Brink: Stories from the edge

by Bhaswar Mukherjee

Death is not a single note-it is a symphony of endings and beginnings, of silence and echoes. Death wears many faces, and they need not all be morbid or signify a finality.
This powerful collection of short stories, some of which were shortlisted for the various prompts by India's finest authors for the Times of India Write India contests, takes a stab in exploring these various faces.
They peek into the hearts of those who face, embrace, or deal with death. From the quiet release of a soul long bound by pain, to the chilling vengeance of a spirit wronged; from the tender closure of a love story unfinished, to the unsettling burial of a truth too dangerous to live-each tale explores a different mask that death wears.
Some offer hope, others demand reckoning, yet all reveal something deeply human. Vengeance and forgiveness, surrender and triumph, the end of hope or its beginning; each story unwraps a different facet, revealing that the way we die is perhaps the ultimate reflection of the life we lived.
Whether it arrives as a whisper or as a reckoning, death in these pages is never just the end. It is a transformation. It is a tragedy. It is a triumph. It is the final word-or sometimes, the first.

Thirteen stories.
Thirteen faces.
One inevitable truth.

228 pages, Paperback

Published November 9, 2025

Reviews

[♡ Diyasha ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW: BRINK
AUTHOR: BHASWAR MUKHERJEE

🥂 A TENDER YET HAUNTING! yes, you heard me right - it is a collection of short stories that examines the fragile threshold upon which human emotions often rest. Each story examines the fragile threshold upon which human emotions often rest.

🥂 Each story in this anthology captures a moment where a character stands at a turning point - emotionally, morally or psychologically - forcing them to confront truths they have avoided, memories they have buried or desires they have never dared to acknowledge.

“The rain is relentless. I can hear it thrumming on the metal roof and running down the broken pipe into the mud, and I moisten my cracked lips with my tongue. I wonder if they'll bring me food and water.

I wonder if they're coming at all….”

🥂 Several stories revolve around characters who are haunted by what they once had - or what they never found the courage to claim. The author presents grief as a silent weapon. There's some small decisions that changed the course of life. Also they highlight the line between right and wrong, and how people often hover dangerously close to that boundary before choosing who they really are.

🥂 The stories fill the nature of this human society - Human vulnerability, emotional honesty, unspoken pain, moments of reckoning and life's unpredictable pivots. They are real - which carry that emotional baggage that we all carry the same way. It is not loud but yes…dramatic.

🥂 The brilliance is hidden under the storyline which creates an emotional pressure to make the ends meet together. In this plotline, life pushes the characters to the brink - of hope, despair, self-resilience, forgiveness or transformation.

[a_geminireader · Rating 5 out of 5]

" Brink" is a compelling anthology of thirteen short stories that captures the fragile, unpredictable moments when life tilts sometimes gently, sometimes violently toward change. Bhaswar Mukherjee brings together characters who stand at crossroads, confronting choices that test their courage, values, and sense of self.

What makes this collection memorable is the emotional honesty running through every story. Mukherjee doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths , grief, betrayal, moral conflict, fractured relationships, and the silence that follows trauma. Yet, he balances the weight of these themes with glimpses of hope, resilience, and the quiet tenderness that keeps people going.

Several stories leave a lingering impact long after you finish reading them. Some unravel the complexities of friendship and love, some explore social and ethical dilemmas, while others reveal the hidden battles people fight behind closed doors. Each narrative is concise yet powerful, carrying the punch of a full-length novel in just a few pages.

The writing is simple but evocative, making it easy for readers to connect with the characters and their struggles. What stands out most is how relatable the stories feel they mirror the world around us with all its imperfections, contradictions, and fleeting moments of beauty.

" Brink" is not just a collection of stories; it’s a reflection on what it means to be human. Thought-provoking and emotionally rich, it is a book that invites you to pause, introspect, and perhaps recognise a piece of yourself within its pages.

If you enjoy short stories that blend emotional depth with real-life relevance, this anthology is definitely worth picking up.

[Sabia Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brink - Stories From The Edge... by Bhaswar Mukherjee

"Isn't it strange and a pity that we are well-schooled for life's journey, but not for that of death? It is an education self-taught, an ultimatum we must prepare ourselves for."

