Twenty-five-year-old Devi has been kidnapped. She is now being held hostage in a dimly-lit basement by a masked gunman who is threatening to shoot her dead unless she reveals her entire life story and confesses to all the crimes he is accusing her of. To add to her terror, he is putting her life up for an online auction, where the highest bidder will determine her fate.

With her very existence hanging in the balance, Devi proceeds to give her captor ‘a confession to beat all confessions’, while simultaneously engaging in a high-stakes battle of wits and endurance against impossible odds.

Thus commences an enthralling odyssey through the heart and soul of modern India, as over the course of a single night, Devi unveils the secrets of her seven extraordinary lives.

From the labyrinthine alleys of Delhi to the hallowed grounds of Punjab, from the serene landscapes of Kerala to the sun-drenched shores of Goa, and ultimately to the bustling streets of Mumbai, Devi’s captivating journey is a rollercoaster ride through a tangled tapestry of hidden truths, deceit, and shocking revelations which will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.

Devi is the ultimate survivor - a girl from the gutters who dares to rewrite her own destiny. But can she survive the longest night of her life?

Vikas Swarup’s long-awaited new novel is filled with the same evocative prose, immersive narrative and propulsive energy that made Slumdog Millionaire a global bestseller, and will resonate with readers looking for a thoughtful page-turner.