THE TOWN THAT LAUGHED: A Novel

Change is coming to the
tranquil town of Karuthupuzha, nestled deep within the lush Kerala
countryside. The mighty black river, after which the town is named, is now no
more than a trickle. People have begun to listen to weather forecasts on the
radio rather than looking out of the window to see if it’s going to rain. The
jackfruit tree in the middle of town has suddenly started fruiting. And, most
seismic of all, Paachu Yemaan, the Inspector of Police, who has terrorized
the town for decades has retired. Desperate to find him something to do, his
wife, Sharada, and the good-hearted Barber Sureshan decide that ex-Inspector
Paachu’s post retirement project will be the reforming of the town drunk,
Joby. What the two good Samaritans haven’t counted on is the chain of
extraordinary events that their project is about to set in motion.