My Ammi often says, “If death must come, let it come while one is still moving through life. May Allah never make a person so helpless that they become a burden on others in old age.” I truly understood the depth of these words after reading the second story in Brink – Stories From The Edge by Bhaswar Mukherjee. While I’ve witnessed similar realities in life, reading about them makes the experience far more intimate and deeply personal.

Brink is a collection of thirteen short stories, each powerful in its own way. This book has firmly earned a place among my favourite short story collections of 2025. Mukherjee’s narration is distinctly Shashi Tharoor-esque-rich, layered, and demanding. I often found myself reading with a pencil in hand and a digital dictionary close by.

Each story revolves around death, or a person standing at its edge, hovering between life and its inevitable end. These are deeply humane tales: some characters choose death, while others are claimed by it without consent.

Mukherjee’s stories echo the quiet symphony of beginnings and endings. The opening story, set during the COVID-19 pandemic, follows Sardul, a factory worker in Mumbai, far from his home in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. He hasn’t seen his wife and two children in two years and has hidden a devastating truth from them, a factory accident that cost him one hand. Armed with hope and a train ticket, he prepares to return home, only for the sudden lockdown announcement to crush his plans. Forced to walk back with his friend Birju from Purnea, Bihar, Sardul’s journey ends in tragedy so overwhelming that it left me completely shattered.

Another story follows an elderly mother visiting her daughter’s family in Chennai from Kolkata. She wakes up one day in a hospital, unaware of how long she has been there. As painful truths slowly surface, the weight of her suffering leads her to make a heartbreaking decision, one that forces her to plan her own death in an unimaginable way.

There is also the story of Sparsh, a Class 9 student born with open spinal bifida, and the sole heir to Adesh Jain’s diamond-to-shipping empire. For Sparsh, Siya is his entire universe; for Siya, Sparsh is merely a “freakish cripple.” Bound together for school science experiments, Siya treats him with cruelty and disdain. But fate intervenes, and what unfolds next is both heart-wrenching and deeply unsettling.

Brink explores love, sacrifice, vengeance, friendship, truth, lies, and the many masks death wears. These stories are layered, revealing life through the lens of death itself.

One particular story shook me to my core, the disturbing tale of a daughter infatuated with her own father. The narrative is deeply uncomfortable, at times making you cringe, at times filling you with anger.

Bhaswar Mukherjee’s writing carries an undeniable emotional and philosophical force. His words compel reflection, allowing you to feel every emotion he intends to evoke. Each story presents a different facet of death, life, and everything that exists in between.

Bhaswar Mukherjee writes with honesty and clarity, using language not to show off, but to reach deep within the reader. His writing is rich yet restrained, and the philosophical depth in his stories feels natural rather than forced. Each story leaves a quiet impact, stirring emotions like sadness, unease, empathy, and reflection. Brink shows us that thinking about death is not something to fear, it is essential. When we accept our mortality, we become more aware of how we live, how fragile time and relationships are, and how much our choices matter. Through these stories, Mukherjee gently reminds us to live with greater awareness, truth, and humanity.

[Shantanu Chakraborty · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Did I fail my father?
Did he deserve to pay this price for the war?
Will my death be in vain, or will his war amend its ways—
to stop using innocent lives as pawns?”

Stories from the Edge… BRINK by Bhaswar Mukherjee is a collection of 13 short stories that begin just before the climax and end with the inevitable—death. Each story feels real, raw, and unsettlingly human.

The author weaves every character with depth and emotional complexity, making them feel painfully authentic. Death isn’t just an ending here—it’s a tool, an instrument of storytelling, forcing the reader to confront truths we often avoid.

While every story leaves an impact, my personal favourites are:
It Was Not Their War
An Autumn Leaf
Closure Is a Myth

This book lingers long after the last page—quiet, heavy, and thought-provoking.

[Fictionandme · Rating 5 out of 5]

brink : stories from the edge by bhaswar mukherjee

genre : contemporary short stories

My 💭:
[11/12/25 7.57 PM]

"For Life and Death are one, even as the river and the sea are one..."

