The title itself – ‘The Secret of the Palamu Fort’ is enough to intrigue a reader and I must say that I was not disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I would like to congratulate the publishers for the intriguing cover design. What is also commendable is the print quality of the book and both the font size and the font type. The book is an engaging, swift read that keeps you riveted till the end (when the mystery unfolds). The book is set in Jharkhand, a state which I admit when viewed through the author’s lens comes across as beautiful. The protagonist is a detective called Robin Horo who is as cunning as he is knowledgeable. He comes from a modest background and is reared by his trusted manservant after the untimely demise of his parents. A self-taught man, he is an avaricious reader and assists the local police to solve cases. The book opens to the murder of a professor. However, that is not a surprise. The surprise is that the murder is supposedly done by; hold your breath – a ghost! And, that too the ghost of a man who supposedly died 350 years ago, protecting a great secret. Suspenseful, isn’t it?  Well, that is not all. The book comes replete with a strange box, a magical key is given for safekeeping to the chief suspect and also a buried treasure. I mean – wow! This book has everything – murder, mystery, suspense, drama and even a hidden treasure. Now on to the describing the actual book - Many of you bibliophiles would remember Enid Blyton stories from your childhood, the famous five, the secret seven, and the five find-outers, etc. Well, this book reminded me of those childhood stories. It is written in an easy to understand language that will resonate with both adults and children. It is just good, clean fun. The language is simple and not superfluous at all, including the vocabulary. The narrative flows smoothly and you find yourself turning the pages fast in order to read the next chapter, such is the excitement the author infects you with. Apart from the suspenseful story, what also shines through (and what I personally loved) in the book is the author’s love for Jharkhand. The love with which he describes the state, its vibrant history and the rich character of its native folk, was most endearing. Another thing that shone through was the author’s love for science. The history depicted in the book is well researched (I know because I checked) and the author exhibits a grasp of the finer details. I recommend this book to anyone who’s mind is titillated by mystery and intrigue (which will be most of you, I guess). Hmm...infact this book is quite the Bollywood Masala Movie type! Are any producers listening? Buy the book here: