22 June, 2016

#SpecialFeature :: Moitrayee Bhaduri talks about her top 5 Fictional Detectives


*** Special Feature - June 2016 ***

Crime thrillers are irresistible. Whether the focus is on whodunits like ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ or ‘The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side’, action-packed thrillers like ‘The Devotion of Suspect X’ or ‘The Girl in Dragon Tattoo’, serialized dramas resulting in high adrenaline rush like ‘Prison Break’ or ‘The Practice’, I devour them all. The Enid Blyton series on the adventurous ‘Five Find Outers’ will always be a fascinating childhood memory.

For this post, my focus is on detectives from crime-fiction books. Some iconic characters like Holmes, Poirot, and Feluda have had their stories made into movies, serials etc. But like most booklovers, I continue to be attracted to their books.

Here are my top 5 fictional detectives


Miss Marple
Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple is all my all-time favorite detective. I was instantly drawn to her incredible ability to find similarities between people and solve mysteries through common sense. An elderly lady from the small town of St. Mary Mead (a fictional village) who knows more about human nature and murder motives than her more experienced counterparts is intriguing. I like the fine touches by Christie that make her books so visual- Jane Marple’s passion for gardening for instance or the English breakfast complete with scones, and perfectly boiled eggs! 


Sherlock Holmes
The world’s most loved, sharp-witted detective obviously had to be in my top 5. When one wishes to travel to London with the mission of visiting 221B Baker Street (address of Sherlock Holmes), when the stories continue to linger in your mind years after you have read them, when you wonder how he manages to be the master of disguise, the king of forensics, logical reasoning and more – you know you are Sherlocked! Add to that, the creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s magical storytelling that helps you visualize the old-world charm of England. Till date, I continue to be mesmerized by Sherlock Holmes. 


Feluda 
The celebrated Indian detective Feluda (also known as Pradosh Mitter) was created by the legendary Satyajit Ray. Originally written in Bengali, Feluda is super intelligent and perceptive. He believes in using his ‘mogojastro’ (the brain weapon) to solve complex cases. A big fan of Sherlock Holmes, Feluda is seen applauding Holmes in several books. A detective so simple and sharp, Feluda’s cases always lead to a nail-biting finish. He works with a team – the hilarious Jatayu (a crime-thriller author) and the diligent Topshey (Feluda’s cousin). Feluda’s readers range from eight to 80-year-olds and one never tires of reading his stories.


Hercule Poirot
The ace Belgian detective, also created by Agatha Christie, the queen of crime, is another huge favorite. Poirot mysteries keep you on tenterhooks until the end. What I enjoy the most about a Poirot novel is that while I am dying to finish the book, I don’t quite want it to end! Poirot uses my favorite case-solving techniques – facts and ONLY facts. He shows us repeatedly that even the tiniest of evidences can make a big difference. He stands out as the perfectionist and the cleanliness-freak for whom modesty is never the best policy. 

 

Byomkesh Bakshi
Byomkesh Bakshi is another brainy Indian investigator who calls himself a ‘satyanweshi’ (seeker of truth). Written in Bengali by the noted author Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay, Bakshi is a perfect mix of intelligence, common sense, wit, and charm. Unlike other famous detectives, Bakshi is married. Like Holmes, he too works with an assistant but doesn’t quite appreciate the partner’s probing skills. His novels are fast-packed and there is a thrill in the manner he solves the mysteries. The books also give us interesting insights on pre-independent India.

 

Other Stars
There are several other fictional detectives I admire such as Robert Galbraith’s (JK Rowling) Cormoran Strike, Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta, Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus, and Suchitra Bhattacharya’s Mitin Mashi. And how can I forget the low-profile astute priest-detective Father Brown, created by G.K Chesterton. 

If you love crime-fiction, I am sure you have read one or more of these interesting, classic detective stories. 

If you would like to tell us about your favorite detective characters, don’t forget to leave a comment on this post. You can also write to me at moitrayeebhaduri@gmail.com . Happy reading!


About the Author
Moitrayee Bhaduri is a writer, reader, and music enthusiast. She loves reading crime thrillers as much as she enjoys writing them. She adores epic detective characters like Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Feluda, and Byomkesh Bakshi. Since she wanted to read more Indian detective stories with women protagonists, she decided to create the character of Mili Ray. Moitrayee’s first book, The Sinister Silence is an action-packed suspense thriller that introduces private detective Mili Ray, an ex-super cop.  
Published by Srishti Publishers & Distributors, The Sinister Silence has been receiving great response and appreciation from the creative fraternity, booklovers, and the social media. The author has been featured in leading dailies like DNA, Dainik Bhaskar, Hindustan Times, and The Asian Age, as well as on popular online news & blogging sites.
Moitrayee grew up in a close-knit family in Kolkata, the booklover’s paradise. She enjoys dabbling with different forms of writing – technical content writing, copy editing, creative writing, and more. She has worked with leading IT organizations in various writing and people-managerial roles. For now, she is settled in Mumbai, working full-time, and trying to focus on completing her second crime thriller. In her leisure, she enjoys traveling, watching cricket, and hanging out with loved ones.


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About the Book:
When ace software engineer Saahil is found battling for his life on a rainy morning, it looks like a case of attempted suicide. However, Saahil's family strongly denies that possibility and calls in ex-super cop-turned-detective Mili Ray to investigate. While doctors are uncertain about Saahil's survival, the police discover the blood-soaked body of Saahil's colleague Farzad. Why are IT engineers being targeted? Is there a link between these ghastly attacks and Saahil's cutting-edge invention – the PA software?
Ray and her team – Advocate Gatha and ex-army officer Anubhav – dive into this case, which is turning murkier by the hour. Unaware that a conniving assassin is stalking her, Ray races towards a dangerous trap while murderous attacks continue to haunt the IT world. Who is behind these assaults – a jealous co-worker, an IT kingpin, an estranged friend, or someone else? With the killer on the loose, Ray's credibility is at stake...
Set in Mumbai, The Sinister Silence is an edge-of-the-seat thriller that traces detective Mili Ray's journey through a mysterious case that poses new threats every time she inches closer to her goal.


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Giveaway:
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3 Paperback of The Sinister Silence by Moitrayee Bhaduri - for Indian Residents Only
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2 comments:

  1. Lovely piece about some of the greatest fictional detectives, brought back memories of reading about them. Now I want to read their stories again!
    From child fiction, I would also like to list, The Five Find-Outers, The Three Investigators, Nancy Drew. From serialized dramas, some of my faves are Olivia Benson, The Mentalist, and Castle.

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