Monday, 30 October 2017
Tuesday, 24 October 2017
Book Blurb - Behind the Scenes - A New Vikram Rana Mystery
Fading superstar of the Bengali film industry Ryan Gomez is
poisoned to death while shooting for a film in the pretty hill town of Darjeeling.
Sheila Dhar, the film’s beautiful female lead with whom Ryan had recently
broken his engagement is the chief suspect. Sheila attempts suicide and is
shifted to a hospital in Kolkata for treatment. The CID, Kolkata, takes over
the investigation and the film crew is allowed to move back to the “City of Joy”.
Though revenge for the broken engagement seems the obvious
motive for the murder, there are several others who had reason to wish Ryan
dead. Powerful film producer Rustom, the love of whose life ended up becoming
Ryan’s first wife. Screenplay writer
Allan, who was in danger of being fired from the production house thanks to a
public tiff with Ryan. Acclaimed film director Paddy, who was in love with
Sheila. Sheila’s mother, Jaya, who was strongly opposed to her marrying Ryan. The
family of Ryan’s first wife, who bear a deep grudge against him.
There are suspects galore, but the murderer has not reckoned
with the tenacity of Vikram Rana.
Monday, 16 October 2017
Behind the Scenes .......... A New Vikram Rana Mystery
‘Ryan, you are a master of these kinds of scenes, so we
should be able to close this in one take,’ Paddy, the director, said.
He had just outlined the scene in which Ryan would be
standing before a mirror and delivering an angst-ridden monologue on the pains
and ironies of life.
‘Yes… yes… can we just get the shot done? My stomach ache seems to be getting worse.’ Ryan
grimaced in pain. ‘At least emoting the scene won’t be a problem. It will be my
most natural acting.’
The film shooting was taking place in the drawing room of a,
sprawling bungalow in Darjeeling. The camera had been fixed to capture a drunken
Bengali gentleman or bhodrolok, being
played by Ryan Gomez, more popularly known as Dinesh Kumar. The female lead, Sheila Dhar was seated nearby,
ready for the next shot which involved both of them. Jaya, Sheila’s mother, said,
‘Sheila, I have some Ayurvedic medicine which helped me when I had similar trouble
a week back. Can’t we give him a bit of that?’
Sheila said,
‘Well, it can’t harm him…..’
Olivia, a character artist in the film, said to Ryan, ‘You
should just take a Fumedil . It’s very effective.’
Jaya said, ‘No, no, this Ayurvedic medicine is very good, it
works wonders for me.’
Ryan looked at Jaya and said politely, ‘Thanks… I’ll try it.’
Jaya hurried out of the room to get the medicine.
The shooting was about to begin by the time she came back,
and Ryan had taken his place on the set. She put down the glass of medicine on
a table beside Ryan’s empty chair. She said to Sheila in an undertone, ‘I am
going to the curio shop. Make sure he drinks the medicine.’
Sheila nodded and Jaya left the set.
Ryan started to speak, and then stumbled and doubled over
with a sudden spasm of pain. Paddy shouted, ‘Cut. Cut… Are you okay, Ryan?’
Ryan muttered, ‘Dear God, this pain is killing me.’
Sheila handed the glass of medicine to Ryan. ‘Drink this.
You might feel better.’
Ryan drank the medicine in one gulp and grimaced.
‘Everything tastes so foul today!’
The producer, Rusty, called out to Ryan, ‘We can cancel the
shoot if you are not up to it.’
‘No… it’s fine,’ Ryan
said, irritably. ‘I will be okay after some rest. Can we just get this shot
over with?’
The shooting resumed. This time the scene was approved. Ryan
breathed a sigh of relief.
Paddy looked at his watch. ‘Oh, it’s already lunch time!
Let’s do the second scene after lunch. Please hurry up, folks. We are already
behind schedule.’
Ryan grunted his agreement. ‘I think I will skip lunch. I
will rest for some time. Call me once you are ready for the second scene.’
Rusty said, ‘Sure Ryan. Do you want me to help you to your room?’
‘No, no, I am fine. Don’t treat me like some helpless old codger.
