Maya, Dead and Dreaming

“Why Maya Had to Die,” reads the envelope that 36-year-old Munna Dhingra finds outside her office door at a university in Shogie, Washington, in 1952. Maya, Munna’s former childhood friend, drowned more than a decade ago. The death and ensuing investigation rocked the small town of Shogie, Washington, back then, but it was determined to have been accidental. So why, then, does the letter state “She didn’t kill herself. She couldn’t have”—and why was it sent to Munna in the first place? Not trusting the police that apparently bungled the original investigation, Munna works with acclaimed psychoanalyst Karenina to investigate the mystery. As it happens, Munna knows more than she’s letting on—and, seemingly, so do others in Shogie, where everyone seems to know everyone’s business. Munna must separate gossip from fact to find out what really happened to Maya: “Ask yourself—who was angry with her?” reads the letter at the heart of the mystery. “Ask or soon death will come again.” As Munna digs further, she starts to realize that Maya’s heart may have led her into terrible trouble. Sabarwal’s novel is a gripping, atmospheric murder mystery that features elements that effectively call to mind such small-town whodunit TV series as Twin Peaks and the cozier Midsomer Murders. Munna is a smart, relatable protagonist who’s easy to root for, and Sabarwal offers a sharp portrait of growing up as an Indian American woman of color in a predominantly white small town. The secondary characters are fully developed and believable, as well, and it all adds up to a clever and suspenseful page-turner.

Jun 12, 2025 - 17:52

“Why Maya Had to Die,” reads the envelope that 36-year-old Munna Dhingra finds outside her office door at a university in Shogie, Washington, in 1952. Maya, Munna’s former childhood friend, drowned more than a decade ago. The death and ensuing investigation rocked the small town of Shogie, Washington, back then, but it was determined to have been accidental. So why, then, does the letter state “She didn’t kill herself. She couldn’t have”—and why was it sent to Munna in the first place? Not trusting the police that apparently bungled the original investigation, Munna works with acclaimed psychoanalyst Karenina to investigate the mystery. As it happens, Munna knows more than she’s letting on—and, seemingly, so do others in Shogie, where everyone seems to know everyone’s business. Munna must separate gossip from fact to find out what really happened to Maya: “Ask yourself—who was angry with her?” reads the letter at the heart of the mystery. “Ask or soon death will come again.” As Munna digs further, she starts to realize that Maya’s heart may have led her into terrible trouble. Sabarwal’s novel is a gripping, atmospheric murder mystery that features elements that effectively call to mind such small-town whodunit TV series as Twin Peaks and the cozier Midsomer Murders. Munna is a smart, relatable protagonist who’s easy to root for, and Sabarwal offers a sharp portrait of growing up as an Indian American woman of color in a predominantly white small town. The secondary characters are fully developed and believable, as well, and it all adds up to a clever and suspenseful page-turner.