Caroline has been in love with India since she was a child. She is positive her destiny is to marry an Indian man and move to India. When she meets Kamal she is sure he is the key to her dreams. But India is not what she thought it would be, and eventually she leaves her daughter and husband behind to go home to America. Years later Kamal and Caroline will have to come together to find their daughter who has gone missing. Their search will take them to the darkest parts of India as they try and find a needle in a haystack.
I think I like the idea of this book more then I liked the actual book. There is a lot of information about child trafficking and Indian culture which is well written and well executed. I just found the characters themselves to be a bit flat.
Thank you to @netgalley @stormbooks_co for letting me have a copy of The Girl in the Red Silk Sari to review.
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I am sad that this book didn't pan out to be what I was expecting. The Indian culture is so enormously rich and intriguing to me. The cover lured me in easily. However, once I started deep diving into the nitty gritty, I am forlorn to say that it had very slow progression and character development. We visit various themes for discussion centering around culture and acclimation, parenting troubles, human trafficking, conflicts and plenty of heavier to swallow topics. It was almost too much, too fast for the one book and it seemed like the author lost focus? I see it as a necessary evil to teach others about these dark aspects of society - but it seemed overly exaggerated. The synopsis did not match what I read in the contents of the book.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for this free eARC and the opportunity to review this book honestly.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book and thought it was well written. I loved the storyline and thought the characters had great growth. I would definitely recommend this book.

It was only after finishing this novel that I discovered it was not the debut I had thought! In fact this author has a sizeable back catalogue and 'Girl in a Red Silk Sari' was originally published in 2001 as 'The Lost Daughter of India' and has been republished a number of times since then as well.

A disturbing story about the ugly side of India. Asha's story is one that needs to be told as sadly even in today's world children are still being sold into prostitution. However in the nearly 25 years since the author first researched child prostitution in Mumbai, though still existing, it has been reduced to a tiny fraction of its previous levels. The author visited the streets of Kamathipura back in 2000 when researching her writing and it is the disturbing horrors of child prostitution in India that she brings alive in this novel.

Highly recommended, well worth reading even if it is rather harrowing to do so.

With thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Sharon Maas the author for the opportunity to read and review.

Epic ! Highly recommended

Very well written, loved it - such a powerful story about relationships, cultural differences, family, love, kindness and survival. Child trafficking in India and the exploitation of the inner depths of Mumbai

Sharon Maas, you did not disappoint

I can see this as a Netflix series

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre

This book tells a story of India but the worst side. It shows up the horrific side of child trafficking through the stories of Caroline and her daughter Asha. It is at times a difficult read to have detailed the appalling sale of young children into prostitution and worse yet it manages to have a lighter side showing the richness and colour of India. Would recommend.

Beautiful. Poignant. Heart breaking, heart rending, heart warming. So beautifully written. Love this author and have loved every single one of her books. This one is a masterpiece.

A story of two people from opposite sides of the world. They marry and try to make it work in India. After having a child, they feel they must leave her behind to be cared for by another family. Many years later, they lose touch with each other and their daughter, but come together after learning she had been taken away and trafficked.

Although this story is fictional, it is engaging, realistic, and often difficult to read. Horrible things like this continue to happen in India and worldwide. I feel that the author did her research about brothels, prostitution, and trafficking of girls and women in Mumbai before writing this book.

Caroline Mitchell appears to have rose tinted specs on when she harbours a longing to go to India. After she she marries her sweetheart Kamal and settles there life takes on a different meaning for her. When she does decide to leave it will mean leaving something precious that one day she will return to claim.
On her return Caroline sees parts of the country she couldn’t have envisaged, this seems little price to pay if it means she will find her Asha. Worse, when Caroline is forced to visit the red light area in Kamathipura, will she find the strength to go on and find Asha?

Although I found parts disturbing it was a quick read. Favourite character was Caroline, least favourite was Paruthy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The clash of cultures between America and India was interesting. And the challenges of being female in a culture where women are commodities was so engaging. I would recommend.

Like me, Caroline had romantic notions of India....palaces, princesses, warm sun and exotic festivals. But reality was too harsh and once she had baby Asha, who she was unable to bond with, her marriage and health collapsed and ultimately she left her husband and daughter behind, returning to USA.
Asha is raised in the Indian way, as part of a loving family. But heartbreak comes in the form of a fatal road accident. As is the Indian way, an uncle takes charge of the family and Asha is seen as not a blood relative and another mouth to feed but also as a cash cow, as her parents continue to send funds for her upkeep. Greed sees Asha's Indian Uncle effectively selling her. With her pale skin and virginity intact at age 13, Asha is desirable in the underworld trade of girls (some as young as five) to depraved men looking for "companions". An unscrupulous market exists to fill this demand.....openly kidnapping girls....and locking them away in dire conditions in the maze of Bombay streets. Girls become effectively a needle in haystack, with families not having the resources to find and free their girl....even if they want too.
Caroline annoyed me greatly throughout...apparently she studied Asian studies.....and had come to India with her Indian husband to write her thesis. But when the reality wasn't as romantic as she thought, she couldn't cope. I found her whining, pathetic and boring, I skipped a lot of the inner self narrative around her. She seemed to lack backbone. It was truely a relief to see she came to her senses and fight hard at the end of the book where her mother's instinct was uncovered and played upon against her captor.
Interestingly, I wasn't really shocked by the content. Maybe it wasn't as graphic as it could be? I did enjoy the tie in to the sapphire necklace handed down on Kamal's side of the family, but was actually expecting his grandmother to show up in a more physical way as part of the finale.
For those younger readers I can see the lack of constant/instant connection being an eye opener, as "Girl in a Red Silk Sari" is set at the beginning of the world wide web and mobile connection was very sparse. That feeling of being on your own and disconnected from others on the same mission to find Asha, took me back in my own personal time (which I describe as freedom).
Overall, a quick read that touched on the sites and sounds of a busy and confronting India but never really made me desperate to see what comes next. The cover image is absolutely beautiful, in a heartbreaking way.
Thanks to NetGalley, Sharon Maas and Storm Publishing for my copy.

Caroline Mitchell has never truly made peace with her past—and the circumstances that led to her separation from her beloved child. And when thirteen-year-old Asha vanishes without a trace, she faces every parent’s worst nightmare. Desperate to find her, Caroline returns to India determined to do whatever it takes. The search will mean reconnecting with her estranged husband Kamal, and burying the memories of everything that happened between them. It will lead to the darkest corners of Mumbai's infamous red-light district—a world of shadows, secrets, and unspeakable horrors. There, she discovers her precious daughter has been caught in a trafficking ring that preys on vulnerable children.
As Caroline navigates the labyrinthine streets and corrupt systems of Mumbai, she must find the strength to become the mother she has always wanted to be. Her mission will test her in ways she could never have imagined – but if she can reach Asha in time, and save her from a terrifying fate, she may finally be able to heal the wounds of the past.

This is a wonderful story, characters you will love, a poignant picture of India that at the same time opens your eyes to the horrifying reality there and shows you the beauty the country has to offer. The writing is brilliant. 5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

"Girl in a Red Silk Sari" by Sharon Moss is an eye-opening, powerful read that sheds light on horrific realities that still plague us today.
Though the story tackles heavy themes, the author's depiction is thought-provoking and impactful.
While the pacing felt a bit slow at times, it didn't deter me from appreciating the book's significance. I'd still highly recommend it for its unflinching portrayal of difficult truths.
Thank you to NetGalley and Strom Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Caroline returns to India filled with worry about the husband and daughter she left behind. Although she and her husband were deeply in love, their cultural differences, coupled with the fact that she could not bond with their daughter led to her leaving India and returning to her home in the US. Their daughter Asha remained in India, raises by family friends. When Asha's parents unexpectedly pass away and Asha goes missing, Caroline is forced to confront her past decisions and return in the hope that she and her estranged husband can work together to find their daughter. While searching for her, they discover the underground world of trafficking of young women and can only hope they find their Asha before she is lost forever.

This a sad, terrible story about love, loss and the complexities within relationships and parenting. It's a well-written story but I struggled to connect with Caroline's character and understand her. I acknowledge that some parents struggle to connect with their babies and their parenting journey isn't a smooth one, however I felt Caroline's actions were a little selfish. It was as though she didn't understand what she had until she thought she might lose her daughter completely. Perhaps her story simply reflects the truth about how flawed we all are, one way or another.

Overall, it's an enjoyable and powerful story told in a rich and immersive way that makes you feel as though you are there in this incredible country of extremes. Definitely worth reading although it deals with some very real and terrible themes about the treatment of vulnerable girls and young women.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

⭐⭐⭐.5

Wow, this book is written so well about child trafficking and the illegal sextrade in India.
Caroline and Kamal meet, fall in in love and have Asha. Circumstances mean they leave her with foster-parents and they resume single life.
Unbeknownst to Caroline and Kamal that all has changed in India.
Sharon has carefully written about the issue these poor children faced and the struggle that agencies face in a currupt society.
A powerful read.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this eCopy to review

I recently finished reading Girl in a Red Silk Sari by Sharon Maas, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience. This novel is a poignant and gripping tale that delves deep into the complexities of love, loss, and redemption.

The story follows Caroline Mitchell, who returns to India in search of her missing daughter, Asha. Caroline's journey is fraught with emotional turmoil as she navigates the labyrinthine streets of Mumbai and confronts the dark realities of child trafficking. Her estranged husband, Kamal, joins her in this desperate quest, and together they face unimaginable challenges. The narrative is heart-wrenching, especially as Caroline discovers that Asha has been caught in a trafficking ring. The novel beautifully portrays Caroline's transformation as she fights to save her daughter and heal the wounds of her past .

From the moment I started reading, I was captivated by Maas's evocative writing and the depth of her characters. Caroline's determination and resilience are inspiring, and her journey is both heart breaking and uplifting. The depiction of Mumbai's red-light district is chilling, yet Maas handles the subject matter with sensitivity and grace.

The emotional intensity of the novel is balanced by moments of hope and love, making it a compelling read. The bond between Caroline and Asha is beautifully portrayed, and the supporting characters, like Kamal and Janiki, add richness to the story. Maas's ability to weave a tale that is both tragic and hopeful is truly remarkable.

Girl in a Red Silk Sari is a powerful story, with well-developed characters, and an incredible emotional journey. This book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates deeply moving and beautifully written fiction.

Deeply profound and thought provoking book about child trafficking,  prostitution, the beauty of India and it's dark side.  Caroline, a white woman from America has always been in love with the thought of living in India. She meets Kamal and all her dreams come true. Except, India doesn't prove to be what she always had in mind. She struggles with adapting and with connecting with her daughter Asha. Asha stays behind while Caroline moves back to America and her father Kamal works very far away from her. But things turn for the worse when Asha's adoptive family die and she is sold off. Her biological parents must go through hell and back in order to find and save Asha.

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing!

Caroline Mitchell had always felt an intense love for India. Then, as the fates would have it, she fell in love with a man from India, who was in the U.S. earning his college degree. Caroline & Kamal got married and then moved to India, where she would do research to finish up her degree, and Kamal got a very lucrative job at a dam. The only problem was, they would not be able to live togther - he would need to live near his work, so he found a family for her to live with for the next few years. When Caroline becomes pregnant, they consider changing their plans, but decide to stay on course. When baby Asha arrives, Caroline fails to bond with her. She can't get Asha to latch on, so the woman she is staying with ends up being Asha's wet nurse. Asha loves spending time with their kids as she grows older and she continues to rebuff all attention that Caroline tries to give her. Caroline ends up becoming very ill and goes back to the U.S. to recouperate, never to return. She and Kamal separate, but he has little to do with Asha as well, so she is raised by the Indian family that she now considers her true family. When tragedy strikes, and thirteen-year-old Asha disappears without a trace, Caroline and Kamal must join forces and become the parents they should have been all along to Asha, find her, and bring her home.

