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The 86th Village

Sena Desai Gopal author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Polis Books

Published:26th May '22

Should be back in stock very soon

The 86th Village cover

Best New Thriller and Mystery Books of 2022 by Popsugar
Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of 2022 by CrimeReads
Most Anticipated Mysteries and Thrillers of 2022 by Criminal Element


IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO RIGHT A WRONG?

Throughout Southern India, eighty-six villages are set to completely submerge due to a government-sanctioned dam across the Krishna river. One such village, Nilgi, has so far avoided the illegal iron-ore mining and floods that have ravaged the district for decades, believing itself to be indestructible and incorruptible despite warnings of impending doom. With whole mountains disappearing from the mining around Nilgi over time, the threat of a flood submerging the entire village is imminent. 

One night, Reshma, a young orphan girl, appears alone in the village. The villagers take her to Raj Nayak—the patriarch of Nilgi’s leading family who has been spearheading anti-dam movements. For years he’s been lobbying the corrupt government for fair compensation to the people who will lose their livelihoods and property to the mines and the flood. But Reshma’s presence, and the mystery of her origins, sets off a chain of events threatening the protests, the family, and Nilgi itself. Soon, secrets and corruption flood the village along with the waters.

"Sena Desai Gopal’s sensitive eye for human frailties and the power of nature make THE 86TH VILLAGE a novel that is beautiful and suspenseful, haunting and socially relevant. I was spellbound by this moving and original mystery."—Sujata Massey, award-winning author of the Perveen Mistry and Rei Shimura mysteries

"Will keep you up at night."—Popsugar

"This atmospheric and extremely poignant debut is beautifully told and heart-rending on many levels."—Booklist

"A powerful indictment of graft and corruption, as well as a comparison of poverty and wealth."—Library Journal

"A moving debut."—Criminal Element

"When an ancient farming village in India is threatened with destruction, the lives of its inhabitants are cast into turmoil. Gopal casts an unflinching eye on the many ways power can be corrupted and trust can be betrayed in this intricate, heartbreaking, and searing account of shattered lives. Despite the harsh reality informing THE 86th VILLAGE, Gopal’s story pulsates with warmth and humanity: Love redeems and hope floats even while everything else might drown.”—Sumi Hahn, THE MERMAID FROM JEJU

ISBN: 9781951709747

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown