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Colonel Acharya #1
A Closetful of Skeletons
Five men are on their way to a hill station, where Ramola, a fading movie star, waits for them to make an announcement that will change their lives forever. Ramola withdrew from the public eye at the peak of her stardom. Now, surrounded by retired couples spending their twilight years gardening and gossiping, her life is idyllic. Or at least it was, till the night of her birthday party, when she announces that her tell-all memoir will soon be published. The book, documenting her rise to fame, puts each of her ex-lovers' careers in jeopardy. As each desperate man tries to save himself, Ramola is drawn back into the very web of lies and deception she'd left behind. By the time the party is over, Ramola's neighbour, retired army officer and amateur sleuth, Colonel Arjun H. Acharya, has found his first murder to solve. A Closetful of Skeletons reels you into a cosy world of fresh mountain air, long-drawn bridge games and bloody murder.
- GenresMysteryMystery Thriller
296 pages, Paperback
Published December 25, 2017
1 person is currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Tanushree Podder
63 books58 followersA BRIEF BIO
Born at New Delhi, she worked in the corporate sector for eight long years before Tanushree quit the rat race to wield her pen and found her calling.
A well know travel writer and novelist, she is also known for the hundreds of ‘Middles’ that entertained readers of almost all English dailies in the country for over a decade. Tanushree is passionate about travelling and writing. If the lady is not packing her bags to zip around the world, she is sure to be found tapping the keys of her computer.
Among her bestselling books in non- fiction genre are Death of a Dictator - The Story of
Saddam Hussein, Secrets of Happiness, The Ultimate Food for Body, Mind and Soul, The
Power of Relaxation. The book Smart Memory has also been translated into Tamil and Spanish.
She has published 15 novels till date. Nurjahan’s Daughter, Boots Belts Berets, Escape from Harem, On the Double, Solo in Singapore, I fell in love with a soldier, Cakewalk Murder, No Margin for Error, A Closetful of Skeletons, The Breath of Death, Decoding the Feronia Files, The Teenage Diary of Rani Laxmibai, The Girls in Green, Spooky Stories, An Invitation to Die, are a few novels written by her.
Boots Belts Berets and On the Double - are soon to be adapted into web series.
She lives with her husband in Pune.
Tanushree can be contacted by email via her website at http://www.tanushreepodder.com. on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/tpodder
Instagram
@poddertanushree
Twitter
@tanushreepodder
Her travel stories can be found at http://tanushreez.wordpress.com
Born at New Delhi, she worked in the corporate sector for eight long years before Tanushree quit the rat race to wield her pen and found her calling.
A well know travel writer and novelist, she is also known for the hundreds of ‘Middles’ that entertained readers of almost all English dailies in the country for over a decade. Tanushree is passionate about travelling and writing. If the lady is not packing her bags to zip around the world, she is sure to be found tapping the keys of her computer.
Among her bestselling books in non- fiction genre are Death of a Dictator - The Story of
Saddam Hussein, Secrets of Happiness, The Ultimate Food for Body, Mind and Soul, The
Power of Relaxation. The book Smart Memory has also been translated into Tamil and Spanish.
She has published 15 novels till date. Nurjahan’s Daughter, Boots Belts Berets, Escape from Harem, On the Double, Solo in Singapore, I fell in love with a soldier, Cakewalk Murder, No Margin for Error, A Closetful of Skeletons, The Breath of Death, Decoding the Feronia Files, The Teenage Diary of Rani Laxmibai, The Girls in Green, Spooky Stories, An Invitation to Die, are a few novels written by her.
Boots Belts Berets and On the Double - are soon to be adapted into web series.
She lives with her husband in Pune.
Tanushree can be contacted by email via her website at http://www.tanushreepodder.com. on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/tpodder
@poddertanushree
@tanushreepodder
Her travel stories can be found at http://tanushreez.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 29, 2018
“Unfortunately, the clock is ticking, the hours are going by. The past increases, the future recedes. Possibilities decreasing, regrets mounting.”
----Haruki Murakami
Tanushree Podder, an Indian writer, has penned an interesting and slightly intriguing thriller called, A Closetful of Skeletons that revolves around an actress of yesteryear who escapes the silver screen glory to a quiet life at a sleepy hamlet somewhere up on the hills, but her life drastically changes when she meets an ambitious and mysterious young woman, whom she asks to ghost-write her autobiography. But little did the actress knew that her birthday party with her guest list of ex-lovers would go so terribly fatal when she announces about her tell-all autobiography.
Synopsis:
Ramola withdrew from the public eye at the peak of her stardom, choosing a life of quiet anonymity over the glamour of the silver screen. Surrounded by retired couples spending their twilight years gardening and gossiping, Ramola s life is idyllic.
Or at least it was, till the night of her birthday party, when she announces that her tell-all memoir will soon be published. The book, documenting her rise to fame, puts each of her ex-lovers careers in jeopardy. As each desperate man tries to save himself, Ramola is drawn back into the very web of lies and deception she d left behind.
And by the time the party is over, Ramola s neighbour, retired army officer and amateur sleuth Colonel Arjun H. Acharya has found his first murder to solve.
A Closetful of Skeletons reels you into a cosy world of fresh mountain air, long-drawn poker games and bloody murder.
Owing to heartbreak, Ramola, the famous actress from Bollywood, has escaped the glitz and glamour of the tinsel town to somewhere idyllic, quiet and peaceful. Ramola has got a hill-side cottage at a sleepy Himalayan hamlet, but one fine day, her life drastically changes when her paths cross with the mysterious and very intriguing young woman named, Tia, who claimed to be from Mumbai and on a sabbatical from her journalist job. Soon the two forms a bond of trust as a result, Ramola asks Tia to ghost write her autobiography, in which she will narrate about all those high-profile ex-lovers, who left her heart broken and also helped her to shape her career. So Tia advises Ramola to invite all the men of Ramola's life on Ramola's 40th birthday bash at her cottage. But little did anyone knew that, followed by the announcement of her autobiography to her ex-lovers, would leave Ramola dead. Even though the initial suspicious falls on those ex-lovers of Ramola, but gradually, the story takes a major turn when a sinister motive is unraveled by the local cop who too had a crush on the ever glamours actress, Ramola.
The writing style of the author is okay-ish. The first half of the story line is laced with enough thrill and power-packed tension to keep the readers rooted in their seats. Sadly, by the second half, the story has taken a sour turn and I was in a desperation to be done with the story. The major turn off for me was the usage of Hindi dialect in the already engaging English narrative. Hindi dialect and usage of Hindi words, doesn't make the story sound regional, instead, it makes the story sound annoying. The prose is articulate and flows freely through ups and downs of the story. The pacing is really fast and I'm glad for that.
The mystery, in the beginning, will feel like something grisly, twisting and mind-blowing, but gradually, the mystery becomes way too predictable and meaningless. Even the turns and the suspense will seem to be way too foreseeable. Moreover, the climax makes no sense at all, and will eventually leave the readers with a lot of questions, whose answers don't fit into the story line in any possible way.
The characters felt like a boon in this story. The brownie point goes to the multi-layered cast of myriad characters who will keep the readers second guessing. But then again, their perfect demeanor falls flat once the story starts unraveling towards the climax. The realistic, and well developed characters and their presence are hence lost amidst the blunt plot.
In a nutshell, I would not recommend this book to the seasoned crime fiction readers, but yeah its pretty much enjoyable, if you don't mind the logic. Honetsly, the story could have been much better, as the plot has a lot of intensity, tension and drama to keep the hunger of the readers alive till the very last page.
Verdict: Could have been much better!
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Harper Collins India for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Haruki Murakami
Tanushree Podder, an Indian writer, has penned an interesting and slightly intriguing thriller called, A Closetful of Skeletons that revolves around an actress of yesteryear who escapes the silver screen glory to a quiet life at a sleepy hamlet somewhere up on the hills, but her life drastically changes when she meets an ambitious and mysterious young woman, whom she asks to ghost-write her autobiography. But little did the actress knew that her birthday party with her guest list of ex-lovers would go so terribly fatal when she announces about her tell-all autobiography.
Synopsis:
Ramola withdrew from the public eye at the peak of her stardom, choosing a life of quiet anonymity over the glamour of the silver screen. Surrounded by retired couples spending their twilight years gardening and gossiping, Ramola s life is idyllic.
Or at least it was, till the night of her birthday party, when she announces that her tell-all memoir will soon be published. The book, documenting her rise to fame, puts each of her ex-lovers careers in jeopardy. As each desperate man tries to save himself, Ramola is drawn back into the very web of lies and deception she d left behind.
And by the time the party is over, Ramola s neighbour, retired army officer and amateur sleuth Colonel Arjun H. Acharya has found his first murder to solve.
A Closetful of Skeletons reels you into a cosy world of fresh mountain air, long-drawn poker games and bloody murder.
