Whisper To Me Your Lies by Novoneel Chakraborty: A Review

Every time I read a book written by Novoneel Chakraborty (and yes, I've read 15 novels, 2 e-novels, and a collection of short stories by him), the first thought that comes to mind is - 'Why did he write it?' Well, while the answer to this question might never come to me, what I do know is what his books make me feel! Whisper to Me Your Lies, his recent release, made me grin (and I know how sadistic that sounds), but you can blame it on my recent serial-killer series/news/book binging experience. So, without further ado, let's get into the details! 

About the Book- Ekantika Pakrashi has just lost the love of her life. Preliminary reports suggest it was no accident. Her boyfriend was murdered in cold blood and the modus operandi resembles that of India's most notorious serial killer of the 1990s: the Cellotape Killer. He was never caught, and if this indeed was him, then he had resurfaced after twenty-one years.

Ekantika swears to find the killer and get an emotional closure, but what she doesn't know is that in the process she may end up wounding herself irreversibly. Follow this exciting chase as the dark alley turns out to be a twisted labyrinth and it seems the killer is actually coming for . . . her.

Whisper To Me Your Lies is a fast-paced, chilling crime thriller and a poignant tale of a girl's single-minded obsession to find out who altered her life. And why.

The story revolves around Ekantika Pakrashi & the murder of her live-in boyfriend, Faizaan Ahmed, by the Cello-Tape killer. Here, the first thing I would like to say is, I loved the modus operandi. The fact that I was reading about serial killers and unsolved cases made me actually connect to the book on a deeper level than I expected. Now, the book comes with several other characters with stories of their own, that makes the story what it is. The return of a well-loved character from his past book brought out a vocal wooting and an ear to ear smile from my side for sure! And somehow I would want to see Taksh return in some other book as well. Personally, though, I also did a little dance at seeing 'Vanya' as a character! 

While reading the book, I had made several assumptions along the way, but let most of it to rest because I know better than this. Chakraborty won't let anyone even wildly guess what's going on without making us dance on our toes for quite a while first. 

Next up, the narration. The book shifts back and forth into the past and present through the eyes of different people. The best part about that is, you can visually shift through the distinct narrations, all thanks to the different styles of font used for them (no, not his usual italics), which you would only notice if paid keen attention to. If there's one thing that Chakraborty has managed to keep up with over a decade of writing novels, then it has to be his flawless writing style. 

The book explicitly mentions revenge as a theme. Or, is it? Well, I'll leave that part for you to decipher as you pick this book up on your weekend binge reading session. At almost 300 pages, I completed reading this book at a stretch and isn't that what it's supposed to be like when the book is unputdownable? After one point, you make it your day's purpose to figure out who the Cello Tape Killer is and won't be able to sleep before you know it! The revelation, however, didn't disappoint. 

Do I really have to speak about the cons of the book? Sigh! Well, if I have to mention something, then probably I'll say that this book had the typical Novoneel Chakraborty essence in it, but somewhere deep down, it didn't. Don't get me wrong here, the book answered a lot of questions going on in my mind most definitely. But maybe it was a few places which felt..umm..I don't know..like something could've been polished? But then again, you can blame this nitpicking as a con of my profession! 

All in all, though, the third book of the Obsession Trilogy (after Roses are Blood Red and Cross Your Heart, Take My Name) deserves a read for sure as I forcefully stop writing more and give this one a 4.5 out of 5! Here's looking forward to being a Novoneel Chakraborty reader for the longest time ever! 

A Beginner Friendly Guideline to Increase Monthly Listeners on a Spotify Profile

I have been, as you know, striving to become a small part of the musician community and contribute to it, especially in Kolkata, for a few years now, in whatever way I can. Through my varied interview sessions and a few event coverages, I have started to know several musicians and their plight in the recent ongoing of the industry – especially post-2020. As an individual with a 9-to-5 digital marketing job, I couldn’t help but wonder how the intricacies of the Spotify profiles work to help me and the supremely talented musicians make their mark in this increasingly digital-dependant world. So, today, I wanted to write down what I already knew and what I have recently researched about getting your monthly listener count high on Spotify!

In today’s time, whether you’re an artist or someone with a record label, or a band, who wants to grow in popularity, digital streaming platforms (DSPs) like Spotify can be of immense help. It not only looks good on your resume as a performer but also acts as an excellent conversation starter with future clients for collaborations and even with fans. As easy as it sounds at the moment, curating a Spotify profile viable enough to showcase to the world is a job that requires a dedicated amount of time every day. While there is no top-trade secret here that would get you to the position you want, I have come across a few things that can help you increase your monthly listener count. 

1. Playlists: First things first, you need to submit your work to playlist curators. Yes, this might seem like a tedious task that has no meaning, but trust me when I say I have seen this work for a lot of people. They will see your work for sure, even when they aren’t able to reply, and your job is to make your work stand out of the crowd. Curator playlists can break a song or an artist if you can get hold of the right one. If you don’t want to go through that much trouble and want to keep things to yourself, then go all-in. If you ask me, there can be nothing better than creating your own playlist. This not only helps trade your tracks with other curators but also increases your presence amongst people you think are your peers. 

 

2. Identity: For the next step, you need to think of yourself as a brand. Yes, you need to have a strong brand image on social media, especially when you want to make it big on Spotify. It can help you showcase your music to a larger audience and let them know that you are worth it. A verification blue tick on your Spotify artist profile acts as an added bonus as you present a graphic charter or several press pictures as part of it. This gives a professional yet personal touch to your profile. As for me, speaking from a digital marketing point of view, I would want you to keep updating your bio as well. This will let the Spotify algorithm know that you are serious about your work. 

 

3. Spreading the Word: Now that you have a verified artist profile on Spotify, a somewhat okay brand presence across social media, and several playlists to your name, it is time to start sharing. Well, yes, I know what you are thinking – she wrote this very thing in the last paragraph, so why on Earth is she repeating herself? Well, the thing is simple – both the points are different. Reaching out to a new audience is not something you can do through just your social media. You need to contact music blog owners and give them a glimpse of what you are upto. Send them a track or two of yours in .mp3 format (if possible) and attach your Spotify playlist link with the mail as well. You can also contact websites such as SubmitHub to come up with a good promo package that has your press release, bio, press shots, and your music for the same. And while we are on the subject, always keep a good promo package or press kit handy, you never know when you would need it.

 

4. Your Peers:  Another crucial thing that most people aren’t aware of (or somehow neglect, over time) is admiring the work of your peers. See, the thing is simple. You want people to listen to your work, right? How will that happen if you don’t listen to others and commend them on their achievements? Sharing is helping, and the first step to build a brand around yourself is by making yourself visible and showing your support for others. You don’t want your peers to call you an egotistical person who cares for your work and not the industry, do you? Believe it or not, even the smallest of actions matter. Following the artists you like, and letting your peers know that you like them is something that can make you visible as well. Don’t believe me? Try it out to know more. 

 

5. Promotion: This is textbook material, but I couldn’t have stopped myself from mentioning it. Record labels, trust me, have playlists on Spotify where you can pitch your music to. If someone is interested in the kind of work you do, you never know, they might sign you for an album deal. While you are at it, go all-in when it comes to emailing your followers, fans, and prospective clients about your musical whereabouts. This can bring a personalized touch to your routine and can make the recipients feel heard. You can also come up with a strategy for the same and send across different variations of a track to see how it fares to a partial audience. Always remember, self-promotion is better than no promotion. Blatantly share your Spotify links everywhere, and include QR codes, embed player links, and follow buttons as part of your CTA (call-to-action). You will be surprised at the results. 

At this point, I feel that I can go on and on about this subject, but it is already over 1k words and I should stop. I would rather be up for a meaningful conversation with some of you reading this and answer any questions you might have on the subject so that we both can learn something from this experience. 

See, at the end of the day, it is your piece, and you know the best on how you want to promote it. As far as where I stand is concerned, your piece is your baby and is the best – so it deserves all the promotion possible to help you build a brand on any digital streaming platform.

So, here’s hoping this could be of little help to your intentions and I could play even a small part in it! Looking forward to hearing about your music and if you allow me to, write about it as well.