A Fly on The Wall: Human Tales Through an Urban Lens

by Mihir Chate

177 pages, Paperback

Published November 20, 2025

Reviews

[dipshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an eclectic and engaging collection of short stories, featuring a wide range of narrators, voices, and themes.

We meet a cat observing the world from his unique perspective in one story, a fisherman in another, and several other characters whose lives, though vastly different, feel equally vivid and real.

The stories explore a variety of ideas: the pull of greed, the loss of simplicity, and the beauty hidden in ordinary moments.

One story that particularly stood out to me was about how quiet, serene destinations lose their charm once they become popular tourist spots. The author brilliantly captures how social media fuels this shift, how a once-hidden place can suddenly become crowded, its peace and people disrupted. And how the locals use the myth and superstitious surrounding the place to drive the tourist out.

What amazed me most was how much the author manages to say within such short stories.

This was a thoughtful, sharply observant collection that captures the essence of modern life and human nature.

[Rahul Vishnoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

-Enter a World of Wonder and Macabre-
Review of 'A Fly on the Wall' by Mihir Chate

Quote Alert
"𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬. 𝐌𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦, 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥. 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞. 𝐎𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞."

'A Fly on the Wall' carries wonder in the centre of its tender, papery heart. But it also has the elements of macabre and magical realism. Packed with an explosion of emotions, it has a tender, bleeding, beating heart at its spine. It's moving, it's magical and it's going to stay with you for a long, long time.

Mihir Chate's prose thrums with a humane energy. It is like a river and a boulder sitting amidst the flow. Motion and pause. Control and impulse. His stories are believable yet a thing of joy, both at the same time, in the same moment.

The storytelling is engaging and the writing style skilful. The characters feel real and full bodied, not lifeless and cardboardish. The reader feels helpless as there is only one goal in the present and now: to finish the book. Everything else comes later.

Author weaves his magic in creating a magical world. But more than that, he has created a solid flesh and blood character that has the power to tug at your heartstrings. He moves you. And when you feel that gamut of emotions, you know the writer has woven a web around yourself too, pulling you in with his quill, immersing you in a world he created.


These are the stories of remarkable people who live their life in flashes. For a reader, that is me, the protagonists of a short story are living either their best or their worst lives. Contrary to a novel where characters get at least 80,000 words to create the ebbs and flows of their lives. But a short story is a rollercoaster of a ride. Here either you are happy or sad or plain disappointed. The author makes sure you aren't lattermost.

This is is a rainbow collection of stories that delight you, fill you with wonder, make you feel frightened and lot more. Modelled on the cracks of life, the flaws that glare through the shiny veneer, this story collection brings the soury sweetness of life to the pages.

I know I should not choose favourites among short stories but if I were to be asked on a gunpoint, I would say I loved Through a Cat's eye, A Midnight Stroll to an unknown city and Whispers of Rudrakhad.
The lattermost is designed to exhibit the mindwash and the influencer game that has its tenterhooks deep in people's gray cells, the story stands out as a representative of contemporary short fiction.
Have a look:
"There... a man... he's flying!" he says loud enough for the nearby folks to hear. The tourists gather around Raghav. I saw him this morning as well. Standing by the lake. Wings as wide as that tree line.. Eyes glowing red." Raghav tells them in a hushed voice. He pauses to catch a breath and continues,"Rudra Garud. That's his name. Used to protect this place. But now... he's angry. He wants us gone."
It begins like a whisper. Then the wave of unease spreads like wildfire. Tourists frantically point at the trees where the boards are nailed."

While some stories are such where characters are hidden behind a diaphanous veil of deceit, others are rife with magical realism, dripping with magic and wonder.
Have a look:
"A humble brick layer, he grunts with effort as he picks up each brick. After a daylong toil, he gets paid. Not in cash. Not in coins..But in salt, the currency of the town.
At first, he wears a paper-thin mask on his face. As the salt piles up, the mask begins to change. Stranger and scarier with each round of laying bricks. Little by little, it thickens. His back straightens. His voice gets stronger. His walk becomes a march. Others lay bricks for him now, while he weighs his salt.
But no one recognises him beneath the thick, frightening mask. And the mask--it won't come off. It is stuck to him. He pulls it, scratches it, but it stays fixed."

