Ode to Broken Things

Set in modern day Malaysia, Ode to Broken Things follows three people during one tumultuous week sparked off by the violent murder of a political mistress. Colonel S—governmental hitman and explosives expert—calls in a blood debt that brings Jay Ghosh back to Malaysia. Meanwhile, Jay encounters the daughter of his first love, Agni. Colonel S, Jay, and Agni circle each other as the protests reach a crescendo. Politics, romance, and cultural identity clash as Jay and Agni delve deeper into their shared past.

Ode to Broken Things is, at its core, a story about broken people trying to fix themselves as their country crumbles around them. Mukherjee deftly weaves family drama and cultural issues that shines a light on Malaysia’s troubled past, present, and future. The prose is swift and streamlined, the cast of characters large and vivid, and the tension unyielding. It’s not clear if Jay trusts Colonel S, or even himself. As the backstory is filled in, the reader begins to question Jay’s motives in connecting with Agni. A quick read that will linger long after the last page has been flipped.