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THE ZODIAC CIPHER: Where stars mapped Secrets Blood guarded Gold
246 pages, Paperback
Published August 28, 2025
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January 14, 2026
The Zodiac Cipher by Indranil Sen is a slow-burn detective thriller that keeps you hooked until the end. Received a review copy and, honestly, I’m not sure whether I like the book or not. Here goes my messy review.
It’s the story of a century-old family treasure – 12 coded gold coins left by a 17th century zamindar, Anadi Shekhar. When his son Surya Shekhar passes away, he leaves behind a cryptic poem to trace those coins and unlock the inheritance. Thus, the treasure hunt begins.
A large part of the novel’s charm lies in its setting... Panchali Bhavan, the family’s sprawling ancestral mansion. And it very much felt like a grandfather narrating a story to his grandkids, at least in the beginning.
This mystery was like a slow-simmering stew. With a joint-family setup, there were a lot of characters to keep track of. The detective duo (SJ and Pali), though, were meticulous.
Even though the pacing was a tad slow, you could feel the tension throughout.
Then, short chapters also helped in maintaining the reading momentum. They kept the story going on bit by bit, gradually.
One thing I liked in particular was the use of original names of various relations and other cultural references. It added authenticity and made the book more engaging, though occasionally, I had to rely on context to understand certain references.
Now, while The Zodiac Cipher was engaging, one thing slowed the book down... overly descriptive language. Wayyy too many sentences describing the mood, instead of making you “see” how the characters felt (or the atmosphere was). You understand it, but don’t always see it vividly.
Another thing I found unnerving is that the book didn't have a characteristic style. The writing was elegant but felt generic, flat... Dialogues, too, occasionally felt a bit unnatural. Can’t point out what exactly the issue was.
However, the way the puzzle pieces fit in place together makes me recommend this book. The treasure hunt was quite methodical and elaborate.
Recommended for mystery & thriller enthusiasts. It’s a well-laid-out story, which remains interesting throughout.
PS: The word "deliberate" appears a bit too much to be considered appropriate.
It’s the story of a century-old family treasure – 12 coded gold coins left by a 17th century zamindar, Anadi Shekhar. When his son Surya Shekhar passes away, he leaves behind a cryptic poem to trace those coins and unlock the inheritance. Thus, the treasure hunt begins.
A large part of the novel’s charm lies in its setting... Panchali Bhavan, the family’s sprawling ancestral mansion. And it very much felt like a grandfather narrating a story to his grandkids, at least in the beginning.
This mystery was like a slow-simmering stew. With a joint-family setup, there were a lot of characters to keep track of. The detective duo (SJ and Pali), though, were meticulous.
Even though the pacing was a tad slow, you could feel the tension throughout.
Then, short chapters also helped in maintaining the reading momentum. They kept the story going on bit by bit, gradually.
One thing I liked in particular was the use of original names of various relations and other cultural references. It added authenticity and made the book more engaging, though occasionally, I had to rely on context to understand certain references.
Now, while The Zodiac Cipher was engaging, one thing slowed the book down... overly descriptive language. Wayyy too many sentences describing the mood, instead of making you “see” how the characters felt (or the atmosphere was). You understand it, but don’t always see it vividly.
Another thing I found unnerving is that the book didn't have a characteristic style. The writing was elegant but felt generic, flat... Dialogues, too, occasionally felt a bit unnatural. Can’t point out what exactly the issue was.
However, the way the puzzle pieces fit in place together makes me recommend this book. The treasure hunt was quite methodical and elaborate.
Recommended for mystery & thriller enthusiasts. It’s a well-laid-out story, which remains interesting throughout.
PS: The word "deliberate" appears a bit too much to be considered appropriate.
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