Owing to heartbreak, Ramola, the famous actress from Bollywood, has escaped the glitz and glamour of the tinsel town to somewhere idyllic, quiet and peaceful. Ramola has got a hill-side cottage at a sleepy Himalayan hamlet, but one fine day, her life drastically changes when her paths cross with the mysterious and very intriguing young woman named, Tia, who claimed to be from Mumbai and on a sabbatical from her journalist job. Soon the two forms a bond of trust as a result, Ramola asks Tia to ghost write her autobiography, in which she will narrate about all those high-profile ex-lovers, who left her heart broken and also helped her to shape her career. So Tia advises Ramola to invite all the men of Ramola's life on Ramola's 40th birthday bash at her cottage. But little did anyone knew that, followed by the announcement of her autobiography to her ex-lovers, would leave Ramola dead. Even though the initial suspicious falls on those ex-lovers of Ramola, but gradually, the story takes a major turn when a sinister motive is unraveled by the local cop who too had a crush on the ever glamours actress, Ramola.
The writing style of the author is okay-ish. The first half of the story line is laced with enough thrill and power-packed tension to keep the readers rooted in their seats. Sadly, by the second half, the story has taken a sour turn and I was in a desperation to be done with the story. The major turn off for me was the usage of Hindi dialect in the already engaging English narrative. Hindi dialect and usage of Hindi words, doesn't make the story sound regional, instead, it makes the story sound annoying. The prose is articulate and flows freely through ups and downs of the story. The pacing is really fast and I'm glad for that.
The mystery, in the beginning, will feel like something grisly, twisting and mind-blowing, but gradually, the mystery becomes way too predictable and meaningless. Even the turns and the suspense will seem to be way too foreseeable. Moreover, the climax makes no sense at all, and will eventually leave the readers with a lot of questions, whose answers don't fit into the story line in any possible way.
The characters felt like a boon in this story. The brownie point goes to the multi-layered cast of myriad characters who will keep the readers second guessing. But then again, their perfect demeanor falls flat once the story starts unraveling towards the climax. The realistic, and well developed characters and their presence are hence lost amidst the blunt plot.
In a nutshell, I would not recommend this book to the seasoned crime fiction readers, but yeah its pretty much enjoyable, if you don't mind the logic. Honetsly, the story could have been much better, as the plot has a lot of intensity, tension and drama to keep the hunger of the readers alive till the very last page.
Verdict: Could have been much better!
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Harper Collins India for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
May 31, 2018
Two stars: It was ok.
The book is not bad. It is a decent one time read. But the entire onus of making a thriller/murder mystery a good one is on the climax, which failed to satisfy me. The end comes as a surprise, and I do not say that in a good way.
The story revolves around the murder of Ramola, a yesteryear's star, who decided to ruffle feathers of a bunch of (crooks) people from her extremely dramatic and tabloid-worthy past by announcing her autobiography in their presence on her 40th birthday.
I'll go over the things that worked for me first:
1. The plot: It is simple yet interesting. The locked-room whodunit mystery with a bunch of characters related to the victim in convoluted ways added a flavour of drama to the book, and I quite liked it.
2. The treatment of characters: Most of the characters, in my opinion, were well sketched. I am particularly happy with the author's decision of placing the murder much after the initial character-building of the book has taken place. The clever placement gives the reader an insight to the protagonist's relationship with the various other characters, both in the present time as well as throwing light on the dynamics of their shared past.
3. The flow: The language was mostly flowy and the book seemed to move as one fluid and racy narrative, even though there were plenty of characters to be dealt with, each having an independent backgrounds. (I will come to the negatives later.)
4. The build-up/suspense: When everyone has a motive, the whodunit becomes even more gripping. This book was definitely one of those that kept you on your toes (albeit only till the climax is revealed).
What did not work for me:
1. The climax: Big disappointment.
2. The editing: I am extremely disappointed to report that like most Indian authors (I detest stereotyping but it holds true), even this book has not been edited properly. Problems with formatting, grammar, spacing - the book is riddled with one at least every ten pages. Being published by Harper Black, I expected the editing team to do a better job.
3. Use of large words: Random big words, not used colloquially, are dropped in dialogues for no good reason. I am not a fan of big-word dropping in an otherwise simply written book. Cankerous, shindig, kowtow? Not my idea of sprucing up a narrative.
4. Use of brackets: To expand acronyms, to explain some remark - they just seemed very ill-placed. A dialogue is not spoken in brackets. I don't see why it should be written in that way either.
Recommended for the writing, not for the suspense.
Just about alright.
(This book could have easily been a 4-4.5 star for me had the climax managed to excite me even a tad bit.)
The book is not bad. It is a decent one time read. But the entire onus of making a thriller/murder mystery a good one is on the climax, which failed to satisfy me. The end comes as a surprise, and I do not say that in a good way.
The story revolves around the murder of Ramola, a yesteryear's star, who decided to ruffle feathers of a bunch of (crooks) people from her extremely dramatic and tabloid-worthy past by announcing her autobiography in their presence on her 40th birthday.
I'll go over the things that worked for me first:
1. The plot: It is simple yet interesting. The locked-room whodunit mystery with a bunch of characters related to the victim in convoluted ways added a flavour of drama to the book, and I quite liked it.
2. The treatment of characters: Most of the characters, in my opinion, were well sketched. I am particularly happy with the author's decision of placing the murder much after the initial character-building of the book has taken place. The clever placement gives the reader an insight to the protagonist's relationship with the various other characters, both in the present time as well as throwing light on the dynamics of their shared past.
3. The flow: The language was mostly flowy and the book seemed to move as one fluid and racy narrative, even though there were plenty of characters to be dealt with, each having an independent backgrounds. (I will come to the negatives later.)
4. The build-up/suspense: When everyone has a motive, the whodunit becomes even more gripping. This book was definitely one of those that kept you on your toes (albeit only till the climax is revealed).
What did not work for me:
1. The climax: Big disappointment.
2. The editing: I am extremely disappointed to report that like most Indian authors (I detest stereotyping but it holds true), even this book has not been edited properly. Problems with formatting, grammar, spacing - the book is riddled with one at least every ten pages. Being published by Harper Black, I expected the editing team to do a better job.
3. Use of large words: Random big words, not used colloquially, are dropped in dialogues for no good reason. I am not a fan of big-word dropping in an otherwise simply written book. Cankerous, shindig, kowtow? Not my idea of sprucing up a narrative.
4. Use of brackets: To expand acronyms, to explain some remark - they just seemed very ill-placed. A dialogue is not spoken in brackets. I don't see why it should be written in that way either.
Recommended for the writing, not for the suspense.
Just about alright.
(This book could have easily been a 4-4.5 star for me had the climax managed to excite me even a tad bit.)
May 29, 2018
The cover itself is a pointer that the book is a crime thriller. And readers of such genre are sure to be tempted enough to pick this one up.
The Bollywood diva Ramola has hosted her fortieth birthday party and soon when the party gets over, she was found dead in her room. It was supposed that the murder was linked with her announcement of publishing her life memoir which may risk the career of her ex-lovers’. Hence, all of her five ex-lovers were suspected as the murderer.
The actress moves into Charmwood Cottage in a scenic hill town named Ramsar from Mumbai to step down from her career before she is rejected by the industry and besides she was willing to write her autobiography undisturbed. During one of her morning walk, she happened to meet a young girl named Tia visiting Ramsar to deal with her heartbreak. In mutual interest, Tia was ready to assist Ramola in finishing her memoir.
Furthermore, she had quite some insightful neighbours including the Colonel Arjun H. Acharya who later took up investigation into his murder. And among her principal guests includes Subroto Sen, Arif khan, Vikram Ahuja, Sameer Kelkar and Rohan Sharma with whom she shared troubled yet intimate past.
It’s quite common in crime thrillers where you suspect someone to be the murderer but later the author brings in new details and eventually an outsider gets as an entry into the suspect list. So, when you keep guessing who the murderer is along with the investigation going on in the book, you just couldn’t guess it correctly. Same do happen in this book too.
I loved writing style of the author and was genuinely engrossed in the competent storytelling. This murder mystery is promising enough to keep the reader intrigued till the very last page.
In initial pages around at the twenty or thirty percent of the book, it does get tedious. But later, the pace gets swift and interesting,
Why to read this book
Suspense lovers will love this book. It’s a detective novel with the right tinge of suspense and mystery. I was thoroughly intrigued in the book right from the beginning. I would definitely recommend this one.
The Bollywood diva Ramola has hosted her fortieth birthday party and soon when the party gets over, she was found dead in her room. It was supposed that the murder was linked with her announcement of publishing her life memoir which may risk the career of her ex-lovers’. Hence, all of her five ex-lovers were suspected as the murderer.
The actress moves into Charmwood Cottage in a scenic hill town named Ramsar from Mumbai to step down from her career before she is rejected by the industry and besides she was willing to write her autobiography undisturbed. During one of her morning walk, she happened to meet a young girl named Tia visiting Ramsar to deal with her heartbreak. In mutual interest, Tia was ready to assist Ramola in finishing her memoir.
