In a small town in the heart of India, a young girl is found tied to a bed inside a townhouse where thirteen people lie dead. The girl is alive, but she has been beaten and abused. She is held in the local prison, awaiting interrogation for the murders she is believed by the local people to have committed. Visiting social worker Simran attempts to break through the girl's mute trance to find out what happened that terrible night. As she uncovers more and more, Simran realises that she is caught in the middle of a terrifying reality, where the unwanted female offspring of families are routinely disposed of. Brilliantly atmospheric, hauntingly real, this is a major debut from an exciting new author.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an amazing first (of many?) novel.. I found it to be well written and quite a page turner from beginning to end. The story it told although fiction, depicted life in India for many young girls.... to a westerner looking at this from a distance it is positively horrific.
Maybe this is a book that everyone should read...

Heading over to Paris to begin a 'mini-ray'.
Hope you all enjoy this book as much as I did.

You have in your hands a free gift. This book is yours to do with as you wish...read it, share it, keep it, pass it on!I've registered this at BookCrossing.com so that I can keep up on where it goes, who reads it, and what they thought of it. If you like the BookCrossing concept, you might want to register yourself with a screen name, so that you can keep up on this book, and maybe release others also! It’s all confidential (you’re known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), fascinating, and fun!Thank you for picking up this book. I'd love to see an entry letting me know it is safe with you. Do with it as you please... read it (or not!), give it to a friend, keep it, leave it in the wild - it's up to you! Enjoy! If you like you can mention me - oppem as the one who referred you.

The book was in my letterbox today. Thank you Oppem for sending it to me!
I will start reading it this week and once I finished it send it on to silvia-pco

I finished the book this weekend and found it quite a disturbing read. It gives insights into traditional Punjab families, the way they (mis)tread their daughters and more generally the low social position women are still attributed. Durga's story is gripping, but I didn't like so much the "detective novel" part where Simran tries to unravel the secrets, which I found quite unprobable.
All in all well worth reading, it gives an eye-opening view on the place of women and daughters in a traditional indian society.

Sent to silvia-pco as a miniray. Thanks again for sharing oppem
Happy reading!

Here it is! I have a few books waiting on my TBR pile at the moment, but I'll try to be brief. As soon as I'm finished I'll send it on to fullofbeans as we agreed :)

First of all, I want to apologize for going over the usual one-month deadline with this one. The end of the semester came in January, and with it the exams, which took a lot of my free time.

This was a gripping book. I loved the story and the whole cultural background it was set in, as it was unusual. You don't get to read stories about Punjab families everyday. I found it to be very well written, a great first novel. The plot was very interesting, but as frutz points out, the role of Simran as a kind of detective seems a bit odd at times. It does sound improbable, especially in the kind of society the story develops, but in the long run that doesn't take away from the quality of the book.

I'll send this along to fullofbeans as soon as I get her addy. Thanks for sharing!

The book's on its way to fullofbeans. Thanks for giving me the address, oppem, I hope it'll arrive safely :)

Thanks for posting this onto me! I received it today. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Left for post happy people! Enjoy