Origins of Love - Rilegato

'From the author of Witness the Night comes another rich story involving social worker Simran Singh. She is the llink between an abandoned baby girl in Delhi and a couple desperate for a baby in London. Insightful and moving 4 stars'--Woman's Own

'Kishwar Desai won the 2010 Costa First Novel Award with Witness the Night, which tackled infanticide of girl babies in India. Follow-up Origins of Love has social worker-turned-sleuth Simran Singh investigating baby-farming and surrogacy.

Simran's attempts to solve the mystery of a baby abandoned after being born with HIV to a surrogate mother exposes a multi-million pound black-market surrogacy industry.

The material is sensational and Desai s abrupt, no-nonsense style gives the multi-layered story, which encompasses British couple Ben and Kate's attempt to have a child via an Indian surrogate, the feel of an urgent, vividly reported documentary. Origins of Love is a serious, issue-based novel that is also a page-turner --Metro

'A gripping thriller set in the world of surrogacy tourism in India... There is a fine line between surrogacy and embryonic and stem cell research and Desai brings these dilemmas to light. However, it s ultimately the women who rent out their wombs who remain the victims in this cautionary tale. It's impossible to put the book down'
Review of the Week, Eastern Eye
'A searing tale' --Mail Today, India

'As compelling as the stories of George Simenon's Maigret, Desai's Simran Singh novels are endowed with something else: the sense that she is delving not just into mysteries but into subjects that matter deeply. I cannot wait for her next adventure' --Sholto Byrnes, Independent on Sunday

'A searing tale' --Mail Today, India

'As compelling as the stories of George Simenon's Maigret, Desai's Simran Singh novels are endowed with something else: the sense that she is delving not just into mysteries but into subjects that matter deeply. I cannot wait for her next adventure' --Sholto Byrnes, Independent on Sunday

'A searing tale' Mail Today, India

In a month where Indians themselves have begun to question the very fabric of their society, Kishwar Desai s work would appear to be crucial' --Observer

'As compelling as the stories of George Simenon's Maigret, Desai's Simran Singh novels are endowed with something else: the sense that she is delving not just into mysteries but into subjects that matter deeply. I cannot wait for her next adventure' --Sholto Byrnes, Independent on Sunday

'A searing tale' --Mail Today, India

Kishwar Desai is an author and journalist. She splits her time between Delhi, Goa and London, and is currently working on her third novel.