Ratan Sen Takes on Kolkata’s ‘Route 36’
A new detective is stepping into Bengal’s long and celebrated tradition of mystery fiction this Puja. Inspector Ratan Sen, the hard-edged investigator created by author Deepesh Chatterjee, returns with a chilling new case set against the streets of Kolkata.
From Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple to Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, detective fiction has kept generations of readers guessing, questioning and searching for the truth. Beyond suspense, the genre encourages observation, logical thinking, problem-solving and an awareness of the clues hidden in everyday situations.
India has its own rich detective-fiction tradition, with Bengal playing a particularly important role. From Byomkesh Bakshi and Feluda to a new generation of investigators, the Bengali detective has become an enduring part of popular literature.
This Puja, Muses_Saga introduces readers to another name in that tradition—Inspector Ratan Sen.
Created by author Deepesh Chatterjee as a homage to Indian Police, Ratan Sen is a grizzled, sharp-eyed police investigator with a no-nonsense approach to crime. The character made his debut earlier this year in Ratan Sen Case Files 1 & 2, two mystery stories that begin with unsolved murders and take readers through very different investigations, locations and characters.
Now, Ratan Sen is leaving his familiar Bengaluru turf for Kolkata, where a disturbing mystery awaits him as well as new allies.
With artwork by Akki7 and a fast-paced thriller by Deepesh Chatterjee, Route 36 takes readers into a darker side of Kolkata, seen through the eyes of Inspector Ratan Sen as he confronts another seemingly unsolvable case, with powerful characters trying to keep the secrets of the closed tram route buried.
Chatterjee has spoken about his love for classic detective fiction, including Feluda, Kiriti, Father Brown and Sherlock Holmes, as influences behind the creation of Ratan Sen. Yet the character is firmly rooted in the Indian policing and social landscape, giving the series its own identity while retaining the universal appeal of a classic detective mystery.
Readers have already described the work as “Bengali Noir”, reflecting its combination of crime, atmosphere, investigation and the distinctive cultural setting of Bengal.
Read the first chapter of Ratan Sen Case Files 1 on Muses_Saga and get your copy of Ratan Sen Case Files 1 & 2 on Flipkart. Also available in Bangla
