Autorentext

An award-winning author, Bharti Kirchner has published eight previous critically acclaimed novels (in various genres, such as historical, literary, and mystery) and four cookbooks, including the best-selling The Bold Vegetarian. Her historical novel, Goddess of Fire, was shortlisted for the Nancy Pearl Award. Her first novel, Shiva Dancing, was cited by Seattle Weekly as one of the top novels in the last twenty-five years.Bharti also excels in magazine writing and short stories. She's written for Food & Wine, Vegetarian Times, Writer's Digest, The Writer, San Francisco Chronicle, and eleven anthologies. She has been a book reviewer for The Seattle Times. Her short fiction has appeared in Khabar and other magazines. "Promised Tulips," first published in the anthology, Seattle Noir, was recognized as a top noir story by Publisher's Weekly and it reappeared in USA Noir. Bharti's many awards include a 2020 SALA Award in Creative Writing, several Seattle Arts Commission literature Awards, a City Artist Project Award, several GAP grants and a Virginia Center for the Creative Arts Fellowship. A popular teacher she has taught widely at writer's conferences. She has been honored as a Living Pioneer Asian American Author

Klappentext

Maya Mallick, Seattle P.I., receives a call from her mother Uma, who lives in Jaipur, India. It appears that Uma's partner Neel Saha, a gemologist, has been arrested by the police on charges of stealing a rare ruby. The heirloom, an object of much superstition, belonged to Neel's client, Rana Adani, a young, charismatic Jaipur business tycoon. Insisting that Neel is innocent, Uma begs Maya to fly to Jaipur and clear Neel of the charges. Further complicating matters, Uma's domestic help and chauffeur Sam, a kite-flying champion, well loved by the family, has gone missing. Maya arrives in Jaipur, hoping to reconnect with Uma and help her. But Uma inexplicably distances herself, whereas Neel, now freed from jail, turns abusive toward Maya. When Rana's estranged wife Bea is killed by the glass-coated string of a falling kite, suspicion falls on Sam, who has quietly reappeared on the scene. Who has misappropriated the ruby and why? Could it have been the late Bea? Anita, Rana's difficult aunt? Sam, who's disappeared again? Or Uma, who seems to be hiding from Maya? How many more lives will be lost? Maya must recover the precious object soon to prevent further bloodshed.