Rambharosar Motorgari

The miserly hardfisted Rambharosa Agarwal, an affluent businessman of Herbertgunj wants to lead a life of piling money but for his wife and son who want to have their own family car. Their insistence gets the better of him and he agrees to purchase one. Happy at the prospects, Suresh, the son, immediately gets some catalogues and shows his dad. But hearing the price of the vehicles that runs in lakhs, Rambharosa is shell shocked. But as he had already promised, Rambharosa cannot take back his word. So he gets hold of an agent to buy a second hand car. With his bare minimum budget of just 10000, what happens next is a hilarious comedy full of merriment and fun. Though somewhat predictable at times, but the best thing of the story is its fast paced refreshing humour with its comically colourful characters that freshens up the mind while enlivening the reading moments.

P(n)achti Rahasya Upanyas

I will be grateful to the fan of the author who was buying a copy of this particular book standing just beside me at the Bookfair. On my enquir about whether the book is good, she told that she did not really know but other works of the author are quality products. So I bought it partly due to her comments, more so as it is a mystery compilation but never in my remotest thinking I considered it to be at all worth. Well, it was to be proven far from correct as the mystery novellas in the volume are breathtakingly beautiful. Consisting of five novellas

• Ek Tukro Megh
• Garita Gelo Kothae
• Choker Baire
• Chokher Arale
• Angule Atatayir Naam

the volume introduces Wrishi aka Saptarshi Dasgupta as the freshest face in the world of mystery fictions with his cousin Shreya acting as his satellite though remaining absent sometimes in the investigations just like Topshe who was sometimes kept in the dark by Feluda while on track of a criminal. Wrishi not only smokes but also keeps a diary just like Mr. Mitra did during the early days of his career as a budding detective. But these are just some minor details but the actual stories will keep you gripped the lines till the criminals are revealed.

The first story ushers Wrishi to the correct path in his career and as he matures so does the cases which includes murder too. In each of them the sleuth uses his power of deductions from the observed clues and finds evidence to corroborate them much in the same way of the styles of the traditional masters of the trade and this seems to revive the spirit which is unfortunately dying in these days of fast paced adventures where logic takes a backseat quite often. But there is some complain that might be said. Leaving all other things, the help from police seems unrealistically always true and there is an unrealness in the sudden maturity of Wrishi as the cases come. But it must also be said that such a refreshing volume of pure mystery laced with a touch of humour made me want for more and also made me an immediate fan of the sleuth.

The Great Tales of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The versatility of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle can be felt in the pages of this book that comprises stories penned  by the creator of Holmes and Challenger some of which equals if not surpasses his more popular titles. Categorised  as the following the stories are a treasure trove of adventure, fun, terror, history and much more:

• Tales of the Ring
1. The Croxley Master
2. The Lord of Falconbridge
3. The Fall of Lord Barrymore
4. The Crime of the Brigadier
5. The King of the Foxes
6. The Bully of Brocas Court

• Tales of Pirates

7. Captain Sharkey: How the Governor of Saint Kitt's came Home
8. The Dealings of Captain Sharkey with Stephen Craddock
9. The Blighting of Sharkey
10. How Copley Banks slew Captain Sharkey
11. The “Slapping Sal”
12. A Pirate of the land (One Crowded Hour)

• Tales of Blue Water

13. The Striped Chest
14. The Captain of the “Polestar”
15. The Fiend of the Cooperage
16. Jelland’s Voyage
17. J. Habakuk Jephson’s Statement

• Tales of Terror

18. Horror of the Heights
19. The Leather Funnel
20. The New Catacomb
21. The Case of lady Shannox
22. The Terror of Blue John Gap
23. The Brazilian Cat

• Tales of Twilight and the Unseen

24. The Brown Hand
25. The usher of Lea House School
26. B.24
27. The Great Keinplatz Experiment
28. A literary Mosaic
29. Playing with Fire
30. The Ring of Thoth
31. The Los Amigos Fiasco
32. How It Happened
33. Lon No. 249
34. “De Profundis”
35. The Lift

• Tales of Long Ago

36. The Last of the Legions
37. The Last Galley
38. Through the Veils
39. The coming of the Huns
40. The Contest
41. The First Cargo
42. An Iconoclast
43. Giant Maximin
44. The Red Star
45. The Silver Mirror
46. The Home-Coming
47. A Point of Contact

