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Janardan Maity #3
The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira
With its pristine beaches and clear turquoise waters, the picturesque hamlet of Movim in Goa seems like the perfect holiday spot for detective Janardan Maity and his friend Prakash Ray. But when the father of a local teenage girl receives a letter asking for a large sum of money in exchange for his daughter, Maity and Prakash find themselves in the thick of an unlikely mystery. For, they discover, the girl has not been kidnapped at all, and is safe and sound in her house.
As they begin to investigate, the duo encounter the mysterious characters who inhabit the tiny village, each hiding a secret of their own – not least the frail and shy Sally Sequeira, who keeps to herself but steps out at night to dance to the notes of a piano.
What truth does Movim hide? And how will Janardan Maity solve a crime that has not yet been committed?
As they begin to investigate, the duo encounter the mysterious characters who inhabit the tiny village, each hiding a secret of their own – not least the frail and shy Sally Sequeira, who keeps to herself but steps out at night to dance to the notes of a piano.
What truth does Movim hide? And how will Janardan Maity solve a crime that has not yet been committed?
252 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2018
12 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Bhaskar Chattopadhyay
17 books171 followersBhaskar Chattopadhyay is an author, translator, columnist and screenwriter. He is best known for the Janardan Maity series and for the translation of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay's iconic novel 'Aranyak'. His primary research interest is the life, literature, art and cinema of Satyajit Ray, and he has written several books on Ray. Bhaskar has also written several screenplays, all of which are in production. He teaches screenwriting to film students and aspiring filmmakers. Bhaskar lives and works in Toronto.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
July 29, 2018
Published about a few weeks ago, The Disappearance of Sally Sequiera by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay follows an investigation led by Janardan Maity alongside his friend Prakash Ray whose perspective forms the narrative of this novel.
The novel commences with the arrival of the duo at Movim, where they are acquainted with a rather strange incident where a father receives a note asking for a ransom to return his daughter. However, the said girl was safe and sound in her home. What follows is a tale of intrigue fuelled by an lunatic man's obsession and possession of his daughter.
What I really admire about this novel is the omission of unnecessary complications to give the book a concise form. Maity, our sleuth, is extremely skilled with his observation that bewilders those who he comes across. Beyond the apparent surface of the novel, lies a grievous plot that threatens the present of the small town, and some of its inhabitants.
A 4/ 5 star read that enjoyed while sipping a cup of green tea on a gloomy Kolkata day with rains keeping most people in bed for longer than usual.
Buy here.
The novel commences with the arrival of the duo at Movim, where they are acquainted with a rather strange incident where a father receives a note asking for a ransom to return his daughter. However, the said girl was safe and sound in her home. What follows is a tale of intrigue fuelled by an lunatic man's obsession and possession of his daughter.
What I really admire about this novel is the omission of unnecessary complications to give the book a concise form. Maity, our sleuth, is extremely skilled with his observation that bewilders those who he comes across. Beyond the apparent surface of the novel, lies a grievous plot that threatens the present of the small town, and some of its inhabitants.
A 4/ 5 star read that enjoyed while sipping a cup of green tea on a gloomy Kolkata day with rains keeping most people in bed for longer than usual.
Buy here.
January 3, 2021
• r e v i e w •
Good thrillers/murder mysteries are rare to come by, when written especially by Indian authors. So you can imagine my hesitancy before I began reading The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira but my inhibitions quickly fell away. Right from the first chapter, I was lured into the adventurous world of Janardhan Maity. Set in the picturesque hamlet of Movim in Goa, Prakash and Maity's plan of a peaceful vacation comes to an abrupt end. The duo often reminded me of Sherlock and Watson or of Bones and Booth as they go about solving a unique mystery that seems to have shrouded Movim. In a place where neighbours are friendly and maintain a healthy relationship with everyone, a sinister ransom letter shatters their peace. But the puzzling part was the fact that the girl in question of being kidnapped was safe and secure at her home. Maity's fame pushes the residents of the place to seek his help.
It will not be an understatement if I say how hooked I was right from the first page. What begins with the wonderful description of Movim slowly turns into a gripping narration of how the events unfold. Narrated by Prakash, Maity sets about gathering clues that'll lead to an exceptional truth. Maity, with his calm demeanor and a charming personality woos the residents of Movim while Prakash quietly marvels at his ability to think so intricately. The case, which seemed simple at the outset turns into a mess of tangled webs when a murder is added into the kidnapping event. With death lurking over the duo's heads, the story becomes extremely captivating as Chattopadhyay leads the readers towards the grand finale. A true crime fiction's brilliance lies in its guessing game and true to its nature, I couldn't figure out who the culprit was until he unveiled it with grandiose. The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira is a wonderfully written crime novel, an absolute rarity in the Indian literary community and I highly recommend it. Big thanks to @reader_girl_reader for gifting me this ecopy. I'll definitely look up other works of the author.
Rating : 4.5/5.
Good thrillers/murder mysteries are rare to come by, when written especially by Indian authors. So you can imagine my hesitancy before I began reading The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira but my inhibitions quickly fell away. Right from the first chapter, I was lured into the adventurous world of Janardhan Maity. Set in the picturesque hamlet of Movim in Goa, Prakash and Maity's plan of a peaceful vacation comes to an abrupt end. The duo often reminded me of Sherlock and Watson or of Bones and Booth as they go about solving a unique mystery that seems to have shrouded Movim. In a place where neighbours are friendly and maintain a healthy relationship with everyone, a sinister ransom letter shatters their peace. But the puzzling part was the fact that the girl in question of being kidnapped was safe and secure at her home. Maity's fame pushes the residents of the place to seek his help.
It will not be an understatement if I say how hooked I was right from the first page. What begins with the wonderful description of Movim slowly turns into a gripping narration of how the events unfold. Narrated by Prakash, Maity sets about gathering clues that'll lead to an exceptional truth. Maity, with his calm demeanor and a charming personality woos the residents of Movim while Prakash quietly marvels at his ability to think so intricately. The case, which seemed simple at the outset turns into a mess of tangled webs when a murder is added into the kidnapping event. With death lurking over the duo's heads, the story becomes extremely captivating as Chattopadhyay leads the readers towards the grand finale. A true crime fiction's brilliance lies in its guessing game and true to its nature, I couldn't figure out who the culprit was until he unveiled it with grandiose. The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira is a wonderfully written crime novel, an absolute rarity in the Indian literary community and I highly recommend it. Big thanks to @reader_girl_reader for gifting me this ecopy. I'll definitely look up other works of the author.
Rating : 4.5/5.
August 20, 2021
i read this last year and it was the first book that kept me awake till 3am :)
August 31, 2018
3.5 Stars
The Disappearance of Sally Sequiera is a classic case of kidnapping. The girl has disappeared, there’s demand for Ransom with clear instructions about the drop etc. But how does a girl who is shy and somewhat “not normal” suddenly get kidnapped?
