From mystery to history: Here's what Mumbaikars are reading this October

Castle Knoll FilesGirija Biyani business development professional PowaiIrsquom reading this cosy murder mystery series by Kristen Perrin that begins with the book How to Solve Your Own Murder It switches between a mystery in the past and a murder mystery in the present seamlessly The protagonist is an easily likeable character with a wellpaced mystery British countryside regular people who like to play detective and a possible side romantic arc Whatrsquos not to likeThe Geography of ThoughtRajesh Sharma brand strategy and consumer growth leader SantacruzRichard E Nisbettrsquos book challenges the idea that while people may have different opinions the basic process of thinking is universal He argues that our cultures donrsquot merely influence what we think but also how we think interpret events establish causality and define truth What makes the book particularly fascinating is the realisation that even something as seemingly universal as common sense may be culturally conditioned The book is particularly relevant to the urban Englisheducated Indian as it helps us understand the contradictions in our own thinking a little betterThe Paris TrilogyNikita Thakur visual artist Bandra ColombeSchneckrsquos book is an autobiographical account of three distinct phases of her life abortion at 17 a lifelong friendship and discovering swimming at the age of 50 What I love is the raw unfiltered honesty with which she revisits these experiences reflecting on what they reveal about what it means to be a woman her understanding of sexuality friendship and ageing Despite there being a difference in cultures between her life in Paris and mine her reflections feel so familiarThe Garden of Evening MistsAnant Saria senior intelligence analyst GoregaonThis novel explores memory grief and the lasting consequences of war without ever becoming overtly sentimental Tan Twan Engrsquos writing is quiet and almost dreamlike yet the story carries a deep emotional weight What resonated with me most was the idea that some experiences never quite leave us and that healing may not mean forgetting the past but finding a way to live with itThe NightingaleTasneem Mukadam business owner BandraIrsquove been reading Kristin Hannahrsquos historical fiction novel based on a Belgian woman who helped several aviators escape the Naziregime The story is a beautiful and poignant tale It revolves around two sisters Vianne and Isabelle who were separated for long during World War II in France Their struggle resisting the German authorities is insightful and touchingAvailable All titles at leading bookstores and estoresReader highlightExtinctionShabnam Minwalla author and speakerI just finished reading Leeya Mehtarsquos book and will be moderating a session with her and Iffat Nawaz during Godrej Literature Live 2026 The book is largely set in Mumbai and is about how families pass pain and anger down from one generation to another mdash and what it takes to break this cycle The book is gorgeously written but is very disturbing mdash and there were times when I wanted to step into the narrative and shake a couple of the characters