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The Poisoner of Bengal: The 1930s Murder That Shocked the World
A crowded train platform. A painful jolt to the arm. A mysterious fever. And a fortune in the balance. Welcome to a Calcutta murder so diabolical in planning and so cold in execution that it made headlines from London to Sydney to New York.
Amarendra Chandra Pandey, 22, was the scion of a prominent zamindari family, a model son, and heir to half the Pakur Raj estate. Benoyendra Chandra Pandey, 32, was his rebellious, hard-partying half-brother – and heir to the other half. Their dispute became the germ for a crime that, with its elements of science, sex, and cinema, sent shockwaves across the British Raj.
Working his way through archives and libraries on three continents, Dan Morrison has dug deep into trial records, police files, witness testimonies, and newspaper clippings to investigate what he calls ‘the oldest of crimes, fratricide, executed with utterly modern tools’. He expertly plots every twist and turn of this repelling yet riveting story – right up to the killer’s cinematic last stand.
Amarendra Chandra Pandey, 22, was the scion of a prominent zamindari family, a model son, and heir to half the Pakur Raj estate. Benoyendra Chandra Pandey, 32, was his rebellious, hard-partying half-brother – and heir to the other half. Their dispute became the germ for a crime that, with its elements of science, sex, and cinema, sent shockwaves across the British Raj.
Working his way through archives and libraries on three continents, Dan Morrison has dug deep into trial records, police files, witness testimonies, and newspaper clippings to investigate what he calls ‘the oldest of crimes, fratricide, executed with utterly modern tools’. He expertly plots every twist and turn of this repelling yet riveting story – right up to the killer’s cinematic last stand.
- GenresNonfictionHistoryIndia
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 12, 2024
5 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Dan Morrison
6 books31 followersHey Goodreaders --- I'm Dan Morrison, journalist and author of THE PRINCE AND THE POISONER, coming in March from The History Press in the UK, and published as THE POISONER OF BENGAL by Juggernaut Books in India.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 8, 2024
4.5🌟
What if I tell you,
this is the story of the very first MURDER
using a Biological weapon 💉
A Case that shocked not only the Nation, but the whole world.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Fratricide is the oldest crime. We have heard many stories of feud between brothers for property. Usually cases where one shot/stabbed/poisoned the other.
So what makes the Pakur Raj Case different?
The fact that the Accused used a "germ" weapon to slowly kill his younger half brother in 1930s!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
The Poisoner of Bengal is so far the most mind-blowing read of 2024 for me. If there were no evidence, I would have assumed it was a crime fiction. But the fact that the writer took the pain of going all in and finding every possible information on the case, working his way through archives and libraries on Three Continents, to write this book makes it realistic and reliable (Even bone chilling)
Using modern science tools to accomplish a crime is still a far-fetched idea. Doing so a century ago, that too with such smooth execution highlights the cold blooded nature of humans.
While I was reading the book (and googling), I was shocked, and yet totally mesmerized by the description of colonial Bengal. I think it was a good relief to balance all the sociopath plotting done by Benoyendra. The excruciating details and the slow reveal of events that transpired kept me awake for nights.
I'll recommend it to ones who like reading case studies, crime fiction and murder mysteries.
What if I tell you,
this is the story of the very first MURDER
using a Biological weapon 💉
A Case that shocked not only the Nation, but the whole world.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Fratricide is the oldest crime. We have heard many stories of feud between brothers for property. Usually cases where one shot/stabbed/poisoned the other.
So what makes the Pakur Raj Case different?
The fact that the Accused used a "germ" weapon to slowly kill his younger half brother in 1930s!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
The Poisoner of Bengal is so far the most mind-blowing read of 2024 for me. If there were no evidence, I would have assumed it was a crime fiction. But the fact that the writer took the pain of going all in and finding every possible information on the case, working his way through archives and libraries on Three Continents, to write this book makes it realistic and reliable (Even bone chilling)
Using modern science tools to accomplish a crime is still a far-fetched idea. Doing so a century ago, that too with such smooth execution highlights the cold blooded nature of humans.
While I was reading the book (and googling), I was shocked, and yet totally mesmerized by the description of colonial Bengal. I think it was a good relief to balance all the sociopath plotting done by Benoyendra. The excruciating details and the slow reveal of events that transpired kept me awake for nights.
I'll recommend it to ones who like reading case studies, crime fiction and murder mysteries.
