Latest news with #TheScratchandSniffChronicles
New Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Hemangini Dutt Majumder's new book smells like trouble—in the best way
Hemangini Dutt Majumder returns with her latest Gothic detective mystery, The Scratch and Sniff Chronicles (Niyogi Books), featuring a new kind of sleuth—one who can sniff out more than just lies. The book was launched at Delhi's Alliance Française, amidst a laughter-filled conversation with a panel featuring Patricia Loison, director of Alliance Française; actor Padmapriya Janakiraman; RJ Sarthak; chef Sadaf Hussain; and the author herself. The evening set in the jasmine-scented, flower-filled auditorium was designed to evoke Neelbari, the mysterious ancestral estate in the novel, set in West Bengal's Chandannagar, mirroring the immersive world of Ollie's story. Olympia Chattergé—Ollie, for short—is a 29-year-old sommelier with an aversion to working out, a deep love for food and random Nat Geo factoids, and one highly unusual gift: a hyper-sensitive nose which picks up random fragrances, that often has her jokingly comparing herself to Batman. Nearly every page contains a smell-note: the comforting familiarity of talcum powder, the sharpness of garam masala, the antiseptic zing of Ultracin gel, or the unmistakable aroma of Koraishutir Kochuri (fried bread with pea stuffing).
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
The Scratch and Sniff Chronicles: Book mixes Bengali mystery with gothic flair
Agency: PTI Last Updated: New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) Blending elements of Bengal's detective tradition with gothic fiction, a new book promises a gripping whodunnit laced with humor and unexpected twists and turns. 'The Scratch and Sniff Chronicles", published by Niyogi Books, is written by Singapore-based writer Hemangini Dutt Majumder. 'Murder mysteries are my happy place. I unabashedly love every trope related to the whodunnit style. That said, the germ of this novel really came from the lead protagonist Olympia Ghoshal Chattergé, or Ollie, the likable doofus, who has lived in my head for several years. '… I thought it would be fascinating to flip the script and make her condition a sort of super-power rather than an affliction," Majumder, who previously authored children's book 'The Mystery of the Many, Many Missing Things", said in a statement. The story follows Ollie, a young woman with an uncanny sense of smell, an unusual symptom of a health condition, and a rare female wine sommelier and beverage consultant. Her life changes quite dramatically when she and her entire family decide to relocate to their ancestral estate, Neelbari, in Chandannagar, where strange and mysterious incidents begin to unfold. 'Is the malevolent spirit of her great-grandmother really haunting Neelbari? And why has their arrival caused so much alarm? What secrets are the walls and gardens of the hundred-year-old estate hiding? Why does no one seem to be telling the truth? What follows is a gripping whodunnit with ample doses of humour and delicious twists and turns?" are among the questions that unravel in the story. The book is endorsed by the likes of celebrated writer and Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) co-director Namita Gokhale and former diplomat TCA Raghavan. While Raghavan lauds Majumder for bringing to life a 'lovable but eccentric Bengali family with wit and empathy", Gokhale described the novel as a 'multilayered literary tribute to the classical Bangla whodunnit". 'It is an olfactory journey through stories and spectres and scary situations," she added. The book, priced at Rs 495, is available for purchase across online and offline stores. PTI MG MG MG view comments First Published: July 20, 2025, 14:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Print
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Print
‘The Scratch and Sniff Chronicles': Book mixes Bengali mystery with gothic flair
'Murder mysteries are my happy place. I unabashedly love every trope related to the whodunnit style. That said, the germ of this novel really came from the lead protagonist Olympia Ghoshal Chattergé, or Ollie, the likable doofus, who has lived in my head for several years. 'The Scratch and Sniff Chronicles', published by Niyogi Books, is written by Singapore-based writer Hemangini Dutt Majumder. New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) Blending elements of Bengal's detective tradition with gothic fiction, a new book promises a gripping whodunnit laced with humor and unexpected twists and turns. '… I thought it would be fascinating to flip the script and make her condition a sort of super-power rather than an affliction,' Majumder, who previously authored children's book 'The Mystery of the Many, Many Missing Things', said in a statement. The story follows Ollie, a young woman with an uncanny sense of smell, an unusual symptom of a health condition, and a rare female wine sommelier and beverage consultant. Her life changes quite dramatically when she and her entire family decide to relocate to their ancestral estate, Neelbari, in Chandannagar, where strange and mysterious incidents begin to unfold. 'Is the malevolent spirit of her great-grandmother really haunting Neelbari? And why has their arrival caused so much alarm? What secrets are the walls and gardens of the hundred-year-old estate hiding? Why does no one seem to be telling the truth? What follows is a gripping whodunnit with ample doses of humour and delicious twists and turns?' are among the questions that unravel in the story. The book is endorsed by the likes of celebrated writer and Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) co-director Namita Gokhale and former diplomat TCA Raghavan. While Raghavan lauds Majumder for bringing to life a 'lovable but eccentric Bengali family with wit and empathy', Gokhale described the novel as a 'multilayered literary tribute to the classical Bangla whodunnit'. 'It is an olfactory journey through stories and spectres and scary situations,' she added. The book, priced at Rs 495, is available for purchase across online and offline stores. PTI MG MG MG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Scroll.in
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
Hemangini Dutt Majumder
Fiction: Ollie has a strong sense of smell. Her life changes when she moves into her ancestral home An excerpt from 'The Scratch and Sniff Chronicles', by Hemangini Dutt Majumder. Hemangini Dutt Majumder
