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Mysteries, murders and detectives
Reviewed by Balwinder Kaur
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Engraved in stone
by Madhulika Liddle
Hachette India. Pages 312. Rs 395
On
the eve of Aurangzeb’s ambitious bid to take over the
fabulously wealthy Bijapur, an important ally is murdered.
Directed by Emperor Jahangir’s Diwan-i-kul the master
detective Muzaffar Jang must hasten to find those guilty or face
the consequences. The enemies of the rich and influential
deceased Mumtaz Hassan could be lined up from Agra to Dilli. The
high status and noble birth of the main suspects renders this
task very difficult. With the clock ticking loudly, Muzaffar
does not have the luxury of just waiting and watching. He gets
actively involved in order to precipitate events and force the
perpetrators to reveal their hand. A risky gambit that could
backfire spectacularly but among the rewards of success could be
the love of the bold and beautiful Shireen.
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Salvation of a Saint
by Keigo Higashino
Translated by Alexander O Smith with Elye J. Alexander
Abacus. Pages 377. Rs 350
After
the success of The Devotion of Suspect X, the author
reunites the detective team of Kusanagi and Yukawa to solve the
baffling murder of Yoshitaka Mashiba. They naturally suspect his
wife Ayane, who has both motive and opportunity but the method
is inexplicable for he was found poisoned in an empty house
while she was in a completely different city. But when detective
Kusanagi starts exhibiting inappropriate feelings for the
suspect matters becomes even more complicated. Following a trail
of broken friendships, shallow associations and spurned lovers,
the execution and executor of the crime seem elusive. While the
brilliant Yukawa toils over examining and re-examining evidence,
Kusanagi chases the shadows of Yoshitaka’s past and struggles
with his own objectivity. A maze of twists and turns with dead
ends and hairpin turns right down to the final revelation. It is
a thrilling read.
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Clifton Bridge: Stories of Innocence and
Experience from Pakistan
by Irshad Abdul Kadir
HarperCollins. Pages 210. Rs 250
Irshad
Abdul Kadir’s gaze
sweeps across the country, peering through windows and turning
street corners exposing the dirty secrets in mansions and the
inescapable suffering in slums. These stories revolve around
conflict. From the friction that belies human interaction to
downright violent aggression. Adnan’s happy family reunion
doesn’t last long after he realises they have changed for the
worse and force their family values or lack thereof onto him.
Bad becomes worse when Jumma the patriarch of a makeshift family
of homeless people finally secures an income but at the cost of
these very people. Yasmin and Talal couldn’t be more different
but fate pulls them together and differences tear them apart but
never for long. Jibran has just lost his mother and begins a
downward spiral. Mad with grief and unresolved issues, will he
be able to break free?
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