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The All Bengali Crime Detectives #1
The All Bengali Crime Detectives
In a middle-class Kolkata neighbourhood, the lives of four recently men take an unexpected turn when they stumble upon a crime. Will the unlikely 'detectives' be able to catch the criminal? Or will they unravel something even more sinister? The protagonists grab this exciting opportunity to rise above their mundane existence. They defy the ordinary, Stretch their boundaries, and in the process discover something precious.
- GenresCrimeIndian Literature
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 13, 2021
The plot is weak and occupies less than half of the book, which is just as well since the book seems focused on describing Kolkata and its people - and that is such a refreshing change. I wish that the plot was more complex. Can a complex, closed room plot also balance a nuanced, meandering and witty portrayal of the city, its culture and its people? perhaps. But even if the plot isn't too complex, one wishes that what appear to circumstantial clues or events that get introduced abruptly be hinted with a little more detail earlier on in the story - just enough to leave a trace but not enough for everyone to discern. I for one, lost the interest to "race" with the story and try to deduce the solution before the big reveal and focussed instead on the brilliant way in which the surrounding elements of the plot have been described.
The icing feels so much more nicer than the cake here that it has pushed me to pick up the next book in the series - hopefully the next one will not just be charming, it will be challenging as well!!
The icing feels so much more nicer than the cake here that it has pushed me to pick up the next book in the series - hopefully the next one will not just be charming, it will be challenging as well!!
May 12, 2011
Maybe I am just too good a detective but I picked it a long way before she got to 'the reveal'
August 8, 2016
This was a nice, chatty read with less of sleuthing and more of Bengali culture exploration.
December 3, 2020
Akhil Banerjee, Calcutta High Court judge, retires from service. On his morning walk, the day after his retirement, three other retirees, Chandan Mukherjee, Bibhuti Bose and Debdas Guha Roy, all recent retirees, invite him to become part of their group. Chandan has retired from the State Bank of India, Bibhuti from a British firm, while Debdas is a retired professor of geology.
Mr Agarwal, a rich man from the vicinity, invites the four men to his house to a function at which he proposes to felicitate Akhil. A collector of valuable artifacts, Mr Agarwal’s home is filled with expensive paintings, and other collectors’ items. A precious stone belonging to the late Mrs Agarwal is passed around from hand to hand and admired by everyone. Later, after the function is over, Mr Agarwal files a police complaint, alleging that the stone has disappeared.
Akhil and his three friends take it upon themselves to solve the mystery. Will they succeed in finding the stone? Or is the thief one of them?
The mystery was extremely tepid and weak. The identity of the criminal was obvious but the good judge and his detective buddies waited until the rest of the book to figure out who it was
The language was colourful and entertaining, but proportionately very little has to do with the robbery. It could have improved with tougher editing. The punctuation issues too should have been resolved. Most of the book was in the past tense but a stray present tense hinted at the imperfect editing.
The character’s names were mentioned in full every single time. It was most annoying. Has the author never read another book before beginning to write this one? Another issue a good editor would have eliminated. The only exception to this odd usage is Subhadra, wife of Akhil, who never gets more than her first name mentioned.
Oddly, while the Bengalis, except for Subhadra, are referred to by their full names every time, Mr Agarwal doesn’t even get a first name.
Mr Agarwal says at one point, “I didn’t mean to insinuate my guests, sir.” Incorrect usage of the word.
What the author does with joy is create a pleasurable image of the city, Kolkata. Its old-world sentimentality, its addas, its culture and the things that make its people tick. The descriptions of the city are laidback and charming. The book does a good job of evoking the Calcutta sensibility, the diehard support of Brazilian or Argentine football, the reading of The Statesman, the broken Hindi spoken by Bengalis to the rickshaw drivers from the Hindi heartland.
There was a fair bit of humour in the book. Chandan’s use of the word, iye, when he was at a loss for words. There are far too many digressions into Indianisms and Bengali idiosyncrasies.
There are far too many threads in the book, too many subplots, that are standalone; if only they had had some tying in with the main thread, it would have worked.
Chhaya Guha Roy is looking for a groom for Piya, her educated “wheatish complexioned” daughter. Incidentally, Piya was the only one who stood out in her bit role. The others are all stereotypical.
