MURDERS MOST FOUL

SAMYUKTA BHOWMICK'S DEBUT NOVEL, A FATAL DISTRACTION, IS A WHODUNIT THAT GOES BEYOND MERELY PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE MASTERS OF THE GENRE

- Devarsi Ghosh

A FATAL DISTRACTION by Samyukta Bhowmick JUGGERNAUT ₹599; 320 pages

First, just the facts, ma'am. A lurid murder-themed book launch in South Delhi becomes the scene for two murders. Victim one is DB, the Communistminded editor of a Delhi tabloid. Victim two is Anika Kapoor, columnist at the said tabloid and the bratty daughter of its gazillionaire owners.

Although Anika appeared to have enemies, DB was a nice, old man, with a modest income and despised by no one in particular. Suspects include characters from the Delhi publishing and journalism scene. The police want to wrap up the case quickly. But when two of the tabloid's journalists, the misanthropic Mridula and her younger assistant Monami, start playing detective, everybody gets on high alert.