In The Devil In Us, celebrated writer Monica Bhide weaves spellbinding stories of fate, fortune, and love into lessons for life. A startling train wreck inspires new passion in a disenchanted bride. A prophetic poet's love is hopelessly doomed by addiction. An enchanting woman literally steals a stranger's soul. These are but three of a dozen haunting, gripping stories in which each compelling character faces the fateful moment that may forever change them.
Bhide masterfully weaves pivotal twists and intangible interconnections that bring together disparate threads of hope and sorrow. If you dare, you may recognize the same fears and redemption in your own life.
Advance Praise
"This book and its characters will haunt you long after you finish reading it." --- Kathleen Flinn, author of The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry .
"Monica Bhide's excellent collection will transport you to unexpected places, moving you between America and India, hospitals, college campuses, ancient temples, a devastated train station. You will be entranced by the wide spectrum of characters she has created--a newlywed doctor learning to love his wife, a cancer survivor hoping for a second chance, a dying old man filled with hate, a transsexual who adopts a young orphan. Filled with surprises and heart, this book will pull you in and not let you go." --- Chitra Divakaruni, author of Oleander Girl and Mistress of Spices
"Monica Bhide's wonderful, internationally-flavored collection is full of spice and life. The beguiling voice of a true storyteller will lure you out of your self into her intriguing, fictional world. Enjoy " --- Diana Abu-Jaber, author of Crescent and Bird of Paradise
"Monica Bhide's short story collection isn't impressive because it's a first-timer's effort--it's impressive, period. The stories, each filled with strong, feisty characters and exquisite details of people, places, and things, will keep you riveted. There are plenty of Indian Americans writing novels these days, but far too few writing short stories and even fewer writing stories of this caliber." --- Sree Sreenivasan, co-founder of the South Asian Journalists Association and Chief Digital Officer at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
"Monica Bhide's shimmering short stories travel from Maryland to Mumbai and back again, effortlessly introducing us to soldiers and shape-shifters, hijras and housewives. With insightful grace, she illuminates the ordinary miracles and tragedies of suburban American life, intertwined with an India equally intimate and spectacular. Full of rich, delicate details and searing character portraits, these remarkable stories remind us of the demons we carry inside us on all of our journeys." --- Annia Ciezadlo, author of Day of Honey: A Memoir of Food, Love, and War
"For those of us who know Monica's superb food writing, this book will not surprise you. It's written with the same clarity, warmth, and attention to detail as you might expect from her. But what you may not expect is to see the emergence of a fiction writer to be reckoned with--these stories have heart and characters that will stay with you long after you close the book."--- Mollie Cox Bryan, author of Scrapbook of Secrets: A Cumberland Creek Mystery
"Monica Bhide's riveting collection of short stories brings out the complex flavors of modern day families across the globe. Filled throughout with movement and truly international in its reach, this book is certain to keep you captivated." --- Sweta Srivastava Vikram, Amazon bestseller and award-winning author.