Latest news with #Mystery
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘The Silversmith's Puzzle': An action-packed, colourful murder mystery set in 19th-century Bombay
Detectives come with many a quirk, but they invariably share something in common: they are all outsiders, marked by certain kinks and eccentricities. Holmes played his violin and 'smoked recreationally', among other things, whenever he put his mind to work. Poirot's grey cells remain equally famous, as his fussiness about dressing and perfectionism for other sundry matters. Miss Marple knitted and nothing that happened in the village St Mary Mead ever missed her eye; Inspector Morse loved the opera, Philip Marlowe remained perpetually taciturn and quite a loner, while Nero Wolfe, Rex Stout's fictional armchair detective, grew orchids and was fond of his gourmet meals. And what of Captain Jim Agnihotri, soldier turned detective who has just made his fourth appearance in writer Nev March's new detective novel, The Silversmith's Puzzle, set in Bombay of 1894? Jim Agnihotri is Anglo-Indian, born of an Indian mother, and left orphaned quite young. He has never quite fit in but his in-between status and good, undefinable looks give him the flexibility to slide into any situation, sometimes in disguise, in a manner like his idol, Sherlock Holmes. Back to Bombay As Jim and his wife, Diana (née Framji), embark on their newest adventure, Conan Doyle's The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1893–1894) has just been published. Jim, gifted the book by his wife, faithfully travels with it to India, reading it whenever he can get away from the mystery that soon consumes him as well as the family he has married into, the Framjis. Holmes' words of caution, his methods come in handy every time Jim finds himself in a sticky situation or has to unentangle himself from the unexpected and precarious. Having solved a mystery on board the ship enroute from Boston to Liverpool – the third Nev March book, The Spanish Diplomat's Secret – Jim and Diana are right away thrust into the next one by the sudden and unexpected arrival of Diana's brother Adi, a fact unknown to the police on his trail all the way from Bombay to London. Jim, who became a sensation with his very first case, Murder in Old Bombay (2020), when he solved the murder of two young Parsi women – Adi's wife and sister – also caused a scandal when he fell in love with his associate in the case, Adi's sister, Diana. This novel won March – a writer of Indian origin, and a Parsi herself – the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Award; it was also nominated for an Edgar Award for best debut crime novel. Parsi society, otherwise so dominant and forward-looking in cosmopolitan Bombay of the 1890s, is quite conservative where family law and customs are concerned, and Jim and Diana's marriage caused shock and considerable embarrassment. To spare the Framjis' opprobrium from their peers, the couple leave for the United States, where Jim finds employment with the Dupree Detective Agency. But Adi's mysterious arrival comes with a summons and a piquant situation for Jim and Diana. They must return forthwith to Bombay, for Adi is the prime suspect in the murder of his colleague, Satya Rastogi. Jim's work is cut out: the family wants him to clear Adi of any blame, and so, as Jim understands for himself, he has to find the real killer/s. Methods and mayhem Adi and Satya have been in the business of making surgical scalpels and other medical equipment for only some months now, but unravelling who Satya, the murdered man, actually is, soon takes on a complexity that often stumps Jim. Is Satya only a victim or a villain in part? Satya's hereditary occupation is that of a goldsmith but he has been excommunicated for one reason or another, all of which unfold in the course of this novel. Jim stalks his many suspects, he moves around in disguise, he engages witnesses, he calls in favours, and sometimes he succeeds, sometimes he doesn't, and on occasion he lands in jail. Diana, for the most part, plays a very distant assistant – though she comes up with a brilliant idea once, and proves an effective shot as well – but maybe one can forgive her, and her distractions here. She's back home after two years, after a very controversial marriage to a non-Parsi, and has to catch up with one too many things. The mystery of the silversmith's murder (or actually that of a renegade goldsmith) is soon linked to another – one with ramifications for the British Empire itself – as this involves the theft of 'gold bullion' from carriages carrying the treasure from the Mint in Bombay to ships anchored at to transfer this 'drain of wealth' to Britain. The novel at this juncture takes on convoluted, pacy turns, as the action moves street to street, house to house, and Jim, as he rushes from the Framji mansion to his secret hideaway at Dockyard Road, and once finds himself in jail too, always invokes Sherlock Holmes for inspiration, and company. Here is Holmes turning up with ready advice, especially when Jim finds his optimism flagging, or he needs to think differently and urgently. 