Umrigar's latest novel of India tackles a lot of big topics in a fairly short book: religious persecution, childhood trauma, poverty, government corruption, misogyny, violence and murder. The main character Smita, a journalist, returns to Mumbai, for the first time since
…more leaving for America at the age of 14. Lots of past secrets are slowly revealed as Smita attempts to bring justice for a Hindu woman who was horribly burned during the "honor killing" of her Muslim husband. The story is fascinating, but there are quite a few two-dimensional characters and at times I felt the writing did not elicit the emotional response that the horrible events should have. Won't comment on the ending to avoid spoilers other than to say that the last minute airport drama felt completely unoriginal and utterly predictable. (less)