You know I can’t stand fuss!’ Ryan snapped. He staggered towards his bedroom, with
the film crew looking on in helpless silence.
After the lunch break, the cameras were checked. The same
room would be used for the next scene. Sheila was in her chair, looking
slightly annoyed, as she waited for the shooting to resume. Paddy sent the assistant
director, Bala, to inform Ryan that the shooting was about to resume.
Bala came back looking nervous. He approached Paddy and said,
hesitantly, ‘I knocked on the door, but Ryan sir is not responding.’
Concerned, Paddy, Sheila, Olivia and Rusty rushed to Ryan’s
bedroom. As he still did not respond, they tried to open the door. It was not locked.
They entered the room to find Ryan lying inert on the bed. Sheila rushed to the
bed and shook the unresponsive figure, ‘Ryan, wake up. Please wake up.’ By this
time some more crew members had entered the bedroom.
Rusty said tersely to the assistant director, ‘Bala, send
for Dr. Gupta immediately! He lives right next door. All of you, clear out! Let
the poor man get some air. Move…. move.’
All the crew members trooped out and Bala ran out to fetch the
doctor. Only Sheila, Olivia, Paddy and Rusty remained.
Rusty glared at Sheila and said harshly, ‘What medicine did
your mother give Ryan? Why is he not responding? And where is Jayadi?’
Sheila looked up from the bed, fear and confusion writ large
on her face. ‘What are you saying? It was just some Ayurvedic medicine for
stomach ailments. My mother takes it. Why would my mother cause him any harm?’
Dr. Gupta rushed in at that moment. Rusty turned towards him
and said, ‘Ryan was unwell since the morning. Now he is not responding. Please
do something!’
Dr. Gupta took Ryan’s pulse. After a moment, he shook his
head. ‘I am afraid nothing can be done. He is dead.’
Sheila screamed. ‘No, Ryan! You can’t leave me. Please…, oh
please, come back.’
As Rusty looked on confused and helpless, the doctor said
sharply, ‘I know Ryan’s medical history. He had no major health problems. His death is
certainly very sudden. I am afraid that I cannot issue a death certificate. The
police should be called.’
Sheila wept, her head on Ryan’s chest. Nobody stepped up to
comfort her. Instead, all eyes were fixed on her
Questioningly? Accusingly? Warningly?
Thursday, 7 September 2017
This is a review of my book A Season for Dying in Amazon. I just had to share this because this kind of reviews makes me want to be the world's best writer and continue to entertain my readers.
Thank you Chandini K I don't know you, but I will forever be grateful to you, because you make me a better writer as I want to please you even more with my next book 
.
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Here is the review:
oh my goodness!! had to give it 5 stars because I couldn't find a single flaw!
Checklist:
1. Good writing? check! (No extensive use of Thesaurus just to sound fancy, simple and smooth writing with impeccable editing)
2. Plot and Story? check! (well researched, not a hollow story with insensible plot. Might not be Sherlock Holmes standards where the twist is at the end you can see it coming but it's totally worth the read too!)
3. Creativity? a 100% check (amidst conventional romantic crap written by the popular but idiotic indian writers this book is actually amazing. Makes one wanna say, "who said Indians can't write crime stories?"
keep up the good work sharmishtha and yes please invest in some marketing.
Checklist:
1. Good writing? check! (No extensive use of Thesaurus just to sound fancy, simple and smooth writing with impeccable editing)
2. Plot and Story? check! (well researched, not a hollow story with insensible plot. Might not be Sherlock Holmes standards where the twist is at the end you can see it coming but it's totally worth the read too!)
3. Creativity? a 100% check (amidst conventional romantic crap written by the popular but idiotic indian writers this book is actually amazing. Makes one wanna say, "who said Indians can't write crime stories?"
keep up the good work sharmishtha and yes please invest in some marketing.
Thursday, 1 June 2017
- THANK YOU Dear Readers
- Average Customer Review: 13 customer reviews
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #159 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #13 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Crime, Thriller & Mystery
- #33 in Books > Crime, Thriller & Mystery
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