Sally suffers from a childhood trauma which keeps her confined to her home. She hardly knows anyone in the tiny, secluded Village of Movim in South Goa. These are the events that make Mr. Maity take interest in this case. That and the villagers don’t want the police involved.
Meet Mr. Janardhan Maity- a wonderful detective, smart, charming and somewhat impatient. He is everything any detective is, not a single feather out of place. As he goes into the depth of the story and looks for clues, he fails to notice that someone wants him dead too, for poking and prodding in his master plan.
The writing style is like any other mystery novel. I say that in a good way. It kept me engaged throughout the book. The book also gives us a healthy dose of Goa, its beauty, and serenity. The characters we meet along the plot are equally interesting and very, very suspicious.
The book has been narrated by Mr. Prakash Ray, friend to Mr. Maity, and this makes the story more interesting as he is naive and will force you to think of all the wrong questions.
The ending was a bit disappointing because a very big part of a Mystery is picking up clues and making vague guesses. The ending, however, takes us to a completely different reality.
Overall, the book kept me hooked throughout and was thoroughly entertaining
The Disappearance of Sally Sequiera is a classic case of kidnapping. The girl has disappeared, there’s demand for Ransom with clear instructions about the drop etc. But how does a girl who is shy and somewhat “not normal” suddenly get kidnapped?
Sally suffers from a childhood trauma which keeps her confined to her home. She hardly knows anyone in the tiny, secluded Village of Movim in South Goa. These are the events that make Mr. Maity take interest in this case. That and the villagers don’t want the police involved.
Meet Mr. Janardhan Maity- a wonderful detective, smart, charming and somewhat impatient. He is everything any detective is, not a single feather out of place. As he goes into the depth of the story and looks for clues, he fails to notice that someone wants him dead too, for poking and prodding in his master plan.
The writing style is like any other mystery novel. I say that in a good way. It kept me engaged throughout the book. The book also gives us a healthy dose of Goa, its beauty, and serenity. The characters we meet along the plot are equally interesting and very, very suspicious.
The book has been narrated by Mr. Prakash Ray, friend to Mr. Maity, and this makes the story more interesting as he is naive and will force you to think of all the wrong questions.
The ending was a bit disappointing because a very big part of a Mystery is picking up clues and making vague guesses. The ending, however, takes us to a completely different reality.
Overall, the book kept me hooked throughout and was thoroughly entertaining
July 30, 2018
*Note: A copy of the book was provided in exchange of an honest review. I would like to thank the publisher Hachette India for the copy.*
Review:
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
- Peace.
Review:
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
The Disapperance of Sally Sequeira is a page turner. I haven’t ever been to Goa, and a quick Google search tells me that there are a lot of hamlets like Movin, around. The biggest takeaway for me then, is to find one of these hamlets and add it to my Goa Travelogue.
As soon as we switched off the light and lay in bed, I noticed a gentle murmur of the sea in the distance, as if it was unfazed by the mysterious incidents that had taken place in the village in the past few hours.
On to the book now, honestly the novel is very atmospheric; a peaceful little community, hidden from the bustling tourists, a perfect place to come and relax. No one would even assume that there could be a mystery here, which is what makes the setting so different from other detective novels. The setting is peaceful and yet at the same time it is this location that perpetuates the crime, or gives ample space for the criminal to go through with it.
Maity is what I assume our Hercule Poirot, with a side kick though. The entire plot is build on the theory of Chekov’s gun, each element, details or little spacial marker later adds up to something or the other, and is not only there for convenience.
Having spent quite a bit of time with Maity, I had learnt a thing or two by watching him. One of them was the subtle art of letting the other person speak.
The novel starts with these two friends on a vacation. On their first night their housekeeper tells them of the weird incident: a local man gets a letter in his mail box asking him to get fifty lakhs if he wants to save his daughter. Only problem is that his daughter is safe and sound in their house, and rather it is the neighbour, Sequeira’s daughter, the shy, lonely Sally who has gone missing.
Sally is a bit of an enigma, not only for the reader but for the townsfolk as well. For starters no one can say what she looks like, or why she is the way she is. There is a general family tragedy rumour which floats around about the Sequeiras, but that rumour is about the only thing everyone can agree on with respect to the girl.
“I do not believe in God, Father, but I believe in faith. Because i have seen with my own eyes what a man’s faith can make him do.”
I did not see that twist coming, like I said every little detail adds up. It is a very well plotted book. I was truly amazed how talented Chattopadhyay is. The writing is perfect, first person, informative, and Prakash Ray’s perspective makes it even better. In Ray, Chattopadhyay has tried to recreate his reader, the one who keeps guessing what Maity is thinking, and also looks at everything from a fresh perspective, not a detective’s perspective.
Would highly recommend this novel for a good, short, fast paced thriller, set in familiar territory.
- Peace.
July 23, 2019
A v.satisfying read and got my money’s worth !
Two fathers (who r neighbours) receive ransom notes threatening kidnapping of their daughter. Surprisingly, the rich man’s daughter is spared despite non-payment of ransom while the music teacher’s daughter is abducted. On top of it, this happens in a quiet secluded Goan village and the kidnappers seem naive. What is happening?
This was my fourth book by the author. His storytelling has always been fast-paced and engrossing without being crass and superficial. As a bonus, this time the motive, the crimes/execution and the ending too were believable. And unlike his 2 previous books feat detective Maity, this one seemed to be free of “inspirations” of other great crime novels.
Worth a read. And will be looking forward to more by the author.
Two fathers (who r neighbours) receive ransom notes threatening kidnapping of their daughter. Surprisingly, the rich man’s daughter is spared despite non-payment of ransom while the music teacher’s daughter is abducted. On top of it, this happens in a quiet secluded Goan village and the kidnappers seem naive. What is happening?
This was my fourth book by the author. His storytelling has always been fast-paced and engrossing without being crass and superficial. As a bonus, this time the motive, the crimes/execution and the ending too were believable. And unlike his 2 previous books feat detective Maity, this one seemed to be free of “inspirations” of other great crime novels.
Worth a read. And will be looking forward to more by the author.
June 5, 2020
As the name suggests this book is a Suspense-crime-thriller and it also has detective Janardan Maity (even though he does not like to call himself detective).While finding some of the best mystery books I have come across it and I must admit I found what I needed.
The plot of this book seems simple as Sally Sequeira has disappeared and Janardan Maity has to find her but things started to getting tensed when mysterious things happened. Maity has come across this case when he is on holiday with his friend Prakash Ray at Movim(located in goa).
The writer has done an excellent job with an engaging plot and a beautiful description of Movim. Janardan maity is friendly and he reminded me of Byomkesh Bakshi and Feluda. From personal experience, I will say Mystery lovers will read this book in one sitting. Only one thing that bothered me was ending; even though it was convincing but I found it a little bit stretched, other than that this book is worth reading.
The plot of this book seems simple as Sally Sequeira has disappeared and Janardan Maity has to find her but things started to getting tensed when mysterious things happened. Maity has come across this case when he is on holiday with his friend Prakash Ray at Movim(located in goa).
