'Highly readable....It is skilfully crafted and written in lucid, compelling prose.' -Khushwant Singh, author of The History of the SikhsSet in the heart of tradition bound India, Kishwar Desai’s debut novel is a powerful work of fiction. A young girl, Durga, is found barely alive inside a sprawling house where 13 people lie dead. Beaten and abused, she is held in the local prison, awaiting interrogation for the murders. An unconventional and rebellious social worker Simran attempts to break through the girl’s mute trance to find out what happened that terrible night. She stumbles upon a web of secrets and prejudice, where the lives of women are threatened from birth. Longlisted for the Man Asian Prize, the book has received widespread praise in India.
