New Delhi, February 15 "Sultan of Delhi" author Arnab Ray's latest novel, "The Bucket," a psychological thriller-horror-mystery, is set to be released on Tuesday, announced publishing house Hachette India.
Author of six books, including the horror novels "The Mine" and "Shakchunni," Ray's new book explores themes of time, trauma, memory, and the darkness within human relationships.
"The Bucket" follows four friends who must confront the consequences of a death from their past, which had long been believed to be buried, after a true-crime documentary reopens the investigation.
"There are two phases in their lives that are emotionally traumatic for men: around 18, when your entire future lies ahead of you and you don't know what to do, and around 50, when most of your possibilities are gone, and you know exactly what's going to happen."
"The Bucket," which tells the story of four men across two timelines, at 18 and then at 50, is a horror and mystery, but at its core, it is about the essence of men, the darkness and the light," the Los Angeles-based author said in a statement.
The narrative revolves around four men whose lives have diverged over three decades—one a Bollywood superstar, one a physics professor in California, one poised to become a government minister, and one dying of cancer.
Thirty years ago, as teenagers, they were inseparable, until the mysterious death of Pramila, who was found drowned in a bucket. Although a man was arrested for the crime, he died in jail, leaving unanswered questions.
"Now, a documentary is asking questions about that night, questions that the four men thought had been buried forever. Water remembers, and so does murder," reads the book's description.
Two of Ray's previously authored books, "Sultan of Delhi" and "Mahabharata Murders," have been adapted into web series on major OTT platforms.