Poltu, a streetside Romeo, is smitten with Piya, but will she ever reciprocate his love? The Sabuj Kalyan Samiti plans to make its Durga Puja pandal better than that of the Milonee Club, but is hiring a lion really the best way to achieve that? Piya’s parents attempts to engineer an arranged marriage for her. Bibhuti’s nightmares about his family. At one point, it even becomes a history lesson about the battle of Plassey and the East India company.
The trouble is that none of it should have taken over a book that purports to be a mystery novel. For a book that was described by the Sunday Guardian as a ‘combination of Blyton, Christie and Ray,” this one was none of the above.
Mr Agarwal, a rich man from the vicinity, invites the four men to his house to a function at which he proposes to felicitate Akhil. A collector of valuable artifacts, Mr Agarwal’s home is filled with expensive paintings, and other collectors’ items. A precious stone belonging to the late Mrs Agarwal is passed around from hand to hand and admired by everyone. Later, after the function is over, Mr Agarwal files a police complaint, alleging that the stone has disappeared.
Akhil and his three friends take it upon themselves to solve the mystery. Will they succeed in finding the stone? Or is the thief one of them?
The mystery was extremely tepid and weak. The identity of the criminal was obvious but the good judge and his detective buddies waited until the rest of the book to figure out who it was
The language was colourful and entertaining, but proportionately very little has to do with the robbery. It could have improved with tougher editing. The punctuation issues too should have been resolved. Most of the book was in the past tense but a stray present tense hinted at the imperfect editing.
The character’s names were mentioned in full every single time. It was most annoying. Has the author never read another book before beginning to write this one? Another issue a good editor would have eliminated. The only exception to this odd usage is Subhadra, wife of Akhil, who never gets more than her first name mentioned.
Oddly, while the Bengalis, except for Subhadra, are referred to by their full names every time, Mr Agarwal doesn’t even get a first name.
Mr Agarwal says at one point, “I didn’t mean to insinuate my guests, sir.” Incorrect usage of the word.
What the author does with joy is create a pleasurable image of the city, Kolkata. Its old-world sentimentality, its addas, its culture and the things that make its people tick. The descriptions of the city are laidback and charming. The book does a good job of evoking the Calcutta sensibility, the diehard support of Brazilian or Argentine football, the reading of The Statesman, the broken Hindi spoken by Bengalis to the rickshaw drivers from the Hindi heartland.
There was a fair bit of humour in the book. Chandan’s use of the word, iye, when he was at a loss for words. There are far too many digressions into Indianisms and Bengali idiosyncrasies.
There are far too many threads in the book, too many subplots, that are standalone; if only they had had some tying in with the main thread, it would have worked.
Chhaya Guha Roy is looking for a groom for Piya, her educated “wheatish complexioned” daughter. Incidentally, Piya was the only one who stood out in her bit role. The others are all stereotypical.
Poltu, a streetside Romeo, is smitten with Piya, but will she ever reciprocate his love? The Sabuj Kalyan Samiti plans to make its Durga Puja pandal better than that of the Milonee Club, but is hiring a lion really the best way to achieve that? Piya’s parents attempts to engineer an arranged marriage for her. Bibhuti’s nightmares about his family. At one point, it even becomes a history lesson about the battle of Plassey and the East India company.
The trouble is that none of it should have taken over a book that purports to be a mystery novel. For a book that was described by the Sunday Guardian as a ‘combination of Blyton, Christie and Ray,” this one was none of the above.
January 13, 2024
Suparna Chatterjee's The All Bengali Crime Detectives is a short, sweet, and simple book. Four retired Bengali gentlemen try their hand at solving the mystery of the robbery of a high-value diamond.
It is thoroughly enjoyable.
The mystery at hand is woven into the story in such a lovely way that it feels lazily indulgent.
But, the book is really more about life in Kolkata - from Pujo and collecting chanda (donations) for and decorating pandals to getting unmarried daughters married to the challenges of retired middle-class men.
On a side note, understanding and following the Bengali pet names was a challenge unto itself!
The book also had an interesting take on the history of Durga Puja in Bengal. I don't know of the authenticity, but it was refreshing to read.
It is thoroughly enjoyable.
The mystery at hand is woven into the story in such a lovely way that it feels lazily indulgent.
