Book Review : The Scratch and Sniff Chronicles

Book Name: The Scratch and Sniff Chronicles
Author: Hemangini Dutt Majumder
Publisher: Olive Turtle (An imprint of Niyogi)

Genre: Mystery 

The Scratch and Sniff Chronicles by Hemangini Dutt Majumder is a humorous delight, mystery novel that blends Bengali tradition with a touch of Gothic literature.

Review

The story starts with the introduction of the protagonist, Ollie, where the author reveals how she got her name, Olympia Ghoshal Chatterjee. To begin with the life of Ollie, there is chaos, drama, an eerie atmosphere, ghostly appearances (not in real though), and the essence of the smelling sense that made her unique. Often, she landed in trouble because of her strong sense of smell, but in the end, it helped solve a series of murder mysteries by catching the culprit who was creating terror and fear in their ancestral mansion, Neelbari, in Chandannagar, and it even prevented two murders.

The characters are relatable and feel so real that readers will enjoy their worlds and stories, as if they are a part of them. Ollie, the central character, is the powerhouse of the story, who is on her toes throughout, entertaining readers with her humour and detective skills, using her sniffing superpower. Her aunt Fishy, or Basanti for the people around her, is another character who will keep readers laughing. There are two characters (I won't name them to avoid spoilers) whose appearances in the story create suspicion in the minds of readers that they are involved in some conspiracy or heinous act, or may be connected to the murders. But the real culprit is only unveiled at the end of the story, and she surprises readers with her planning and plotting.

The author's writing style is engaging and thought-provoking. She ensures there is humour in every part of the story, even when the situation turns tense. There are multiple such instances, to mention a few: when the police are investigating and they doubt how Ollie could find every death first, and after learning about her smelling sense, they compare her to police sniffing dogs. Another is when Ollie is discussing her medical condition with the doctor, who tells her the actual problem is immature eggs, a metaphor that emphasises her life. Throughout the story, readers will stay hooked to the book until they discover the secret passage and the true beauty of Neelbari. The portrayal of rich Bengali culture and customs, with adequate mention of Bengali cuisines, will tempt readers to try those dishes.

To appreciate the uniqueness of the central character, there are mentions of smells associated with people, settings, environments, and in-between chapters, providing hints to the readers to identify who could be the culprit. Every time there is a smell associated with a person, readers will start guessing who is being talked about in the context. It is fun reading through this book.

It is one of those books that will make readers giggle, laugh, and smile, though it is more of a murder mystery. If you are looking for a light-hearted read, then this book will make a great choice.

Buy it from Amazon - The Scratch and Sniff Chronicles

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