The writer has done an excellent job with an engaging plot and a beautiful description of Movim. Janardan maity is friendly and he reminded me of Byomkesh Bakshi and Feluda. From personal experience, I will say Mystery lovers will read this book in one sitting. Only one thing that bothered me was ending; even though it was convincing but I found it a little bit stretched, other than that this book is worth reading.
July 20, 2018
Its an absolutely brilliant and breezy read!
Bhaskar's stories have a deep-rooted understanding of the geographies that he has based the stories out of. In this story, the small village of Goa is another character in the story. The stories keep getting better and better and it is amazing to see the graph between Janardan Maity and Prakash evolve in the manner in which a Poirot-Hastings/Byomkesh-Ajit or of course Sherlock-Watson evolve.
I have been exploring Indian mystery for some time now and trying to find someone to fill the boots of Satyajit Ray that cover a whole gamut of small things that make the stories stand out, as in the case of Feluda. In the current set of writers, I will rate Bhaskar right at the top of the rung. Give it a go!
Bhaskar's stories have a deep-rooted understanding of the geographies that he has based the stories out of. In this story, the small village of Goa is another character in the story. The stories keep getting better and better and it is amazing to see the graph between Janardan Maity and Prakash evolve in the manner in which a Poirot-Hastings/Byomkesh-Ajit or of course Sherlock-Watson evolve.
I have been exploring Indian mystery for some time now and trying to find someone to fill the boots of Satyajit Ray that cover a whole gamut of small things that make the stories stand out, as in the case of Feluda. In the current set of writers, I will rate Bhaskar right at the top of the rung. Give it a go!
June 2, 2022
Extremely well-written, creatively plotted with a well-crafted ending, and of course to reach the end you will always have Mr. Janardhan Maity's keen observations and deductions to accompany!
I became a fan of Bhaskar Chhatopadhyay's writing after reading Penumbra; it shook me and made me dive deeper into Indian literature, books based in India and written from the Indian perspective.. And hence, here I was, craving for more of Indian thrillers and having the urge almost fulfilled for now.
The only cavilling I have to do here is the really complex descriptions now and then but I guess it was the part of the "plot" to make it more detailed.
I became a fan of Bhaskar Chhatopadhyay's writing after reading Penumbra; it shook me and made me dive deeper into Indian literature, books based in India and written from the Indian perspective.. And hence, here I was, craving for more of Indian thrillers and having the urge almost fulfilled for now.
The only cavilling I have to do here is the really complex descriptions now and then but I guess it was the part of the "plot" to make it more detailed.
September 29, 2018
One of those classic whodunits from the stable of Bhaskar da which will keep you guessing and guessing it wrong till the very end before the carpet is deftly plucked under your feet leaving you totally stumped.
I am always in awe of mystery writers, I wonder how do they write such brilliant stories, throwing red herrings, keeping the reader's interest intact till the final revelation.
IMHO Bhaskar da is the best mystery story writer after Agatha Christie, period!!!
P.S - Eagerly awaiting the author's next book.
I am always in awe of mystery writers, I wonder how do they write such brilliant stories, throwing red herrings, keeping the reader's interest intact till the final revelation.
IMHO Bhaskar da is the best mystery story writer after Agatha Christie, period!!!
P.S - Eagerly awaiting the author's next book.
November 25, 2019
This nuanced mystery began in a gentle, poised and atmospheric manner. Soon it acquired lots of red-herrings and suspicious characters. Then it became darker, with the situation involving our protagonists growing more dire rapidly. There were attempted murders and actual murders.
Then came a massive, mind-boggling twist!
I was overawed, again.
This book does justice to Janardan Maity. It gives us a very good crime thriller with psychology playing a crucial part.
Recommended.
Then came a massive, mind-boggling twist!
I was overawed, again.
This book does justice to Janardan Maity. It gives us a very good crime thriller with psychology playing a crucial part.
Recommended.
April 8, 2020
This was a good mystery read. Actually, this is the first time I enjoyed a mystery read written by an Indian author. That's a good sign for me. The plot was intriguing enough to keep me glued and the twist at the end was good, though I would have loved it if it had punched me right in the face.
October 29, 2019
Excellently written murder mystery. Highly recommended.Looking forward to more such gems from Bhaskar.
October 26, 2018
I read bhaskar’s books as much for the mystery as much for the small town India he transports me to. This one had me living in the lush green yet crushingly eerie goa. The characters beautifully etched out and the Indian Sherlock-Watson duo made it a fantastic read.
Bhaskar is truly gifted and his ease with language and story telling shines through.
Bhaskar is truly gifted and his ease with language and story telling shines through.
February 14, 2020
9th February, 2020
The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay
Mahibrata Das
A Secluded Seaside Village.
A Menacing Ransom Note.
A Girl’s Life in Danger.
The book written by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay, “The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira” is a solid crime mystery. The plot revolves around a girl named Sally Sequeira and the introvert personality accompanied by out of the box attitude of the girl makes the reader of the book very much attached to the lines written down the paper that actually forms the whole book.
The girl stays in a tiny village, where every character is observed hiding a secret of their own. The name of the tiny village was Movim. It was located in Goa. The story is all about how the little girl Sally, daughter of professor Sequeira disappears one fine evening and then the book takes its readers in a dark journey of investigations and makes them a witness to the dark intentions and reality of life, of course but on the other hand the book also shows them the greatness of the different kinds of bonds that a person makes while he or she walks down the road of life.
This book also portraits the different emotions a person can harbour in his or her mind, which has so much effect on his or her daily activities that the so called people living in this world often remarks the person to be frail and shy. The book at times arises a question that “why often a so called frail and shy person, chooses the infinite beauty of darkness to actually open up to the reality of dreams created by the almighty?”
“The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira” written by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay is a must read as on one hand it shows the infinite darkness of nature where everyone from an animal to a person is allowed and pampered to be their own self and enjoy to their fullest laying their head on the lap of mother nature and on the other hand it shows the cruel nature of the world when accompanied by the evil intentions of humans, can prove to be life-threatening at times.
The Piano Still Played On.
Just Like That,
Sally Sequeira Had Disappeared.
Amazing story and a very well written plot. It should be a must read for everyone and especially for the people who loves to read books.
The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay
Mahibrata Das
A Secluded Seaside Village.
A Menacing Ransom Note.
A Girl’s Life in Danger.
The book written by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay, “The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira” is a solid crime mystery. The plot revolves around a girl named Sally Sequeira and the introvert personality accompanied by out of the box attitude of the girl makes the reader of the book very much attached to the lines written down the paper that actually forms the whole book.
The girl stays in a tiny village, where every character is observed hiding a secret of their own. The name of the tiny village was Movim. It was located in Goa. The story is all about how the little girl Sally, daughter of professor Sequeira disappears one fine evening and then the book takes its readers in a dark journey of investigations and makes them a witness to the dark intentions and reality of life, of course but on the other hand the book also shows them the greatness of the different kinds of bonds that a person makes while he or she walks down the road of life.