Short stories carry their own charm. Little microcosm of emotions they are, jumping from one theme to another. It's like a delightful platter at a restaurant. You can have dozens of dishes, enjoying savoury with sweet, textures melting into your mouth. In one anthology you can have many many protagonists to love, many to loathe, many to care for and some to forget and move on. That's also the biggest plus point of a short story collection. If you don't like a story, maybe move on to another one.

[Bookswithavinish · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fly on the Wall by Mihir Chate is a thoughtfully assembled short story collection that finds its strength not in spectacle, but in observation. These are stories that linger—less concerned with neat resolutions and more invested in capturing moments when an ordinary life briefly fractures, revealing something unsettling, tender, or unresolved beneath the surface.

Chate’s imagined “fly” is an apt governing metaphor. Like this silent witness, the prose watches rather than interferes. Across eighteen stories, we encounter characters who are flawed, hesitant, sometimes painfully self-aware, and often caught at crossroads they did not consciously choose.

A guilty child, a withdrawn man, a wandering traveller, an aspiring dreamer meeting an idol at the edge of loss—none of them are extraordinary in a conventional sense. Yet the situations they find themselves in are quietly charged, shaped by memory, regret, longing, and sudden disruption.

The geographical movement—from coastal towns like Karwar to fog-laden Himalayan villages, from cramped urban interiors to open roads—mirrors the psychological landscapes of the characters themselves. Some stories lean toward realism; others flirt with the surreal or dystopian.

Chate’s language is clear, restrained, and deliberately intimate. There is no excess ornamentation; emotions are rarely spelled out. This restraint works in the book’s favor. Moments of humor appear unexpectedly, often tinged with melancholy, while scenes of hurt arrive without melodrama.

A Fly on the Wall is less about what happens and more about how it feels to be cornered by circumstance, memory, or one’s own silence.

In conclusion, A Fly on the Wall is a candid, emotionally intelligent collection that rewards attentive reading.

It will resonate with readers who appreciate intimate short - fiction but instead invite you closer, asking you to observe, listen, and perhaps recognize something uncomfortably familiar. Chate does not offer closures, only moments of recognition - and in that restraint lies the book's quiet enduring impact.

Must read♥️♥️

[Bestbookhunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

#bookreview 

Some books shout and preach loudly. But this book,"A Fly on the Wall : Human Tales Through an Urban Lens" does the opposite as it watches, listens, waits and then quietly it unsettles you.

This collection of eighteen short stories operates on an intimate frequency. The characters like Anvay, Suraj, Saakit, Virat, Divya and others are not some dramatic but they are recognizably human who carries small failures, private guilt and muted longing.

What binds them is the moments like a child learning the weight of wrongdoing, a man suffocating inside his own silence, a traveller brushing against charisma which borders on danger and even a cat plotting escape with unsettling intelligence.

When ordinary routines fracture what spills out is raw, absurd, tender and sometimes darkly funny. The settings from Karwar's coast to fog-drowned Himalayan villages and claustrophobic urban rooms, everything mirror the character's inner states with quiet precision.

The prose is restrained yet evocative. The author resists over-writing, allowing silence and implication to do much of the emotional touch. At times, this minimalism demands patience as not every story offers closure or comfort. Life rarely resolves neatly and this book respects that truth.

The narrative is an observational one and the metaphor of the fly is not decorative but structural. The narration often feels like an unseen presence hovering close. A few stories linger longer than others particularly those where moral conflict and memory intersect but even the quieter pieces contribute to the mosaic. 

