Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line is a debut novel by journalist Deepa Anappara set in the slums of India. The story is told through the eyes of Jai, a nine-year-old boy and other children, with an innocence, clarity, charm, and simplicity that wouldn’t be possible using adult protagonists. When a child goes missing, Jai, a Hindi, decides to play detective and figure out who snatched him, enlisting the help of his friends, Pari, a Hindi girl smarter than him, and Faiz, a Muslim boy. In the course of Jai’s investigation, we’re given a tour of the slums and economic, political, and religious divides it embodies, and characters are fleshed out – both the children and the adults who govern their lives (or try to). More children go missing and what started as a game grows sinister. Imagine Slumdog Millionaire, Hardy Boys, Little Rascals, and Oliver Twist tossed in a blender, served with a sweet Maraschino Cherry and a twist of lemon. Here’s what The Guardian says:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/feb/09/djinn-patrol-on-the-purple-line-deepa-anappara-review