In this post author Deepesh Chatterjee, of the Ratan Sen Files, takes us through the journey of creating a detective, and shares his advice for upcoming thriller and detective fiction writers.

As we know Detective Fiction is genre fiction, which means that most stories play around with a certain set of genre rules intended for mystery writing, such as who-dun-it settings. Alongside that, after Dr. Watson, sidekicks for detectives who act as the audience interface for the genius have become popular. Even the famous Bengali detective, Feluda, had his nephew Topshee, who played a similar role. We discuss these traditions and rules with the author, to understand what goes behind making a modern Indian detective like Ratan Sen.

What inspired you to write this work? And why detective fiction?

D. Chatterjee- I grew up devouring detective stories—first in English, then in the rich world of Bengali literature. Writers like Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, G K Chesterton, Satyajit Ray, Hemandra Kumar Roy, Nihar Ranjan Gupta and Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay didn’t just entertain me—they shaped how I observe, think, and understand human nature.
From these influences emerged Ratan Sen—a grounded, sharp, and emotionally aware police officer. He represents the real detectives who work relentlessly behind the scenes, solving complex cases without recognition—the true unsung heroes.

What do you think detective fiction gives to society?

D. Chatterjee- Detective fiction has a lot to offer society.

• It sharpens observation, logic, and understanding of human behavior.
• It shows that intelligence and patience can defeat chaos and crime.
• It helps people emotionally process fear, morality, and social uncertainty through storytelling.

  Who were the primary influences behind Insp. Ratan Sen?

D. Chatterjee- The crime-solving heroes of Indian policing inspired the character of Inspector Ratan Sen — especially officers known for courage, sharp investigation skills, resilience under political pressure, and their fight against crime despite systemic challenges.

What do you think is a must have in a detective story?

D. Chatterjee- A detective work in my opinion must have a few ingredients.

• A strong mystery that keeps readers curious till the end.
• A layered detective who showcases intelligence, flaws, and emotional depth.
• Suspense, hidden motives, and unexpected twists.
• Realistic human psychology and believable characters.
• A powerful climax where the truth changes everything.

 What is a good way to write mystery?

D. Chatterjee- A strong mystery is a carefully engineered system of clues, psychology, timing, and human behavior that keeps the reader mentally engaged until the final revelation. The relevant points are

• Information Gap Theory or the gap between what people know and what they want to know
• Cause-and-Effect Structure or when the results of an action directly lead to another
• Cognitive Misdirection
• Behavioral Realism
• Controlled Suspense Rhythm, where suspense has a rhythm to it that is purposeful

Scientifically, suspense works by keeping the brain in a state of prediction and anticipation.

Any writing advice that you would like to share?

D. Chatterjee- Observe people deeply,  real human behavior creates the best stories. Write honestly, readers connect more with emotional truth than technical perfection.

Do you think the Indian detective is different from those in the West?

D. Chatterjee- Yes, very much. A Western detective often fights crime. An Indian detective fights crime, politics, social pressure, broken systems, and human emotions — all at the same time. For example, Sonar Kella — shows how Feluda combines intelligence, psychology, and cultural understanding in solving a mystery. Arthamanartham — highlights Byomkesh Bakshi investigating not just crime, but human motives and deception. Similarly, modern Indian police-based characters often deal with bureaucracy, media pressure, corruption, and emotional trauma along with solving crimes — making Indian detective stories more raw, layered, and socially connected.

What it is like writing a detective series?

D. Chatterjee- Writing a detective series is like building a long psychological and investigative universe. Every case must feel fresh, but the detective must emotionally evolve with each story. The challenge is balancing the mystery with suspense, realism, and character depth repeatedly without becoming predictable.

A detective series also demands strong continuity — readers should feel they are growing with the investigator, understanding his fears, scars, methods, and moral struggles over time.

Ddo you think a whodunit structure is a must for detective stories?

D. Chatterjee- No. A detective story does not always need a “Who did it?” structure. Sometimes the real mystery is:

• Why was the crime committed?
• How will the detective prove the truth?
• Can the system deliver justice?
• What emotional and social damage does the crime create?

In many modern Indian detective stories, the journey, tension, and human emotions are more important than just revealing the killer at the end.

Finally, why does Ratan not have a Watson or Toopshe like figure?

D. Chatterjee- Ratan Sen does not have a permanent Watson or Topshe-like companion because his world reflects the reality of the Indian policing system. Every case takes him into a different social landscape — crowded police stations, political corridors, villages, city underbellies, forests, informers, local officers, and temporary allies.

In India, investigations are rarely smooth or glamorous. Officers are transferred, teams change, loyalties shift, and every location brings new human equations. Ratan works with people available at that moment — constables, junior officers, local contacts, drivers, journalists, or frightened witnesses.

That makes his journey more human and emotionally lonely. He carries the stress, violence, paperwork, political pressure, and emotional scars of each case mostly within himself — which gives the character a raw and realistic Indian identity.

You can read or get a copy of Ratan Sen Files: Cases 1& 2 on Muses_Saga and Brown Living India.