Very rarely have I come across a book where the event of Death has been treated like another event in life itself. Most often, death is treated as a tragic ending to one's story or as a means of respite after a life full of hurdles. But the author has beautifully curated a collection of 13 stories where death is nothing but a turning point in life, for the person himself and the people around him.

The first story was about one's path in life with hope and faith, with the only destination : solace and peace. But life always has different plans for different people. The same path brought upon a new kind of beginning, a new chapter of life to Birju, but Sardul came face to face with a completely different kind of life. This story brought forth so many memories from Covid days and how severely it impacted people from rural communities. The second story dealt with a very controversial concept - Euthanasia. This was probably my favourite story of all, because these kind grey area questions are my favourite. The third story tied death to the regrets one has in life that come pouring out at the end moment. In another story, true friendship and love proved that even sacrificing life is worth it, for our beloved people.

There were a few historical stories as well, and they were filled with twists and double crossing and of course - death, portrayed as another part of the stories. I loved how none of the stories had predictable endings. Like, how the two jail mates came upon that uncommon understanding from their common love for a woman they both murdered, unintentionally. The story with Eshan and his multiple personality disorder gave me chills! Not because of what he did, but because how cruel his parents were! People resort to revenge and possessiveness when their ego isn't satisfied, but in the eyes of death, maybe maybe closure is possible. I guess, conscience is the one thing that always guides us, in life and death.
.
I really really enjoyed reading all the stories. Each of them really made me pause and introspect so many hard truths about living and of course, dying. People go about their lives, doing things beneficial for them, but never pausing to think about the others or if innocent lives are lost. Ir maybe they do, when it's too late - when death itself shows the truth. It's all about trying and doing right by our own self and our loved ones so that even on the brink of death, we find life.
.
A five star read!
.
"I realised that the completion of my
journey indeed had hung on a thread. Sometimes, that's all you need."

[Neeti · Rating 5 out of 5]

🍀Book - BRINK- Stories from the edge
🍀Author - Bhaswar Mukherjee

🍀Between the Pages -
“Revenge is a compulsive emotion, you know. In her plotting, I suppose she made the decision that mere death for Anuj would not do. It would have to be a blow that would cripple him for life and ostracise him from society.”

🍀Review-
Brink is a short-story collection — it brings together 13 stories by Bhaswar Mukherjee. The common theme of the stories is “on the edge”The stories keep you on the edge ,no doubt ,and explore death , loss, betrayal,emotional journey and societal issues .

Stories like “Crushed” feel very close to reality and evoke memories of the COVID-19 times. They remind us that illness and death are inevitable, but how we approach these challenges truly matters. “An Autumn Leaf” explores the delicate subject of euthanasia, prompting reflection on life and dignity. “Joriel” tells a story of friendship and love, showing how deceit can lead someone to lose their sense of self. “Starcrossed” conveys a bitter truth: situations can change in an instant, so we should never look down on anyone.

All the thirteen stories connect to the reader as they are from our surroundings and my favourite is “It was not their war” it talks about naxalites .

All the stories prove raw human emotions, moral dilemmas, suffering, redemption , hatred and over all its a platter of emotions good and bad both .
Every story brings its own intensity and evokes varied emotional responses.

The book attempts to hold a mirror up to life’s darker sides — which can be painful and haunting.

With simple language, relevant topics , relatable characters Brink is a commendable effort by the author to make the reader face to face with life and realise that life is not always fair .
It’s powerful and thought provoking.

Those who seek literature with emotional depth and moral weight, it offers a profound experience.

[Surbhi Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brink is a collection of thirteen short stories that sit right at the edge of human emotion, grief, morality, betrayal, loss, and those quiet moments where life forces us to confront uncomfortable truths. Each story explores a different face of death, not as an ending, but as a doorway to something raw, revealing, and deeply human.

What I love most about this book is how real the stories feel. They echo moments we’ve lived through, people we’ve known, and fears we have carried silently. Bhaswar Mukherjee understands death and through every story, he explores how we face it, avoid it, or try to make peace with it.

“An Autumn Leaf” stayed with me long after I finished reading. It was heartbreaking, tender take on dignity and letting go.
“Star Crossed” hit like a quiet storm, reminding me how fragile circumstances can be.
And “Closure Is a Myth” felt painfully true. Not every story in life gets tied up neatly, and the author captures that with honesty.

