaras for years. But it seems some sinister gang of smugglers also has their noses on the scent. But what is the mystery? It seems to have its origin in the histories. The glorious incidents around Shri Shri Ramakrishna remain to be studied once more. Some newfound archives in the Biswas mansions reveal some new secrets as do a traditional practice that Chamcham editor performs each day on the request of the Biswas, four generations previous. The book is narrated with the signature Sankar touch and its easy flow seems to gain tremendous pace in the later pages. The finale is a cliffhanger and unique as contrary to the fictions with historical significance it keeps both the facts and fictions pure