Synopses & Reviews
A gripping, evocative thriller about a disgraced Sikh Indian Army captain who works as the caretaker for a U.S. Senators Martha's Vineyard estate, and becomes ensnared in the Senator's shadowy world
Ranjit Singh, a former Indian Army Captain trying to escape a shameful past, now lives on Marthas Vineyard, and works as a caretaker for the vacation homes of the rich and powerful. One harsh winter, Ranjit needs a place to stay, and illegally moves his family into an empty, luxurious vacation home belonging to an African-American Senator. Ensconced in the house, he tries to forget his brief affair with Anna, the Senators wife, and focuses on providing for his family. But one night, their idyll is shattered when mysterious armed men break into the house, searching for an antique porcelain doll. Forced to flee, Ranjit is hunted by unknown forces, and becomes drawn into the Senators shadowy world. To save his family and solve the mystery of the doll, he must join forces with Anna, who has her own dark secrets. As he battles to save his family, Ranjits painful past resurfaces, and he must finally confront the hidden event that destroyed his Army career- and forced him to leave India.
Tightly plotted, action-packed, smart and surprisingly moving, A. X. Ahmad's The Caretaker takes us from the desperate world of migrant workers to the elite African-American community of Marthas Vineyard, and a secret high-altitude war between India and Pakistan.
Review
“How good does The Caretaker sound as an audiobook? Forget multitasking while you listen to this gripping narration of The Caretaker and follow the story of disgraced Sikh Indian Army Captain Ranjit Singh...narrator Sam Dastors voice holds our attention and makes us stop what we are doing to listen. The pace and cadence of the audio version create just the right mood for this story. Dastors versatile voice repertoire adds richness to Ahmads characters and brings them off the page and into our living room, car, studio…from wherever we are listening.” - New York Journal of Books
“Sam Dastor provides this compelling audio edition with dramatic, crisp narration. He capably switches between a variety of appropriate and distinctive accents - primarily Indian (the protagonist, his family, his associates) and the American (the growly senator; his friendly, soft-spoken wife; the gruff pursuers). Dastors careful, intelligent rendering enhances Ahmads novel and makes for great listening.” - Publishers Weekly
“Sam Dastor, as the reader, provides convincing accents and personalities for the fairly large cast of characters.” - The Star-Ledger
“Sam Dastor is the perfect choice to portray the main character, a Sikh man named Ranjit. Dastors interpretation of Indian-accented English is as accurate a subcontinental accent as anyone is likely to hear.” - AudioFile Magazine
About the Author
A. X. AHMAD was raised in India, where he grew up reading thrillers. He was educated at Vassar College and M.I.T., and worked internationally as an architect before taking up writing full time. His short stories and essays have been published in The Missouri Review, The Harvard Review, The New England Review, Narrative Magazine and The Good Men Project. He's been a finalist for Glimmertrain's Short Story Award, and been listed in Best American Essays.