Ebook: 373 pages in Kindle Edition
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Storm Publishing April 28th 2025
Source: NetGalley
First Sentences: Madras, 1997, Asha 'Come,girl' Mrs Pandain's voice was a command, her grasp on Asha's wrist that of an eagle's talon securing its prey. Tight fingers dug into her skin. Claws that pinched.
Review Quote: ‘Poignant, evocative, beautiful yet shocking and intelligently and sensitively written. It is all-absorbing, gripping and emotionally charged—an absolute must-read.” Reader Review,
Setting: India
My Opinion:
It was only after finishing this novel that I discovered it was not the debut I had thought! In fact this author has a sizeable back catalogue and 'Girl in a Red Silk Sari' was originally published in 2001 as 'The Lost Daughter of India' and has been republished a number of times since then as well.
A disturbing story about the ugly side of India. Asha's story is one that needs to be told as sadly even in today's world children are still being sold into prostitution. However in the nearly 25 years since the author first researched child prostitution in Mumbai, though still existing, it has been reduced to a tiny fraction of its previous levels. The author visited the streets of Kamathipura back in 2000 when researching her writing and it is the disturbing horrors of child prostitution in India that she brings alive in this novel.
Highly recommended, well worth reading even if it is rather harrowing to do so.
With thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Sharon Maas the author for the opportunity to read and review.
Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:
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.
Author Profile:
Courtesy of Goodreads Profile
Sharon Maas was born in Georgetown, Guyana in 1951, and a sense of adventure has followed her around the world. In 1971 she spent a year backpacking around South America, followed by a few months with pioneering friends in the Guyana rainforest, followed by an overland trip to India, followed by a year in a Hindu Ashram.
She settled in Germany where she married, studied, worked, and raised children.
Officially retired, she continues to write from her new home in Ireland.
Her first novel was published by HarperCollins in 1999, followed by two more in 2001 and 2002. At present, she has 10 published works with the digital publisher Bookouture.
Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:
Author - Official Website. Goodreads Profile. Amazon Author Page Instagram Profile
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