National Network for Equitable Library Service

New York Times Notable Book of 2024 – 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, by a major new international voice. This shockingly powerful "psychological thriller" and "riveting murder mystery" is "a magnificent work of literary fiction" perfect for fans of Age of Vice and Where the Crawdads Sing (Kiran Desai, Booker Prize winning author). Teetapur, an unassuming village just a few hours outside of bustling Delhi, is famous for nothing—until one of its children, 8-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 preventing 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 readers 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.