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The Magadh Mystery
Vidya is a young archaeologist who has spent her entire childhood listening to the stories of the Magadh Mystery but neither Vidya nor her brother believed these stories. When Vidya’s father-like colleague found some inscriptions from the Magadh Dynasty during an excavation and was killed soon after, she had no choice but to set out on this journey to unravel the Magadh Mystery. Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to real persons, businesses, places or events is coincidental. The content featured in this show should in no way be construed as an accurate or true representation of any religious text, religion, folklore, story or tale. The opinions expressed and interpretations given for the religious text, religion or story as part of the show, are that of the author and not those of Audible. This show is not intended to offend or defame any individual, entity, caste, community, race, or religion or to denigrate any institution or person, living or dead and does not intend to outrage/insult or defame or hurt any religious sentiments, beliefs or feelings of any person, entity, class or community. Listener's discretion is strongly advised.
Audible Audio
Published February 2, 2022
11 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Christopher C. Doyle
15 books424 followersChristopher C. Doyle pursued a career in the corporate world, graduating from St. Stephens College, Delhi with a degree in Economics and studying business management at IIM Calcutta. He now helps companies to grow profitably and sustainably.
He is also a musician and lives his passion for music through his band called Mid Life Crisis which plays classic rock.
He is also a musician and lives his passion for music through his band called Mid Life Crisis which plays classic rock.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 30, 2022
3.5/5
This was a free audiobook on audible and it exceeded my expectations in a lot of ways!
Even though the plot was predictable at times, it kept me engaged throughout and was a good blend of history, mythology and good old treasure hunting.
I enjoyed Christopher's writing and realised I'd missed reading about Indian characters and familiar locations.
If anyone has any recommendations for books by Indian authors, please lmk!
This was a free audiobook on audible and it exceeded my expectations in a lot of ways!
Even though the plot was predictable at times, it kept me engaged throughout and was a good blend of history, mythology and good old treasure hunting.
I enjoyed Christopher's writing and realised I'd missed reading about Indian characters and familiar locations.
If anyone has any recommendations for books by Indian authors, please lmk!
January 6, 2024
Gripping and extremely well narrated... Or rather performed. The story is a fast paced, racy thriller although certain things have you scratching your head at times (like with most thrillers unfortunately) but is a good addition to Christopher C Doyle's shelf of contemporary thrillers inspired by the Mahabharata.
February 8, 2022
Plot:✨
This is the story of Vidya, a young archaeologist, and her younger brother Amar, a history professor. Since childhood, Vidya and Amar have grown up listening to the story of their grandfather about The Magadh Mystery, which is directly connected to The Mahabharata. But they never believed it to be true. When Vidya's colleague and father like figure Arvind Khetrapal gets murdered during his excavation, the cops come to know that the last person he spoke to before his death was none other than Vidya. On their last conversation, Khetrapal tells her about his new discovery which is connected to the story that Vidya's grandfather used to tell them. For the first time in her life, Vidya starts believing in the story and immediately shares it with Amar. But when she comes to know that Khetrapal is murdered right after he talked to her over the phone, she realizes she and her brother might be the next target.
Review:✨
The story begins in classic Christopher C Doyle fashion with a murder which takes us on an incredible adventure. Listening to it on Audible was absolutely thrilling. It's a perfect blend of mystery, mythology and history. The only thing that slightly bothered me was that I was not that surprised to find out who the villain was, as I felt I knew it all along. But despite that, the mystery revolving around the Magadh Dynasty was crafted with perfection and that itself kept me hooked till the very end. If you have a keen interest in Indian mythology and history you should check out this 14 episode series on Audible. 💖😊
This is the story of Vidya, a young archaeologist, and her younger brother Amar, a history professor. Since childhood, Vidya and Amar have grown up listening to the story of their grandfather about The Magadh Mystery, which is directly connected to The Mahabharata. But they never believed it to be true. When Vidya's colleague and father like figure Arvind Khetrapal gets murdered during his excavation, the cops come to know that the last person he spoke to before his death was none other than Vidya. On their last conversation, Khetrapal tells her about his new discovery which is connected to the story that Vidya's grandfather used to tell them. For the first time in her life, Vidya starts believing in the story and immediately shares it with Amar. But when she comes to know that Khetrapal is murdered right after he talked to her over the phone, she realizes she and her brother might be the next target.
Review:✨
The story begins in classic Christopher C Doyle fashion with a murder which takes us on an incredible adventure. Listening to it on Audible was absolutely thrilling. It's a perfect blend of mystery, mythology and history. The only thing that slightly bothered me was that I was not that surprised to find out who the villain was, as I felt I knew it all along. But despite that, the mystery revolving around the Magadh Dynasty was crafted with perfection and that itself kept me hooked till the very end. If you have a keen interest in Indian mythology and history you should check out this 14 episode series on Audible. 💖😊
November 14, 2024
Book:
The Magha Mystery is a historical fiction which connects Mahabharat, Magadha kingdom and brings it all to today. The author has done a great work to blend the fiction to some of the great truths of the past and the epic. Appreciate that home work and the great plot of the story. All starts for the same.
Vidya is an archaeologist, and her brother Amar is a history professor. They were raised by their grand parents after their parents died young. Their grandfather told them a story that he always insisted was not just a story, and the kids, as they grew just did not buy it. Till Vidya’s friend and father like colleague discovers something interesting and ancient which the excavations at Varanasi and gets killed for the same. This is where the story begins.
Briefly put the story is about Bimbisar, his descendants and the great treasury of their ancestral king, Jarasandh The heaps of treasure that jarasandh has gathered from his rain as a king, and wars is hidden in a secret palace, Bimbisar happens to chance on it once, and he then makes the hidden treasure more secure with a puzzle around it to solve. Ajathsetru, Bimbhisar’s sone takes the throne to discover that the treasure has been locked and hidden somewhere, all his attempts to recover it are in vain.
His descendants, after centuries, are still trying to discover it. What is the plot without a twist, of course there are others who have the sniff of this treasure and people with power and background are involved into this along side the descendants search for the hidden treasure.
I leave the main story here, to readers to enjoy the book. A good enjoying read. Interested in thrillers and historical fictions you can pick this up.
My View
The suspense, or the actual culprit sounds too easy to guess, right from the start of the book, at least I sure knew who that person was. So did not have that SURPRISE effect towards the end. However, the story still was engaging.
At occasions the story is a little disconnecting, which I think is very evident when you read the book. Like Vidya is kidnapped, and released. The police are never informed about her return yet they never act on it, even while investigating the entire case of Kshetrapal’s death while Vidya is the last person he spoke to before getting killed, and she is in the circle of suspects, though no convincing evidence.
Keeping aside such small over looks and misses, the overall story is gripping and worth reading.
The Magha Mystery is a historical fiction which connects Mahabharat, Magadha kingdom and brings it all to today. The author has done a great work to blend the fiction to some of the great truths of the past and the epic. Appreciate that home work and the great plot of the story. All starts for the same.
Vidya is an archaeologist, and her brother Amar is a history professor. They were raised by their grand parents after their parents died young. Their grandfather told them a story that he always insisted was not just a story, and the kids, as they grew just did not buy it. Till Vidya’s friend and father like colleague discovers something interesting and ancient which the excavations at Varanasi and gets killed for the same. This is where the story begins.
Briefly put the story is about Bimbisar, his descendants and the great treasury of their ancestral king, Jarasandh The heaps of treasure that jarasandh has gathered from his rain as a king, and wars is hidden in a secret palace, Bimbisar happens to chance on it once, and he then makes the hidden treasure more secure with a puzzle around it to solve. Ajathsetru, Bimbhisar’s sone takes the throne to discover that the treasure has been locked and hidden somewhere, all his attempts to recover it are in vain.
His descendants, after centuries, are still trying to discover it. What is the plot without a twist, of course there are others who have the sniff of this treasure and people with power and background are involved into this along side the descendants search for the hidden treasure.
I leave the main story here, to readers to enjoy the book. A good enjoying read. Interested in thrillers and historical fictions you can pick this up.
My View
The suspense, or the actual culprit sounds too easy to guess, right from the start of the book, at least I sure knew who that person was. So did not have that SURPRISE effect towards the end. However, the story still was engaging.
