A Distant Heart

October 15, 2017
A young Indian woman is finally healthy thanks to a heart transplant, but when she becomes the target of a notorious crime lord, she has to depend on the man she loves to protect her. Kimi has battled illnesses since she was a child--first a compromised immune system, then a weak heart. Through it all, her one friend has been Rahul, a boy whose father, a policeman, died protecting her own father, Kirit, a politician. Kirit has helped Rahul, giving him opportunities he wouldn't otherwise have had. He'll never be able to pay off the debt, but Rahul insists on working in Kirit's house, where he meets Kimi. The two unlikely friends are well-matched intellectually and respond to each other's wounded spirits, and the relationship helps the lonely Kimi thrive. Rahul is very much aware of their financial and social differences--"The Mansion's main living room never failed to make him feel like he had wandered up to the forbidden first-class deck on the Titanic"--and once Kimi is a healthy adult, Rahul tries to protect himself and honor her father's wishes by distancing himself. Kimi is frustrated that he won't admit he loves her and tries to move on, an attempt that is foiled when a local crime lord threatens her; Rahul, now a high-ranking police officer, won't let anyone else protect her. The menace is attached to an illegal organ investigation, but Kimi's donation was clean, so why is someone after her? Kimi and Rahul travel from Mumbai to Hong Kong to get answers, learning truths about each other and their pasts that will strengthen their devotion but may also forge obstacles they can't overcome. Dev's (A Change of Heart, 2016, etc.) latest searingly asks its characters what they're willing to do for the people they love, with a narrative that deftly jumps from past to present as it explores family dynamics, class issues, and many layers of guilt, hope, and determination in ways that are both distinctly Indian and universally luminous. Another beautiful, breathtaking novel from a not-to-be-missed author.

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from December 1, 2017
Alternating timelines and perspectives, Dev (A Change of Heart, 2016) weaves a vibrant tapestry depicting an intimate relationship. In the past, a rare immunodeficiency confines Kimi to her germ-free bedroom. Her only friend, Rahul, pays off a debt to her father by washing windows and tutoring Kimi, trying to maintain an emotional distance from the sick girl with the doe-like eyes. In the present, Kimi lives a normal life after multiple treatments and a heart transplant until Rahul, now a police officer, informs her that the leader of a black-market organ ring is targeting her. Thrilling action sequences and a complex, weighty romance propel this smart, sensitive story. A natural wordsmith, Dev dives into the psyches of disparate characters with voice-driven prose that includes both chilling insights and quirky humor. She also paints a vivid picture of modern Mumbai, from Kimi's pristine mansion to Rahul's overcrowded chawl (tenement), and the many personalities who inhabit it. Subplots and characters overlap in Dev's novels, so even though this is a stand-alone, encourage patrons to read her earlier novels for an even-more-enriching experience. This poignant, sensual, and exciting tale captures a range of emotions and conflicts.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)