Secrets — Ruskin Bond

This brilliant new collection of stories by one of India's best-loved storytellers richly evokes Dehradun of the 1940s; with its quaint cinema halls and crumbling villas; its modest chaat-shops and ubiquitous tongas. But; as young Ruskin-the narrator in these interconnected tales-soon discovers; not all is as it seems in this sleepy town. Behind the tranquil facade; Dehra is home to a cast of colourful characters: from plucky old women to possible murderers. 'The Canal' is a joyful tribute to adolescent mischief and adult resolve; in which a group of roguish boys must face the consequences of antagonizing the much-feared Miss Gamla. 'Over the Wall' celebrates the resilience and hard-won dignity of a man ravaged by leprosy as he struggles to come to terms with his malady. The dashing young army captain in 'At Green's Hotel' might be the perfect gentleman-or a murderer. And in 'The Skeleton in the Cupboard'; an old scandal is revived following a chance discovery; leading to wholly unexpected results. By turns charming and poignant; witty and exhilarating; Secrets is vintage Bond.