TITLE: DEATH UNDER THE DEODARS
AUTHOR: RUSKIN BOND
GENRE: SHORT STORY, THRILLER
PLOT:
Death under the deodars is an anthology of eight short stories with a thriller element in it. The plot set up in the Royal hotel at Mussoorie. Miss Ripley Bean, a seventy-year-old spinster, is the central character of the story. The author introduces her as ‘Aunt May’. She’s a keen observer and epitome of deciphering mystery, though she never acts upon it. She’s been a permanent resident in the hotel because her father owned the place, later sold to Nandu before he died. Miss Ripley Bean always accompany with her dog. A few prominent characters in the story are Mr Lobo, the hotel pianist; Nandu, hotel owner; and the author himself.
“Death under the deodars” is the first short story, so is the book name. It’s based on a murder saw by Miss Ripley Bean at the hotel garden on the eve of a flower show.
“Born evil” is the second story, limned as the haunted memory shared by Ripley Bean. A wolf in sheep clothing is the perfect conception for the boy ‘Alexander’ in this story. It portrays the elvish doings of this demon.
The visit of the celebrity couples in Royal hotel seeded the next story titled “Strychnine in the cognac”. Their unpleasant marriage life and egos turned to a fatal vexation between them.
“Crime of passion” is the story of a priest and the boy named ‘Sammy’. The avarice leads to bloodsheds is the premise of this story.
Ripley Bean shares an incident from her memory is the fifth story titled “Arsenic in the post”. Based on the murder of two peoples in Agra.
“The black dog”, the story based on Ruskin Bond’s enigmatic experience during the walk to his home at night.
A dead body found inside a newly added box bed in the hotel room is the basis for the next story ” Three in a bed”.
Rejections often lead to revenge, that’s why “Daryaganj strangler”, the story of a serial killer in Daryaganj.
MY REVIEW
I had many expectations in the book while I started reading it. After finished with the first chapter, it didn’t hold my enthusiasm any further. The plot of each story is vague and predictive. Maybe it’s my fault to expect hardcore thriller from a children’s book!. Alike other Ruskin Bond works, he well portrayed the exquisite allure of nature. Simple language and an easy read. I liked the stories “The black dog” and “Three in a bed”, because of a horror facet in it. A light treated thriller short stories, I recommend this book to children above 12. Overall, the book is not so fascinating.
MY RATING:
3 OUT OF 5 STARS
