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
"This fine thriller debut views disturbing political realism through the lens of Ranjit Singh, a newly immigrated Sikh fleeing danger in India after a politically explosive mistake ends his military career...a cynically smart political thriller that draws parallels of political expediency between Washington deal-brokering and Ranjits tragic past. Beyond the masterfully crafted, high-adrenaline story, readers will be fascinated by Ranjits strong Sikh faith, rarely seen in American fiction." —Booklist (starred review)
"Combinations of the familiar and the unfamiliar provide a read that moves beyond standard thriller fare. Weaving together Singhs Sikh faith with very personal moments, taut action sequences, and events with international significance, Ahmads thriller should have broad appeal." —Library Journal (starred review)
"Ahmad debuts with a fast-paced literary thriller, shifting action from the desolate ice-clad Siachen glacier separating India and Pakistan to the posh environs of Marthay's Vineyard. . . . Top-notch effort in the first of a promising trilogy." —Kirkus Reviews
"Poignant. . . . A finely textured story of bravery and knavery." —Publishers Weekly
“Told with propulsive narrative drive, The Caretaker weaves a compelling story, beguiling characters, and two exotic locales—India and Martha's Vineyard—into a suspenseful whole. A wonderful debut.” —Richard North Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"...Exciting and involving." —Wall Street Journal
“The Caretaker” isnt just a solid thriller, its a wonderful novel about clashing cultures and painful histories, held together by Ahmads crisp writing and his wonderful character of Ranjit Singh. Shades of Martiz Cruz Smith here, and echoes of Graham Greene. Bravo, A. X. Ahmad.” —T. Jefferson Parker, author of The Jaguar and The Border Lords
“Though A. X. Ahmad's The Caretaker is a tightly wound thriller, it is equally concerned with themes of insiders and outsiders, race, culture and class. From protagonist Ranjit Singh, a Sikh who once held a position of status in the Indian Army and is now a disgraced, reluctant refuge in the US, to the African American Senator who came up from poverty to become a powerful and influential leader, to the Senator's wife, from a family of longtime Vineyard residents that lost nearly everything they'd once held, Ahmad portrays a modern American reality where privilege is not predictable and identity is formed in a crucible of contradictions. If this sounds dry and didactic, let me assure you that The Caretaker is anything but—Ahmad has crafted a story that is refreshing, sexy and heart-felt. I very much hope that this is not the last we'll see of Ranjit Singh, an original, complex hero for an uncertain, complicated time.” —Lisa Brackmann, New York Times bestselling author of Rock Paper Tiger
“The Caretaker is a powerhouse tale, a literary thriller thats sharply observed and deeply felt. A. X. Ahmad is a remarkable new talent, and his hero, Ranjit Singh, takes his place beside Arkady Renko as a man trapped between the system and his own moral imperatives. The Caretaker is a surprising, gripping love story that manages to be both timely and timeless, and will be a novel people read for years to come. —Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of Buried Secrets and Paranoia
"The Caretaker is a promising debut from A. X. Ahmad with a unique perspective and compelling hero, a novel that shines fresh and welcome light on our complex world." —James Grady, author of Six Days of the Condor
"The Caretaker is a killer book and A. X. Ahmad's Ranjit Singh is a compelling man of action. Ahmad takes his readers on a careening ride from the glacial battlefields of South Asia to the supposedly safer digs of Martha's Vineyard. America may not be ready for a run-and-gun Sikh investigator, but we need him now." —Ed Lin, author of One Red Bastard
"This first novel combines the taut pacing of a thriller with the lush, lyrical writing of Jhumpa Lahiri." —Jenna Blum, New York Times Bestselling author of Those Who Save Us and The Stormchasers
Review
“Told with propulsive narrative drive, The Caretaker weaves a compelling story, beguiling characters, and two exotic locales-India and Martha's Vineyard-into a suspenseful whole. A wonderful debut.” —Richard North Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“The Caretaker” isnt just a solid thriller, its a wonderful novel about clashing cultures and painful histories, held together by Ahmads crisp writing and his wonderful character of Ranjit Singh. Shades of Martiz Cruz Smith here, and echoes of Graham Greene. Bravo, A. X. Ahmad.” —T. Jefferson Parker, author of The Jaguar and The Border Lords
“Though A. X. Ahmad's The Caretaker is a tightly wound thriller, it is equally concerned with themes of insiders and outsiders, race, culture and class. From protagonist Ranjit Singh, a Sikh who once held a position of status in the Indian Army and is now a disgraced, reluctant refuge in the US, to the African American Senator who came up from poverty to become a powerful and influential leader, to the Senator's wife, from a family of longtime Vineyard residents that lost nearly everything they'd once held, Ahmad portrays a modern American reality where privilege is not predictable and identity is formed in a crucible of contradictions. If this sounds dry and didactic, let me assure you that The Caretaker is anything but—Ahmad has crafted a story that is refreshing, sexy and heart-felt. I very much hope that this is not the last we'll see of Ranjit Singh, an original, complex hero for an uncertain, complicated time.” —Lisa Brackmann, New York Times bestselling author of Rock Paper Tiger
“The Caretaker is a powerhouse tale, a literary thriller thats sharply observed and deeply felt. A. X. Ahmad is a remarkable new talent, and his hero, Ranjit Singh, takes his place beside Arkady Renko as a man trapped between the system and his own moral imperatives. The Caretaker is a surprising, gripping love story that manages to be both timely and timeless, and will be a novel people read for years to come. —Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of Buried Secrets and Paranoia