Furthermore, she had quite some insightful neighbours including the Colonel Arjun H. Acharya who later took up investigation into his murder. And among her principal guests includes Subroto Sen, Arif khan, Vikram Ahuja, Sameer Kelkar and Rohan Sharma with whom she shared troubled yet intimate past.
It’s quite common in crime thrillers where you suspect someone to be the murderer but later the author brings in new details and eventually an outsider gets as an entry into the suspect list. So, when you keep guessing who the murderer is along with the investigation going on in the book, you just couldn’t guess it correctly. Same do happen in this book too.
I loved writing style of the author and was genuinely engrossed in the competent storytelling. This murder mystery is promising enough to keep the reader intrigued till the very last page.
In initial pages around at the twenty or thirty percent of the book, it does get tedious. But later, the pace gets swift and interesting,
Why to read this book
Suspense lovers will love this book. It’s a detective novel with the right tinge of suspense and mystery. I was thoroughly intrigued in the book right from the beginning. I would definitely recommend this one.
June 11, 2018
Read The Full Review Here: https://poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.co...
REVIEWED BY SOHINEE DEY
As the title suggests A Closetful of Skeletons is a murder mystery penned by Tanushree Podder and published by HarperCollins.
At the heart of the storyline is a female protagonist, Ramola, who has been keeping out of the spotlight for a while. Her career in the film industry has been all shades of grey. At some point she has been manipulated and at others, she has played the role of a manipulator. But then, it is known that the film industry is never easy. From being casted in C grade films to becoming a sensation, her success story has left a sour taste in many of her wingmen (in the sense where important people who helped her to bag roles in the movies).
But, Ramola decides to retire from the limelight at the peak of her stardom. Now, why she chooses to do that isn’t revealed until the end. For her retreat, she picks a secluded place called Ramsar, a beautiful town near Almora. Not visited by many, this place is still hidden from the public’s eye, and her neighbours, let’s just say they know who she is but not really. Ramola, indeed chose a great place to save herself from being followed by the paparazzi.
There were five men who had left their mark in Ramola’s life and she did the same. The connection between Ramola and these five men is resumed after a long time when she takes it upon herself to invite each of them to her birthday party. Of course they try to play coy, rejecting her invitation at first. But they still have some attachments to her and are somewhat putty in her hands. Ramola doesn’t disclose the “important announcement” she is going to make, but she knows that they would show up.
Thus, comes the day of the reunion of Subroto Sen, the director; Sameer Kelkar, the politician; Vikram Ahuja, the star turned nobody; Arif Khan, the person involved in under the table dealings and Rohan Sharma, the dwindling actor. There are other characters who play equally important roles in the storyline but these are the main characters around whom the plot revolves.
Ramola decides to publish her memoir where all these five men make their appearances. Her account will contain all the tell-tale details and let’s just say she doesn’t conceal or sugarcoat any of the details. Now, you get the picture, right? Here is where comes the murder mystery part. I am not going to reveal anything further because that way I would be giving away the whole plotline.
Overall, I liked the book. From the cover to the blurb to the storyline, everything was good. But, the book wasn’t a strong murder mystery for me. I am more into the dark and gory type of mysteries. So, this wasn’t strong enough for me. Also, the storyline was a bit predictable.
The narration was really good. I liked how Tanushree Podder narrated the scenes in details but in a very compact manner. There weren’t too much of details nor too less of details. Just enough to keep you on the edge. Also, I liked how the chapters were really short and had a good closure to each of them. So, none of the chapters felt incomplete nor did I have a feeling that some more details should have been included even though they were short.
The language used is lucid and that really helped the scenes to give a vivid picture. There were some minor grammatical errors and missing punctuation marks (like quotation, commas, etc.).
The dialogues could have been written in a better way, where they could have been expressed more with body gestures which I found missing most of the time. That way, I could have pictured the characters feeling happy, being sad, being angry and such.
FINAL THOUGHTS
To sum up, A Closetful of Skeletons makes for a good light murder mystery with a bollywood-esque style. If you’re someone who can’t handle dark mysteries, you can pick this up as it is not that dark of a read. But, you must keep an open mind because there are certain scenes and innuendos which can put you off if you are a very sensitive and delicate reader.
POESY IN CHRYSALIS RATING : ⭐⭐⭐.5 / ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For more reviews and bookish posts, follow my blog at www.poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.com. For review enquiries and collaborations, write to me at query.sohinee@gmail.com
REVIEWED BY SOHINEE DEY
As the title suggests A Closetful of Skeletons is a murder mystery penned by Tanushree Podder and published by HarperCollins.
At the heart of the storyline is a female protagonist, Ramola, who has been keeping out of the spotlight for a while. Her career in the film industry has been all shades of grey. At some point she has been manipulated and at others, she has played the role of a manipulator. But then, it is known that the film industry is never easy. From being casted in C grade films to becoming a sensation, her success story has left a sour taste in many of her wingmen (in the sense where important people who helped her to bag roles in the movies).
But, Ramola decides to retire from the limelight at the peak of her stardom. Now, why she chooses to do that isn’t revealed until the end. For her retreat, she picks a secluded place called Ramsar, a beautiful town near Almora. Not visited by many, this place is still hidden from the public’s eye, and her neighbours, let’s just say they know who she is but not really. Ramola, indeed chose a great place to save herself from being followed by the paparazzi.
There were five men who had left their mark in Ramola’s life and she did the same. The connection between Ramola and these five men is resumed after a long time when she takes it upon herself to invite each of them to her birthday party. Of course they try to play coy, rejecting her invitation at first. But they still have some attachments to her and are somewhat putty in her hands. Ramola doesn’t disclose the “important announcement” she is going to make, but she knows that they would show up.
Thus, comes the day of the reunion of Subroto Sen, the director; Sameer Kelkar, the politician; Vikram Ahuja, the star turned nobody; Arif Khan, the person involved in under the table dealings and Rohan Sharma, the dwindling actor. There are other characters who play equally important roles in the storyline but these are the main characters around whom the plot revolves.
Ramola decides to publish her memoir where all these five men make their appearances. Her account will contain all the tell-tale details and let’s just say she doesn’t conceal or sugarcoat any of the details. Now, you get the picture, right? Here is where comes the murder mystery part. I am not going to reveal anything further because that way I would be giving away the whole plotline.
Overall, I liked the book. From the cover to the blurb to the storyline, everything was good. But, the book wasn’t a strong murder mystery for me. I am more into the dark and gory type of mysteries. So, this wasn’t strong enough for me. Also, the storyline was a bit predictable.
The narration was really good. I liked how Tanushree Podder narrated the scenes in details but in a very compact manner. There weren’t too much of details nor too less of details. Just enough to keep you on the edge. Also, I liked how the chapters were really short and had a good closure to each of them. So, none of the chapters felt incomplete nor did I have a feeling that some more details should have been included even though they were short.
The language used is lucid and that really helped the scenes to give a vivid picture. There were some minor grammatical errors and missing punctuation marks (like quotation, commas, etc.).
The dialogues could have been written in a better way, where they could have been expressed more with body gestures which I found missing most of the time. That way, I could have pictured the characters feeling happy, being sad, being angry and such.
FINAL THOUGHTS
To sum up, A Closetful of Skeletons makes for a good light murder mystery with a bollywood-esque style. If you’re someone who can’t handle dark mysteries, you can pick this up as it is not that dark of a read. But, you must keep an open mind because there are certain scenes and innuendos which can put you off if you are a very sensitive and delicate reader.
POESY IN CHRYSALIS RATING : ⭐⭐⭐.5 / ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For more reviews and bookish posts, follow my blog at www.poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.com. For review enquiries and collaborations, write to me at query.sohinee@gmail.com
June 4, 2018
To read the full review, click on the link below
https://storyofabooknerd.blogspot.com...
'A Closetful of Skeletons' by the author Tanushree Podder deals with a murder mystery which takes place in a small hill station known as Ramsar.
Ramola, the fading movie star invites her ex-lovers, an underworld don, a politician, a director, and two actors on her fortieth birthday party at her posh cottage in Ramsar to make an announcement that she will be soon publishing her autobiography. Now, this autobiography which will document her story of rise to fame in Bollywood, will contain such information that can put her ex-lovers' careers in danger. While they are thinking to negotiate with Ramola to drop her plan of publishing the autobiography, everyone is shocked when a gruesome murder takes place in the cottage. Colonel Acharya, Ramola's neighbor who is also an retired army officer joins Tim, a local police officer in solving the murder. Will they be successful in their attempt?
There were plenty of other characters who were equally involved in this mystery weaved by the author. I loved the efficient story telling of the author, she has not only maintained the tension of the murder mystery but also managed to bring about funny situations that evokes laughter. The cover of the book was alluring, however I couldn't quite catch what the title meant.