This book also portraits the different emotions a person can harbour in his or her mind, which has so much effect on his or her daily activities that the so called people living in this world often remarks the person to be frail and shy. The book at times arises a question that “why often a so called frail and shy person, chooses the infinite beauty of darkness to actually open up to the reality of dreams created by the almighty?”
“The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira” written by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay is a must read as on one hand it shows the infinite darkness of nature where everyone from an animal to a person is allowed and pampered to be their own self and enjoy to their fullest laying their head on the lap of mother nature and on the other hand it shows the cruel nature of the world when accompanied by the evil intentions of humans, can prove to be life-threatening at times.
The Piano Still Played On.
Just Like That,
Sally Sequeira Had Disappeared.
Amazing story and a very well written plot. It should be a must read for everyone and especially for the people who loves to read books.
September 8, 2018
Author : Bhaskar Chattopadhyay
Genre : Mystery
Number of Pages : 238
Any book which has a strong beginning absolutely gains my attention and this book is one of them. From page one I started solving the mystery and it was a beautiful ride for me as a reader to be able to put my guesses in and occasionally shout in excitement when my guess was correct.
Set in Goa, the author has set a perfect crime scene near a beach along with a lighthouse and all the residents of the town are hiding something. Chattopadhyay, has explored and used the setting of the story very cleverly and to his advantage.
It's a short, and fast paced thriller which doesn't keep you waiting for long for the mystery to unravel and that makes it all the more merrier. Sally Sequeira, is a mysterious character for everyone in the town and the unravelling of her story really keeps the reader interested.
The one thing I didn't enjoy in this book are the unnecessary details of every room entered by the protagonist, Maity, if it was foreshadowing I would have excused it but it was just the author's way of misleading the reader to think that something necessary is in these informations.
The suspense is good but it did not catch me off my guard, maybe because I have read so many mystery books that I expected a bit more. I would recommend this book to crime, mystery lovers who are looking for a quick read.
My Verdict : 4/5
Instagram | Twitter -@booknbhook
Genre : Mystery
Number of Pages : 238
Any book which has a strong beginning absolutely gains my attention and this book is one of them. From page one I started solving the mystery and it was a beautiful ride for me as a reader to be able to put my guesses in and occasionally shout in excitement when my guess was correct.
Set in Goa, the author has set a perfect crime scene near a beach along with a lighthouse and all the residents of the town are hiding something. Chattopadhyay, has explored and used the setting of the story very cleverly and to his advantage.
It's a short, and fast paced thriller which doesn't keep you waiting for long for the mystery to unravel and that makes it all the more merrier. Sally Sequeira, is a mysterious character for everyone in the town and the unravelling of her story really keeps the reader interested.
The one thing I didn't enjoy in this book are the unnecessary details of every room entered by the protagonist, Maity, if it was foreshadowing I would have excused it but it was just the author's way of misleading the reader to think that something necessary is in these informations.
The suspense is good but it did not catch me off my guard, maybe because I have read so many mystery books that I expected a bit more. I would recommend this book to crime, mystery lovers who are looking for a quick read.
My Verdict : 4/5
Instagram | Twitter -@booknbhook
October 9, 2018
Having exhausted all of Kiego Higashino's books I was desperately hunting for any author of any nationality to fill those shoes, to my surprise and delight I stumbled upon Bhaskar Chattopadhyay while I was browsing at Crossword, and hallelujah! This book is just beyond brilliant, no matter how jaded you are and no matter how much you think of yourself as the Miss Marple of your generation, no amount of guesswork and deductive reasoning will help you predict the end of this book. Such a satisfying read, the ending played on mind much after I'd finished the book. So kicked that I have discovered this man and I now can happily look forward to reading his other books!
August 10, 2018
The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira.
Bhaskar Chattopadhyay.
Hachette India.
2018. Pp- 238.
This one here is a story of a small hamlet in Goa, its close knit community and the recent strange occurrences, taking away the peace of the village and it’s people.
“The waves still crashed against the rocks,
The moon still bathed the sandy beach with its light.
And the piano still played on.
But, amidst all this, just like that,
Sally Sequeira had disappeared.”
The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira talks about exactly that – the events around the disappearance of Sally Sequeira.
Read on to find out the journey of Prakash (a writer) and Maity (apparently a detective), the 2 tourists in the village, who’ve come to enjoy a little, away from the hustle bustle of their lives, and how they are welcomed by the strange events happening in the village.
Taking up the review, the narration is good, and the reader can keep pacing through the pages. It’s directed, relevant and crisp, and yet sufficiently detailed, which is important to sustain a reader’s interest.
Speaking about the use of words and the language in general, they’re a bit too simple. Simple is good, but some complexities could have been added.
Talking about the plot and the mystery and the build up, it’s fine to go. The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira is a story full of some fine twists and turns, but…
Being a Psychology major, I have a professional inclination towards forensics and crime and having grown up reading Feluda and Sherlock Holmes and watching Byomkesh Bakshi, I have an inclination towards mystery and crime. And this is why I was more than happy when I accepted this review copy from Hachette India. And maybe this is the same reason I had my expectations all high. Some readers might like it because of the simplicity, but speaking for myself, I like a little more drama, the rush. The more complex the plot is, the more compelling I find it.
Another glitch I’d like to point out was the choice of Maity and Prakash and the old sense of familiarity that it brings in to the story. A little creativity here could have helped.
A sharp-eyed detective friend, with a profound worldly knowledge; a writer accomplice; adventures following them wherever they go; and the writer friend narrating those adventures, probably even writing them down for the public to admire. Seems a bit too familiar, does it not?
What also could have been better is a little creativity in choice of Maity and Prakash, and their backgrounds. It could have worked well both for the reader and the author.
Despite that, I’d like to appreciate how every piece of information fits in somewhere or the other, at some point in the story.
I would again like to point out that what I liked the most, and believe me in my appreciation, was the extensive detailing of any and every scene in the story, helping readers to not only visualise them, but also feel them.
Speaking of the climax, that too is well framed and deserves an appreciation. I was hooked for the last 50 pages and hardly felt the time.
All in all, I give it a 3 on 5, hoping for I found the book convincing, no matter what.
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Bhaskar Chattopadhyay.
Hachette India.
2018. Pp- 238.
This one here is a story of a small hamlet in Goa, its close knit community and the recent strange occurrences, taking away the peace of the village and it’s people.
“The waves still crashed against the rocks,
The moon still bathed the sandy beach with its light.
And the piano still played on.
But, amidst all this, just like that,
Sally Sequeira had disappeared.”
The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira talks about exactly that – the events around the disappearance of Sally Sequeira.
Read on to find out the journey of Prakash (a writer) and Maity (apparently a detective), the 2 tourists in the village, who’ve come to enjoy a little, away from the hustle bustle of their lives, and how they are welcomed by the strange events happening in the village.
Taking up the review, the narration is good, and the reader can keep pacing through the pages. It’s directed, relevant and crisp, and yet sufficiently detailed, which is important to sustain a reader’s interest.
Speaking about the use of words and the language in general, they’re a bit too simple. Simple is good, but some complexities could have been added.