The author's fascination for the pugilists and their game and his inclination towards the paranormals are expressed in the volumes in some of the most fantastic stories of the genre that sometimes mixes both with an unique blend. But this does not prevent him to tell science fictions with the similar classic touch. Again, devoid of paranormals, some of the tales of terror are so chilling that it will match a horror story based on the supernaturals. But his mastery seemed at its supreme with the anecdotes of historical fictions that depicts the cruel yet brave world of a time long ago when the earth was defined by the adventures of her heroins and heroes. The cruelty of Captain Sharkey and his downfall (a bit confusing as two different stories hints at two different ways) is depicted in the stories of the seas and other stories also fills in with adventures of sailors each stranger than the other. Humour also finds place in some of the most fun filled misadventures that makes them more refreshing.

Diary of a Pilgrimage

I do not know how to express what I felt going thru this excellent narration that can be considered as a guide to the heart of a German town along with a priceless piece of English humour. Truly a literary wonder it brings forth the true artist in Jerome K Jerome whose use of playful exaggeration of the most normal events makes them appealingly enjoyable. A journey to a German town Oberammergau by two friends to watch the Passion Play could not have been made more interesting than what Jerome has done which also describes the Play and the actors in the simplest of ways devoid of any artificiality yet complete with every detail sketched with the true feelings of the fascinated beholder. Interspersed with his signature style of humour, Jerome has excelled himself than his more popular fiction. Centering on the heart rendering Passion Play, the travelogue that consists of train rides, boat rides is poetically perfect.

Eagler Chokh

A murder is committed and another attempted, the perpetrator is also injured but remains missing. Nothing is stolen indicating not a case of robbery. The prime suspect is an alcoholic with doubtful character but a strong alibi. This calls for the analytic mind among the professionals to untangle the web of puzzles. So it is a call for Sabar who is called to give advice. As investigation proceeds it seems that only a hawk eye view can reveal the truth thus justifying the name of the novel though it is more clearly explained in the Arindam Sil directed movie adapted on similar central theme. It seems so long the events are interpreted from the actions of individual characters the mystery only gets complicated. However when the interrelationships are studied considering all events fused into a single entity just as the eagle watches everything at a glance soaring form the top the mystery is cleared of all the doubts. Thus a twisted plot is laid bare with some uncomfortable consequences as the story climaxes with a sombre yet satisfying twist.

Jungle Lore

Before opening this book a reader like me might have doubts as to whether this is as exciting as Corbett's hunting volumea but after going through it, it can surely be said that it is as exciting, if not more than the others. Let me categorise this as the knowledge base for the jungle seekers narrated in such a simple style as though the author is speaking to you and passing the knowledge in the true style of a lore. The sounds and sights of the Kumaon foothills are etched in the most descriptive way as are the inhabitants that populate it. Added to this is the humour of jungle that makes the volume enjoyable still. There are also situations that explains how the jungle signa can be interpreted which essentially are indicators of the activities of the folks there. Infact sometimes it is similar to detect ive stories where the clues left by the jungle dwellers help in estimating and identifying them as accurately as if they are being watched. The love for the animals as well as the poor forest people whom he calls the soul of India is apparent here. The simpleness of the soul and the raw instincts of the animals seemed to play a major part in the life of Corbett whose greatness of heart is revealed in the entire volume. That he loved the flora and faun of India and looked into all the natural souls with the utmost care is apparent as he says that of his graduation from the catapult to the shotgun and the rifle how he was taught and how he maintained to utilize his every kill to its most whether it be a trophy or for food. The respect that he showed to the jungle was also reflected as depicted in the introduction where the actor playing Corbett in a film is given a visit by an inhabitant who walked for miles for a glimpse on the actor whom he considered the same as the great hunter for whom all believe that he will return. A great book which gives a true insight of the wild India depicted by a great soul who was more a conservationist than modern world ever produced.