It's a must read as it doesn't tell you what to feel but it reminds you what it feels like and somewhere between humour and hurt, you may recognize your own shadow watching from the wall. Do grab your copy from Amazon 😍

Book : A Fly On The Wall

Author : Mihir Chate

Genre :  #contemporaryfiction
Ratings : 5/5

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fly on the Wall: Human Tales Through an Urban Lens by Mihir Chate is a collection of short stories that focuses on ordinary people living through difficult moments. The book moves through different places—cities, coastal villages, hills, and homes—but the heart of the stories stays the same. Each story shows a point where life suddenly feels heavy, confusing, or out of control. The writing is simple and clear, which makes the situations feel real and easy to imagine.

What stands out in this book is the variety of characters. There is a child dealing with guilt, a man stuck in silence, a traveller facing unexpected truths, and even a cat trying to escape an unsafe home. These stories are short but meaningful. They do not rush to give answers. Instead, they show how people react when they feel trapped by fear, memory, or circumstances. While reading, I felt like I was quietly observing these lives, just like the “fly on the wall” the book talks about.

On a personal level, this book made me pause many times. Some stories felt uncomfortable, but in a good way. They reminded me that pain, confusion, and loneliness exist in small everyday moments, not just big events. The cat’s story, especially, stayed with me because it showed how silence and control can affect someone deeply. The coastal and mountain stories also made me think about how power and popularity can destroy simple lives and peaceful places.

I would strongly recommend this book to readers who enjoy short stories with depth and meaning. This is not a book for quick entertainment. It is a book to read slowly and think about. If you like stories about real people facing real struggles, this collection is a good choice. A Fly on the Wall quietly asks you to observe others and also reflect on who we become when no one is watching.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into A Fly on the Wall expecting a simple short story collection, but what I found was something far more reflective and quietly powerful. This book doesn’t try to impress with dramatic twists or loud storytelling. Instead, it watches. It listens. And in doing so, it captures moments that feel deeply personal and true.

Each story feels like a brief window into someone’s life at a fragile point. The characters—whether it’s a lonely man, a confused child, a restless traveller, or even a plotting cat—are written with care and empathy. They aren’t perfect, and they aren’t meant to be. Their doubts, silences, and small decisions often say more than long explanations ever could.

What stood out to me was the atmosphere. The settings, from coastal towns to misty hills and unfamiliar cities, feel lived-in and real. Even when the stories lean toward the surreal or absurd, there’s an emotional honesty that keeps them grounded. The author has a way of turning ordinary moments into something quietly unsettling or meaningful.

I also liked how the book allows space for the reader. Many stories don’t wrap up neatly, and that feels intentional. Life rarely offers clear endings, and this collection respects that. You’re left to sit with the characters’ choices, regrets, and brief flashes of clarity.

There’s a softness to the writing, but also courage. It takes confidence to write about stillness, silence, and inner conflict without overdoing it. The fly-on-the-wall perspective works well, reinforcing the feeling that these are moments usually unseen and unheard.

Overall, A Fly on the Wall is a thoughtful, intimate read. It’s best enjoyed slowly, one or two stories at a time. For readers who appreciate character-driven storytelling and subtle emotional depth, this book offers a quietly memorable experience.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up A Fly on the Wall not knowing what to expect, and that sense of quiet surprise stayed with me throughout the book. This collection of short stories feels deeply observant, as if the author is sitting in the corner of each scene, watching life unfold without judging it. The idea of an imaginary fly works beautifully as a lens—silent, curious, and honest.

What I enjoyed most was the variety. Each story introduces new characters and settings, yet there is a strong emotional thread tying them together. Whether it’s a child dealing with guilt, a man trapped in his own silence, or a traveller stumbling into something unsettling, every character feels flawed and human. None of them are heroic in the usual sense, but that’s what makes them believable.

The settings shift smoothly—from coastal towns to mountain villages, from everyday homes to strange, almost surreal spaces. These changes keep the reading experience fresh, while the writing style remains calm and thoughtful. Some stories made me smile, others left a quiet ache, and a few lingered in my mind long after I finished reading.

I appreciated how the author doesn’t over-explain emotions or events. Many stories end with subtle moments rather than clear answers, which invites the reader to pause and reflect. It feels like real life—messy, unfinished, and open to interpretation.