Talking about the plot and the mystery and the build up, it’s fine to go. The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira is a story full of some fine twists and turns, but…
Being a Psychology major, I have a professional inclination towards forensics and crime and having grown up reading Feluda and Sherlock Holmes and watching Byomkesh Bakshi, I have an inclination towards mystery and crime. And this is why I was more than happy when I accepted this review copy from Hachette India. And maybe this is the same reason I had my expectations all high. Some readers might like it because of the simplicity, but speaking for myself, I like a little more drama, the rush. The more complex the plot is, the more compelling I find it.
Another glitch I’d like to point out was the choice of Maity and Prakash and the old sense of familiarity that it brings in to the story. A little creativity here could have helped.
A sharp-eyed detective friend, with a profound worldly knowledge; a writer accomplice; adventures following them wherever they go; and the writer friend narrating those adventures, probably even writing them down for the public to admire. Seems a bit too familiar, does it not?
What also could have been better is a little creativity in choice of Maity and Prakash, and their backgrounds. It could have worked well both for the reader and the author.
Despite that, I’d like to appreciate how every piece of information fits in somewhere or the other, at some point in the story.
I would again like to point out that what I liked the most, and believe me in my appreciation, was the extensive detailing of any and every scene in the story, helping readers to not only visualise them, but also feel them.
Speaking of the climax, that too is well framed and deserves an appreciation. I was hooked for the last 50 pages and hardly felt the time.
All in all, I give it a 3 on 5, hoping for I found the book convincing, no matter what.
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September 17, 2018
I have been following a handful of Indian whodunits authors for a few years now, including this one. Few of their books have met global standards, and I have been hoping that this author's books would eventually do so. That's because his first book, Patang, was better written than most others in the market and had held promise. I did have credibility issues with that mystery and its resolution, but I had hoped that subsequent books by the author would progressively get better as he gained experience.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet, and therein lies my disappointment. As far as the writing is concerned, the opposite seems to be happening. It has declined to a level that is below Patang's. As I had mentioned in my earlier reviews , the writing has become stilted and amateurish. Unfortunately, the narrator in these books (who compares himself to Dr. Watson) comes across as a schoolboy. His blatant hero worship of the detective doesn't help. Watson too praised Sherlock Holmes, but not in such a fawning manner.
That said, I must add that the stories that followed Patang have been more credible. They are better crafted, and the resolutions of the mysteries are presented in a much better manner. On that front, there has been a discernible improvement.
Coming to Sally Sequeira, the setting is nice and ideal for a neat little mystery. The plot too is nicely developed and the characters do their bit. In keeping with a mystery of this sort, there is a backstory that lends much-needed darkness to the book. Unlike the earlier books by this author, this story did not push credibility. The plot is believable, and the solution holds together. However, if you are someone who reads lots of detective novels, you’ll probably guess the killer quite early. Some familiar plot devices are used, which give it away.
The story reminded me of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five adventures that involve communities, lighthouses and secret passages at the English coast. While the crimes in Sally Sequeira are far more serious, the feeling was a little similar.
Notwithstanding the above critique, I continue to support this author. The plots are becoming more credible. Once the language is fixed and the narrator begins acting and talking like an adult, we may have a good mystery author.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet, and therein lies my disappointment. As far as the writing is concerned, the opposite seems to be happening. It has declined to a level that is below Patang's. As I had mentioned in my earlier reviews , the writing has become stilted and amateurish. Unfortunately, the narrator in these books (who compares himself to Dr. Watson) comes across as a schoolboy. His blatant hero worship of the detective doesn't help. Watson too praised Sherlock Holmes, but not in such a fawning manner.
That said, I must add that the stories that followed Patang have been more credible. They are better crafted, and the resolutions of the mysteries are presented in a much better manner. On that front, there has been a discernible improvement.
Coming to Sally Sequeira, the setting is nice and ideal for a neat little mystery. The plot too is nicely developed and the characters do their bit. In keeping with a mystery of this sort, there is a backstory that lends much-needed darkness to the book. Unlike the earlier books by this author, this story did not push credibility. The plot is believable, and the solution holds together. However, if you are someone who reads lots of detective novels, you’ll probably guess the killer quite early. Some familiar plot devices are used, which give it away.
The story reminded me of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five adventures that involve communities, lighthouses and secret passages at the English coast. While the crimes in Sally Sequeira are far more serious, the feeling was a little similar.
Notwithstanding the above critique, I continue to support this author. The plots are becoming more credible. Once the language is fixed and the narrator begins acting and talking like an adult, we may have a good mystery author.
August 18, 2018
Thank you Hachette India for providing a review copy! All opinions in the following review are my own honest thoughts.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Things I liked about the book:
- The plot line was really nice. It can be difficult to write a well-rounded detective story, but Chattopadhyay manages to pull off the "mystery" factor pretty well.
- The story was not one filled with unnecessary details. It is short, compact and hooking.
- The whole assembly of a variety of characters. Detective stories have a typical way of incorporating a certain group of new characters for every installment, and this is what makes each novel different and interesting. The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira has realistic and smoothly written characters that enhance the plotline.
- The setting. I have never been to Goa, but it seems to be a rather smart choice for a backdrop. I don't remember reading anything before that has been set in Goa, especially not a detective novel, and I was charmed by the beautiful descriptions and the secluded and breezy feel it lent to the story.
Things I didn't like about the book:
- Being a Bengali, I have been brought up on the steady diet of fish and Feluda novels. There was too much of the latter in this book. There is a very fine line between inspiration and plain echoing, and I wish this book had more of its own style to offer. The author is clearly a good writer, and I personally feel that he could reach his best potential by letting go of the Byomkesh-Feluda-Holmes-Poirot vibe that overshadowed everything else.
- I wish I liked Prakash a bit more. Since the Feluda comparison is inevitable, I can't help but compare Prakash to Topshe (who I LOVE with all my heart, just saying).
Overall:
The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira is a great beach read. If you are looking for a short and fast-paced detective novel to read, this one is perfect. Although the book has its limitations, I believe that the author has a lot of potential and can grow better at this art with a few alterations in style. Sidenote, the cover of this book is gorgeous.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Things I liked about the book:
- The plot line was really nice. It can be difficult to write a well-rounded detective story, but Chattopadhyay manages to pull off the "mystery" factor pretty well.
- The story was not one filled with unnecessary details. It is short, compact and hooking.
- The whole assembly of a variety of characters. Detective stories have a typical way of incorporating a certain group of new characters for every installment, and this is what makes each novel different and interesting. The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira has realistic and smoothly written characters that enhance the plotline.
- The setting. I have never been to Goa, but it seems to be a rather smart choice for a backdrop. I don't remember reading anything before that has been set in Goa, especially not a detective novel, and I was charmed by the beautiful descriptions and the secluded and breezy feel it lent to the story.