This book was so good. It was heartbreaking, depressing, and dealt with stomach turning issues like child traffiicking and child abuse. My heart went out to Asha and all of the other young girls in the book. The story kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the book, anxious to see how it would all play out. I highly recommend this one!

This is the first book that I have read by Sharon Maas but hopefully it wont be the last.
Caroline comes from a wealthy American family, since childhood she has dreamed of India, the India of storybooks with Princes in their palaces and riding elephants.
When at university she met and fell in love with Kamal who came from a wealthy Indian family, neither of the families were in agreement with the relationship but Caroline and Kamal were so much in love that they quietly got married and moved to India.
In order to get her degree, Caroline was writing a thesis on the Tamil way of life, Kamal had arrange for her to live with a Tamil family in a small village but unfortunately it was five hours from where he was working as an engineer on a dam.
Sundari and Vikram Inengar were well educated and they spoke perfect English, they were very welcoming to Caroline but this was not the India of her dreams, this was the reality, the facilities were less than basic, Caroline coped at first but when a child, Asha, was born Caroline struggled, she found bonding difficult because she was out of her depth, she became very ill, the only answer was to return to America leaving Asha to be raised by Sundari and her daughter Janaki.
Ten years later tragedy occurred, Sundari and Vikram were killed in a car crash, Caroline was still in America (although she still kept in touch) as was Janaki, Kamal was working in the far north, Asha fate was with Vikram's greedy brother.
This story follows the unbelievable, cruel and very sad life of Asha as she is sold on the dark web by unscrupulous individuals and bought by perverted men and Caroline, Kamal and Janaki's desperate fight against time to find her,
The author has written a powerful, emotional story that tells of the two sides of India and it's class system, the wealthy in their mansions and palaces and the very poor, who often end up being trafficked or forced into prostitution, this is a story that pulls on the heartstrings.
Thank you Storm Publishing for this ARC, this review is my own.

For a book with one of the most emotive and horrifying themes imaginable, 'Girl in a Red Silk Sari' left me oddly unmoved. Set mostly in the early 2000s, it tells the story of the desperate search for a thirteen year old girl sold into prostitution in Mumbai. Asha, the child in question, has grown up with a loving foster family, her parents - white American Caroline and diffident wealthy Indian Kamal - being overseas. When her foster parents die suddenly and Asha is sold off, her biological parents and adult foster-sister Janaki travel to the notorious red-light district of Kamathipura in a seemingly hopeless rescue attempt. It is Janaki's knowledge of the relatively new internet that provides their best chance of finding the missing girl.

It's a good idea for a story and a powerful, upsetting topic. Sadly although the story is fiction, the trafficking and exploitation underlying it are only too real. On the plus side, it is very compelling, the short chapters ideal for the 'I'll just read one more' phenomenon that keeps you reading half the night. But aside from that, I never formed an emotional connection with any of the characters. The most interesting and sympathetic is Janaki. Caroline I found incredibly annoying, selfish and stupid - despite her being the supposed heroine of the novel. Asha is completely two dimensional - the scenes with her as a child are badly judged, with her coming across as much younger than her age, and we never get to know and love her as anything other than a cardboard cut out of a trafficked child.

Maas can write compellingly, but she lacks that special touch that the best writers have to make characters come alive or to infuse her prose with wit and sparkle. I'm not a fan of 'show-off' writing that is more style than substance, but good writers have a nice way of putting things that makes the words more readable than if written by the average person with a good command of language. That is forgivable if a story is extremely well plotted or the characters are very loveable, but that's not the case here. From the start I found it implausible that a woman with a degree in South Asian studies and was married to an Indian would be so ignorant about India. Having a romanticised view of a country is one thing, but surely even someone with the most basic knowledge of the world would not be surprised to find India hot, busy, and with areas of financial poverty. I also found the ending to be far too neat and simplistic.

If you enjoy compelling stories that don't put you through an emotional wringer, this would be a decent choice. Otherwise I wouldn't recommend it. There are many better books set in India and by Indian authors.