What I Loved:
- The stories feel grounded and real like they’re pulled from the world around us.
- The writing is simple yet powerful, making even heavy themes accessible.
- Each story has its own emotional temperature some soothe, some sting, but all evoke something.
- Themes of moral dilemmas, redemption, grief, and humanity are explored with depth.
- The author captures the darker sides of life without losing compassion.

Brink is not just a book about death. It’s about the lives we live before it, the choices we make, and the emotions we carry. If you enjoy stories that hold up a mirror to life’s harsh, haunting truths, this collection will leave a mark.

A thought-provoking, powerful, emotionally rich read

[Chhaya kumari · Rating 5 out of 5]

"My eyes are free to roam,but there is only darkness all around,save for that heartless sunlight playing hide and seek.they haven’t stretched the tape tight across my mouth the last time they came."

See i know the emotions you go through after reading above para from the book.


How fast do you want to read… and how many emotions do you want to feel at once?

Brink gives you both unapologetically.

With 13 stories, each one opens the door to a new emotion, a new perspective, a new sting or softness you weren’t prepared for. And if you ask me to pick one favourite… honestly, I can’t. I’m still somewhere stuck in the lingering pain of JORIEL, a little twisted inside Twisted Minds, swinging between SHARDS and NEMESIS, and trying to accept that maybe…
CLOSURE is a myth.

That’s the brilliance of this book

you don’t finish one story and move on.

You finish one and fall into another version of yourself.

Every story unwraps something different:

from pain to vengeance,

from forgiveness to unsettling truths,

from forced closures to the kind of emotions we avoid confronting.

And the best part?

Reading this one book genuinely felt like reading 13 different books, each with its own heart, its own ache, its own punch.

Bhaswar Mukherjee writes in a way that hits you first… and settles later.

Some stories you’ll understand immediately.

Some will haunt you after hours.

Brink isn’t just a collection of stories

it’s a slow emotional detour you take knowingly, then pretend you didn’t.

A raw, layered, unputdownable read.

Completely worth stepping into one emotion at a time.

[Archana Ramakrishna · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRINK is a heart-wrenching, deeply introspective read that explores how individuals—often gracefully, sometimes unexpectedly—embrace death in the final moments of their lives.

All through the book, one question kept returning to me: Have we lived a life meaningful enough to be remembered with warmth once we’re gone?

I found myself wondering, “Who would cry when I die?” The narrative is powerful enough to stir such uncomfortable yet necessary reflections.

It reminded me of a famous dialogue from the film Anand:
“Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi, Babumoshai.”

The book resonates with the anonymous line:
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

In its pages, you get a first-hand window into what someone might feel when choosing euthanasia—an unsettling intimacy with the mind of a person standing at the edge of life.

You find yourself questioning Whitney’s choices: how delusion and guilt can convince someone to bear the weight of a death they never caused, to live under a false name, and build a false pride out of borrowed remorse.

And then there are the stories that challenge our moral foundations—how a murder, in the rarest circumstances, might save an entire kingdom, and how certain killings may carry their own complex justifications.

The book also subtly reflects on the universality of human fragility—how the fear of being forgotten, the desire for forgiveness, and the hope for redemption bind all these stories together. BRINK reminds us that death is not merely an end, but a mirror held up to the life we have lived.

[kriti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up thinking it would be heavy and dark, and while some stories do go there, the collection surprised me in a good way. It doesn’t just dwell on death as an idea it focuses on people and situations around it, which made the stories feel more relatable than expected.

Since it’s a short story collection, some stories naturally hit harder than others. A few stayed with me long after I finished reading, especially the ones dealing with unfinished relationships and uncomfortable truths. Others were quicker reads but still interesting in how differently they approached the same theme. I liked that no two stories felt the same each one had its own tone and direction.

The writing is sharp and controlled. Nothing feels overdone or dramatic just to make a point. Some stories are quiet and emotional, some unsettling, and a few have a twist that genuinely works. I appreciated that the book doesn’t try to explain everything or spell things out you’re trusted to connect the dots on your own.