But, the book is really more about life in Kolkata - from Pujo and collecting chanda (donations) for and decorating pandals to getting unmarried daughters married to the challenges of retired middle-class men.
On a side note, understanding and following the Bengali pet names was a challenge unto itself!
The book also had an interesting take on the history of Durga Puja in Bengal. I don't know of the authenticity, but it was refreshing to read.
October 20, 2019
This book is really a walk through the culture and heritage of Bengal and Kolkata and what makes us Quintessentially Bengali.
A quick read during the Pujo got me through this and I could relate to each of the cultural references.
A definitely feel good book rather than a detective novel.
Already ordered and waiting for the next instalment.
A quick read during the Pujo got me through this and I could relate to each of the cultural references.
A definitely feel good book rather than a detective novel.
Already ordered and waiting for the next instalment.
February 21, 2018
Loads of Bengali culture and history, forming of a detective club of retired men
August 7, 2018
I enjoyed it. However, I was able to figure out much earlier. Very good attempt though.
July 27, 2012
or a first time crime writer, Suparna Chatterjee gives us a very enjoyable read. Though the book is meant to be read as a crime thriller, let me tell you its only masquerading as one. True, there is a crime that has to be investigated and solved. But the book is more about the daily life of the protagonists – four retired Bengali gentlemen who meet most mornings in a small park in their paara to discuss & indulge in light debates. The author has captured the environment, the ambience and the situation very nicely and expresses it in a manner that makes it very easy to visualise the morning meetings of our ABCD friends. The detection portion happens by chance – a crime happens under the very noses of our friends – and as they discuss & debate it over the new few mornings, their natural inclination to solve the mystery energises them to go beyond mere debate & attempt to solve the problem. Intertwined with the main story are parallel threads, including a (not surprisingly!) buildup to the Durga Puja. The four heroes of our story are well-captured and very believable. The story is well-written, proceeds at a steady pace and while being a little heavy with Bengali terms, is nevertheless a good read.
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October 13, 2015
The book is all over the place in terms of characterisation and plot. It attempts to create a nostalgia about Kolkata and the Bengali culture. It is quite endearing and she succeeds to a large degree, but her weakness lies in making it the centrepiece of her writing rather than the background. 'how can you be a Vegetarian, you're a Bengali'. The book consists of characters, whose only merit and reason for being in the book lies in being well-loved Bengali Stereotypes. Yeah, we get it. Move on. The atmosphere the author weaves is true and and it holds. Ms Chatterjee certainly has a voice, she just needs to find more confidence and a better plot. Writing Moshai a hundred times won't cut it.
February 7, 2012
just finished reading this book.bought it in kolkata book fair couple of days ago.it has been a non stop freeflowing read.
The author has been successful in portraying the life of a generation of bengalies who are at the fag end of their life.
In describing their life she has also described today's bengali society and its distinct features.
The author has been successful in portraying the life of a generation of bengalies who are at the fag end of their life.
In describing their life she has also described today's bengali society and its distinct features.
January 23, 2022
This is not so much a whodunnit as a delicious slice of vintage Bangaliyana - the characters resembled my grandfather and his friends, I was watching my own Calcutta childhood unfold in these pages.
Perhaps one just has to be a Bengali to get the full flavours of subtle humour, but I found myself chuckling every few pages. And I usually have such a poker face!
Perhaps one just has to be a Bengali to get the full flavours of subtle humour, but I found myself chuckling every few pages. And I usually have such a poker face!
May 15, 2011
Extraordinary in its simplicity. The crime and investigation is interesting but almost incidental. The Kolkata life and the characters are constructed with amazing subtlety and depth. Not the run of the mill racy thriller.
December 28, 2014
A nice detective story about a robbery at a Bengali neighborhood. Its no Agatha Christie or even Nancy Drew for that matter. In fact I guessed who the 'thief' was halfway through the book. But it still makes for an entertaining read.
May 8, 2016
Fantastic, superb!
The book brings the flavour of authentic Kolkata to life. An unputdownable book for sure. A true heart winner in real simple language. Strongly recommended for everyone. Can't wait to begin reading part two in the series.
The book brings the flavour of authentic Kolkata to life. An unputdownable book for sure. A true heart winner in real simple language. Strongly recommended for everyone. Can't wait to begin reading part two in the series.
June 3, 2014
Bengali bhadralok masturbation.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews