• r e c o m m e n d a t i o n •

Just when you think you've read Bhaskar Chattopadhyay's finest work, you come across another one which surpasses everything else. Best Served Cold was my third book by Chattopadhyay and it quickly became my favourite. There's something incredibly unique about his books and it mostly has to do with the protagonist, the enigmatic Janardhan Maity. A man with a calm demeanor who oozes confidence and displays the right amount of emotions in spite of being a detective. This novel was unlike anything I've ever read because it begins with the prospect of a murder. But what initially appears like an open and shut case, becomes a mess of accusations with many possible suspects. Best Served Cold is undoubtedly a masterpiece, that keeps throwing one surprise after the other, making the entire reading experience an adrenaline filled one.

A powerful man approaches Maity on a balmy September evening, worried that someone's planning to murder him. Some time later, a young woman arrives at the door pleading Maity to stop her husband from murdering the very same man who visited barely a few hours ago. Maity is quick to act and travels to Manikpur tea estate to stop the occurrence of a potential murder. Assisting Maity is his friend Prakash who is a bestseller author and who also happens to be the narrator of the story. The story quickly garners speed, making it almost impossible to keep the book aside. Maity charms us with his wit and unwavering commitment to solve the mystery. Like his other books, I found myself completely immersed in the story, staying up late to know what happens next. Chattopadhyay has an innate ability to balance the story with the right amount of characters, drama and twists. I've said it before and I'll say it again. No one and I mean absolutely no one nails thrillers like he does.

5/5.