What worked for me was the variety. You move from grief to anger to closure without it feeling repetitive. Even when the subject matter is intense, the pacing keeps you engaged and curious about what comes next.

Overall, this is a solid, thoughtfully put-together collection. It’s not the kind of book you rush through, but it’s definitely one you enjoy dipping into. If you like short stories that explore darker themes without being overwhelming, this one is worth picking up.

[Dr.Naveen Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brink, a collection of 13 short stories by Bhaswar Mukherjee, packs a powerful punch. Five of these stories have made it into the top 10 across various author prompts, and it’s easy to see why. Each story dives into intense themes :life and death, loss and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, surrender and triumph. The common thread? Characters caught on the edge of significant change, grappling with crises that could redefine their existence.What makes this collection stand out is how it doesn’t shy away from tough subjects. Suspicion lurks in relationships, extramarital affairs complicate lives, and some stories confront the harrowing aftermath of rape. Stories like Shards, Joriel, and Morton Fork twist and turn in unexpected ways, leaving a lasting impression that stays with you well beyond the final page.Every story feels like a glimpse into the human soul, exposing raw emotions and tough choices. They wrestle with loss, betrayal, and the fragile hope that can either break or rebuild us. One small note, adding a reference to the basis of the story Arthashastra would have been a nice touch to deepen appreciation for the work.If you’re drawn to emotionally rich, thought-provoking tales that explore the messy complexity of life and human nature, Brink is definitely worth a read.

[Kiran K Adharapuram · Rating 5 out of 5]

🕊️ Brink: Stories from the Edge by Bhaswar Mukherjee is a handpicked collection of 13 short stories that deal with death. The narratives explore themes of subtlety, tranquility, ethical judgment, bereavement, anguish, and vengeance. As Franz Kafka says, “The meaning of life is that it stops.” Each of these thirteen stories revolves around the fervent call of demise. However, the central theme is not death itself, but transformation, one that evokes the overwhelming and calamitous nature of life. 🌅

⚖️ To confess, I was regretting this book pick at first. But as I delved deeper into its pages, I slowly began to realize that these stories capture ethical redemption, suffering, harmonized hope, quandaries, predicaments, verity, and truth. I would rather rephrase the essence of the book as humanity steering through everyday struggles beyond death. Bhaswar’s presentation is both diligent and profound. Interestingly, a few of the stories were shortlisted for prompts by some of India’s finest authors across various editorials.✨

✨ The author’s prior experience in anthologies has been a helpful aid in shaping this fervent compendium. The cover image sensibly resonates with the brink of human dissolution depicted in every story. Full marks for the intensity carried through each segment, amalgamated with rich temperament and soulful depth.

[Bindu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection approaches death not as a single moment of finality, but as a shifting presence one that carries both closure and continuation within it. Far from being uniformly grim, death here appears in many forms, each revealing a different emotional truth.

Curated from stories shortlisted across multiple Times of India Write India contest prompts, the anthology brings together voices that explore what it means to confront mortality. These narratives step into the minds of those who fear death, welcome it, survive its shadow, or are forever altered by its arrival.

Across the pages, death manifests in strikingly varied ways: as relief for a life weighed down by suffering, as a restless force seeking justice, as the gentle resolution of love left unfinished, or as the dark concealment of secrets too dangerous to surface. Every story peels back another layer, showing how death refuses to be one-dimensional.

Running through the collection is a strong emotional undercurrent of reckoning and redemption, bitterness and mercy, despair and renewal. Together, the stories suggest that the way one meets the end is inseparable from how one has lived.

Whether it emerges softly or crashes in with consequence, death in these tales is never just an ending. It transforms, unsettles, and illuminates sometimes closing a chapter, and at other times, opening an entirely new one.

[Shweta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brink is one of those unique story collections that speaks raw truth to you. It makes you ponder, softens you, and leaves you reflecting into your own life with uncomfortable honesty.

These thirteen stories don’t treat death as a dramatic climax or a tragic full stop. Instead, they explore death as a a sentiment, a change and a freedom.

Every story reveals a different emotional grief, vengeance, closure, surrender, forgiveness and each one reminds you that endings are not as scary as we are taught to think or fear from it. It's death which actually brings out the real you and makes you realise that truth of life has always been about preparing for this moment.