At occasions the story is a little disconnecting, which I think is very evident when you read the book. Like Vidya is kidnapped, and released. The police are never informed about her return yet they never act on it, even while investigating the entire case of Kshetrapal’s death while Vidya is the last person he spoke to before getting killed, and she is in the circle of suspects, though no convincing evidence.
Keeping aside such small over looks and misses, the overall story is gripping and worth reading.
July 9, 2025
The book follows a familiar pattern seen in the author’s Mahabharata Quest series—taking a story from the Mahabharata and weaving a fictional, modern-day narrative around it. While the pivot characters and villains this time are different, the overarching style remains consistent.
On the positive side, the story is gripping and well-paced, making it an enjoyable read for fans of mythology-based fiction. The author’s ability to blend ancient lore with contemporary settings keeps the plot engaging, and there are moments where the twists and character dynamics shine.
However, the book doesn’t deviate much from the established formula, which may leave some readers craving more originality. Certain plot points feel predictable, and the character development, while decent, doesn’t reach its full potential.
Overall, it’s a solid read for mythology enthusiasts but doesn’t stand out significantly from the author’s previous works. A good choice for a casual, entertaining read, though not particularly groundbreaking.
On the positive side, the story is gripping and well-paced, making it an enjoyable read for fans of mythology-based fiction. The author’s ability to blend ancient lore with contemporary settings keeps the plot engaging, and there are moments where the twists and character dynamics shine.
However, the book doesn’t deviate much from the established formula, which may leave some readers craving more originality. Certain plot points feel predictable, and the character development, while decent, doesn’t reach its full potential.
Overall, it’s a solid read for mythology enthusiasts but doesn’t stand out significantly from the author’s previous works. A good choice for a casual, entertaining read, though not particularly groundbreaking.
April 17, 2025
Magadh Mystery by Christopher C. Doyle is a captivating blend of history, mythology, and thriller—my favorite genre combination. From the very beginning, the book drew me in with its intriguing premise and maintained a steady pace throughout. What stood out the most was how skillfully the plot was crafted. It unfolded layer by layer, keeping the suspense alive and the reader thoroughly engaged.
The characters were well-developed, each contributing meaningfully to the storyline. Doyle has clearly put in a significant amount of research, especially in exploring historical and mythological references. This added a layer of authenticity to the narrative and made the settings and events feel rich and immersive.
Overall, Magadh Mystery is a well-written and thoughtfully constructed novel that offers a great reading experience. If you enjoy stories that weave ancient secrets with modern-day thrills, this is definitely a book worth picking up.
The characters were well-developed, each contributing meaningfully to the storyline. Doyle has clearly put in a significant amount of research, especially in exploring historical and mythological references. This added a layer of authenticity to the narrative and made the settings and events feel rich and immersive.
Overall, Magadh Mystery is a well-written and thoughtfully constructed novel that offers a great reading experience. If you enjoy stories that weave ancient secrets with modern-day thrills, this is definitely a book worth picking up.
September 13, 2022
This book like all works of this author, had a delightful blend of mythology and history, both coming together in a scientific way to make sense, and engage with young, modern readers. Evocative imagery, well-researched, and beautifully put together.
The only thing was, the book is available as an audio book only. While, kudos to Mr. Doyle for trying out a new medium, the narration of the story takes away the "imagery" and "imagination" component. The emotions are all laid out in front of you, and it's difficult to connect to an actor narrating the story, as compared to the fictional characters coming alive in the pages. While, the narration was subtle, sombre, and impact full, the rest of the cast went a little overboard.
The characters were a little less engaging and interesting. The storyline as a documentary was amazing, without the crispy nature of a fiction.
The only thing was, the book is available as an audio book only. While, kudos to Mr. Doyle for trying out a new medium, the narration of the story takes away the "imagery" and "imagination" component. The emotions are all laid out in front of you, and it's difficult to connect to an actor narrating the story, as compared to the fictional characters coming alive in the pages. While, the narration was subtle, sombre, and impact full, the rest of the cast went a little overboard.
