Of Mystery, Mirth and Myths

Aisle Be Damned, Rishi Piparaiya (Jaico)
A humorous take on flying and in-flight shenanigans. Rishi Piparaiya has covered a gambit of activities that transpire in the confines of an aircraft. He begins with an index of objects to carry on a plane. He goes on to explain when one would need to fish out these fancy accessories to ward off the evils one is faced with while flying. The language is simple and the narrative – something that everyone can identify with.

The Sour Faced Moon, Rohini Lall (Frog Books)
The Sour Faced Moon is written in a very interesting format. The story keeps shifting narratives and captures one’s attention. The story spans three generations of people who are seeking to piece together the life they once cherished but got tired of living across the years. Mangled endings, forgotten times, hesitant restoration of friendships is what this novel talks about.

The Avatari, Raghu Srinivasan (Hachette India)
A mythical account of protagonist Henry Ashton’s pursuit of a stolen treasure from a monastery, this novel is a worthwhile addition to the genre of fantasy. Ashton and his able team of sleuths set off on a trail braving the adverse regions of Ladakh, Pakistan and Northern Afghanistan in a bid to solve this mystery. Thrown in are the Avatari, a chosen few who can gain entry into Shambhala – the kingdom that holds the secret to the salvation of humanity from the impending doom. All this comes together in an enthralling novel by Raghu Srinivasan, a serving officer in the Indian Army.

VERVE‘S PICK OF THE MONTH
The Madras Mangler, Usha Narayanan (Jufic Books)
Crime, ragging, sexual abuse, five friends…a handsome criminologist – The Madras Mangler has all the makings of a gripping work of fiction. The murder mystery flows effortlessly and absorbs the reader’s attention.

Chennai is the city where it all unfurls. The references are, therefore, all Indian and very contemporary, making one understand and enjoy the book more. It all starts when a psychopath comes to the city and commits a series of murders wherein the bodies of girls are found in the river. The life of the five girls studying in SS Padmaja College is disrupted when the next victim is tipped off to be a girl belonging to this institute. Enter criminologist Vir Pradyumna who is brought in from New York by his friend Bishnoi to help solve the case. What unravels is a well-written chaos of terror and confusion leading to a thrilling climax.