Sourabh Mukherjee, one of the country’s most loved crime fiction writers, has launched his new novel “The Trail of Blood”. The book is already in bestseller charts. In this candid conversation, we talked to the author about his new book.

Q: Sourabh, congratulations on your new book. What is “The Trail of Blood” about?

A: Thank you. “The Trail of Blood” is a murder mystery. Besides the obvious elements of suspense and thrill, the story has several layers with social, political and emotional perspectives. Spanning over a decade, the story traverses across the forests of Ranchi during the Maoist insurgency, the world of glamour in Mumbai, and upmarket Kolkata.

Agni Mitra investigates the death of a popular singer Deboleena Mukherjee and a stranger in her room in this whodunnit, whose key lies in a decade-old shootout. A failed businessman in Deboleena’s family, a real estate tycoon, his ambitious wife, an ageing hitman, and a police officer thrown out of the force add to the mystery. 

Q: What can readers expect from your latest novel?

A: “The Trail of Blood” is the latest addition to my Detective Agni Mitra series, which is known for stories with unpredictable twists and turns, and powerful emotions at the core. My stories are about how our inner demons push as down the murky path of crime. This book is no exception. It is for everyone who likes suspense and mystery and will keep readers guessing till the end. The book creates almost a cinematic experience for readers with several layers.

Q: Your novels, while being entertaining, also carry strong social messages. What can we expect from this book?

A: The focus of this book is on our inner conflicts. This is manifested in different characters. A policeman who must choose between his personal judgement and the dictates of the State, a small-town boy landing up in a college campus in a big city, a woman torn between duty and love, and yet another torn between her desires and public image – to name a few. The story also shows how our obsession and greed drive us towards doom.

Q: You are a prolific writer. Tell us something about your other books, and also about your upcoming books.

A: The next novel in the Detective Agni Mitra series will be released next year. Other than the novels in the Agni Mitra series, I wrote a novel titled “The Sinners”, which was highly appreciated by readers and critics. It is a powerful human story in the setting of a modern technology company. I wrote a true-crime book titled “Death Served Cold” last year. It is a collection of seven true stories about the most notorious female murderers of our country from the last three decades. Another true-crime book is due for release later this year. Finally, I have written short stories in a variety of genres that are available as e-books on Kindle. In addition, I have written novels and short stories in Bengali, my native language, as well as a textbook on Big Data which is very popular among students and practitioners.