Autorentext

I've been in love with stories from the time I first learned language. Older relatives tell me that even as a small child, my nose was always in a book, and as I grew up, the library was my favourite place in the whole world. But I also had stories inside of me, and for as long as I can remember I've been creating characters and plots in my head -- to the disappointment of my teachers, most of whom labelled me a hopeless dreamer. Yes, hopeless was the word: I never had the slightest hope that I could actually give form to stories, actually write books that others might enjoy... until I finally sat down at a typewriter and tried. It took a lot of trial and error, but at last, in 1999, Of Marriageable Age, was published by HarperCollins. I've now sixteen published novels. My books span continents, cultures, and eras: from the sugar plantations of colonial British Guiana in South America, to the French battlefields of World War Two, to the present-day brothels of Mumbai and the rice-fields and villages of South India, I've ventured far and wide in content, both in time and place. My books are a reflection of my own life: from growing up free and happy in the garden city of Georgetown, British Guiana; to backpacking through South America and to India; then a more sedate life as a German Hausfrau. My books reflect these changes. I write to explore and understand the human condition, and that's what these books are inevitably about. You'll find darkness in my books, but inevitably, there is light, because I believe that ultimately light is what we long for and light is our ultimate goal; I know it is mine. All my books are a reflection of my own life's journey, my own struggles and grasping for the light of understanding. I invite you along for the ride. Are you an armchair traveller? Then step on board!

Klappentext

Madras, India. Caroline steps off the plane into the searing heat, senseless with worry. So much has changed since her first visit. This time, a piece of her heart is missing. This time, she is here to find her daughter...

Caroline Mitchell has never truly made peace with her past--and the circumstances that led to her separation from her beloved child. And when thirteen-year-old Asha vanishes without a trace, she faces every parent's worst nightmare.

Desperate to find her, Caroline returns to India determined to do whatever it takes. The search will mean reconnecting with her estranged husband Kamal, and burying the memories of everything that happened between them. It will lead to the darkest corners of Mumbai's infamous red-light district--a world of shadows, secrets, and unspeakable horrors. There, she discovers her precious daughter has been caught in a trafficking ring that preys on vulnerable children.

As Caroline navigates the labyrinthine streets and corrupt systems of Mumbai, she must find the strength to become the mother she has always wanted to be. Her mission will test her in ways she could never have imagined--but can she reach Asha in time, and save her from a terrifying fate? And if so, will she finally be able to heal the wounds of the past.

Perfect for readers of Jhumpa Lahiri, Julia Gregson and Lucinda Riley, this unforgettable novel will open your eyes and break your heart.