Kolaboti

Kolabotoi had been the protagonist in several of Moti Nandi's materpieces but as far as I remember and believe, those are mainly sports oriented. But this is just awesome in the way Kolaboti and her family are introduced. The grave yet loving grandfather Rajshekhar, his son, the soft hearted still bachelor lawyer and a gourmet Satyashekhar, the fun loving college goer Kolaboti with her cricketing skills, all combined, presents episodes of comic and thrill that overcomes the tragedies of life and takes on life with the same sporting style of the noble game of traditional cricket. Also, belonging chiefly to the category of book for the young it borders on the young adult category where a sublime touch of romance makes it a fascinating read for all ages. Refraining myself from telling more lest it turns to a spoiler my suggestion to the readers is to breeze along this easy paced piece to enjoy the beauty of life spent sportingly with style.

Dangerous Minds

Brijesh Singh, elite IPS officer and IGP, Cyber, Maharashtra and S Hussain Zaidi, the fearless crime reporter join forces to delve into the intricate terror web spewed by the likes of the apparently humble Saquib Nachan convicted in bomb blasts, the engineering graduate Mehdi Biswas who turned the social media in favour of ISIS propaganda, the stamp paper scamstar Abdul Telgi, the doctor-to-be-turned-bomb maker Jalees Ansari, the terror couple Hanif Sayed with his wife Fahmida Ansari who made terror a seemingly ordinary event and many more like them. The events are the result of intense research and investigation yet the pace of the narratives is easy but thrilling. The anecdotes reveal several spine chilling truth and the fundamentals of the terror outfits and their members. The stories tell the evolution of the terror force from the older hardcore terrorists to the electronic experts specializing in spreading terror over the internet to those waging terror wars in various parts of the world. It does not stop there but also highlights how the security forces across the country combat these forces by methods that not only requires understanding of the criminal psychology but sometimes requires skillful handling of delicate situations where a single false move can make the case go awry. The fascinating storytelling of the authors mixes the thrill of fictions with the hard truth in such a way that never for once the reader will feel bored. The book is categorized in chapters each of which details a particular person or organization. The investigators have also maintained a list of references indicating the source of the compilations. But the best thing of the book is that, contrast to the opinionated reports that makes the clutter in the media nowadays, the authors present facts leaving opinions to be drawn by the readers. A must read compilation of articles it brings to fore the truth in its dangerous avatar.

The Mystery of 31 New Inn

When two apparently disconnected mysteries converge with mathematical precision to a single case the unique storytelling is a credit all by itself. Dr Jervis gets himself involved in a curious case of secret identity of a dying patient and after a while Dr Thorndyke is invited to a problem of a curious will of a dead man. With nothing but his acumen at his disposal, the legal expert with the medical background embarks to unearth both. While on the case of Dr Jervis a practical method of map building is presented where a person in a closed automobile can make out an approximate idea of where he is travelling with the help of a compass, a pen and a paper, a watch and with some hints of the sounds. The explanation is so clearly made that its applicability is established beyond doubt. Well, coming to the actual story it centres on two plots. The primary one is Jervis's apprehrnsion of foul play on a patient that he sees but cannot find the place all by himself. The other one is a curious will that, by a curious turn of coincidences, devoids the deserving of the sincere wishes of the deceased due to a redraft of the same. It remains upon the insight of the medico legal expert to solve the mysteries without a doubt. As these two incidents are slowly unfolding their truth threat comes on Jervis as an attempt on his life is made. So Thorndyke is forced to make the outdoor investigations mostly by himself while Jervis ponders on the cases staying indoors. As usual there is some help from the efficient Polton in fabricating certain gadgets required during the probings. But in this story there is some gaps in the sense it is never divulged how Thorndyke pinpointed on two witnesses who gave him some vital evidences. So though the story is precisely crafted but for this slight want of clarifications that are not given their due.

Arjun @ beepbeep dot com

What started as a promising mixture of mystery and sci-fi turned quite a slow paced novel with a disappointing climax. The main theme started with Arjun purchasing a cell for himself. At the same time Major comes to India with a foreign researcher, Lucy who investigates bird calls around the globe. They seek his guidance in the forests of North Bengal. All of a sudden Amal Som contacts Arjun and requests for sending him his brain scan as well that of Habu. Mysterious calls comes at Arjun's cell from unknown locations. He also starts hearing voices. Threats seem to come from some local goons assisted by some foreigner. Arjun also gets communications from Bistusaheb. Thus as all the parties are introduced, suddenly the mystery of the calls are unfolded abruptly an the story plunges coarsely forward. The story had all the material for a thrilling suspense with the backdrop of the North Bengal depicted nicely but somehow it irritates as there is no proper justification to several doubts. The scientific rationale to the fiction is never divulged. Thus it remains an improper detective novel.