Things I didn't like about the book:
- Being a Bengali, I have been brought up on the steady diet of fish and Feluda novels. There was too much of the latter in this book. There is a very fine line between inspiration and plain echoing, and I wish this book had more of its own style to offer. The author is clearly a good writer, and I personally feel that he could reach his best potential by letting go of the Byomkesh-Feluda-Holmes-Poirot vibe that overshadowed everything else.
- I wish I liked Prakash a bit more. Since the Feluda comparison is inevitable, I can't help but compare Prakash to Topshe (who I LOVE with all my heart, just saying).
Overall:
The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira is a great beach read. If you are looking for a short and fast-paced detective novel to read, this one is perfect. Although the book has its limitations, I believe that the author has a lot of potential and can grow better at this art with a few alterations in style. Sidenote, the cover of this book is gorgeous.
July 11, 2018
The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira is an extremely breezy read, a rare quality found in most Indian writers these days. After showcasing his brilliant prowess in Penumbra & Here Falls the Shadow, Bhaskar Chattopadhyay returns with his Sherlockian/Poirotesque detective, Janardan Maity and his Wastonesque sidekick, writer Prakash Ray and this time the story has moved west, in the sleepy and beautiful beach of Movim in Goa. The writing is breezy, like I said, because you can literally feel you’re holidaying in the quaint village Chattopadhyay has so effortlessly described in the book. Although some directions do get confusing while reading, they are not much of roadblocks. The premise of the “missing” nocturne belle Sally Sequeira and the ransom note arriving to the wrong address before the kidnapping sets up the mood of cosy crime in a village where everybody knows everybody. There is a bit of repetition in style and technique; but there’s a lot of first-times as well: for example, for the first time, Maity is genuinely helpless with where the case is going. However, Chattopadhyay’s focus on the plot overshadows the elements of characterisation which is where his detectives probably fail to strike a chord with the readers. Maity’s Poirot mode is turned on and Chattopadhyay’s Christie-inspired procedure too, till the big reveal in the end which is stirring as well as unexpected, like the predecessors. Nevertheless, despite its minuscule flaws, Chattopadhyay proves yet again he has mastered the art of detective fiction in India and is perhaps the first of its kind in Indian literature. The plot is layered with appropriate red herrings strewn about at the right junctures and Janardan Maity and Prakash Ray become the perfect detectives in modern crime fiction: their tales are worth your money, your time & your binge-reading adventures!
August 7, 2020
Disappearance of Sally Sequeira- By Bhaskar Chattopadhyay:
This is a book about a seventeen year old shy girl who never comes out of her house nor does she talks with anyone in the village gets disappeared one night while dancing on beach. Sally alongwith her father stays in a very small village called Movim in Goa. Sally's father John Sequeira pays piano every night and Sally dances on the song. This is only time when she gets disappeared from the beach. Now here comes my favourite duo Janardan Maity, a detective and his friend Prakash Ray. They starts their investigation and looking for evidence at home and the beach. But after a search for Sally with police officers proves fruitless Mr. Maity starts interrogating the locals. The whole plot is set up in Goa. Well as you know Goa is famous for its beaches, chapels, forts, lighthouse and eerily silent roads of villages.
Author paints a vivid picture of the village & it's various characters that you'll start suspecting everyone the neighbours, police, friends of Mr. Sequeira, infact father of the church also whom the villagers respect him so much. And yaa of course the secret admirer of Sally. You'll doubt each and everyone in it.
.
Well the climax of the book was SO SHOCKING😱 that I was unable to sleep last night. I finished this book at 3 am and rest of my night was restless... Till the end of the book I was totally clueless about the real criminal... And this the main reason I like writings of Bhaskar Chattopadhyay.
.
This is my second book of the author. The previous one I read was one of my favourites "Here Falls The Shadow"
.
I wish I wish I wish...!!! The author will publish more such mysteries.
.
My Ratings:- 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5/5)
This is a book about a seventeen year old shy girl who never comes out of her house nor does she talks with anyone in the village gets disappeared one night while dancing on beach. Sally alongwith her father stays in a very small village called Movim in Goa. Sally's father John Sequeira pays piano every night and Sally dances on the song. This is only time when she gets disappeared from the beach. Now here comes my favourite duo Janardan Maity, a detective and his friend Prakash Ray. They starts their investigation and looking for evidence at home and the beach. But after a search for Sally with police officers proves fruitless Mr. Maity starts interrogating the locals. The whole plot is set up in Goa. Well as you know Goa is famous for its beaches, chapels, forts, lighthouse and eerily silent roads of villages.
Author paints a vivid picture of the village & it's various characters that you'll start suspecting everyone the neighbours, police, friends of Mr. Sequeira, infact father of the church also whom the villagers respect him so much. And yaa of course the secret admirer of Sally. You'll doubt each and everyone in it.
.
Well the climax of the book was SO SHOCKING😱 that I was unable to sleep last night. I finished this book at 3 am and rest of my night was restless... Till the end of the book I was totally clueless about the real criminal... And this the main reason I like writings of Bhaskar Chattopadhyay.
.
This is my second book of the author. The previous one I read was one of my favourites "Here Falls The Shadow"
.
I wish I wish I wish...!!! The author will publish more such mysteries.
.
My Ratings:- 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5/5)
August 13, 2025
This third outing with the ever-unflappable Janardan Maity isn’t just a whodunit—it’s a where’d-she-go-and-why that feels like Chattopadhyay’s take on a sun-drenched Hitchcock mystery.
The premise is simple enough: Sally Sequeira vanishes from the sleepy coastal town of Batighar, and the only thing more unsettling than her disappearance is the collective shrug from the locals.
They all seem to know something—but nobody’s telling. Into this languid, suspicious atmosphere strolls Janardan Maity, the mild-mannered sleuth whose calm politeness hides a brain like a scalpel.
What follows is less a straight procedural and more an atmospheric peeling-back of layers. Chattopadhyay has a knack for crafting places that feel lived in: the slow thrum of the sea, the gossip in tea stalls, the way the town’s colonial-era bones seem to hold grudges.
Maity’s investigation takes him through a cast of characters who could all plausibly be protecting—or concealing—Sally’s fate: a possessive lover, a landlord with a grudge, a priest with too much interest in parish secrets.
The pacing is measured—Maity never rushes, preferring to quietly listen until contradictions reveal themselves. By the time the final reveal comes, it’s less about a shock twist and more about the slow, satisfying click of a lock opening. The ending is tinged with melancholy, reminding us that “solving” a mystery doesn’t necessarily fix the lives tangled up in it.
For fans of the series, it’s another hit of Maity’s understated brilliance, and for newcomers, it’s proof that not every detective story needs gunfights or ticking clocks—sometimes the real tension comes from the way a question hangs in the salty air, unanswered, until one stubborn man decides it won’t anymore.
The premise is simple enough: Sally Sequeira vanishes from the sleepy coastal town of Batighar, and the only thing more unsettling than her disappearance is the collective shrug from the locals.
They all seem to know something—but nobody’s telling. Into this languid, suspicious atmosphere strolls Janardan Maity, the mild-mannered sleuth whose calm politeness hides a brain like a scalpel.