There’s also a gentle balance of humour and sadness throughout the book. Even in darker moments, the writing never feels heavy or forced. Instead, it trusts the reader to sit with discomfort and meaning.

Overall, A Fly on the Wall is a thoughtful and intimate collection. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy short stories that focus on inner lives rather than big plots. This book quietly asks an important question—who we are when no one is watching—and leaves you thinking about it long after the last page.

[Prerna Shambhavee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Fly on the Wall" is a collection of stories that feels like quietly peeking into the lives of strangers only to realize they are not so different from you and me. Each story follows a person in a moment of change: a child carrying guilt, a man locked in silence, a traveler drawn into a mysterious cult, and even a cat planning its escape. From busy cities to quiet villages, the book carries you into small, raw moments that crack open to reveal something true and deeply human.

What makes these stories special is how they are told through the eyes of an imaginary fly. This quiet, watching presence gives the book a feeling of tenderness and curiosity. You don’t just read about these characters; you feel like you are right there with them, sharing in their sadness, their small joys, and their moments of magic.

The writing is clear and full of heart, making even the strangest situations feel real. Some tales are funny, some are sad, and some have a touch of mystery, but each one stays with you. If you enjoy stories that explore everyday life with empathy and a little bit of wonder, this book will be a quiet companion the kind you return to, story by story, long after you’ve finished reading.

What stays with you after reading is the quiet understanding that everyone carries unseen stories of hope, regret, loneliness, or quiet courage. This book doesn’t try to explain or resolve those moments. Instead, it offers a gentle space where emotions are simply felt, and lives are witnessed without judgment. It’s the kind of reading experience that lingers softly, reminding you that within every ordinary day, there is something extraordinary unfolding often just beneath the surface.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected A Fly on the Wall by Mihir Chate to be a simple short story collection, but it turned out to be the kind of book that makes you pause and think. This book focuses on small moments and lets them speak for themselves.

Each story feels like a short glimpse into someone’s life at a sensitive point. The characters are ordinary people dealing with guilt, loneliness, confusion or silent longing. They feel real, not polished or heroic. I really liked that the author leaves some things open instead of explaining everything. He allows silences, pauses & unfinished thoughts, which makes the stories feel closer to real life.

The idea of the “fly on the wall” works well throughout the book. The stories observe rather than judge. There are no clear moral lessons and no forced endings. Some stories stop at a point where you are left thinking, and that feels intentional. Life does not always give answers, and this book accepts that.

The stories move between cities, small towns, and quiet villages, but the feelings stay the same throughout. No matter where the story is set, the emotions feel familiar. Even when a story turns a little strange or unusual, it never feels fake. It always comes back to something very human.

The writing is simple and smooth, and that’s what makes it work. It doesn’t try to sound deep or clever but the meaning stays with you anyway.

Overall, A Fly on the Wall is a quiet and honest book. It’s for readers who like stories about what people carry inside them, the kind of struggles that don’t get noticed or talked about much. If you enjoy slow, thoughtful reads, this one is worth your time.

[Himanshu · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥀Mihir Chate's collection of short stories, A Fly on the Wall: Human Tales Through an Urban Lens, is one of those uncommon works that subtly examines life and ultimately exposes its most blaring realities. As a reader, it's like watching human lives unfold in all their messiness, frailty, and transient beauty from the corner of a room. The term itself turns into a metaphor, asking us to listen uninterrupted and watch without passing judgment. The variety of settings and emotive textures in this collection are what make it so captivating. Every story, from foggy Himalayan villages to seaside cities like Karwar, from small urban quarters to expansive, wide roadways, seems grounded while still being universally accessible. These are moments, not huge, heroic stories. moments when something really human is revealed beneath the surface of an everyday life.

🥀Long after their stories are over, the characters continue to exist. Each character a child battling remorse, a man imprisoned by his own quiet, a traveler torn between cult like magnetism and self-doubt feels unfinished in a way that makes them authentic. Without ever coming across as gimmicky, even the more outlandish viewpoints such as a conspiring cat or weird midnight wanderings add layers of oddity and subdued humor. The author's writing exhibits a deft use of emotional moderation. He doesn't impose meanings or draw conclusions. Rather, he lets the reader linger with uncertainty, unease, and unresolved questions.

