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When the pale moon rises

January 17, 2011 07:13 pm | Updated 08:06 pm IST

Twelve short stories that are sure to make you shiver and shudder and beg for more...

Chennai: 12/01/2011: The Hindu: Young World: Title: Bad Moon Rising, the Puffin Book of Mystery Stories. Author: Ranjit Lal.

Here is a book that is full of promise — Bad Moon Rising , has a cache of 12 short stories by different authors — Satyajit Ray, Shreekumar Varma, Poile Sengutpta and Arup Kumar Dutta to mention a few. that are thrilling, funny, mysterious and spine chilling.

How can a handful of spilled mustard seeds solve a mystery of murder? Meet Bipin Chowdhury who cannot remember a man who seems to know him and all the landmark moments in his life and why is it so, marks the rest of this snappy story.

Who is this Rhizopus? Is he an alien? “The Graveyard Grouse” has you in splits as you suspect a good amount of spoofing done on well known sitcoms and reality shows and this time the story is from a vampires side!

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“Rambali is black and poisonous, Raja Dimeri is brown and non poisonous” goes the chant in the story, where a powerful secret lurks, as to why the gypsies are being killed. Is there any reason why the doorbell rings in the middle of the night and there is no one there?

Story after story is a cartwheel of delight as you try to guess the answer to the “Who dun it”. The modes of narration of the 12 authors differ and are interestingly varied, so that you don't get bored.

While “The Fan” has a touch of Bollywood, “A Reader's revenge” takes on a different turn that you would have never imagined.

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Meet the bunch of kids who are out to nab the suave guy who is robbing people with his “nice approach” and the use of computers helps them out.

Funny and very contemporary, especially in the narration, “The Snake Charmers son” has elements that can give a thriller movie a run for its money.

With “Bad Moon Rising” you would realise that there is something out there, something that you would have never dreamt and now you have to see it face to face.

Don't miss out on Ranjit La's introduction, as he gives you tips to begin your who-dun-it.

There is enough in this compilation of stories, to keep you awake and finish the book in one go – and read repeatedly, to relish and experience those delicious shivers once more.

BAD MOON RISING, A Puffin Original, Rs. 199

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