The writing style of the author was really good and gripping. The pace was a little slow in the beginning but as the the story progressed, the whodunit factor made me turn pages.The ending was totally surprising and unpredictable.
I really liked the way the author has described the beauty of Ramsar, the sceneries, climate, lifestyle of the people living in there which makes the story line even more attractive. It was as if I could visualize everything that was happening around me. The author has also highlighted some of the sensitive issues that happens in Bollywood like the casting couch, underworld connections, film-industry politics and etc.
Overall, ' A Closetful of Skeletons' is a treat for all the thriller or murder mystery lovers. The book is a perfect companion on a weekend afternoon or on a rainy day with a cup of coffee in hand.
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'A Closetful of Skeletons' by the author Tanushree Podder deals with a murder mystery which takes place in a small hill station known as Ramsar.
Ramola, the fading movie star invites her ex-lovers, an underworld don, a politician, a director, and two actors on her fortieth birthday party at her posh cottage in Ramsar to make an announcement that she will be soon publishing her autobiography. Now, this autobiography which will document her story of rise to fame in Bollywood, will contain such information that can put her ex-lovers' careers in danger. While they are thinking to negotiate with Ramola to drop her plan of publishing the autobiography, everyone is shocked when a gruesome murder takes place in the cottage. Colonel Acharya, Ramola's neighbor who is also an retired army officer joins Tim, a local police officer in solving the murder. Will they be successful in their attempt?
There were plenty of other characters who were equally involved in this mystery weaved by the author. I loved the efficient story telling of the author, she has not only maintained the tension of the murder mystery but also managed to bring about funny situations that evokes laughter. The cover of the book was alluring, however I couldn't quite catch what the title meant.
The writing style of the author was really good and gripping. The pace was a little slow in the beginning but as the the story progressed, the whodunit factor made me turn pages.The ending was totally surprising and unpredictable.
I really liked the way the author has described the beauty of Ramsar, the sceneries, climate, lifestyle of the people living in there which makes the story line even more attractive. It was as if I could visualize everything that was happening around me. The author has also highlighted some of the sensitive issues that happens in Bollywood like the casting couch, underworld connections, film-industry politics and etc.
Overall, ' A Closetful of Skeletons' is a treat for all the thriller or murder mystery lovers. The book is a perfect companion on a weekend afternoon or on a rainy day with a cup of coffee in hand.
June 1, 2018
Okay! I did not expect this book to be THIS good. I have always been a mystery book lover and that makes me very picky when it comes to choosing such genre. This book has been on my list for some time and I did expect it to be a "good" book but I truly did not expect it to win my heart and fellas, it did! Not only the storyline but also the little details made all across the book made me really like this book. So the story starts with Ramola, the main protagonist, making phone calls to all the five "ex" men in her life. She wants to break the news of her writing a memoir to them when they attend her birthday party. Everyone is shocked cause this book could actually ruin their life and many others so each of them tries to stop in some way or the other.
The entire storyline, the concept of the book, everything is written down so interestingly. This book is a very realistic book, I mean I am sure these kinda stories do occur, the only thing we are not really aware of. The way the plot builds up, it's like your own story, few aspects I really thought woooah this could have happened to me. The story starts taking its turn when Ramola is found dead and Colonel Acharya and Tim tries to solve this murder mystery. Reading a mystery book, you unknowingly start guessing who the murderer is along with the investigation going on in the book, but in this book, you just couldn’t guess it correctly. Every suspect turns out to be innocent and a new side pops up.
I really loved the writing style of the author, Tanushree Poddar has truly shown how marvelously she can keep the suspense going on. There aren't any fancy word used thus you know you will be able to read it at one go. The storyline is beautiful thus you can't simply put it down. And then comes the book cover, my god, you know it's a murder mystery, the cover has been picked out very thoughtfully giving it the added bonus. I am surely going to recommend this book to every single mystery freaks out there. This book is truly a must!!
February 22, 2018
To Sum Up!
A Closetful of Dresses is probably what you expect while you think of women who have been in limelight. But a Closetful of Skeletons? The author surely has coined the perfect title for a not so perfect, but a good attempt of a murder mystery novel.
Grab a Copy ASAP on Amazon :)
My Review!
Due to the amazing cover and apt title, the reader begins the book with high expectations which is hardly met. Also, while reading mystery novels we have an innate tendency to compare it with Agatha Christie. Well, if you do not do the same, I Bet you will enjoy this gripping thrilling and tantalizing read. Ramola is the perfect embodiment of a woman with a rounded character, a woman who has had her share of past, present and plans for future - none of which are constant or similar! The present she lives seems quite peaceful and calm, contrasted to her rowdy past that she slowly unveils throughout the novel. And the future? Well. To know that you need to grab a copy here !
The novel is pretty fast paced towards the end and beginning but it does get a bit boring in the middle. Also, apart from Ramola, no other character is rounded and seem very flat. Some improvisation could have given greater dimensions to the novel. However, I was too impressed with the writing style to DNF the book, so I eventually gave it time and voila! I rate the book 4*/5*. I am pretty sure the author is capable of much better work in future.
A Closetful of Dresses is probably what you expect while you think of women who have been in limelight. But a Closetful of Skeletons? The author surely has coined the perfect title for a not so perfect, but a good attempt of a murder mystery novel.
Grab a Copy ASAP on Amazon :)
My Review!
Due to the amazing cover and apt title, the reader begins the book with high expectations which is hardly met. Also, while reading mystery novels we have an innate tendency to compare it with Agatha Christie. Well, if you do not do the same, I Bet you will enjoy this gripping thrilling and tantalizing read. Ramola is the perfect embodiment of a woman with a rounded character, a woman who has had her share of past, present and plans for future - none of which are constant or similar! The present she lives seems quite peaceful and calm, contrasted to her rowdy past that she slowly unveils throughout the novel. And the future? Well. To know that you need to grab a copy here !
The novel is pretty fast paced towards the end and beginning but it does get a bit boring in the middle. Also, apart from Ramola, no other character is rounded and seem very flat. Some improvisation could have given greater dimensions to the novel. However, I was too impressed with the writing style to DNF the book, so I eventually gave it time and voila! I rate the book 4*/5*. I am pretty sure the author is capable of much better work in future.
June 1, 2018
Tanushree Poddar has written an intriguing crime thriller about the yesteryear actress Ramola who has left the glamour world behind for a quiet life in the hills of a town called Ramsar.
On her 40th birthday she invites her ex-lovers to the party with the excuse of an announcement to publish her autobiography. And the story gets interesting and intriguing with the discovery of her dead body.
What I liked :
The characters were pretty well developed and had depth to them.
The story begins off with a pace and the writing style was easy and quick paced.
The amazing cover.. Makes u want to pick up as soon as ur eyes fall on it.
What I didn't Like :
For a crime thriller, the book was pretty predictable.
The climax was dull and could have been better.
Conclusion :
A pretty well read and definitely enjoyable. The story and the writing makes u want to pick up the book and read through it. The suspense built up is gradual and makes the book interesting.
On her 40th birthday she invites her ex-lovers to the party with the excuse of an announcement to publish her autobiography. And the story gets interesting and intriguing with the discovery of her dead body.
What I liked :
The characters were pretty well developed and had depth to them.
The story begins off with a pace and the writing style was easy and quick paced.
The amazing cover.. Makes u want to pick up as soon as ur eyes fall on it.
What I didn't Like :
For a crime thriller, the book was pretty predictable.
The climax was dull and could have been better.
Conclusion :
A pretty well read and definitely enjoyable. The story and the writing makes u want to pick up the book and read through it. The suspense built up is gradual and makes the book interesting.
February 14, 2018
A Closetful of Skeletons is an aptly titled thriller where the characters slowly become lively and plot is skillfully interwoven. The pace of storytelling is slow to begin with but soon matches up with the expectations of the reader and characters come out very well. Ramola the lead character is very much identifiable and believable. The suspense is slowly built up till it reaches the climax which is again well written .Overall a good read.
I have read Tanushree Podder’s two books Nurjahan’s daughter and Escape to Harem and I found her too good with historical fiction but she has pleasantly surprised me with her attempt in Thriller genre as well.
I hope to read a lot more from you, Tanushree, Good luck
I have read Tanushree Podder’s two books Nurjahan’s daughter and Escape to Harem and I found her too good with historical fiction but she has pleasantly surprised me with her attempt in Thriller genre as well.
I hope to read a lot more from you, Tanushree, Good luck
August 7, 2018
Who done it, finding the murderer in the twin murder case makes the reader take the turns into guessing the culprit.
March 21, 2018
Without doubt one of the worst whodunits I've ever read. Repetitive, uninteresting and surprise ending which leaves you nauseated because .
November 8, 2021
Interesting murder mystery set in a cosy scenic hill town.
June 11, 2018
A look at the cover and you know this is a murder mystery. What you got to find out is who got murdered.