Amazon Abhijan

A tribute to Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhayay, the movie is the next episode of the Shankar franchise as created by director Kamaleshwar Mukherjee who is also the writer of the story. This time Shankar is on the quest to discover the lost land of the El Dorado guided by an incomplete map on the request of an Italian anthropologist, Anna Floriana wanting to revive the spirit and save the honour of her pianist father Marco, in heart an adventurer, who failed once trying to look for the city. His previous expedition saw him losing his entire crew as his boat capsized and he was at the mercy of the jaguars but for a miraculous escape, thanks to the apparently mythical Virgins of the Sun who saved him though he passed out soon after that. So he had returned empty handed. Heartbroken Marco had turned alcoholic and had lost all hope for another adventure. Unable to bear this pitiful condition of his father, Anna had sailed to India to meet Shankar, already famous for his African explorations, to ask his help in the adventure. Shankar agrees and all starts gearing up for the adventure.

But here, the movie turns curiously detuned with a staccato of events which are thrilling and full of old world romance but the cohesiveness of the film fails drastically. The geography is carefully narrated, the route explained in details, the dangers of the forests are displayed, the tribes are portrayed in details but the adventure itself lacks clarity. The storytelling fails after sometime. The reason for the adventure never seems convincing. The completeness is severely compromised by floating a vague idea in the closing sequences.

A wonderful part of the movie is the picture portrayal of Shankar and Anna's journey from the homeland to meet Marco which deserves applause.

As compared to the previous movie, this movie only improves on the cinematography, scene selections. The animal lovers may give a hard thought for allowing live animals in movie as the animations are quite evident that does not do justice to the rest of the scenes. The hunting of the Boa is never realistic. The adventurers are once shown diving with the robust apparatus that was natural of the age but their previous luggage never suggests them to carry these along with them. Knowing fully well the food will have to be sufficiently selected, it is hard to understand why rations fall short. The unnatural way of passing out after the Virgins of the Sun show up is never explained. Why a doctor lives in isolation in a house in a lake is also never taken up. The mix of languages is also not correct always. Another curious thing is why the adventurers did not clean their teeth even when staying at camps of tribes.

So for the beauties of nature, the detailed picture of the Amazon, the film will be a treasure but to get the thrill of adventure it will not be a correct choice.

The Eye of Osiris

The case starts with the disappearance of a man suddenly with evidences found to indicate his presence in at least two places last but nobody seems to have a clear idea of where he visited last really. This seems to be a problem with his relatives due to the oddity in his will which makes it necessary he be found. The case becomes more complicated when after about a couple of years some human bones are found in several places that resembles the structure of the disappeared but there is not enough to have a definite idea. Also slowly doubt creeps in minds of people about foul play and subtle accusations stray publicly. So it remains upon the forensic expert to come to the rescue which he does but the twist remains that keeps him in the audience seat.
A story with mystery but with a romantic perspective that may sometime feel a little too much for a detective tale. The element of classics prevail dominant throughout and forensics only fill in the necessary gaps. But the slow yet steady rhytm characteristic of a serious crime drama remains always. Though the narrative is like any other of the series centering more on howdunit rather than whodunit but the surprise will surely be why done it in this case which is splendidly realistic yet horribly peculiar.

Kanchangarher Kokilsir

The terrifying master of Mathematics is himself terrified of his own voice. As remarkable as it may sound that is what had happened to the angry arrogant Sir of Kanchangarh Boys' School that keeps him literally dumbfounded as whenever he tries to speak there seems to be a risk of his voice being punctuated by a cuckoo blurting out notes at random. As he is trying to recover from the shock, it seems he is not the only one with a problem. The closed ones are crestfallen. Several doctors fail to diagnose the cause of the disease and infact one of them sets off a chain of events leading to another hilarious episode. The headmaster is also at a confusion to find students failing miserably by the question set by this veteran Sir. Added to this is the surprise visit of the strangest of inspectors. But the solution to all seems quite at hand. As the logical mind seems to grasp the root of the problem the message is loud and clear. The author styles a unique way to convey the joy of spreading joy among folks. A story for the young but it will surely be as good to the others.