Brink utilises a powerful universal theme death and explores it through deeply human, intimate moments. Some stories are unsettling, some tender, others quiet heartbreaking. But all of them leave an after effect that stays with you.

Bhaswar Mukherjee writes about this topic sensitively that makes you pause, a sharp reality that makes you confront your own truths, and simplicity that makes every story feel like an reminder of something you’ve lived or feared.

If you’re someone who enjoys stories that aren’t afraid to explore the emotional, less spoken gray areas of life, Brink is a must-read.

[Sakshi Agarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brink: Stories from the Edge is a powerful anthology that knits together 13 short stories each one a stark, intimate glance at the fragile boundaries between life and loss, hope and grief. Mukherjee doesn’t sugar-coat life: the stories capture raw human emotions, moral dilemmas, moments of suffering and redemption, vengeance and forgiveness.

What stands out is how the collection treats “death” not as a single event, but as a spectrum: some stories speak of physical death final and tragic while others explore emotional death: broken relationships, shattered hopes, the slow decay of trust or dignity. The writing is deceptively simple, yet emotionally potent. By using relatable scenarios and human-scale conflicts, Mukherjee ensures each story feels real, like a mirror held up to everyday lives.

At moments it’s heartbreaking, sometimes unsettling but always honest. The anthology refuses to offer easy comfort or neat endings; instead, it leaves the reader with lingering questions about justice, fate, and the often-blurred line between right and wrong. Brink doesn’t just tell stories it stirs the soul.

For anyone who loves short stories that are thoughtful, emotionally resonant, and a little bit dark this is a collection that stays with you.

[Sushant Reader Hub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Brink
Book Writer: Bhaswar Mukharjee
Book Overview:
This Anthology book is collection of 13 short stories in which each story reveals different emotions in mind of reader & it fill the mind of reader with lots of thought. The book is thought provoking & emotionally rich with stories that feel like glimpses into human soul.

The story that I loved most personally

1) of Human Fallibility

2) Closure is myth

3) Star Crossed

4) Twisted Mind

There are some top notch thoughts that provides life wisdom which are written with relatable story like

1)"Writing is a solitary pursuit. It's passion chasing stories which need to be told and trying to ensnare them with the concatenation of words and emotions".

2) "Traded your outer beauty for your inner beauty, which was sadly lacking... And outer beauty is cosmetic; it can be purchased. What you need is courage and determination".

Moreover, the whole book which consist 13 short stories, some story were shortlisted for various prompt by India's finest author for the Times of India Write India contest.

🌸 Book Reccomendation....
Must Read everyone.Worth to read this book.

[The Book Times · Rating 5 out of 5]

A culmination of 15 short stories. The diverse culture that this book showcased, be it the backward castes, police investigation/special agents set up or the royal settings, adds more importance to this book. The genres were also very vast, ranging from thrillers to touching reads. Moreover, the vocabulary used in this book was quite impressive. There were stories that would tear my heart, like 'Crushed', while some stories would shock me with the gruesome revelations. After each chapter, I would take a pause to absorb the story. These are narrated from the eyes of death, or those who award death. My favorites from this collection were - Crushed, An Autumn Leaf (reminds me of the story - The Last Leaf), Joriel, Star Crossed and Shards.

Someway or the other, the title is captivating. The title of the book, 'Brink' is not just the edge of a cliff, but the edge of life. How some people are happy to lose themselves, and with each story, there's pain and love.

Brace your hearts because the ending of each might be not what you expected. This can be finished in just one sitting. And if you crave for more, and sometimes open ended short stories, you'll love this one!

[Akansha Chauhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brink is not just a book, it’s an emotional experience. I picked this up expecting a collection of stories, but I wasn't prepared for how deeply it would hit me.

Every story in this anthology is written with such precision that it just felt right. You know when you read something and every word sits perfectly in your soul? That is this book. Each story has the power to touch your heart, leaving you completely shattered but also full of so many emotions all at once.

The thing that ties it all together is the core idea of Death. And I know, that sounds heavy, but the way it’s handled here is beautiful.
We are all so afraid of death, but this book reminds us that it is the inevitable truth. It tells us that death can be painful for some, but can be a way to take away all the pain for some. I’m not ashamed to admit that you can feel tears in your eyes at times; it’s just that raw.

Although every single story is wonderful in its own way, I have a few that completely stole my heart. "Joriel," "Retribution," "Star Crossed," and "An Autumn Leaf" are absolute masterpieces. They stood out to me the most and have the power to linger in your mind long after you turn the page.

[Priyanka M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an anthology of thirteen short stories in which each tale pulls you into a different mood, leaving you with a tide of thoughts. I was drawn in because several of these pieces were shortlisted for the Times of India Write India contest, and that badge of honor promised something special.

Reading the book feels like a quick escape without the commitment of a novel. The stories are bite‑sized, perfect for a coffee break, yet they linger long after you close the page.

The author writes with a clean, conversational style that makes even the heaviest topics feel approachable, and the Indian backdrop adds a familiar, comforting flavor.

What sets this apart is its willingness to stare at the uncomfortable. The collection treats death not as a finale but as a doorway, inviting us to see how it shapes love, loss, and morality.

I loved the simple yet powerful prose that lets each story breathe. Some chapters soothe, others sting but all hit the heart. The moral dilemmas, the raw grief, and the flashes of redemption feel genuine, as if they were pulled straight from life itself.

In short, this book is a thought‑provoking, emotionally rich read that holds a mirror to life’s messy truths. If you enjoy stories that linger, challenge, and ultimately move you, this anthology is worth every page.

[Archana A · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Why was she dabbling in Psychology? Had she changed her choice for her master's programme?"

Brink is a collection of thirteen short stories by Bhaswar Mukherjee. Each of these stories invokes varied emotions in the readers mind, and also fills the mind with an ocean of thoughts. Each story is filled with an intensity that makes you realize the value of relationships.

I was surprised to note that some of these stories were shortlisted for the various prompts by India's finest authors for the Times of India's Write India contest. In fact, this was one of the strongest reasons why I decided to read this.

I loved the style of writing in most of the stories. You will appreciate the book even more if you are a short story lover. The touch of India in this anthology is relatable. If you are looking for a short and a quick read that will let you escape from your normal life for a bit, then I recommend this.

[Chaitali Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bhaswar Mukherjee packs 13 short stories that feel unmistakably Indian at heart.Each one pulls you in differently some sting with tragedy,some tingle with teenage love,some leave with life lessons & some quietly urge you to think about parents and the weight of relationships.

It’s honestly a whole thaali of emotions.

And can we talk about the paper quality?
Absolute top-tier.
Annotating on these pages was pure joy.
smooth, sturdy & oddly satisfying.

My personal favourites?
Autumn Leaf
Twisted Mind
It Was Not Their War

Bhaswar Mukherjee is not the “accidental writer” he jokingly claims to be.
He has already contributed to 12 anthologies and is the acclaimed author of The Founding Fathers of Fraud (2024).
He writes with a very “Carpe Diem” spirit(seize the day) & in this collection,he has truly seized a spectrum of emotions with surprising ease.

If you’re stuck in a reading slump,this book might just be your jumpstart.A quick, heartfelt & thoroughly engaging read.

[readerkd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short stories are my favourite because within a few words they speak of such deep topics and lived experiences—something even 300 pages sometimes fail to explain. This book is a collection of such moments and emotions. It makes you pause and think after every story, and often even in between.

I loved how such dark concepts are presented with simplicity and relatability, making them easy for the reader to connect with. Death is taboo and frightening, just like sorrow and sadness—but the way they are explored here is truly beautiful. The quotes woven between the stories often leave an impact even stronger than the stories themselves.

Each story feels complete, yet like a fragment of life’s larger experience, which makes them even more powerful. They leave a deep emotional imprint, settling quietly in your heart. What a gentle yet profound way to connect with the reader—and then impart something lasting.

[Rinki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bhaswar Mukherjee's collection of 13 short stories, Brink, presents a thought-provoking examination of mortality that cleverly leverages morbid curiosity and utter terror to force readers to confront their own demise, rendering death a gripping narrative with unexpected plot twists.

What makes this collection truly captivating is its thoughtful exploration.

Stories presented in a lyrical and contemplative writing style that resonates deeply long after the story ends, leveraging the power of subtlety, silence, and vulnerability to create a lasting impression.

The themes are profound and delicately woven, with each story standing alone yet blending together to form a powerful exploration of loss, endings, and new beginnings, making this a meaningful, if not light, read.

For readers who crave literary fiction that provokes thought, evokes emotion, and lingers, Brink is a compelling collection that explores life's profound truths.

[Booklover_rimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brink by Bhaswar Mukherjee is a collection of 13 short stories that are heartfelt and poignant.

The author uses death as the central theme of the book. In every story, one or another character faces death, yet it is not presented as an end, but rather as a new beginning. I find this a very unique and thought-provoking theme. Another aspect I loved about the book is how relatable the characters and scenarios are; the emotional depth in each story is sure to touch your heart.

The stories are very short, yet beautifully written, and they leave you craving for more. Most of them are character-driven, allowing us to witness the journey of the characters until their demise. The author also explores the nuances of human relationships, with a strong focus on familial bonds throughout the stories.

Lastly, each story begins with a beautiful quote by a renowned personality, which is truly hard-hitting and memorable. Overall, I loved reading this book, and each story feels better than the previous one. If you enjoy meaningful and emotional anthology collections, this book is definitely worth picking up.

[DIPTISHA SARKAR · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Brink: Stories from the edge' by Bhaswar Mukherjee is a compelling collection of 13 short stories that left a deep impact on me. Each story has its own essence and depth. The powerful storytelling capacity of the author kept me hooked to the story. I am so glad that I came across Mukherjee's writing. This book made me think, about things that I don't really think about- life.

The stories are very relatable, real and focus on various parts of humane emotions. Humanity, grief and moral dilemmas are well discussed in the book. I would definitely return to reading this book again.

The writing style is simple, yet powerful and reflective. The language used is simple and easy.

[Khushbu Mathur · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of 13 heartbreaking stories, each dealing with death in a different way.
The research done by author on various topics is evident from the writing.
The cover of the book is so apt to the theme of the book
This book dives deep into the dark minds of people facing life’s most distressing moments. While book may seem depressing at first, it offers an intense look at how pain , betrayal and loss shape us- and sometimes pushes to the brink
Brink will stay with you for long after you have finished reading.

[Navya Sri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brink is a short collection of 13 stories which echoes about life and death by embracing through human emotions through a story line of different personalities. You don't know exactly what kind of room you are entering into unless the crux of that story is not fully understood. The unreasonable sensitivies that these characters and story line carries puts you in an undebatable position. Each story puts you in a different emotional state by the end of each.

[Shraddha Sahi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is meant to be read slowly, one story at a time, marveling at the human mind, its twisted plots and its strange longings.
My favorite story was 'It was not their War', with 'Crushed' coming a close second. Exploring Death as a theme in different forms is certainly unusual.
Bhaswarda has a remarkable talent for reading the human psyche and weaving intricate tales that leave you stunned with their finale.

[dipshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was genuinely impressed by the sheer range and depth of this collection. After reading just the first few stories, I knew I was in the hands of a prolific writer. It amazed me how the author managed to convey so much, explore so many themes, and tug at my heartstrings through such short, crisp narratives.

The very first story instantly took me back to A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, it carried that same emotional weight and quiet power.

Across the collection, the author touches on an incredible spectrum of human experiences: the hardships faced by the poorer sections of society during Covid, friendships that break and mend, families making unimaginable sacrifices, love found and lost, and even love discovered under unexpected circumstances.

He captures the essence of life and death with remarkable astuteness. Just look at these lines from one of the stories:

'
' As I lay on the bed steeling myself and planning for the journey, I watched a dried leaf swirl down from the tree. It was close to spring and its behavior as an autumn leaf surprised me. It fell, frolicking and happy, unafraid of death. Perhaps because there was a promise to be born again, to bloom. We humans had no such assurance. Even if we did, our memories were erased; the new life, if at all, disconnected from the previous. I wanted my journey to be that of an autumn leaf. Happy, not morbid. I would embrace death with the same gusto as I had life.'

Highly recommend this beautiful short story collection.