The Girl with the Seven Lives: Read an exclusive excerpt from Vikas Swarup’s new book

In the former diplomat’s latest novel, the morally complex protagonist, Devi, is hiding something. Her captor is demanding she confess. An excerpt.

The most valuable thing in the world is not money, it is attention.

At least that’s what Nancy D’Souza, the cranky old English teacher at the observation home, used to tell us all the time. And she would throw a chalk at anyone not paying enough attention.

In the two years she taught us, I received the highest number of chalks. Because my attention would always wander. To the smell of food drifting in from the kitchen. To the film