How to Kidnap the Rich - 'A joyous love/hate letter to contemporary Delhi' The Times

'How to Kidnap the Rich roars with brilliance, freshness and so much heart' KEVIN KWAN, author of Crazy Rich Asians

Ramesh Kumar - examinations consultant - wakes up in a room he doesn't recognise. Next to him is spoilt brat Rudi, drunk and high on cocaine from another night of binging. Suddenly, two goons enter the room - they kidnap both boys and chop off Ramesh's pinky finger.

Rudi is a star - he took a national entrance exam for further education and came top in the whole of India. Or at least everyone in the country thinks he did. He has his own television show 'Beat the Brain' where he is pitted against India's bright young hopes, vying to be clever and get rich.

But behind the scenes of 'Beat the Brain', Ramesh, a chaiwallah's son from the streets of Delhi, feeds answers to Rudi through an earpiece. Because Ramesh isn't just an examination consultant, he takes exams on behalf of the children of wealthy people - parents who want their kids to go to Harvard, work at Google and live in America. He never intended to come top in the whole of India. He never meant to make stupid Rudi a star.

When someone discovers their secret, blackmail, kidnap and extortion are followed by national disgrace. How did things get so out of hand? Delhi has a dark side and it is closing in on Ramesh and Rudi, their fame, their cash and their cars, their hopes and dreams.

Nominiert: CWA Daggers: John Creasey (New Blood) 2022.
Nominiert: Crimefest Specsavers Crime Fiction Debut Award 2022.
Nominiert: CWA Gold Dagger 2022