Mrityu Jokhon Chakitey Ashe by Mayna Mukhopadhyay [Hardcover]

From the childhood mystery of a lost golden earring to the recent discovery of a mutilated boy’s body on New Town’s service road—mystery is everywhere. And where there is mystery, there is thrill, curiosity, and secret questions. Who did it? Why? One might wonder when crime became inseparably linked with mystery and investigation.

Perhaps the first recorded instance of this connection is found in Arabian Nights, where the concept of mystery and its resolution first emerged. In one of Scheherazade’s tales, a fisherman discovers a locked chest floating in the Tigris River and tries to sell it unopened. King Harun al-Rashid, believing it contains treasure, buys the chest. When it is unlocked, they find the dismembered body of a woman inside. The King then assigns his vizier, Ja’far ibn Yahya, to solve the murder within three days—failure would cost him his life. What follows is a series of twists and thrilling revelations, making it perhaps the world’s first detective story.

From Edgar Allan Poe to Satyajit Ray, the genre has evolved over two centuries, securing its place in literature. Over time, readers have developed not only a fascination with mysteries but also a keen interest in detectives themselves. However, not all detectives have been equally accepted—many readers have shown reluctance toward female detectives, and even when they did embrace them, loyalty often wavered. As a result, many female detectives have faded into obscurity. Yet, exceptions remain—Miss Marple, Miss Maud Silver, Loveday Brooke, Miss Madeline, Gail Gallagher, Sharon McCone, Kinsey Millhone, and Jessica Fletcher, to name a few.

In reality, however, women may be even better detectives than men. Their innate curiosity and sharp investigative instincts are crucial traits for any successful detective. Dai Chini is just like any other young woman—determined, energetic, and self-reliant. They skillfully use modern communication technology to track down evidence while diving deep into the criminal psyche with the help of psychological theories from William Wundt and Sigmund Freud. They strive to uncover the very root that gives birth to a criminal mind.

I hope Dai Chini will earn its rightful place in the hearts of mystery-loving readers.