February 26, 2024
"The Poisoner of Bengal" unravels a chilling true crime tale set in 1930s Calcutta. The murder of young zamindar Amarendra Chandra Pandey by his half-brother Benoyendra Chandra Pandey unfolds against a backdrop of mystery and intrigue. Morrison expertly navigates the courtroom drama of the seven-month trial which is filled with scandalous allegations and complex characters. Drawing parallels to Sherlock Holmes mysteries, the book delves into colonial India's tensions and the quest for justice. This captivating blend of historical narrative and true crime offers a gripping read for those fascinated by India's past and the mysteries of a bygone era.
December 30, 2025
The Poisoner of Bengal by Dan Morrison
The Poisoner of Bengal reads like a taut crime thriller, but its power lies in the fact that every chilling detail is true. Dan Morrison reconstructs a sensational murder from 1930s Calcutta — a crime so calculated and modern in its execution that it captured headlines across the world, from London to New York.
At the centre of the story are two half-brothers: Amarendra Chandra Pandey, the dutiful 22-year-old heir to half the Pakur Raj estate, and Benoyendra Chandra Pandey, older, restless, rebellious — and heir to the other half. What begins as a simmering inheritance dispute slowly mutates into something far darker. Morrison shows how ambition, resentment, science, and opportunity converged into an act of fratricide that was as ingenious as it was horrifying.
What struck me deeply was the setting. Pakur today is an unremarkable, almost forgotten small town in Jharkhand (at that time undivided Bihar) .
I had no idea that it was once the centre of such a vast and powerful zamindari estate, its wealth and influence stretching far beyond Bengal and Jharkhand. That contrast between past grandeur and present obscurity adds a haunting undertone to the narrative.
Morrison’s research is formidable — trial transcripts, police files, witness testimonies, and newspaper reports from across continents — yet the writing never feels academic. He has a sharp eye for detail and pacing, expertly plotting every twist, from the crowded train platform and the mysterious fever to the dramatic final reckoning. The story carries elements of science, sexuality, and cinema, but it never slips into sensationalism.
What stays with you is not just the crime, but the world it reveals: colonial Calcutta on the cusp of modernity, where forensic science, public spectacle, and private greed collided. This is not merely a true-crime story; it is a portrait of a society in transition.
A gripping, unsettling, and deeply absorbing read — one that lingers long after the last page is turned
I love history and therefore for me this was a really good piece of history and a lot that is hidden in our past world .
What I admired most about Morrison’s writing is his restraint. He resists sensationalism, even when the material invites it. The horror emerges slowly, through accumulation — a crowded train platform, a sudden jolt, an unexplained fever — details rendered so calmly that they become more unsettling.
Go for it if you love history
The Poisoner of Bengal reads like a taut crime thriller, but its power lies in the fact that every chilling detail is true. Dan Morrison reconstructs a sensational murder from 1930s Calcutta — a crime so calculated and modern in its execution that it captured headlines across the world, from London to New York.
At the centre of the story are two half-brothers: Amarendra Chandra Pandey, the dutiful 22-year-old heir to half the Pakur Raj estate, and Benoyendra Chandra Pandey, older, restless, rebellious — and heir to the other half. What begins as a simmering inheritance dispute slowly mutates into something far darker. Morrison shows how ambition, resentment, science, and opportunity converged into an act of fratricide that was as ingenious as it was horrifying.
What struck me deeply was the setting. Pakur today is an unremarkable, almost forgotten small town in Jharkhand (at that time undivided Bihar) .
I had no idea that it was once the centre of such a vast and powerful zamindari estate, its wealth and influence stretching far beyond Bengal and Jharkhand. That contrast between past grandeur and present obscurity adds a haunting undertone to the narrative.
Morrison’s research is formidable — trial transcripts, police files, witness testimonies, and newspaper reports from across continents — yet the writing never feels academic. He has a sharp eye for detail and pacing, expertly plotting every twist, from the crowded train platform and the mysterious fever to the dramatic final reckoning. The story carries elements of science, sexuality, and cinema, but it never slips into sensationalism.
What stays with you is not just the crime, but the world it reveals: colonial Calcutta on the cusp of modernity, where forensic science, public spectacle, and private greed collided. This is not merely a true-crime story; it is a portrait of a society in transition.
A gripping, unsettling, and deeply absorbing read — one that lingers long after the last page is turned
I love history and therefore for me this was a really good piece of history and a lot that is hidden in our past world .
What I admired most about Morrison’s writing is his restraint. He resists sensationalism, even when the material invites it. The horror emerges slowly, through accumulation — a crowded train platform, a sudden jolt, an unexplained fever — details rendered so calmly that they become more unsettling.
Go for it if you love history
March 21, 2024
World’s Oldest Crime-
Review of ‘The Poisoner of Bengal’ by Dan Morrison
🖋️📖
Three stupendous elements make this riveting crime saga by Dan Morrison come alive- the magnificent city of Calcutta, true crime and a vintage, pre-independence era. With a striking Cain-And-Able-esque air around it, this chilling murder mystery is set in one of the hottest towns of the world.
Morrison brings back a century old murder performed with a cold-blooded brilliance on a crowded train platform. He researches through mounds of archives to bring back this tale of colonial horror to the world.
Amarendra Chandra Pandey, 22, was the scion of a prominent zamindari family, a model son, and heir to half the Pakur Raj estate. Benoyendra Chandra Pandey, 32, was his rebellious, hard-partying half-brother – and heir to the other half. It was their dispute became the germ for a crime that, with its elements of science, sex, and cinema, sent shockwaves across the British Raj.
Calcutta sits as a prominent character here and not just a geographical destination. Calcuttans are ‘fond lovers of jazz music’ while Calcutta streets are ‘the desolate earth of some volcanic valley’, writes Dan, referencing as well as imagining.
The story is set around the Great Depression which could be felt lapping at India’s shores, leaving a worrisome slick of unemployment in its wake. Amarendra Chandra Pandey, with his troubled recovery from tetanus that was regarded as something of a miracle, seemed to be doomed from the beginning.
Fratricide is the oldest crime, writes Morrison, with many methods available to a brother with the requisite sociopathy. Benoyendra had that in spades, but he also possessed vision. A would-be impresario of the growing Indian film industry, Benoy hatched a conspiracy that would guarantee Amarendra’s death and his own financial freedom. Rather than having his younger brother hacked to death on some rural back road by hired goons (a not-uncommon practice among the perpetually feuding gentry), he decided to hire a microbiologist to prepare a deadly viral concoction that would be delivered by a hired hit man to the target.
Get your monthly dose of true crime here.
Review of ‘The Poisoner of Bengal’ by Dan Morrison
🖋️📖
Three stupendous elements make this riveting crime saga by Dan Morrison come alive- the magnificent city of Calcutta, true crime and a vintage, pre-independence era. With a striking Cain-And-Able-esque air around it, this chilling murder mystery is set in one of the hottest towns of the world.
Morrison brings back a century old murder performed with a cold-blooded brilliance on a crowded train platform. He researches through mounds of archives to bring back this tale of colonial horror to the world.
Amarendra Chandra Pandey, 22, was the scion of a prominent zamindari family, a model son, and heir to half the Pakur Raj estate. Benoyendra Chandra Pandey, 32, was his rebellious, hard-partying half-brother – and heir to the other half. It was their dispute became the germ for a crime that, with its elements of science, sex, and cinema, sent shockwaves across the British Raj.
Calcutta sits as a prominent character here and not just a geographical destination. Calcuttans are ‘fond lovers of jazz music’ while Calcutta streets are ‘the desolate earth of some volcanic valley’, writes Dan, referencing as well as imagining.
The story is set around the Great Depression which could be felt lapping at India’s shores, leaving a worrisome slick of unemployment in its wake. Amarendra Chandra Pandey, with his troubled recovery from tetanus that was regarded as something of a miracle, seemed to be doomed from the beginning.
Fratricide is the oldest crime, writes Morrison, with many methods available to a brother with the requisite sociopathy. Benoyendra had that in spades, but he also possessed vision. A would-be impresario of the growing Indian film industry, Benoy hatched a conspiracy that would guarantee Amarendra’s death and his own financial freedom. Rather than having his younger brother hacked to death on some rural back road by hired goons (a not-uncommon practice among the perpetually feuding gentry), he decided to hire a microbiologist to prepare a deadly viral concoction that would be delivered by a hired hit man to the target.
Get your monthly dose of true crime here.
May 18, 2024
📚Book Review📚 #285
.
My Rating- 3.5/5⭐️
.
