Review by Aadrita Ghose
A Killer in a Kailash (Kailashey Kelenkari in Bengali), is the 8th book in the Feluda series. Like many other Feluda books, a film was made out of this one too, in the year 2007. However, the movie was directed by Satyajit Ray’s son Sandip Ray, as the senior Ray passed away in 1992.
The story is set in Aurangabad (Maharashtra) and develops around the theme of smuggling of India’s temple sculpture. Satyajit Ray was inspired to write this story from his visit of the famous Ellora Caves around 1940−41. One rainy day, Feluda and Tapesh are relaxing at home when a family friend comes to visit. Uncle Sidhu, as Feluda and Tapesh call him was a very close friend of Feluda’s father. He tells them about people who steal statues from temples and sell them abroad. He then narrates an incident which happened with him recently, about him seeing a man with a very valuable piece of an ancient statue. The statue is a yakshi’s (demigoddess) head from the Raja-Rani temple in Bhubaneshwar. An American who was on his way to Kathmandu is in possession of the head. As Uncle Sidhu knows that Feluda is a sleuth (detective), he asks him to look into the matter and help save India’s heritage. Feluda agrees.
The next day, a terrible accident takes place, and everything turns upside down. The head is stolen from the American and the thief leads Feluda, Tapesh, and Lalmohan Babu on a wild goose chase all the way to Aurangabad. With the help of new friends and an unexpected weapon, the trio save the day yet again.
This book is one of my personal favourites as the climax is exceptionally thrilling, and I found myself holding my breath in suspense while reading it.
I would definitely give this book 5 out of 5 stars. Happy reading!