A cozy murder mystery with a secret society of middle-aged women at its heart, it is packed with relatable characters and social commentary.

In a sleepy society, home to middle class citizens, live the Waghmares. The women of this family take centrestage in the book–mother Varsha, a seemingly benign lady, is the head of a vigilante secret society and the daughter named Philly (full name Philadelphia) is also on a secret crusade. The father Pramod is obsessed with sending his daughter to the United States of America so she can lead a better life. This was the dream of millions of Indians during the 70s and 80s. Gen Z is keen on South Korea, floored by BTS.

Waghmare’s secret society comprises five women, all defeated by their miserable life, and always on the lookout for exciting times. Their aim is to catch as many sexual predators as possible, though anonymously, by collecting information about them and leaving the file with the police through a seemingly invisible source.

The story picks up pace when Varsha discovers that her daughter, Philly, is molested by her best friend, Naina’s father. Tarun Adhikari is a real estate tycoon and his henchman, Ratan Tamancha, is also on the list collected by the secret society.

Varsha heads to confront Adhikari, who avoids her. Instead, he sends Tamancha to threaten her. Then unfolds the core with an accidental death, the women hiding the body, and Philly discovering her mother’s secret. Eventually, the kick comes when Varsha discovers that Philly is not the one molested but Naina’s young cook.

Mukherjee has a satirical style. Middle-class vibes, and boring uncles and aunties, tend to be at the heart of most slapstick contemporary dramas. The story is an amalgam of many tropes woven in a pacy narrative.

She does kick in a few surprises and doesn’t let the reader down, albeit the book is more suited to a new reader, rather than a seasoned one.

The characters are well fleshed out, some almost become alive if you look around in the neighbourhood.

Bharatendu Bandopadhyay, the seemingly affable, non-descript detective doesn’t ooze charm for the young ones but manages to get a lot of oomph from the ladies for his culinary skills.

The cozy murder mystery is rooted in social norms, yet everyone is doing their bit for the society without any overt shouting. Determination overrules fear.

Mukherjee has rooted well for the women, giving us the highs and lows of their lives, their neglected or upturned dreams. The loyalty and commitment of the group is commendable. Their bravado and naivety is captivating.

The good part is that the book has short chapters. The reader might enjoy the pace and relatability.

Also, the book has a happy ending, which I like. The society vigilantes find their mentor and Philly wiggles out of her father’s dream to walk into her own.

The many themes of teenage crushes, women empowerment, friendship, loyalty, commitment stand out well. The author has boldly addressed closeted sex talks and sexual predators.

Book Details
Publisher: ‎ Black Ink
Paperback: ‎ 368 pages
Price: INR 399

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