"The Caretaker is a promising debut from A. X. Ahmad with a unique perspective and compelling hero, a novel that shines fresh and welcome light on our complex world." —James Grady, author of Six Days of the Condor
"The Caretaker is a killer book and A. X. Ahmad's Ranjit Singh is a compelling man of action. Ahmad takes his readers on a careening ride from the glacial battlefields of South Asia to the supposedly safer digs of Martha's Vineyard. America may not be ready for a run-and-gun Sikh investigator, but we need him now." —Ed Lin, author of One Red Bastard
"This first novel combines the taut pacing of a thriller with the lush, lyrical writing of Jhumpa Lahiri." —Jenna Blum, New York Times Bestselling author of Those Who Save Us and The Stormchasers
Review
"Ahmad debuts with a fast-paced literary thriller, shifting action from the desolate ice-clad Siachen glacier separating India and Pakistan to the posh environs of Marthay's Vineyard. . . . Top-notch effort in the first of a promising trilogy." —Kirkus Reviews
"Poignant. . . . A finely textured story of bravery and knavery." —Publishers Weekly
“Told with propulsive narrative drive, The Caretaker weaves a compelling story, beguiling characters, and two exotic locales—India and Martha's Vineyard—into a suspenseful whole. A wonderful debut.” —Richard North Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“The Caretaker” isnt just a solid thriller, its a wonderful novel about clashing cultures and painful histories, held together by Ahmads crisp writing and his wonderful character of Ranjit Singh. Shades of Martiz Cruz Smith here, and echoes of Graham Greene. Bravo, A. X. Ahmad.” —T. Jefferson Parker, author of The Jaguar and The Border Lords
“Though A. X. Ahmad's The Caretaker is a tightly wound thriller, it is equally concerned with themes of insiders and outsiders, race, culture and class. From protagonist Ranjit Singh, a Sikh who once held a position of status in the Indian Army and is now a disgraced, reluctant refuge in the US, to the African American Senator who came up from poverty to become a powerful and influential leader, to the Senator's wife, from a family of longtime Vineyard residents that lost nearly everything they'd once held, Ahmad portrays a modern American reality where privilege is not predictable and identity is formed in a crucible of contradictions. If this sounds dry and didactic, let me assure you that The Caretaker is anything but—Ahmad has crafted a story that is refreshing, sexy and heart-felt. I very much hope that this is not the last we'll see of Ranjit Singh, an original, complex hero for an uncertain, complicated time.” —Lisa Brackmann, New York Times bestselling author of Rock Paper Tiger
“The Caretaker is a powerhouse tale, a literary thriller thats sharply observed and deeply felt. A. X. Ahmad is a remarkable new talent, and his hero, Ranjit Singh, takes his place beside Arkady Renko as a man trapped between the system and his own moral imperatives. The Caretaker is a surprising, gripping love story that manages to be both timely and timeless, and will be a novel people read for years to come. —Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of Buried Secrets and Paranoia
"The Caretaker is a promising debut from A. X. Ahmad with a unique perspective and compelling hero, a novel that shines fresh and welcome light on our complex world." —James Grady, author of Six Days of the Condor
"The Caretaker is a killer book and A. X. Ahmad's Ranjit Singh is a compelling man of action. Ahmad takes his readers on a careening ride from the glacial battlefields of South Asia to the supposedly safer digs of Martha's Vineyard. America may not be ready for a run-and-gun Sikh investigator, but we need him now." —Ed Lin, author of One Red Bastard
"This first novel combines the taut pacing of a thriller with the lush, lyrical writing of Jhumpa Lahiri." —Jenna Blum, New York Times Bestselling author of Those Who Save Us and The Stormchasers
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
Synopsis
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, 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.
Synopsis
Who is the caretaker hiding in the shadows of the Marthas Vineyard mansions he tends?
Back in India, Ranjit Singh commanded an elite army squad. But that was years ago, before his Army career ended in dishonor, shattering his reputation. Driven from his homeland, he is now a caretaker on the exclusive resort island of Marthas Vineyard, looking after the vacation homes of the rich and powerful. One harsh winter, faced with no other choice, he secretly moves his family into the house of one of his clients, an African-American Senator. Here, his wife and daughter are happy, and he feels safe for the first time in ages. But Ranjits idyll is shattered when mysterious men break into the house. Pursued and hunted, Ranjit is forced to enter the Senators shadowy world, and his only ally is Anna, the Senators beautiful wife, who has secrets of her own. Together, they uncover a trail of deception that leads from the calm shores of the Vineyard to countries half a world away. And when his investigation stirs up long forgotten events, the caretaker must finally face the one careless decision that ruined his life- and forced him to leave India.
A gripping tale of hidden histories, political intrigue and dangerous attractions, A. X. Ahmad's The Caretaker introduces a new hero for our times: an immigrant caught between two worlds and a man caught between two loves.
About the Author
A. X. AHMAD was raised in India, educated at Vassar College and M.I.T., and has worked as an international architect. As Amin Ahmad, his short stories and essays on immigrant life have been published in The Missouri Review, The Harvard Review, The New England Review, Narrative Magazine and The Good Men Project. He was a finalist for Glimmertrain's Short Story Award, and has been listed in Best American Essays. He lives in Washington, D.C, where he teaches writing.