Season of Sacrifice
By Bharti Kirchner
Maya Mallick is the Private
Investigator of the Detectives Unlimited of Kolkata, Seattle branch. She is energetic,
smart, tough and feisty as she solves mysteries. Unlike the classic PI stories
where the investigator is mostly a loner seeming to have no interest other than
in his cases, this contemporary PI enjoys interesting friends and is enamored
with nature, gardening, health foods, and a certain police detective when she’s
not busy tracking down leads on her cases. But then, this story is action
packed and doesn’t leave a lot of extra time for added qualities of life.
During a morning stroll near
Greenlake, Maya is shocked when in front of a gathered crowd two young women
shrouded in white set themselves on fire. Just before the blaze ignites she’s
horrified to recognize one of the women, and she is a friend of hers. One of
the bystanders, who says he is also a friend of the victims, hires Maya to uncover
the shocking truth. Neither of them realizes then that they have put in motion
factors that will soon risk Maya’s life as well. Maya’s investigation takes her
to intriguing corners of the city and across cultural bounds. Secrets are an integral
component of mysteries. As the mysterious guru advises Maya about the people
she talks to – they believe that their “Secrets are like jewels. You must
protect them.” But Maya is determined to reveal them and catch a killer.
Bharti
Kirchner is the author of eleven books, seven novels, four cookbooks, and
countless short pieces published in magazines and newspapers. Her talent and
skill in cooking is scattered through her mystery novel and adds precious luster
to the story. Also the culture of India is such a charming dimension to the
book. Much of this cultural reference is through the delightful character Uma
who is Maya’s mother. The writing is truly engaging.
Besides
her mystery novel Season of Sacrifice
Bharti Kirchner also published her Promised
Tulips short story in Seattle Noir which is an anthology of mystery short
stories. She’s won numerous awards and honors associated with her writing and
her cooking. Before becoming an author, Bharti worked as a systems engineer for
IBM and as a systems manager for Bank of America in San Francisco. She’s also
worked as a computer systems consultant in Europe and other continents. She’s
also a frequent speaker at writers’ conferences, book festivals, and
universities.
And if
you want to hear more from the author listen on YouTube to Kendall &
Cooper Talk Mysteries with Bharti Kirchner
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