What follows is less a straight procedural and more an atmospheric peeling-back of layers. Chattopadhyay has a knack for crafting places that feel lived in: the slow thrum of the sea, the gossip in tea stalls, the way the town’s colonial-era bones seem to hold grudges.
Maity’s investigation takes him through a cast of characters who could all plausibly be protecting—or concealing—Sally’s fate: a possessive lover, a landlord with a grudge, a priest with too much interest in parish secrets.
The pacing is measured—Maity never rushes, preferring to quietly listen until contradictions reveal themselves. By the time the final reveal comes, it’s less about a shock twist and more about the slow, satisfying click of a lock opening. The ending is tinged with melancholy, reminding us that “solving” a mystery doesn’t necessarily fix the lives tangled up in it.
For fans of the series, it’s another hit of Maity’s understated brilliance, and for newcomers, it’s proof that not every detective story needs gunfights or ticking clocks—sometimes the real tension comes from the way a question hangs in the salty air, unanswered, until one stubborn man decides it won’t anymore.
January 21, 2019
This book is very well thought off right from the beginning. The story is rightly paced and the setting is beautifully expressed by the author. Just wished to visit Movim immediately. This is the 3rd book of the author I have read and I am really expressed and excited to read more of his works. There is a very Agatha Christie feeling in the narrative style- the way the characters and the plot is set up. The emotional quotient of the story is perfectly positioned between light and not to serious. The suspects/characters are nicely written too.
To tell a bit about this book specifically, the plot revolves around a kidnapping and the subsequent events that happen after that and how the detective duo of Maity-Ray investigate and deduce the mystery. As I was reading the story, my mind made its own calculations and theories about what could have happened; which I believe is a huge success to the author.
Few things I wish was better was the characterisation of Maity. It is too much like Poirot, but just more compassionate. I didn't really like him keeping Ray (very similar to Hastings) in the dark even though he had found the solution. Also, I felt with Ray narrating the story, it felt a little weak because Ray is a weaker character compared to Maity. I wasn't impressed with Ray idolising Maity especially because I didn't know much about Maity in the 1st place (Haven't read the 2nd book yet) and hence didn't connect to the awestruck Ray.
On the whole, this series should keep going. The main characters are very well set to have several adventures together in the future.
To tell a bit about this book specifically, the plot revolves around a kidnapping and the subsequent events that happen after that and how the detective duo of Maity-Ray investigate and deduce the mystery. As I was reading the story, my mind made its own calculations and theories about what could have happened; which I believe is a huge success to the author.
Few things I wish was better was the characterisation of Maity. It is too much like Poirot, but just more compassionate. I didn't really like him keeping Ray (very similar to Hastings) in the dark even though he had found the solution. Also, I felt with Ray narrating the story, it felt a little weak because Ray is a weaker character compared to Maity. I wasn't impressed with Ray idolising Maity especially because I didn't know much about Maity in the 1st place (Haven't read the 2nd book yet) and hence didn't connect to the awestruck Ray.
On the whole, this series should keep going. The main characters are very well set to have several adventures together in the future.
April 24, 2021
In a tiny village called Movim located in Southern Goa, a 17 year old girl , Sally Sequeria who is known as a shy, reserved & mostly kept to herself - goes missing on an unfortunate day. This wayward incident casts spell on that ideal village causing tremors making those villagers to hardly wink an eye from then. During the same time, Janardhan Maity & Prakash Ray visits Movim for a holiday & as per request of the village heads gets involved in the mishappenings to resolve the case.
This is my first read by Baskhar Chattopadhyay & I firmly believe this is not my last for sure. Having lost interest on thrillers long ago, this book has perfectly brought back my adrenaline rush reading an engrossing one. I was hooked from the first instance & loved how the author has weaved the sequences increasing the intensity of curiosity in a reader with a series of incidents passing by in each chapter with an astute exemplariness
(If it was a movie I would have put it in this way- 'an excellent screen play'😀).
There are a handful of characters from the village with dubious attitudes testing a reader's grey cells but the author has dealt everything with a logical reasoning. This is what I liked the most - there is no unnecessary throw of characters intensionally misguiding a reader & also no fabricating of fishy elements abruptly in any situation.
Besides pacy & breezy read of whodunit, the author has deftly brought alive the picturesque expanse of frothy beach, sorrounded by hilly landscape. Especially that age old light house standing atop glancing & capturing whole Movim in a single instance adds to all the surreptitious weather already cooked up in the book.
This is my first read by Baskhar Chattopadhyay & I firmly believe this is not my last for sure. Having lost interest on thrillers long ago, this book has perfectly brought back my adrenaline rush reading an engrossing one. I was hooked from the first instance & loved how the author has weaved the sequences increasing the intensity of curiosity in a reader with a series of incidents passing by in each chapter with an astute exemplariness
(If it was a movie I would have put it in this way- 'an excellent screen play'😀).
There are a handful of characters from the village with dubious attitudes testing a reader's grey cells but the author has dealt everything with a logical reasoning. This is what I liked the most - there is no unnecessary throw of characters intensionally misguiding a reader & also no fabricating of fishy elements abruptly in any situation.
Besides pacy & breezy read of whodunit, the author has deftly brought alive the picturesque expanse of frothy beach, sorrounded by hilly landscape. Especially that age old light house standing atop glancing & capturing whole Movim in a single instance adds to all the surreptitious weather already cooked up in the book.
April 26, 2019
This book is very well thought off right from the beginning. The story is rightly paced and the setting is beautifully expressed by the author. Just wished to visit Movim immediately. This is the 3rd book of the author I have read and I am really expressed and excited to read more of his works. There is a very Agatha Christie feeling in the narrative style- the way the characters and the plot is set up. The emotional quotient of the story is perfectly positioned between light and not to serious. The suspects/characters are nicely written too.
Few things I wish was better was the characterisation of Maity. It is too much like Poirot, but just more compassionate. I didn't really like him keeping Ray (very similar to Hastings) in the dark even though he had found the solution. Also, I felt with Ray narrating the story, it felt a little weak because Ray is a weaker character compared to Maity. I wasn't impressed with Ray idolising Maity especially because I didn't know much about Maity in the 1st place (Haven't read the 2nd book yet) and hence didn't connect to the awestruck Ray.
I have been exploring Indian mystery for some time now and trying to find someone to fill the boots of Satyajit Ray that cover a whole gamut of small things that make the stories stand out, as in the case of Feluda. In the current set of writers, I will rate Bhaskar right at the top of the rung. Give it a go!
One word for the book?
THRILLING
Ratings:
Title: 5/5
Cover: 4.5/5
Narration: 4/5
Content: 3.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Overall: 4/5
Few things I wish was better was the characterisation of Maity. It is too much like Poirot, but just more compassionate. I didn't really like him keeping Ray (very similar to Hastings) in the dark even though he had found the solution. Also, I felt with Ray narrating the story, it felt a little weak because Ray is a weaker character compared to Maity. I wasn't impressed with Ray idolising Maity especially because I didn't know much about Maity in the 1st place (Haven't read the 2nd book yet) and hence didn't connect to the awestruck Ray.
I have been exploring Indian mystery for some time now and trying to find someone to fill the boots of Satyajit Ray that cover a whole gamut of small things that make the stories stand out, as in the case of Feluda. In the current set of writers, I will rate Bhaskar right at the top of the rung. Give it a go!
One word for the book?
THRILLING
Ratings:
Title: 5/5
Cover: 4.5/5
Narration: 4/5
Content: 3.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Overall: 4/5
August 4, 2018
Detective Janardhan Maity and his friend Prakash Ray decide on a beautiful vacation spot, the picturesque hamlet of Movim in Goa. The plan was last minute, and Prakash made all the arrangements. But little did they know that their much needed vacation was going to turn into a crazy adventure. When they reached the guest house, their host, Mrs. Mascarenhas seeks their help in solving a rather unusual incident that took place in their perfectly peaceful and close-knit community. The father of a local teenage girl receives a letter asking for a large sum of money in exchange for his daughter. But they find out that the girl is after all safe and sound in her house. The same night Sally Sequeira, their neighbour’s daughter, shy and someone who keeps to herself, is missing. Maity and Prakash begin to investigate this mysterious event and in the process discover the secrets that each individual is hiding.
The writing is highly atmospheric, and will make you crave for a good vacation. I fell in love with the setting, a place that’s peaceful and at the same time eerie. Maity is smart and a great observer, and the way he perceives things makes this an interesting read. I generally don’t like books when they are overloaded with characters and information, it becomes overwhelming at times. But this is just the perfect dose of mystery element and at the end everything falls into place perfectly.
I would highly recommend it if you’re looking for a quick, fast-paced and action-packed read.
A perfect rainy day read.
The writing is highly atmospheric, and will make you crave for a good vacation. I fell in love with the setting, a place that’s peaceful and at the same time eerie. Maity is smart and a great observer, and the way he perceives things makes this an interesting read. I generally don’t like books when they are overloaded with characters and information, it becomes overwhelming at times. But this is just the perfect dose of mystery element and at the end everything falls into place perfectly.
I would highly recommend it if you’re looking for a quick, fast-paced and action-packed read.
A perfect rainy day read.
July 24, 2018
No words to express !!! Simply Mind blowing !!!
5 Stars are less for this book. Right from page 1 till you finish the book, there is that magnetic pull which keeps the book clutched in the reader's hands. The writing style, character introduction, the environment setup, small but subtle hints. All these are the ingredients which make the works by one of my beloved author Bhaskar Chattopadhyay the perfect book, which once you start cannot stop.
While reading one of his earlier books I had made a grave mistake of starting it in the midnight. Don't take it otherwise, I was not scared. Instead I could not sleep before finishing it and I slept in the wee hours.
Thereby started it much earlier and finished it on the same day itself despite of many distractions. Literally you will be transported to the world of his and this time it is Goa. I believe most of the books would have shown Goa as a party destination, booze, dance etc. But in this book it is totally a different picture. You will get an beautiful view of Goa and you can visualize yourself there. That is the magic which he weaves with his writing.
This book is also awesome like his other works.
5 Stars are less for this book. Right from page 1 till you finish the book, there is that magnetic pull which keeps the book clutched in the reader's hands. The writing style, character introduction, the environment setup, small but subtle hints. All these are the ingredients which make the works by one of my beloved author Bhaskar Chattopadhyay the perfect book, which once you start cannot stop.
While reading one of his earlier books I had made a grave mistake of starting it in the midnight. Don't take it otherwise, I was not scared. Instead I could not sleep before finishing it and I slept in the wee hours.
Thereby started it much earlier and finished it on the same day itself despite of many distractions. Literally you will be transported to the world of his and this time it is Goa. I believe most of the books would have shown Goa as a party destination, booze, dance etc. But in this book it is totally a different picture. You will get an beautiful view of Goa and you can visualize yourself there. That is the magic which he weaves with his writing.
This book is also awesome like his other works.
August 29, 2018
This book pulled me in from the very first page. The start is pretty quirky when you realize that the girl who was supposed to go missing is safe and sound while the one actually went missing is a shy, introvert girl who no one has even seen properly. The narration is so captivating that I was very curious about finding the culprit with Maity. The book has a twist in the end that will surprise you and Maity’s observation skills was absolutely mindblowing.
What I liked
– Plot Setting : The plot is set in a beach Village, Movim and the descriptions are so lucid that you feel the breeze when Maity is investigating outside Sally’s house.
– Character Building: The characters are very well crafted. They keep changing their faces and its a surprise every time to you assumptions.
– Narration style: The story is well paced from the beginning and the second half is pretty quick. The descriptions were well balanced and I loved the language style.
What I did not like
– There was nothing that I hated about the book, but I wish I had more to read on Sally’s past.
I highly recommend this book to all thriller fans.
What I liked
– Plot Setting : The plot is set in a beach Village, Movim and the descriptions are so lucid that you feel the breeze when Maity is investigating outside Sally’s house.
– Character Building: The characters are very well crafted. They keep changing their faces and its a surprise every time to you assumptions.
– Narration style: The story is well paced from the beginning and the second half is pretty quick. The descriptions were well balanced and I loved the language style.
What I did not like
– There was nothing that I hated about the book, but I wish I had more to read on Sally’s past.
I highly recommend this book to all thriller fans.
September 9, 2025
🌴✨ The Disappearance of Sally Sequeira by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay is a moody, atmospheric mystery set in the sleepy town of Solbaad. Sally, a young woman, vanishes without a trace — and the book explores the layers of people, secrets, and lies that surround her disappearance.
📌 Gist: A journalist comes to Solbaad years after Sally’s vanishing, determined to piece together what really happened. As he interviews the townsfolk, multiple versions of Sally’s life emerge — leaving the reader wondering: was she a victim, a rebel, or something else entirely?
📌 Personal take: This one felt different from Bhaskar’s other works. It’s less of a fast-paced thriller and more of a slow-burn, character-driven mystery. The seaside setting and small-town vibe add to the eerie atmosphere. I read it on Kindle, and while it’s not as twisty as Here Falls the Shadow, it lingers in your mind long after.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Best read if you enjoy slow, atmospheric mysteries that are more about people and secrets than just the crime itself. And Kindle readers — it’s just a click away 📖✨
📌 Gist: A journalist comes to Solbaad years after Sally’s vanishing, determined to piece together what really happened. As he interviews the townsfolk, multiple versions of Sally’s life emerge — leaving the reader wondering: was she a victim, a rebel, or something else entirely?
📌 Personal take: This one felt different from Bhaskar’s other works. It’s less of a fast-paced thriller and more of a slow-burn, character-driven mystery. The seaside setting and small-town vibe add to the eerie atmosphere. I read it on Kindle, and while it’s not as twisty as Here Falls the Shadow, it lingers in your mind long after.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Best read if you enjoy slow, atmospheric mysteries that are more about people and secrets than just the crime itself. And Kindle readers — it’s just a click away 📖✨
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