Ramola , the glamorous actress of Bollywood industry mysteriously disappears from town. Gossips and rumors about her heartbreak spreads and assumptions take over. Cut to a hilly area far away from the glamorous world is where she has her new abode. Ramola bumps into Tia , a writer and instantly feels a connection building. Working on her memorie , Tia helps Ramola finish her piece.
Ramola throws a party and invites all the people mentioned in the memoir. But something happens and the next we know "someone is murdered" but who?
Plot
The book started off quite well building the perfect amount of tension and excitement. The narrative is engrossing and keeps you hooked till the middle of the book. The plot is well thought off and the author clearly has worked amazingly well.
What made this book stand out was the building of characters. It often gets confusing when too many characters are introduced but the author took her own sweet time to let the characters build and then reveal the actual story which i liked.
What let down the book for me was the climax. The end was completely illogical and had no real connection. I failed to grasp it and it ruined my experience of the book.
Writing
The writing is lucid but i found quite a many grammatical errors which pissed me off. The use of brackets in the sentences were unnecessary and it ruined a part of the reading experience. Some high-end words were used which weren't really important but we can ignore that.
Overall, the book can be picked up for an entertaining read if you ignore the climax. The book clearly could have made a mark if the climax would have been something different.
Ramola , the glamorous actress of Bollywood industry mysteriously disappears from town. Gossips and rumors about her heartbreak spreads and assumptions take over. Cut to a hilly area far away from the glamorous world is where she has her new abode. Ramola bumps into Tia , a writer and instantly feels a connection building. Working on her memorie , Tia helps Ramola finish her piece.
Ramola throws a party and invites all the people mentioned in the memoir. But something happens and the next we know "someone is murdered" but who?
Plot
The book started off quite well building the perfect amount of tension and excitement. The narrative is engrossing and keeps you hooked till the middle of the book. The plot is well thought off and the author clearly has worked amazingly well.
What made this book stand out was the building of characters. It often gets confusing when too many characters are introduced but the author took her own sweet time to let the characters build and then reveal the actual story which i liked.
What let down the book for me was the climax. The end was completely illogical and had no real connection. I failed to grasp it and it ruined my experience of the book.
Writing
The writing is lucid but i found quite a many grammatical errors which pissed me off. The use of brackets in the sentences were unnecessary and it ruined a part of the reading experience. Some high-end words were used which weren't really important but we can ignore that.
Overall, the book can be picked up for an entertaining read if you ignore the climax. The book clearly could have made a mark if the climax would have been something different.
December 17, 2021
This was a clean, compact, enjoyable read. Built along the classical contours defined by Dame Christie and others, this novel had a delightful setting. Identifiable characters (both good and bad) walked across it, giving us a taste of reality with unreal shades. It contained red herrings. We had a retired yet fully functional sleuth. But most importantly, the victim was one of the most interesting persons I have encountered in these kind of crime thrillers.
The ending was very abrupt, that jarred a little bit.
Recommended as a very good read.
The ending was very abrupt, that jarred a little bit.
Recommended as a very good read.
May 20, 2018
Detective, crime and suspense novels guarantee goosebumps and at times they would shoot up our adrenaline.When they tell the tales related tothe present digital era with the backdrop of tinsel realm of Bollywood it adds entertainment . There would be a lot of thoughts start to flow in to your minds as to the magnificence of evil motive, suspects, and way of execution and investigation.
Tanushree Podder's A CLOSETFUL OF SKELTONS is an enjoyable and pensive superbly phrased book.
For those who want to sit on a summer evening, the book you choose to read should be a page turner and it should engage you to go on till the midnight with a cup of hot coffee and this book falls under this category.
You have to enter into a hill station Ramsar to read the thriller that unfolds through the eyes of many a character. Each one carries its own purpose .They play pivotal roles and the authoress had to add all the elements of humour, sentiments and the thrill and chill.While reading the story you can picture the happenings and it would be etched in your minds since it is penned in a subtle manner.
The title and cover design are amazing. The succinct blurb would instill an interest in you to read the book.This fast-paced thriller has got so much suspense, twists and turns to engage you through the story. The language is amazing and the narrative prose is impressive.
The storyteller in the authoress Tanushree Podder leads it to be a page turner. Creation of Charectors is superb. The language is so smooth you can visualize the events and situations as though all happen in front of your eyes.
Events are believable and unpredictable. The ending is unexpected and unpredictable .While reading the book it would be etched in your minds since it is penned in a subtle manner.
The descriptive prose highlighting the beauty of Ramsar the picturesque of sceneries, the greenery , the cold climate and the good nature of people allures us.There is a plethora of characters which include Durgabai, Dinesh, and Ganesh employees, DSP Jung Bahadur Singh aka JBS, Tia assistant of Ramola .The story flows with all the funny situations to evoke laughter as well as horrible occasions to shock you.
It is no wonder Tanushree storytelling style has enchanted me from the beginning to the end.She has masterfully spun a story about the personal struggles hardships and joys and happiness of the actress .It is a heart-wrenching story and there is a strong plot strengthened by the interesting subplots.
It is an emotionally intuitive and impeccably written tale focusing on the story of deception and evil.
I like this wonderful book for all the thrill and chillness it can create in us a great entertainment. The cover design by Natasha Chandhok is fantabulous.I strongly recommend this book to all fans of crime thrillers.
Tanushree Podder's A CLOSETFUL OF SKELTONS is an enjoyable and pensive superbly phrased book.
For those who want to sit on a summer evening, the book you choose to read should be a page turner and it should engage you to go on till the midnight with a cup of hot coffee and this book falls under this category.
You have to enter into a hill station Ramsar to read the thriller that unfolds through the eyes of many a character. Each one carries its own purpose .They play pivotal roles and the authoress had to add all the elements of humour, sentiments and the thrill and chill.While reading the story you can picture the happenings and it would be etched in your minds since it is penned in a subtle manner.
The title and cover design are amazing. The succinct blurb would instill an interest in you to read the book.This fast-paced thriller has got so much suspense, twists and turns to engage you through the story. The language is amazing and the narrative prose is impressive.
The storyteller in the authoress Tanushree Podder leads it to be a page turner. Creation of Charectors is superb. The language is so smooth you can visualize the events and situations as though all happen in front of your eyes.
Events are believable and unpredictable. The ending is unexpected and unpredictable .While reading the book it would be etched in your minds since it is penned in a subtle manner.
The descriptive prose highlighting the beauty of Ramsar the picturesque of sceneries, the greenery , the cold climate and the good nature of people allures us.There is a plethora of characters which include Durgabai, Dinesh, and Ganesh employees, DSP Jung Bahadur Singh aka JBS, Tia assistant of Ramola .The story flows with all the funny situations to evoke laughter as well as horrible occasions to shock you.
It is no wonder Tanushree storytelling style has enchanted me from the beginning to the end.She has masterfully spun a story about the personal struggles hardships and joys and happiness of the actress .It is a heart-wrenching story and there is a strong plot strengthened by the interesting subplots.
It is an emotionally intuitive and impeccably written tale focusing on the story of deception and evil.
I like this wonderful book for all the thrill and chillness it can create in us a great entertainment. The cover design by Natasha Chandhok is fantabulous.I strongly recommend this book to all fans of crime thrillers.
January 15, 2018
A Surprising Find
If you are an avid reader, it is quite possible that you build a certain image of an author and start associating them with certain genres. Tanushree Podder’s latest is that surprise find. Her book A Closet Full of Skeletons is a departure from her other books where at least three of them have the armed forces as the backdrop and two are historical fiction. Knowing fully well that it is a murder mystery (the title does its bit), I picked this up without hesitation. For one, her writing brings a sense of comforting familiarity. Second, her subjects are always thoroughly researched, thus ensuring a delightful read.
A Closetful of skeletons is the story of Ramola a fading star who decides to exit gracefully and move to the hills. Readers are given a glimpse of her brief tryst with the filmwallahs, including a mafia don with filmi connection. The book begins with each one of them receiving a phone invite to her upcoming birthday party where she plans to make an announcement - also connected to them. I will say that is the start of a mystery because along with the characters, it leaves the reader wondering about the announcement and the consequence it holds for each of them.
The hills offer a stark yet pretty contrast. This is where Ramola has made her home and finds some peace and contentment. A group of seniors who meet over gossip, and a game of bridge seem to be the only source of excitement in this sleepy town. Until a murder happens, that is.
On the day of celebration and announcement, Ramola’s two worlds – the erstwhile murky and the present jolly and peaceful – come together on the lawns of her bungalow. A night later she is murdered, which undoubtedly had been provoked by her announcement. What then follows is a thrilling turn of pages that leads to a nail-biting finish.
The characters from both the worlds are etched so well that it is not easy to get muddled up. The writing style is breezy (in fact some choice of words is a delightful find). It’s not easy to ignore the author’s love for travel, where Podder sprinkles the Italian connection quite generously.
