Shakchunni Paperback – 15 February 2024

I have to be honest, I haven't read anything from first to the last page in the last 3 years. It was getting to the point where I began to doubt if I would ever again.This book bought me on track right back. I was slow in the beginning, but as the story progressed I was able to cover more and more page each day.I finished the book today morning. The prose is so well written. I loved the way the story progressed and how each character was so well defined. I could picture the characters so well in my head. This is not even my genre of books I read, but yet I found it very engrossing.The last part of the book presents an epic turn of events and I won't spoil it for you.Thank you Arnab for such a wonderful book and thank you for bringing my mojo back.

Not a fan of horror genre but this one had me gripped. This is a rare book you can go back and read again since there are multiple layered nuances viewed into the story - At a material, intellectual and quasi spirituality level. Stellar work by the author and a highly recommended read even if you dont generally read horror.

Pacy, atmospheric, horror not in the conventional sense and written like a screenplay. Will not be surprised if this gets made as a web series or a movie. The book is cleverly juxtaposed with age old societal themes like slavery, oppression, patriarchy. Arnab's book how a decadent ruling king(dom) and its elites with their own sinister secrets get unravelled by 'Shakchunni' in the backdrop of British ruled pre WW II India. Good read!

As one who has read Arnab’S books earlier, I thought I fairly knew what to expect in terms of writing style. Boy - I was so wrong. This one is a classic for the ages. The story set in pre Independence era in rural Bengal, it starts on a reasonably strong note aka Sachin-Ganguly partnership like before it evolves, teases, thrills, scares to become a page turner like none I have read in recent times. The interplay of good with evil, the undercurrent of intrigue and suspense through the book, the dynamics of power and the sheer lows and evils man can get down to, the normalization of suffering of the poor n powerless by the powerful- this and much more in a very unique era- that’s what you can expect from this definite page turner. With this, Arnab has further embellished his credentials as a solid author. If May I hab your attention pls was a rehash of his blogs, his evolution to the mine, sultan of delhi ( a racy thriller) and to a book like Shakchuni is a fantastic evolution.

Arnab Ray aka "Greatbong" has written a gem of a horror novel. If you are one of those folks who love "kahani mein twist" in the end, this story will not disappoint you. The story revolves around various members of the Banerjee family - a typical Zamindar family of Bengal with some dark secrets from its past. The Banerjee family comprises of the patriarch - Rai Bahadur, his wife - Bouthakurun, their two sons - Narayanpratap and Rudrapratap and, finally, Soudamini, wife of Narayanpratap.The tale protrays the reality of Bengal countryside and its local power dynamics in much detail. Shakchunni is the vengeful spirit of a prosperous married woman who gets abused by her husband leading to her untimely demise from the physical world. Arnab weaves the folk tale of Shakchunni into the travails of Banerjee family that ultimately leads to the demise of their wealth and prestige. The creeping onset of modernity on a society that has witnessed minimal amount of change in last few hundred years is palpable throughout the narration. The old world is on the verge of getting upended by the new world.I have read earlier works of Arnab and he has matured as an author in his latest books. "Shakchunni" is the work of a person who is good in the craft of storytelling. While reading, sometimes, you do get the feeling that events are moving a tad slowly. However, the pace always picks up at the right time. The epilogue is fantastic. It provides a very rational reason to explain the sequence of unfortunate events that hits the Banerjee family and destroys their fortune. I recommend this novel to anyone who has time to enjoy a nice tale of ghosts, set in the rural Bengal in the mid-20th century.

Skahxhunni is definitely a fantastic read, especially for people like me who grew up in a Bengali family listening to such folklore. Ray beautifully pens down the turbulent times close to the end of British rule in India, the poverty thereafter and the madness of the zamindars in the countryside. Would definitely recommend the book! Go for it, you would love it!

Arnab Ray has straddled multiple genres - from non-fiction to thrillers, but he somehow brings something special to the horror genre. The Mine (his previous horror novel) was a masterly thesis on the human psychology ("the greatest evil lies deep inside"!) and Shakchunni probably takes things one notch higher. While the narration gives you the chills every now and then, it's also a breathtaking depiction of the rural Bengal landscape and lifestyle during the British rule. It's a tale spanning themes of patriarchy, female empowerment, poverty and crime. The story is gripping with a stunning climax. Like many others, I finished the book in only a couple of sittings and can't stop thinking about it ever since. Truly a great book from a modern master.