🥀The tonal changes from realism to surrealism, from humor to pain are executed with assurance. Although each narrative is unique, taken as a whole, they create a seamless tapestry of human experience. These stories, like life itself, don't seem to fit neatly into any one genre, and it's nice to be honest. The emotional closeness of this collection is what really makes it stand out. These tales encourage attention rather than demand it. Like life itself, the strength is found in the spaces between moments, so it's best to read the book carefully, story by story, letting each one settle before continuing.

[Bookbuff · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if someone was always watching—not to judge, but to notice? A Fly on the Wall by Mihir Chate is a striking collection of eighteen short stories that slip into ordinary lives at the exact moment they begin to fracture, capturing fleeting yet transformative instants shaped by guilt, silence, desire, loss, and contradiction. Spanning coastal Karwar, mist-covered Himalayan villages, surreal midnight streets, and dystopian cityscapes, the settings echo the emotional states of deeply human, imperfect characters—Anvay, Suraj, Divya, Virat, Saakit, and others—who are never idealised, only achingly real. These stories resist neat conclusions, choosing instead to linger in moments of rupture where silence thickens, memory tightens its grip, or an unspoken truth surfaces. With a tonal balance that feels true to life—where humour brushes against grief, absurdity meets tenderness, and wonder coexists with discomfort—the collection unfolds through an almost voyeuristic “fly on the wall” lens, reminding us of the unseen witnesses to our private lives, while themes of identity, loneliness, moral conflict, vulnerability, and self-recognition quietly persist, leaving behind not closure, but a resonant emotional aftertaste.

[Shivam Maurya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fly on the Wall: Human Tales Through an Urban Lens by Mihir Chate is not a book you rush through — it’s a book you sit with. This collection of stories and poems focuses on lives that usually go unnoticed: silent observers, ordinary people, forgotten places, and emotions that are rarely spoken aloud.
What makes this book special is its honesty. The author doesn’t try to dramatize pain or glorify struggle. Instead, he quietly observes how people survive, adapt, compromise, and sometimes fade into the background. Stories set in places like Rudrakhad and Lohangarh reflect themes of exploitation, loss, ambition, loneliness, and the cost of progress. The poem “A Fly on the Wall” perfectly captures the soul of the book — observing everything, belonging nowhere.
This book taught me that silence can be heavy, observation can be exhausting, and walking away can sometimes be the only form of freedom. You can clearly feel the author’s years of patience, discipline, and deep observation in every page.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy thoughtful, meaningful literature that reflects real human experiences rather than loud storytelling.

[Sushant Reader Hub · Rating 4 out of 5]

How effective short stories can be, it's reflected in 'A Fly in the Wall' written by Mihir Chate. This
This book is written in reflective, subtle tones e & most importantly it captures humane moments as well.
When you would read this book you would feel it's quite relatable & you would love the depth of characters of stories as well.

The writing style of Author is effective, simple, but completely relatabl.
Personally, I also related with the stories:
1) Innocent Stealth
2)The Imagination Threshold
3)A Fly on the wall
4)A never ending night

The things that made this book special are :-
The stories of the book beautifully captures emotion & experience in such a way that makes you pause, reflect, and relive moments from your own life that you truly loved.
When I read this book, some stories made me smile & others left a quiet ache.

Book Reccomendation:
Must read everyone if you love to read short stories.

[Archana Ashok · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The exit window waits for its passing
Now burdened with what it’s seen,
The fly makes the jump of its life
And flies out into irrelevance."

"A fly on the wall" by Mihir Chate is a collection of eighteen short stories — each different from the other and special in their own way. They evoke emotions in the readers and each character from each story tells us a lot about life.

Firstly, the cover picture is amazing. With it's depth, it tells the readers what to expect from the contents. Second — the stories. With an easy language, the author has made the reading to feel breezy and a quick page-turner. It's good even for beginners and young adults. Third — these stories focusing on life made it so realistic. No unnecessary drama. Nothing extra. I loved the emotions being evoked.

If you're traveling back home from work and need a quick, meaningful read, then this is for you.

[Surbhi Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quiet, thoughtful collection of short stories that stayed with me long after I finished reading. Each story captures an ordinary person at an unusual, often vulnerable moment. The characters feel real, flawed, and deeply human.


I loved the range of settings and emotions. From small towns to big cities, from humour to heartbreak, every story offers something different yet connected. A child facing guilt, a man lost in silence, even a cat dreaming of escape, each tale reveals hidden inner worlds.


The writing feels observant and intimate, like watching life unfold without judgment. The stories gradually move from outer moments to deeper emotional truths. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy reflective, character-driven short stories that quietly ask: who are we when no one is watching?

[Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fly on the Wall, penned by Mihir Chate, is an introspective compilation of eighteen short stories that examine and analyze these unseen internal zones of common people in moments of quiet turmoil. Taking place in different topographical zones, such as coastal towns, villages in the Himalayas, and weird and fantastical zones of the city and dystopia, these characters in this novel undergo various instances of guilt, silence, longing, loss, and unforeseen meetings. Taking on an interesting amalgamation of realism, humor, and reflective insights into these zones of common people, as perceived from behind an invisible fly in this novel, comes an interesting question: What do we do behind closed doors, where no one watches us?

[Sweety Grover · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fly on The Wall by Mihir Chate. Dive into 18 raw, real stories about flawed humans in crazy urban landscapes. From Karwar coasts to foggy Himalayas , these tales capture moments when life gets REAL .

What’s it about?
- Ordinary people at unusual crossroads
- Guilt, dreams, silence, and wild escapes
- Humor, hurt, and weird wonders

The vibe: Intimate, curious, and silent like a fly watching humans. For fans of: Short stories, real characters, quirky urban tales.

A beautiful mosaic of inner worlds. Grab it if you love human stories!

#AFlyOnTheWall #MihirChate #ShortStories #UrbanTales #BookLovers #HumanStories #MustRead

[KARTIK · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fly on the Wall by Mihir Chate is a thoughtful and emotionally rich short story collection that quietly observes the complexities of everyday life. Through eighteen varied stories, the book explores guilt, longing, fear, hope, and human vulnerability with subtle depth. The characters feel real and flawed, and the settings—from urban spaces to distant towns—are vividly lived-in. Chate’s restrained, cinematic writing lets emotions surface naturally, often leaving endings open and reflective. Ideal for readers who enjoy introspective literary fiction, this collection lingers in the mind long after the final page.

[Heremybookspace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fly on the Wall: Human Tales Through an Urban Lens is a book that seeks meaning in little, unsettling moments. The author portrays regular individuals caught up in silent crises guilt, silence, ambition, loneliness without turning them into dramatic spectacles. The fly as observer metaphor works because the writing stays detached and patient, allowing scenes to speak for themselves. Not every story hits great yet the unevenness feels genuine rather than thoughtless. What the novel does brilliantly is leave things unsaid, allowing the reader to fill in the blanks. It suits readers who prefer subtle, character driven short stories.

[Krishna Gautam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like a gentle pause in a busy world. A Fly on the Wall observes people and their inner lives without judgment. Mihir Chate’s writing is subtle and reflective, focusing on emotions that are often left unspoken. The stories are rooted in everyday urban experiences, making them easy to connect with. There is a quiet depth in the way moments are presented, allowing readers to reflect on their own lives. A thoughtful and engaging read for those who appreciate calm, realistic storytelling.
Rating: 4/5

[Khushbu Mathur · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is collection of short stories and observational take on a series of loosely connected stories.
Framed through the author’s eye for detail, the book tries to grab the POV of many characters from a cat to a thief. The narratives explore small, seemingly ordinary lives through a watchful, reflective lens. While the book didn’t quite resonate with me personally, I can see why its unique voice and observational moments appeal to others, and it certainly offers plenty of conversation-worthy scenes.