'I chose a tan suit to work on my new case: to determine how someone had stolen bullion from the mint, one I needed to solve without attracting official attention. How would the redoubtable Mr Sherlock Holmes do it? No doubt he'd smoke a pipe or play his violin at odd hours of the night to produce a flash of inspiration. When explained to the modest Dr Watson, his observations and deductions seemed reasonable, even obvious. Cause and effect. Everyday occurrences developed special significance when placed in the framework of human motives. Trouble was, I was awash in minutiae, with a threadbare theory to sew together the scraps.' Personal matters A third mystery, poignant in part and inseparable from the others, exists too, and it is for Jim, intensely personal. It is not just about restoring the fortune lost by his father-in-law, Burjor (via trade slumps and a forgery) but Jim is also determined to recover the lost goodwill the Framji family once had, and a restoration of their old pre-eminent status in the community. Tucked away in some pages is also a revelation relating to Jim's parentage, but here March flashes only part of a tantalising secret, and a short conversation, which means, of course, more will be revealed soon, in the next Diana and Jim Agnihotri book. Jim is earnest and vulnerable and tireless. He has a penchant for breaking into houses, not to steal but simply to wait for his quarry, after finding himself a comfortable chair first. He also isn't above attempting a Bollywood-style escape when he slips away from his captors by easing himself off his ropes and clambering onto the rooftop. There is a breakneck chase that follows the theft of the 'disguised' bullion, a race through the streets of south Bombay, and a 'dog riot' with the cream of society taking on an unabashed role. All of which makes for very pacy reading – certainly in these action scenes – and lots of cinematic revelation. Soon after I finished reading, I spent nice long moments thinking about which Bollywood hero might play Jim Agnihotri. Always a good thing to do after one has read an enjoyable novel, full of colour and lovely detail. Follow this up with anticipation, like looking forward to the next Nev March novel featuring Jim and Diana.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Roaring back: Kevin Woo finds new fame as the voice behind K-Pop Demon Hunters' Lion Boyz
Kevin Woo, a K-pop veteran from U-KISS, is experiencing a career resurgence through the animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' where he voices the lead singer of Lion Boyz. Their single, "Your Idol," impressively reached #14 on Billboard's Hot 100. Woo is also preparing a solo single, a U-KISS reunion, and acting roles in U.S. films, including Anderson . A Familiar Lion with a Brand-New Roar Kevin Woo 's listeners have exploded from barely ten thousand to over 2.1 crore since he lent his velvet falsetto to "Mystery," the charismatic lead singer of the animated group Lion Boyz in the upcoming film K-Pop Demon Hunters . The movie's first single, "Your Idol," even clawed its way to #14 on the Billboard Hot 100-a feat that would make many fourth-gen idols green with envy. For Woo, who debuted with U-KISS back in 2008, voice-acting an idol felt less like a detour and more like a homecoming: "I saw my old self in every frame," he quips, half-proud, half-nostalgic. Studio Sessions, Subway Sandwiches & Sleepless Nights Recording took the Korean-American singer ping-ponging between New York and L.A., powered by cold brews and way too many foot-long subs. Under the watchful ears of vocal director Lee Jae and musical overseer Ian Eisendrath, Woo experimented with everything from hushed whispers to rock-opera belts to give Mystery dimensional swagger. Unlike a concert where a wink or a dab can rescue a shaky note, studio booths demand pure vocal storytelling. "Every syllable had to hit like a killer choreo move nobody sees," he laughs-perhaps a gentle nod to every trainee currently sweating through monthly evaluations. Why Gen Z Can't Get Enough Gen Z stans aren't just streaming; they're dissecting Easter eggs. Many recognize Woo as part of K-pop's early international push-U-KISS toured Manila and Jakarta when passports were still rare flexes among Seoul idols. In 2025, however, his comeback feels fresh , not retro. The Lion Boyz concept