I have been a book professional since 1974. In the course of my career, I have met many authors. Some have become friends. Bharti Kirchner is one. I try not to let friendship get in the way of honest reviews. Ms Kirchner has written several books in the fields of cooking and fiction. Season of Sacrifice is the first I have read. I am sorry it took so long for me to reach this point. This is the first book of a projected series of mysteries featuring private investigator Maya Mallick, born in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) India. Maya is living in Seattle as the saga opens and her mother, Uma, is visiting from India.
Maya is out for a little bit of exercise in the Green Lake District of north Seattle when she witnesses two Tibetan women she knows pour gasoline (petrol) on themselves and then set themselves afire to die a horrible death. The crowd around them does nothing to stop them. She sees a man in sunglasses closest to them apparently egging them on. On the surface, it looks like the women sacrificed themselves in support of Tibetan independence. But Maya suspects other reasons.
One of the women, Sylvie, was a researcher in a company trying to develop a vaccine for malaria. Her latest attempt had gone into clinical trials with one success. Anna, the other woman, was the successful trial. Maya with the help of her mother, Maya’s P.I. assistant Hank and a couple of friends unravel the mystery.
The story and its execution are wonderful. Along the way, the reader gets a peek into the culture of India and the lives of Indian immigrants living the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Time well spent is my verdict.
GO! BUY! READ!
–Jim Harris, retired book sales rep
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