With a tight plot, delightful characters, quirky connections and the charmed world of a sleepy mountain town as a backdrop, A Closetful of Skeletons is simply a treat for that lazy weekend afternoon.
If you are an avid reader, it is quite possible that you build a certain image of an author and start associating them with certain genres. Tanushree Podder’s latest is that surprise find. Her book A Closet Full of Skeletons is a departure from her other books where at least three of them have the armed forces as the backdrop and two are historical fiction. Knowing fully well that it is a murder mystery (the title does its bit), I picked this up without hesitation. For one, her writing brings a sense of comforting familiarity. Second, her subjects are always thoroughly researched, thus ensuring a delightful read.
A Closetful of skeletons is the story of Ramola a fading star who decides to exit gracefully and move to the hills. Readers are given a glimpse of her brief tryst with the filmwallahs, including a mafia don with filmi connection. The book begins with each one of them receiving a phone invite to her upcoming birthday party where she plans to make an announcement - also connected to them. I will say that is the start of a mystery because along with the characters, it leaves the reader wondering about the announcement and the consequence it holds for each of them.
The hills offer a stark yet pretty contrast. This is where Ramola has made her home and finds some peace and contentment. A group of seniors who meet over gossip, and a game of bridge seem to be the only source of excitement in this sleepy town. Until a murder happens, that is.
On the day of celebration and announcement, Ramola’s two worlds – the erstwhile murky and the present jolly and peaceful – come together on the lawns of her bungalow. A night later she is murdered, which undoubtedly had been provoked by her announcement. What then follows is a thrilling turn of pages that leads to a nail-biting finish.
The characters from both the worlds are etched so well that it is not easy to get muddled up. The writing style is breezy (in fact some choice of words is a delightful find). It’s not easy to ignore the author’s love for travel, where Podder sprinkles the Italian connection quite generously.
With a tight plot, delightful characters, quirky connections and the charmed world of a sleepy mountain town as a backdrop, A Closetful of Skeletons is simply a treat for that lazy weekend afternoon.
May 21, 2018
Bollywood is a mirage for a common man. Anything written and shot about Bollywood always generates an intrigue in the readers, more so if there is a murder mystery and suspense element. Author has knitted a complicated yet interesting tale about an yester-year Bollywood star who has settled in the suburbs of Delhi. Ramsar, a heavenly and seemingly imaginary place is the centre of ll the action.
Ramola, the fading movie star invites her ex-lovers an underworld don, a director, two movie stars and one struggling actor to her fortieth birthday party where she announces her autobiography, to the dismay of the guests. The guests are unhinged by the announcement that may tarnish their personal as well as professional lives. They learn that Ramola has changed to a different personality on reaching Ramsar and made a few friends who are retired couples. While they are contemplating a negotiation with Ramola on dropping the plan of publishing the book, with the help of Tia, everyone is shocked to be caught amidst a gruesome murder. Ramola's neighbour, retired army officer and amateur sleuth, Colonel Arjun H. Acharya, joins Jim in solving the murder. Will they be successful in finding the culprit?
The book unveils on a very calming background with the silly arguments between retired couples and innocent flirting from the neighbours but later after the murder the mood changes. Some of the characters are projected beyond measure while some others remain in the background, presumably in an attempt to deviate the concentration from them. Author has followed the primary rule of a thriller, especially murder mystery- Having a lot of characters. Author has also included the romantic indulgences of Ramola without being sleazy.
The undercurrent of tensions and indifference in the Bollywood industry is subtle depicted in the book. The character of Ahuja reminds us of a 70s superstar who later faded from the memories of the movie lovers. Every character is carefully crafted so as to make them relatable. Author has made the murder part subdued and skipped the eerie details. The suspense is also maintained quite well.
Verdict
Overall the book is a cliffhanger without extreme violence.
February 25, 2018
2.5/5
This is an average thriller. The synopsis of the story had intrigued me since I love locked room mysteries (and scandalous secrets), and a retired colonel acting as a detective, though cliched, is a troupe I generally enjoy.
However, unlike the characters in the book, the mystery wasn't that taut or interesting. To me, the book's strength laid in just two things - 1. The erray of "typical" yet interesting characters, and 2. The (fast) pacing of the story.
I wasn't satisfied with most aspects of the story, including THE 'reveal'. I was left with a lot of questions by the end (which I will state at the end of this review to avoid spoilers here) and the events in the 'Postscript' chapter seemed particularly absurd to me.
Another issue I had with the book was that even though a simplistic style of writing was used throughout, often a "big" and difficult word was thrown here and there, which required me to consult the dictionary a lot. It felt a little off, as it disturbed the flow for me.
It isn't a bad thriller by any means though. It works if you are in a mood to sit back and read a simple, uncomplicated thriller, and don't mind a few, minor inconsistencies.
SPOILER TERRITORY:
Questions I have about the story and aspects of the story that I couldn't "buy" -
1. Why would Ramola not help out her cousin in the first place? Considering that Ramola had forgiven her cousin thinking that he shouldn't face the consequences of his father's mistakes, then why refuse to help him for the very same reason? It made no sense to me.
2. Why wasn't Sen's career as affected by Ramola's memoir as was Sammy's and Arif's? Casting couch and funding from the underworld are "sins" that wouldn't have been completely forgiven in the actual world.
3. Why did Tim act in the movie based on Ramola's murder? Firstly, making a movie based on a murder with real people who were actually involved in the case in some way or another, is quite absurd. And it's even stranger that Tim would star in it! Tim, who is a police officer (mind you), loved Ramola and he should have mourned her death and not act in a movie! I don't understand why Tim would do that. It makes zero sense to me.
This is an average thriller. The synopsis of the story had intrigued me since I love locked room mysteries (and scandalous secrets), and a retired colonel acting as a detective, though cliched, is a troupe I generally enjoy.
However, unlike the characters in the book, the mystery wasn't that taut or interesting. To me, the book's strength laid in just two things - 1. The erray of "typical" yet interesting characters, and 2. The (fast) pacing of the story.
I wasn't satisfied with most aspects of the story, including THE 'reveal'. I was left with a lot of questions by the end (which I will state at the end of this review to avoid spoilers here) and the events in the 'Postscript' chapter seemed particularly absurd to me.
Another issue I had with the book was that even though a simplistic style of writing was used throughout, often a "big" and difficult word was thrown here and there, which required me to consult the dictionary a lot. It felt a little off, as it disturbed the flow for me.
It isn't a bad thriller by any means though. It works if you are in a mood to sit back and read a simple, uncomplicated thriller, and don't mind a few, minor inconsistencies.
SPOILER TERRITORY:
Questions I have about the story and aspects of the story that I couldn't "buy" -
1. Why would Ramola not help out her cousin in the first place? Considering that Ramola had forgiven her cousin thinking that he shouldn't face the consequences of his father's mistakes, then why refuse to help him for the very same reason? It made no sense to me.
2. Why wasn't Sen's career as affected by Ramola's memoir as was Sammy's and Arif's? Casting couch and funding from the underworld are "sins" that wouldn't have been completely forgiven in the actual world.
3. Why did Tim act in the movie based on Ramola's murder? Firstly, making a movie based on a murder with real people who were actually involved in the case in some way or another, is quite absurd. And it's even stranger that Tim would star in it! Tim, who is a police officer (mind you), loved Ramola and he should have mourned her death and not act in a movie! I don't understand why Tim would do that. It makes zero sense to me.
May 30, 2018
Five men are on their way to a hill station, where Ramola, a fading movie star, waits to make an announcement that will change their lives forever. Ramola withdrew from the public eye at the peak of her stardom. Now, surrounded by retired couples spending their twilight years gardening and gossiping, her life is idyllic. Or atleast it was, till the night of her birthday party, when she announces that her tell-all memoir will soon be published. The book, documenting her rise to fame, puts each of her ex-lovers' careers in jeopardy. As each desperate man tries to save himself, Ramola is drawn back into the very web of lies and deception she had left behind. By the time the party is over, Ramola's neighbour, retired army officer and amateur sleuth Colonel Arjun H. Acharya, has found his first murder to solve. A Closetful Of Skeletons reels you into a cosy world of fresh mountain air, long-drawn bridge games and bloody murder.
'A Closetful Of Skeletons', unlike usual crime thrillers, does not start with the crime and its investigations. The crime is commited only towards the end of the book. It begins with the story of Ramola, who was a sensational Bollywood heroine. She now lives in Ramsar, away from the spotlight. The story is very skillfully woven and narrated without any loopholes or open ends. As the story progresses, we learn about each of the men in Ramola's life. Each character is different and yet they are all connected to each other. The story is exciting and gripping with a lot of twists. The use of the language in the book by the author is exemplary. We learn a lot about the different approaches to solving a crime. The end of the book also did not disappoint. Whether you like crime thrillers or a fast paced story with unexpected plot twists, this book is for you.
