Play Audiobook Sample
Play Audiobook Sample
NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN, THE SUNDAY TIMES, AND THE FINANCIAL TIMES
A searing debut set in a modern India simmering with the tension of growing religious intolerance
Teetapur, an unassuming village just a few hours outside of bustling Delhi, is famous for nothing—until one of its children, eight-year-old Munia, is found dead, hanging from the branch of a Jamun tree.
In the largely Hindu village, suspicion quickly falls on an itinerant Muslim man, Mansoor. Suspicion ignites like wildfire, fueled by religious tensions that simmer beneath the surface.
The responsibility of uncovering the elusive truth—and prevent the lynching of the prime suspect—now rests on the weary shoulders of Sub-Inspector Ombir Singh. With only one other officer beneath him, and just a single working revolver between them, can he bring justice to a grieving father and an angry village—or will Teetapur demand vengeance instead?
Offering listeners a gripping mystery and a sweeping state-of-the-nation saga, Black River stands as a searing critique of modern India, weaving an intricate narrative that captures the essence of a nation grappling with its own complexities and contradictions.
Download and start listening now!
“Sharmila Devar’s smooth narration is perfectly matched to this evocative mystery…Devar uses her strong characterization skills to bring alive a wide cast of characters, highlighting the different personalities that cause tensions to build throughout…The narration creates an engaging and thought-provoking experience.”
— AudioFile
“Framed as a police procedural, but with the breadth of a saga…[A] dazzling, lyrical tale of friendship, love, and grief that shines a light on the corruption and religious sectarianism of modern India.”
— The Guardian (London)Be the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Nilanjana Roy is a Delhi-based journalist, literary critic, editor, and author. She has written and reviewed for numerous publications including the Guardian, New York Times, and Huffington Post, and has a weekly column in the Financial Times. Her novel The Wildings was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Black River, her adult debut, grew out of her years of reporting on gender from New Delhi and the surrounding states for the New York Times and from exploring the capital and the Yamuna river on long walks.
Sharmila Devar is known for her work on Happy and You Know It, Outsourced, and Shades of Ray.