The characters were a little less engaging and interesting. The storyline as a documentary was amazing, without the crispy nature of a fiction.
July 1, 2022
The problem is I don't buy the premise! Historicizing couple of stories from a myth is a subject I dislike, because it leaves more holes in the mythology and the plot as well. Even though the writing is okay, with relatively realistic twists and turns (except a few touches of fantasy, in few places - government bodies, police do not act in such good faith and with such efficiency - not in India of UP and Bihar, for sure). Performances are all strictly fine.
Again, all of this would have been trivial, had I bought the central premise, so there's that.
Again, all of this would have been trivial, had I bought the central premise, so there's that.
June 2, 2023
Hooter: A treasure hunt for relics from mythology
Invoking the mighty Jarasandha from Mahabharat - based in Magadh, this story entails a brother and sister duo who follow up on a family heirloom that plays a role in the identification of a treasure of Jarasandha himself. Mixing a wild goose chase, some villains, a sizeable portion of mythology and a good natured cop for good measure, the book makes for a time pass read. Its entertaining enough to not keep your bored but predictable enough to not keep you on your toes or edge of your seat.
Invoking the mighty Jarasandha from Mahabharat - based in Magadh, this story entails a brother and sister duo who follow up on a family heirloom that plays a role in the identification of a treasure of Jarasandha himself. Mixing a wild goose chase, some villains, a sizeable portion of mythology and a good natured cop for good measure, the book makes for a time pass read. Its entertaining enough to not keep your bored but predictable enough to not keep you on your toes or edge of your seat.
October 10, 2024
Well performed, but entirely predictable. The main characters are shockingly naive throughout, and even the main villain has an "aw shucks, yeah I killed him, but I love you" quality that feels very dated in western lit; perhaps less so in Indian lit. The flash-back chapters never build to much and could have been skipped entirely, letting us learn the historical narrative purely through the modern characters.
In short not bad, but sort of Dan Brown light. (And I already consider Dan Brown very light.)
In short not bad, but sort of Dan Brown light. (And I already consider Dan Brown very light.)
July 16, 2022
Well,
I have mixed feeling about this book.
Things going for the book
- good history content
- the characters are ok
- Narration is good for the audiobook
Things which could have been better
- the story is dragged a lot. Could have been half the size
- too predictable and not much of a mystery.
- the writing and very similar and it feels like we have heard this before .
So overall, may be a 1 time read.
Between 2.5 to 3 stars from me
I have mixed feeling about this book.
Things going for the book
- good history content
- the characters are ok
- Narration is good for the audiobook
Things which could have been better
- the story is dragged a lot. Could have been half the size
- too predictable and not much of a mystery.
- the writing and very similar and it feels like we have heard this before .
So overall, may be a 1 time read.
Between 2.5 to 3 stars from me
March 14, 2022
Review of Audiobook: The book is decent with lots of ups and downs. It is predictable sometimes and also the main antagonist is very easily deductible. The narration of the audiobook is really good. Overall, a good read.
July 17, 2022
Listened on audible. Nice content, thought predictable at lot of places, but the inclusion of Mahabharata n that too with treasure of Jarasandha, 1000s of yrs old, is something which always arises curiosity n excitement.
May 20, 2024
It was an interesting story, but it was very predictable for me. It was slow in some parts, and I had to take breaks. It might have just been my mood while I was reading it as, like I said, it was an interesting story over all
April 23, 2022
Predictable but good one time read with lots of Ancient Technology Propaganda all around.
May 10, 2022
I love it
June 15, 2022
It was an average story compared to other works of the author. The twist which they gave in the last episode, I could guess it by second or third episode.
July 25, 2022
Good story, enjoyed the narration.
July 26, 2024
3.5⭐️🎧
February 21, 2025
Eh I mainly listened to this when I couldn’t decide what book to read next. It was good enough to finish but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone
October 1, 2025
A decent work with expected tropes.
October 22, 2022
I had a chance to listen to the Hindi version of this audio book on Audible. I had a great time listening, visualising and imagining the story. The best part is there are diff voices according to the characters. Perfect narration and engaging writing. Had a wonderful time listening to this book!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews