Mishti in Shotti: The Kankurgachi Trail by Sarath Chandra is a compelling blend of mystery, suspense, and socio-cultural reflection set against the evocative backdrop of Kolkata. This novel masterfully combines the sharp precision of a financial thriller with the brooding atmosphere of a city haunted by its own legacy. At its core, the story follows forensic auditor Ananya Chatterjee, whose return to Kolkata marks not just a professional detour but a deeply personal journey through memory, myth, and menace.
Ananya is the kind of protagonist readers root for—not because she is flawless, but because she is relentlessly driven, grounded in rationality, and yet unprepared for the kind of truths that defy logic. A numbers expert, her life revolves around facts and verifiable truths. But when a corporate fraud investigation brings her to the heart of Kolkata, the boundaries between professional detachment and emotional vulnerability begin to blur. What starts as a case of suspicious financial transactions—missing funds and dubious donations to a temple trust—quickly morphs into something far more chilling. The deeper she digs, the more she finds herself entangled in a web of cryptic messages, vanishing auditors, and an age-old trust that guards secrets older than her comprehension.
Sarath Chandra crafts a taut narrative that keeps the reader engrossed not merely with twists and turns, but with an undercurrent of philosophical and psychological tension. The author’s background in finance and forensic auditing lends authenticity to the procedural aspects of the investigation, but it is his poetic sensibility that enriches the narrative. Kolkata is more than just a setting in this novel—it is a character in itself. The Kankurgachi locality, the bustling streets, the half-forgotten temples, and the shadowy figures lend a kind of haunting charm to the book. Chandra captures the duality of the city beautifully: its modern ambitions intertwined with ancient fears and beliefs. The result is an environment where dread and devotion co-exist, sometimes indistinguishably.
The novel’s pacing is one of its strengths. It opens with a calculated calm—just like Ananya’s own mindset—and gradually descends into a frantic rush as the stakes get higher. Every chapter peels away another layer of mystery, not just around the case but also around Ananya herself. Her past, her reasons for leaving Kolkata, and the emotional wounds she carries are revealed slowly, allowing the reader to understand that the journey is not only external but deeply internal. The ghosts Ananya confronts are not just in ancient manuscripts or temple corridors—they are in her own recollections and the city’s shared memory.
Sarath Chandra also does a commendable job balancing fact with fiction. The financial trail Ananya follows is meticulously constructed, making it believable and gripping even for readers unfamiliar with finance. There is no over-reliance on jargon; instead, the author ensures accessibility while still maintaining the complexity of the investigative process. Yet, just as you get comfortable in the realm of spreadsheets and audits, the novel shifts—gently but firmly—into the realm of the eerie and the esoteric. That transition is one of the most effective features of this book. It moves from the known to the unknown in a way that mirrors the human experience of uncovering hidden truths. One moment you’re following the trail of a fraudulent transaction; the next, you’re standing at the edge of a spiritual abyss.
The tension between belief and rationality is explored with great depth. Ananya’s internal conflict mirrors the broader conflict the novel suggests: the battle between empirical evidence and intangible forces that influence human behavior. Can a city’s history shape its present? Can belief systems, even when not entirely understood, guide or mislead rational inquiry? These questions hover in the background, never fully answered, which adds to the lingering impact of the story.
Character development in the book is deftly handled. Ananya is richly layered—pragmatic yet sensitive, bold yet cautious. Her evolution through the story feels organic. Supporting characters, too, are not mere props. They offer insight, support, or conflict, adding texture to the plot. From fellow investigators to the quiet keepers of temple secrets, each character is distinct and purposefully drawn.
Chandra’s prose deserves special mention. It is elegant yet restrained, lyrical without being overwrought. He has the rare ability to evoke a mood with just a few words. Whether describing a deserted alleyway, a fading temple mural, or the numbers on a ledger, his writing is atmospheric and evocative. His use of language reflects both his poetic background and his analytical training—a duality that mirrors the story itself.
Beyond its mystery and suspense, Mishti in Shotti also touches upon themes of legacy, trust, and transformation. What do we inherit from the past, and what do we choose to carry forward? How do institutions—whether corporate or spiritual—hold power over people, and how can that power be both redemptive and destructive? These are complex themes, but Chandra handles them with subtlety and thoughtfulness. He resists the urge to provide easy answers, preferring instead to let the reader sit with the discomfort and ambiguity that real life often brings.
The title itself—Mishti in Shotti—is a clever nod to the dual nature of the narrative. “Mishti” (sweetness) suggests comfort, familiarity, perhaps even nostalgia, while “Shotti” (truth) signals a harsh confrontation with reality. The juxtaposition encapsulates the novel’s central tension—between what we want to believe and what we must accept.
If there is a critique to offer, it is perhaps that certain aspects of the conclusion could have been more tightly resolved. The climax is intense and gripping, but some readers may feel that a few threads are left too open-ended. However, this can also be viewed as intentional—a reflection of the author’s philosophical approach that not all truths are meant to be uncovered neatly, and not all answers fit into clear categories.
Ultimately, Mishti in Shotti: The Kankurgachi Trail is a striking debut that combines intellectual rigor with emotional resonance. Sarath Chandra has crafted a novel that is as much a thriller as it is a meditation on knowledge, faith, and the human psyche. It challenges readers to think, to feel, and above all, to question. It’s a story that lingers long after the final page, not because it terrifies, but because it awakens a deeper sense of awareness.
For anyone who enjoys mysteries with depth, characters with complexity, and writing with soul, this book is a rewarding read. Sarath Chandra’s voice is a welcome addition to Indian English literature, and Mishti in Shotti is a testament to the power of storytelling that bridges the rational and the mystical with equal finesse.
