Miss Laila, Armed and Dangerous

Bold, stylish and deceptively witty, this gripping new novel by Manu Joseph poses searching questions about political forces and religious division—with an ingenious twist. On the day that Hindu nationalists and their controversial leader have won a spectacular election victory, a large apartment building collapses in Mumbai. The rescue operation finds a single survivor trapped under a beam. The only person able to reach him is Akhila Iyer, a medical student who is also a notorious prankste...