'A Closetful Of Skeletons', unlike usual crime thrillers, does not start with the crime and its investigations. The crime is commited only towards the end of the book. It begins with the story of Ramola, who was a sensational Bollywood heroine. She now lives in Ramsar, away from the spotlight. The story is very skillfully woven and narrated without any loopholes or open ends. As the story progresses, we learn about each of the men in Ramola's life. Each character is different and yet they are all connected to each other. The story is exciting and gripping with a lot of twists. The use of the language in the book by the author is exemplary. We learn a lot about the different approaches to solving a crime. The end of the book also did not disappoint. Whether you like crime thrillers or a fast paced story with unexpected plot twists, this book is for you.
May 28, 2018
Ramola is a famous actress who retired at the peak of her career and decided to live in Charmwood Cottage in Ramsar, which is a quiet and beautiful place. She decides to write her memoir about her life with her ex-lovers including Sammy who is a famous politician, Arif who is a don, Vikram Ahuja her ex co-star, Subroto Sen her director and Rohan who is his husband but living separately from her.
Ramola meets Tia, a journalist from Mumbai. They become good friends and Ramola also provided her accomodation in her cottage and not just this but also gives her work to help her in writing her memoir. Tia gives Ramola an idea to invite all the men in her past to be part of her guest list on her 40th birthday party and reveal the news of publishing of her memoir.
The story starts with Ramola making phone calls to all these men. The introduction of each person is given in the starting to avoid confusion. All these men attend her birthday party and the announcement of her memoir shocked everyone. Movie director, the politician stood to loose their reputation if her book hit the stand. The scandalous disclosure could slaughter their career. This book could ruin the life of many people so each of them tries to stop this book to hit the shelves in their own way.
Ramola is found dead and then Colonel Acharya and Tim tries to solve this murder mystery. What I liked the most in this book is Author's way of maintaining the suspense till the end and it made readers guessing who the murdered Ramola. I found the book really interesting.
I loved the writing style of the author. The language used is simple and easy to understand. The title is apt and the cover of the book is attractive.
I would highly recommend the book to all mystery lovers.
Ramola meets Tia, a journalist from Mumbai. They become good friends and Ramola also provided her accomodation in her cottage and not just this but also gives her work to help her in writing her memoir. Tia gives Ramola an idea to invite all the men in her past to be part of her guest list on her 40th birthday party and reveal the news of publishing of her memoir.
The story starts with Ramola making phone calls to all these men. The introduction of each person is given in the starting to avoid confusion. All these men attend her birthday party and the announcement of her memoir shocked everyone. Movie director, the politician stood to loose their reputation if her book hit the stand. The scandalous disclosure could slaughter their career. This book could ruin the life of many people so each of them tries to stop this book to hit the shelves in their own way.
Ramola is found dead and then Colonel Acharya and Tim tries to solve this murder mystery. What I liked the most in this book is Author's way of maintaining the suspense till the end and it made readers guessing who the murdered Ramola. I found the book really interesting.
I loved the writing style of the author. The language used is simple and easy to understand. The title is apt and the cover of the book is attractive.
I would highly recommend the book to all mystery lovers.
June 8, 2018
‘A Closetful of Skeletons’ by Tanushree Podder is an intriguing thriller featuring the yesteryear film star Ramola who settles in Ramsar (a small hill station in the suburbs) in search of peace. Ramola, a flamboyant party host, invites her ex-lovers to her 40th birthday party. To the dismay of her guests, she announces to publish her autobiography, a memoir on her life which might demean her ex-lovers personal and professional lives. Ramola was murdered all of a sudden and the suspense takes off from there. Colonel Acharya, Ramola's neighbor, and a retired army officer (a modern version of Hercule Poirot, an infamous detective from Agatha Christie’s characters ) enter the scene as the hunt for the murderer begins.
Characters were very well etched and thought through. Though there were a lot of characters revolving around, the characters were descriptive enough and were rightly placed so as not to create any confusions. The writing style of the author is just right for the thrillers of this kind. There were moments in the novel where I felt both pity and a frisson of dread as well. Though initial pages were dragging in bits, her plots with twists, complexity in the mystery and multiple suspects kept me engrossed till the end. I could feel Agatha Christie’s style of narrating throughout.
If you like to read about detective fiction and like really good plots, then 'A closetful of Skeletons' is just perfect.
‘I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.’
Characters were very well etched and thought through. Though there were a lot of characters revolving around, the characters were descriptive enough and were rightly placed so as not to create any confusions. The writing style of the author is just right for the thrillers of this kind. There were moments in the novel where I felt both pity and a frisson of dread as well. Though initial pages were dragging in bits, her plots with twists, complexity in the mystery and multiple suspects kept me engrossed till the end. I could feel Agatha Christie’s style of narrating throughout.
If you like to read about detective fiction and like really good plots, then 'A closetful of Skeletons' is just perfect.
‘I received a copy from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.’
May 18, 2018
There is something in the air of the books based in a remote area with people having no idea of what's happening just like the reader which makes us share a deep connection with them a fear and desire to know what happens next. And coming from the category of such books is this one, right here, but is it able to keep up the same? Let's find out!
Before I go into the details I must appreciate the efforts put into the cover and title of the book which will make any thriller lover like me easily attracted towards it.
The composition style of the author is alright for this thriller. The main portion of the storyline is bound with enough excite and power-pressed strain to keep the perusers established in their seats. Unfortunately, at a certain portion of it, the story has a sour turn making me be in an urgency to be finished with the story.
Hindi vernacular and utilization of Hindi words don't make the story sound local as expected. The composition is eloquent and streams unreservedly through high points and low points of the story. The pacing is extremely quick and I'm happy for that. The novel is truly quick paced towards the end and starting. Not every character got a chance to appear to be level.
I would suggest it to the not regular thriller readers or the ones looking to get started in this genre with an engaging book but if you are enamoured by the legends like Agatha Christie then you may wind up just condemning it.
Before I go into the details I must appreciate the efforts put into the cover and title of the book which will make any thriller lover like me easily attracted towards it.
The composition style of the author is alright for this thriller. The main portion of the storyline is bound with enough excite and power-pressed strain to keep the perusers established in their seats. Unfortunately, at a certain portion of it, the story has a sour turn making me be in an urgency to be finished with the story.
Hindi vernacular and utilization of Hindi words don't make the story sound local as expected. The composition is eloquent and streams unreservedly through high points and low points of the story. The pacing is extremely quick and I'm happy for that. The novel is truly quick paced towards the end and starting. Not every character got a chance to appear to be level.
I would suggest it to the not regular thriller readers or the ones looking to get started in this genre with an engaging book but if you are enamoured by the legends like Agatha Christie then you may wind up just condemning it.
February 7, 2018
Tanushree Podder's A Closetful of Skeletons is a riveting read and does keep you on the tenterhooks while it lasts. The characters are woven skilfully and the author has described the idyllic locales quite magnificently. There is a point in time when the splendour of the places embraces you in its grasp. But there is a intriguing suspense around this as well, which is thrilling because the narrative makes it so.
The protagonist Ramola is not a new character but the manner in which she is interwoven and brought out makes her an interesting person. The plot is sharp and the storytelling is racy. A reader is hooked until it reaches culmination.
On the flip side it may be said that the story takes a bit too long to build up. There may be an opinion where a few pages could be shaved off to make the plot and the narrative even more crisp. There are too many characters but that is a given for the suspense to build and finger pointing of a murder to commence.
All in all this a great read for readers who look for mysteries and thrillers. Tanushree's mastery over writing and eventual revelation of the culprit is noteworthy. Grab it right away and enjoy the book with dollops of coffee and whatever else you like.
PS - I got a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The protagonist Ramola is not a new character but the manner in which she is interwoven and brought out makes her an interesting person. The plot is sharp and the storytelling is racy. A reader is hooked until it reaches culmination.
On the flip side it may be said that the story takes a bit too long to build up. There may be an opinion where a few pages could be shaved off to make the plot and the narrative even more crisp. There are too many characters but that is a given for the suspense to build and finger pointing of a murder to commence.
All in all this a great read for readers who look for mysteries and thrillers. Tanushree's mastery over writing and eventual revelation of the culprit is noteworthy. Grab it right away and enjoy the book with dollops of coffee and whatever else you like.
PS - I got a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2018
You can also read my reviews on www.booksandmuggles.com
A fading film star, men from her past and a beautiful setting. Perfect setting for a good suspense thriller; and A Closetful of Skeletons delivers that, almost.
Ramola is a retired movie star who has left Mumbai and is now settled in Ramsar, a small town in the mountains. She day she decides to write a memoir where she bares it all about her life and takes in Tia for help. And for dramatic effect she invites all her previous lovers for her 40th birthday. But on the very next day of her birthday, she is brutally killed in her bedroom and thus, starts the hunt for her murderer. The main investigator here is a retired Colonel, who on account of his experience and keen observation helps the police figure out the murder.
Tanushree Podder’s characters are good and she has given a complete background of all the major characters. There is a lot of Agatha Christie touch to the writing. Clearly, our author is a fan of Christie and it shows. I liked the writing but I felt that at times the narration slowed down. The murder takes place at about midpoint and by then you just want someone to die so that the story moves on. The story did need a faster approach and crisper editing.
A fading film star, men from her past and a beautiful setting. Perfect setting for a good suspense thriller; and A Closetful of Skeletons delivers that, almost.
Ramola is a retired movie star who has left Mumbai and is now settled in Ramsar, a small town in the mountains. She day she decides to write a memoir where she bares it all about her life and takes in Tia for help. And for dramatic effect she invites all her previous lovers for her 40th birthday. But on the very next day of her birthday, she is brutally killed in her bedroom and thus, starts the hunt for her murderer. The main investigator here is a retired Colonel, who on account of his experience and keen observation helps the police figure out the murder.
Tanushree Podder’s characters are good and she has given a complete background of all the major characters. There is a lot of Agatha Christie touch to the writing. Clearly, our author is a fan of Christie and it shows. I liked the writing but I felt that at times the narration slowed down. The murder takes place at about midpoint and by then you just want someone to die so that the story moves on. The story did need a faster approach and crisper editing.
January 22, 2018
It is a captivating detective story which captured my interest from the very beginning. The author has captured the most classified information from the film world, and pieced it into a well knit story interspersed with dangerous liaison with the underworld and politics, almost like an insider. Similarly, she has described the hill station, the star’s retirement abode, in detail, which quite obviously has an autobiographical tinge. The contrast of a metro with that of a quite hill station has been captured well. The characters are relatable. The story builds up and finally the murderer is a surprise. Do pick up the book, you will love reading it!
About the author
The author Tanushree Podder, has been one of my favourite authors. She has written several successful books like Nurjahan's Daughter, Escape from Harem, Boots Belts Berets, On the Double and Solo in Singapore. I have read three of her books but this was a googly …I did not expect a detective story from her. But I am not surprised as she is a self-confessed Agatha Christie fan. I would like to say that she has done a great job! Expecting more from her, I am now waiting to be surprised yet again!
About the author
The author Tanushree Podder, has been one of my favourite authors. She has written several successful books like Nurjahan's Daughter, Escape from Harem, Boots Belts Berets, On the Double and Solo in Singapore. I have read three of her books but this was a googly …I did not expect a detective story from her. But I am not surprised as she is a self-confessed Agatha Christie fan. I would like to say that she has done a great job! Expecting more from her, I am now waiting to be surprised yet again!
May 24, 2018
The title of the book and cover are perfect for a thriller mystery novel. The book is superbly written which makes it a page turner but I would also say that there are some parts which decreases the enthusiasm of a reader. The former famous superstar Ramola is murdered and all the people present at the particular moment are in the list of prime suspect. Ramola had invited her exes on her fortieth birthday party where she was going to make an announcement and everyone was curious to know about it. She was going to publish a memoir about her life with the help of Tia, Ramola was murdered and the mystery than starts. The pace of book is quite good. The attempt to write a thriller mystery is quite commendable. The character of protagonist is the best among all the characters. Thanks to @writersmelon for the review copy
June 19, 2018
A Closetful of skeletons is the story about Ramola, a fading movie star who invites her boyfriends from the past to her fortieth birthday party where she announces her autobiography, to the dismay of the guests. The book, documenting her rise to fame, puts each of her ex-lovers' careers in jeopardy.
The language is simple and yet makes you enough impact as and when needed. Most of the characters, in my opinion, were well sketched. I am particularly happy with the author's decision of placing the murder much after the initial character-building of the book has taken place. The interaction between the characters was so natural that I felt I knew them all. Once the pace of the story sets in its difficult to leave the book
I wont go into detail as i dont like giving away possible spoilers. But its a good read and if you into crime thriller i'm sure that you'll enjoy this.
December 21, 2017
A great accompaniment for a winter afternoon!
A suspense story that goes well with your cup of hot tea and a wintry afternoon; with an interesting twist towards the end.
As the story unfolds, the author takes you through the tiny sleepy town of Ramsar and the lives of its myriad inhabitants. If you love idyllic towns with natural settings, you are bound to fall in love with Ramsar. I know, I did.
Ramola, a former film star is one of the more recent residents of this town. She has a few skeletons in her cupboard and they in turn, have their own. So, when there is a danger of these skeletons tumbling out, she gets killed and the whodunnit begins.
Get ready to spend some time in a sleepy hill-town, chasing killers and clues, all from the comfort of your room.
A suspense story that goes well with your cup of hot tea and a wintry afternoon; with an interesting twist towards the end.
As the story unfolds, the author takes you through the tiny sleepy town of Ramsar and the lives of its myriad inhabitants. If you love idyllic towns with natural settings, you are bound to fall in love with Ramsar. I know, I did.
Ramola, a former film star is one of the more recent residents of this town. She has a few skeletons in her cupboard and they in turn, have their own. So, when there is a danger of these skeletons tumbling out, she gets killed and the whodunnit begins.
Get ready to spend some time in a sleepy hill-town, chasing killers and clues, all from the comfort of your room.
October 31, 2018
Well, there's not much to say about this book cause I didn't find it that much interesting to write a good review yet I finished it soon enough just to be done with it. The story took off well to grip the reader into the web of suspense it created in the first half of the story but then it became a little predictable. As I have read a lot of good mystery books from international authors so I had less expectation from this one. Another thing which I would complain is about the usage of Hindi a lot which got me irritating. Although the Plot seems okay, the characters were built up beautifully. Each character has so many layers to them.
anyways, I liked this book but It could be better. I would recommend to amateur readers as this is not for experienced readers.
anyways, I liked this book but It could be better. I would recommend to amateur readers as this is not for experienced readers.
April 8, 2018
What do you look for in a mystery novel? For me, a mystery novel is perfect if the story keeps me hooked till the end and I don’t get to know who the killer is.
A few weeks back, I picked up the review copy of Tanushree Poddar's A Closetful of Skeletons. A murder mystery, the story of this book revolves around Ramola, a fading movie star who has recently finished her autobiography. She decides to throw a party and launch her tell-all memoir. The memoir documenting her rise to fame puts each of her ex-lovers careers in jeopardy. As each of her ex-lover tries to save himself, Ramola is drawn back into the very web of lies and deception she had left behind. And by the time her party is over, her neighbor, retired army officer and amateur detective Arjun Acharya have found his first murder to solve.
Now, in regards to the review of the book, it was a disappointment. And I am unsure where, to begin with, the mistakes of the book. From the very first page itself, it didn't grab my attention at all, thanks to flimsy cum filmy exchange of dialogues between Ramola and her new found friend. The setting was not right, and it didn't look real or remotely fictional at all! It was like forcefully the characters were meeting, making plans for launching Ramola's memoir and having fun.
Coming to the storyline of The Closetful of Skeletons, it was damn slow! Mystery novels are supposed to be quick and page turning for a reader, not slogging on a single page trying to understand the not-so-great dialogues. The exchange of dialogues in the entire book was so boring that I can't even begin to explain. And the cherry on top was, I guessed the murderer way before the climax. And that was it for me.
In a nutshell, this book was a major disappointment for me. It had a lot of potentials to be the brilliant murder mystery with better dialogue exchange and less boring characters, but it didn't work out for me. So the only advise from my side is that read at your own risk.
A few weeks back, I picked up the review copy of Tanushree Poddar's A Closetful of Skeletons. A murder mystery, the story of this book revolves around Ramola, a fading movie star who has recently finished her autobiography. She decides to throw a party and launch her tell-all memoir. The memoir documenting her rise to fame puts each of her ex-lovers careers in jeopardy. As each of her ex-lover tries to save himself, Ramola is drawn back into the very web of lies and deception she had left behind. And by the time her party is over, her neighbor, retired army officer and amateur detective Arjun Acharya have found his first murder to solve.
Now, in regards to the review of the book, it was a disappointment. And I am unsure where, to begin with, the mistakes of the book. From the very first page itself, it didn't grab my attention at all, thanks to flimsy cum filmy exchange of dialogues between Ramola and her new found friend. The setting was not right, and it didn't look real or remotely fictional at all! It was like forcefully the characters were meeting, making plans for launching Ramola's memoir and having fun.
Coming to the storyline of The Closetful of Skeletons, it was damn slow! Mystery novels are supposed to be quick and page turning for a reader, not slogging on a single page trying to understand the not-so-great dialogues. The exchange of dialogues in the entire book was so boring that I can't even begin to explain. And the cherry on top was, I guessed the murderer way before the climax. And that was it for me.
In a nutshell, this book was a major disappointment for me. It had a lot of potentials to be the brilliant murder mystery with better dialogue exchange and less boring characters, but it didn't work out for me. So the only advise from my side is that read at your own risk.
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