taps into the same cinematic universe now occupied by Across the Spider-Verse and Arcane : stylized animation, hyper-catchy OSTs, and lore deep enough to spawn fan theories longer than a Tolstoy chapter. For desi fans posting stan art from Bengaluru dorm rooms, Woo's journey frames K-pop not as a monolith but as a playground where music, anime aesthetics and global identity collide. What's Next on Kevin's Playlist Woo is readying a solo digital single, plotting a U-KISS sub-unit reunion, and polishing lines for two U.S. features: K-POPS! (helmed by Anderson .Paak) and the indie horror flick Death Name . If rumors hold, a small-venue tour could follow, with ticket prices expected to hover around ₹4,500-a sweet spot for college wallets that already scrape together ₹999 for official lightsticks. Industry insiders whisper that the Lion Boyz soundtrack might spawn a deluxe EP; Woo simply drops a sly emoji when asked. About Kevin Woo Kevin Woo is a Korean-American singer born in 1991 who debuted as a member of U-KISS in 2008 and remained active for over a decade. Originally from California, his fluent English and Korean skills played a crucial role in K-pop's global expansion, and he's now expanding his career into solo music, voice acting, and film roles. He's currently experiencing a renaissance through the animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kevin Woo reacts to 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' success: 'I saw my old self in every frame'
Kevin Woo 's Spotify monthly listeners have exploded from barely ten thousand to over 2.1 crore since he lent his velvet falsetto to "Mystery," the charismatic lead singer of the animated group Lion Boyz in the new film ' K-Pop Demon Hunters '. For Woo, who debuted with U-KISS back in 2008, voice-acting an idol felt less like a detour and more like a homecoming. "I saw my old self in every frame," he quiped. Studio Sessions, Subway Sandwiches and Sleepless Nights Recording took the Korean-American singer ping-ponging between New York and L.A., powered by cold brews and way too many foot-long subs. Under the guidance of director Lee Jae and musical overseer Ian Eisendrath, Woo experimented with everything from hushed whispers to rock-opera belts to give Mystery dimensional swagger. "Every syllable had to hit like a killer choreo move nobody sees," he laughs-perhaps a gentle nod to every trainee currently sweating through monthly evaluations. Why Gen Z Can't Get Enough Gen Z stans aren't just streaming; they're dissecting Easter eggs. Many recognize Woo as part of K-pop's early international push-U-KISS toured Manila and Jakarta when passports were still rare flexes among Seoul idols. In 2025, however, his comeback feels fresh, not retro. The Lion Boyz concept taps into the same cinematic universe now occupied by 'Across the Spider-Verse' and 'Arcane'. What's Next on Kevin's Playlist Hot on the film's buzz, Woo is readying a solo digital single, plotting a U-KISS sub-unit reunion, and polishing lines for two U.S. features - 'K-POPS!' helmed by Anderson Paak and the indie horror flick 'Death Name'. If rumours hold, a small-venue tour could follow. Industry insiders whisper that the Lion Boyz soundtrack might spawn a deluxe EP; Woo simply drops a sly emoji when asked. About Kevin Woo Kevin Woo is a Korean-American singer born in 1991 who debuted as a member of U-KISS in 2008 and remained active for over a decade. Originally from California, his fluent English and Korean skills played a crucial role in K-pop's global expansion, and he's now expanding his career into solo music, voice acting, and film roles. He's currently experiencing a renaissance through the animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters.'
ABC News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Professor T
Professor T Mystery British Drama Compelling Watch Trailer Article share options Share this on Facebook Twitter Send this by Email Copy link WhatsApp Messenger Jasper Tempest is a Professor of Criminology at Cambridge University. He is obsessed with cleanliness, structure and order but his genius for solving crimes means he is constantly having to get his hands dirty, helping the police to crack their most difficult cases.
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
'Amy Bradley Is Missing' Co-Director Ari Mark Discusses Process Of Creating True Crime Documentaries & Working With Families Of Subjects
On "Forbes True Crime," Ari Mark, co-founder of Ample Entertainment and one of the directors of the new Netflix docuseries, "Amy Bradley Is Missing," discusses the case and the process of working on a true crime project on a story of a mystery that remains unsolved, almost there decades later. Watch the full interview above.
