Kiran Manral on why women readers are able to associate with her book

A columnist, writer, and mother — Kiran Manral, author of the psychological thriller novel Missing, Presumed Dead, dons many hats. The book has received favourable response from female readers in particular. Manral says, “My book is about a lady who is in her late 40s and is mentally sick and living in a dysfunctional marriage. So, a lot of women are able to associate with the issues stated.”

And as the exhilarating plot of the suspense novel unfolds, it also reveals compelling characters and impressive attention to detail. The story revolves around the protagonist Aisha, who struggles with not only life in a troubled marriage, but demons in her head. Her only consolation is her children, who help her keep sane. In spite of Aisha’s tiffs with Heer, her half-sister, one fine day she lets her in. The nail-biting mystery that ensues is that Aisha goes missing two days later.

When asked if the story is inspired from a real life, Manral says, “It’s inspired by stories from here and there that I heard while growing up. There was one incident as a kid where I witnessed a neighbour lady leaving her house to never come back, and it made me wonder what would happen to the kids.” Manral also says, “I have a 15-year-old kid who is not an avid reader but time to time showed some interest in the story because even his first reaction was, ‘What will happen to the kids?’”

Manral, who has written books across genres in both fiction and non-fiction, says that she thoroughly enjoys reading and writing. “Some days, I am in mood for paranormal stories, and then there are days when I enjoy humour, so it totally depends at the moment.”

My book is about a lady who is in her late 40s, is mentally sick and living in a dysfunctional marriage... It’s inspired by stories from here and there that I heard while growing up. KIRAN MANRAL AUTHOR

PHOTO: FOTOCORP Missing, Presumed Dead is author Kiran Manral’s latest book.