The White Lotus

At fourteen, Aru has spent years dreaming of the life she will begin after her wedding―“I can hardly imagine it, but everything will be different tomorrow. I’ll truly be Sundaram’s wife, together in body as in spirit…” But that tomorrow never comes. When Sundaram dies suddenly, Aru becomes a widow before she has even understood what marriage means. Worse still, the village whispers brand her husband a drunkard and a thief―the man who brought down the wrath of the local goddess by stealing her temple’s most precious jewel.

The future Aru imagined collapses overnight, leaving her facing a lifetime of bleak, colorless days. So when the landlord’s children offer her a position as their grandmother’s companion, she grasps the chance for a different beginning.

In the landlord’s house, Aru gains an education, discovers an unexpected ally, and dares to dream―however impossibly―of choosing a profession of her own one day. But the household hides unsettling secrets, and soon Aru realizes that the danger surrounding her extends far beyond gossip. Her very life may be at risk.

The White Lotus is a gripping murder mystery and a richly drawn social portrait of the plight of widows in rural Tamil Nadu at the turn of the twentieth century―an unforgettable story of vulnerability, resilience, and the fight for a life of one’s own.

Aditi Krishnakumar is an award-winning children’s and young adult author whose work blends history, mystery, fantasy, and sharp storytelling. Her novel The Magicians of Madh won the Scholastic Asian Book Award, and her other acclaimed books include The Girl Who Wasn’t There, Mayil Will Not Be Quiet (as part of Team Mayil), and several works of historical and speculative fiction for young readers.

Originally from Chennai, Aditi has lived in Singapore for many years, where she works in the corporate sector while continuing to write stories filled with wit, imagination, and strong, memorable characters. The White Lotus is her newest work of historical fiction.