The Rat Catcher of Delhi

“I am Zua-Zuha-Tsuua! Call me whatever you like. I’m Delhi’s most  sought-after rat catcher — and business is booming. This is a city made for rats!”

Pia Heikkilä’s forthcoming novel takes readers into the raw, gritty heart of Delhi, where we meet Zoya — a teenage girl born with only three fingers on one hand and two on the other. Because of her physical difference, she has unbelievably fast reflexes. She soon becomes the city’s most sought-after rat catcher, thanks to her gentle technique that leaves the animals unharmed.

Dressing as a boy for safety, Zoya navigates the dangerous streets with her cunning, armed with just her bare hands and unmatched knack for finding rats. But when one of her closest friends is mutilated, her mission changes — and her survival becomes a quest for justice.

The Rat Catcher of Delhi is a vibrant, fast-paced tale of resilience, loss, moral dilemmas and most of all – courage.

It is a captivating survival story with a plucky lead character who observes the baffling world of grown-ups around her with avid curiosity. Heikkilä’s novel brings the capital Delhi alive as a magical, otherworldly place unlike any other where Zoya’s unbeatable spirit will be your guide.

Material

Full English manuscript