BOOK REVIEW - MACABRE TALES - ANTHOLOGY OF UNCANNY SHORT STORIES - EDITED BY NANDITA DE NEE CHATTERJEE

 

With a title like the above, there is a frisson of anticipation that goes through one’s heart, and one is not disappointed. Many talented writers have come together to write their stories, brilliantly macabre!

1.     Santhosh Bakaya lifts the curtain on this riveting anthology as she describes a New Year’s Eve party, where hordes of people made polite conversation about the most trivial topics. And the Fireplace Roars On’ ends with a quaint twist that send a shiver up the spine.

2.     ‘The Patient’ by Harshali Singh is one of the most intriguing tales in the anthology, highlighting the power plays that go on in the field of politics, mirrored by parallel power plays in hospitals as well.

3.     ‘Last of the Pench Tigers’ by Antara Banerjee touches the heart through its heartrending narrative as “the sameness of pain and sense of injustice” unite the wronged in an unbreakable bond of fellowship.

4.     What happens when an imposter tries to trap one in a web of deceit and lies? ‘Larceny of Identity’ by Purba Chakraborty is a fast-paced read that reveals the intricacies of foiling such a plot.

5.     How difficult is it to dissect the inner core, the femininity of a beautiful woman’s soul? ‘Flower’s Tale’ is a true testimony to how languorously language can be modelled into a paean of beauty by a poet like Lopamudra Banerjee.

6.     ‘The Last Train to Earth’ by Monalisa is a fascinating story, well etched out in its treatment with an unexpected denouement that leaves the reader in shock. 

7.     A shocker of a story that hurtles its way to the last twist, ‘The Elixir and the Nemesis’ by Sreeparna Sen keeps one glued on one’s chair till the mystery is solved, à la Agatha Christie. 

8.     ‘The Connoisseur’ by Alipi Das is a consummate tale from the past that blends fine dining with mystery. Nowhere does the narrative falter, making it a well-crafted creation, replete with a variety of unusual words.

9.     Holding back one's emotions can often lead to disaster. ‘Delusions’ by Muskan Sharma treats this theme with sensitivity, as she writes a story that touches the heart.

10.  ‘Love with Fire’ by Dr. Paromita Mukherjee Ojha is a romantic story with overtones of treachery. The main characters take the oft-trodden path of a love-hate relationship, but the twist at the end makes this an intriguing offering from a gifted writer.

11.  ‘Ratha Katteri’ by Varadharajan Ramesh is imbued with a feel of the state he hails from, Tamil Nadu. He delves into the treasure- house of folklore, using the local dialect at innumerable places to recreate a story that is a blend of horror and myth.

12.  Preeti S Mankotia’s story ‘Being Immortal’ reveals the unpredictability of the human mind in a manner quite unique.

13.  ‘In Your Bloody Eyes’ by Rashmi Agrawal is a rollercoaster ride. Many twists appear one after the other, leaving the reader breathless at the ingenuity of the writer.

14.  ‘Fly with Me Love’ by Preethi Warrier fits in perfectly with the title of the book – Macabre Tales. Can a pampered life lead to far-reaching consequences that sometimes, lead one to do things that are irretractable?

15.  An intrigue in the foothills of the picturesque township of Madolian makes up the theme of ‘A Complot on the Foothills’ by Moushumi Bhattacharjee. Can an investigating officer solve a mystery that is shrouded in secrecy?

16.  When a bestselling crime author steals away to a small town to write, things are bound to get interesting. ‘The Fulcher House Mystery’ by Zainab MM is a whodunnit that keeps the readers on the edge of their seats.

17.  ‘Forbidden’ by Nandita De nee Chatterjee tells a familiar story of the harassment and attempted molestation of Adivasi girls. Can a miracle save the situation?

At the end of this captivating anthology, one is left with the certainty that often, life itself is a mystery, touched with the eerie and the mysterious, sometimes a riddle never to be solved, and at others a macabre dance that freezes the blood.