India, March 21 -- Murder is serious business. Even more so when it occurs within the confines of a closed house inside a gated society. But what happens when the story is narrated through the lens of an unserious 12-year-old girl? Author Suparna Chatterjee explores this premise in her whodunnit, A Gathering of Crows, the first in The Serenity Murder series. Set in suburban Bengaluru, the story unfolds through a non-linear narrative, shifting between multiple perspectives, including adolescent Abhilasha aka Abhi, inspector Arjun Hegde, and residents and committee members of the Serenity Islands Apartment Complex. What begins as a suicide investigation soon spirals into something far more sinister, unearthing shocking secrets, alarming crimes, and multiple deaths. The author steers clear of turning her characters into caricatures, instead building a lived-in community of residents, each marked by their own quirks and idiosyncrasies. Neighbours who share elevators and routines slowly become suspects, lending an undercurrent of unease to the humdrum of daily life. If you prefer tightly plotted mysteries, this may not be your pick. The novel is a slow burner, where tension emerges not from a brisk plot but from the gradual unravelling of secrets. There aren't dramatic twists, but the simmering strain of layers, peeling one after the other, akin to a pungent onion. Much of the narrative is limited to Serenity, and most of the action is relegated to the final 30-odd pages. The language remains simple, rooted in the voices of ordinary residents, though the detailed descriptions of domestic spaces can feel excessive at times. But the payoff lies in the details. What appears repetitive or trivial does hold meaning in some instances, much like a crow hiding its treasures in plain sight. For an avian enthusiast, the read holds several such rewards. And while the narrative occasionally drags, it rewards patience. Title: A Gathering of Crows Author: Suparna Chatterjee Publisher: Rupa Publications Price: Rs.495...