Book Review: The Mystic Agency by Shyambala

The Mystic Agency is a prequel to The Mystic Lawfirm. Both novels deal with slightly dark and supernatural and immortal elements. Since I have read the Lawfirm first, I am able to understand the connection Draupadi and Radha shares and how Sudama fits in the picture. Well, one can also read both novels independently, they are so vividly narrated. Falls in the kind of thriller with supernatural or ghost genre, this time author Shyambala has weaved a riveting tale of one special young girl who could see and talk with ghosts. But the crux of the story lies in how she is useful for lord Yama and his subordinates that are running some agency down on the earth.

The novel is backdropped against the sublime charm of Poona, the time dates back to the British rule. Mr Venkateshwar urges Draupadi to work for him, because of her special ability. Outwardly it looks easy one-time task; however, little did she know that her life will change forever once she begins interacting with these people from heaven and hell. The foremost task is to find a soul reaper gone missing. Lord Yama is worried about that.

She is equipped with a slate type object to distinguish between humans and ghosts. She has to find a person without a shadow. He/she could unlock the puzzle of that lost soul reaper. The novel is not only about present timeline, it shuttles between one more past era and that is connected to Draupadi. The novel is marvelously rolled out with a proper long cast of characters and mysteries wafting around them. What is Draupadi’s connection with Sati now and then? Who is her college friend Kardama in real life? Teleporting to some other world of dead and souls – the novel has spiced up plotline that lends its narrative an engaging tone. A bit offbeat, but this novel is way good with its solid storyline that one can savour it slowly, with patience and attention to details. The subject matter here is unheard and it hardly gets covered in the mainstream ghost genre books.

Shyambala writes with clear precision, her ability to sketch a world full of events and intersecting between two portals is mesmerizing. No tough usage of words and no tumultuous language usage, this novel is a clear winner if it comes to impressing readers. A must-try novel!

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