Sarojesh Mukerjee’s crime fiction Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief is a riveting read that delves deeply into the devastating impact of interpersonal psychic tensions that destroy, within a month’s time, decades of friendship and bonhomie. Through a series of group emails between middle-class and upwardly mobile friends, Mukerjee narrates how the close-knit amity between a group of twelve friends becomes fractured and toxic as they try to come to terms with theft, assault, breach of trust, revenge and murder, involving many of them. Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief presents a skilled braiding of suspense, shock and awe that will surely fascinate readers.

—Dr. Sanjukta Dasgupta, Professor, Dept of English & Dean, Faculty of Arts (Retd), Calcutta University

Classical whodunit setting. Old friends spend a relaxed weekend at a farmhouse. Nothing happens except a lot of drinking and reminiscing. Not really. Then the fault lines begin to unravel. Jewellery heist. Near fatal accident. Brutal murder. Disappearing eye witness. Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief is taut, pacy and compelling. An epistolary novel, it unmasks people and plots relentlessly. Every mail reveals (or does it conceal?) a clue or a personality trait. Is anyone really a friend? Or is it just an alliance of convenience that falls apart at the very slight nudge of a dark, deeply buried past?

—Arup Ghosh, Communications Professional & Columnist

Vengeance knows no boundaries, but justice finally comes calling. In the heart of a bustling city, and slightly beyond, foes are always ahead of friends until they aren’t. Everybody gets pulled deeper into a web of deceit, betrayal and danger leading to crimes that have become only too common around cities and suburbs these days. A gripping read that will keep you hooked until you have reached the very end!

—Buddhadeb Mukhopadhyay, Deputy Commissioner, Kolkata Police (Retd)

A supari killing on Kolkata’s EM Bypass, a crash on the Singur highway, and cold-blooded revenge—each twist intensifies the suspense as you delve deeper into every email. Sarojesh has crafted an irresistible thriller that pulls you in, making you not just a reader but a captivated observer in the heart of the action.

—Vivek Sahay, Director General of Police, West Bengal (Retd)