Calcutta- the bustling city, under the British Raj was peaking at science, crime, cinema, plague and famine during the early 1900s. Led by the zamindars and their thirst for power and money, the progression of crime in the city was no less than a war. In that way, humanity was popping with modern techniques to execute killings. One such tool was the deadly microbes.
The recently heard the term that perfectly describes the use of these microbes to destroy mankind is 'biowar'.
During the early 20th century, when people were about to be introduced with innovations, this technique was already forging towards creating crimes and murders.
.
Amarendra (22) and Benoyendra (32) were half brothers and heirs to the Pandey clan- the zaminders. The hatred of the elder brother towards his younger one was beyond any blood relations. With the help of one crooked health practitioner, he somehow managed to infect his brother through a needle prick. It took him a few days to succumb to the deadly disease.
The author took the privilege of adding not only the plot circling them, but also a lot about the family history, the management and the city overall.
The detailed process of culturing the bacteria and the instruments too, were listed in the descriptions. Hence, it was tiring for me, at some point to go through the entire descriptive sections. The first half of the book seemed scattered with no direction or hint of the storyline. Towards the later half, it seemed to make sense with the book title. In conclusion, it was a worthwhile book on india's murder that shocked the world.
.
My Rating- 3.5/5⭐️
.
Calcutta- the bustling city, under the British Raj was peaking at science, crime, cinema, plague and famine during the early 1900s. Led by the zamindars and their thirst for power and money, the progression of crime in the city was no less than a war. In that way, humanity was popping with modern techniques to execute killings. One such tool was the deadly microbes.
The recently heard the term that perfectly describes the use of these microbes to destroy mankind is 'biowar'.
During the early 20th century, when people were about to be introduced with innovations, this technique was already forging towards creating crimes and murders.
.
Amarendra (22) and Benoyendra (32) were half brothers and heirs to the Pandey clan- the zaminders. The hatred of the elder brother towards his younger one was beyond any blood relations. With the help of one crooked health practitioner, he somehow managed to infect his brother through a needle prick. It took him a few days to succumb to the deadly disease.
The author took the privilege of adding not only the plot circling them, but also a lot about the family history, the management and the city overall.
The detailed process of culturing the bacteria and the instruments too, were listed in the descriptions. Hence, it was tiring for me, at some point to go through the entire descriptive sections. The first half of the book seemed scattered with no direction or hint of the storyline. Towards the later half, it seemed to make sense with the book title. In conclusion, it was a worthwhile book on india's murder that shocked the world.
February 1, 2024
Dan Morrison's "Poisoner of Bengal" unfolds a chilling narrative of a diabolically planned homicide, marking it as perhaps the most audaciously realized germ-induced murder. The story revolves around the tumultuous relationship between Amarendra Chandra Pandey, the virtuous scion of a prominent zamindari family, and his rebellious half-brother Benoyendra Chandra Pandey, heir to the other half of the estate.
Set against the backdrop of a crowded train platform and a mysterious fever, Morrison meticulously explores the intricate layers of this crime that garnered international headlines. With elements of science, sex, and cinema, the tale delves into the heart of the British Raj, unravelling a web of family intrigue and sibling rivalry.
Read the full review here: https://www.aliveshadow.com/category-...
Set against the backdrop of a crowded train platform and a mysterious fever, Morrison meticulously explores the intricate layers of this crime that garnered international headlines. With elements of science, sex, and cinema, the tale delves into the heart of the British Raj, unravelling a web of family intrigue and sibling rivalry.
Read the full review here: https://www.aliveshadow.com/category-...
July 25, 2025
Ended on a high.
While it was no surprise who the murderer was, I sure wasn't expecting the story to end the way it did, it was epic.
Got exactly what I wanted from this book, it was a short and simple read about a real event and also had some interesting bits about the political and social structure of the time.
While it was no surprise who the murderer was, I sure wasn't expecting the story to end the way it did, it was epic.
Got exactly what I wanted from this book, it was a short and simple read about a real event and also had some interesting bits about the political and social structure of the time.
August 20, 2025
A fascinating true crime story that is told in a riveting manner. Best of all, it provides a glimpse into life in the 1930s in colonial India. Plagues, poisons, movies, decadent lifestyles of zamindars in the backdrop of the British Raj and a diabolical villain who meets his end in a blaze of guns and (un)glory. The American Wild West seems tame in comparison. A must-read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews