7.5 Priyanka Pathak Narain: A Treasure, A Secret, and India’s Mystical History

Ever wonder how historical mysteries unfold in fiction? In this episode of Books and Beyond Tara and Michelle chat with Priyanka Pathak Narain, author of The Somnath Cipher. Her novel is packed with ancient puzzles, cryptic messages, and real historical events like Mahmud of Ghazni's invasion. She shares her experiences as an investigative journalist, covering stories like the Mark Foley scandal, and her transition to reporting on religion in India. Sharing insights from her career, she discusses her interest in religion and mythology and her work on the business of religion. Want to know how she blends history with suspense, or what’s next for this story on screen? Tune in for fascinating insights into her creative process, and the intricate research behind this historical thriller!Books Mentioned in this episode: 1. Woebegones Warehouse of Words - Payal Kapadia 2. Godman to Tycoon: The Untold Story of Baba Ramdev -  Priyanka Pathak Narain 3. The Famous Five - Enid Blyton 4. Canon of Sherlock Holmes  - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle5. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown 6. Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling 7. The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien8. Percy Jackson - Rick RiordanApplications for The Bound Publishing Course 2026 are now open.The Bound Publishing Course is a 3-month intensive course on book, magazine, and digital publishing. Through live sessions, workshops, and industry-facing projects, participants gain practical publishing skills and exposure to careers across the industry.Cohort size: 50 seatsFirst round of acceptances: 15th June 2026Applications are reviewed on a rolling bas‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.