The Girl with Seven Lives

• Author: Vikas Swarup
• Genre: Thriller
• Publication Date: September 1, 2026
• Publisher: Recorded Books

Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Twenty-five-year-old Devi has been kidnapped. She is now being held hostage in a dimly-lit basement by a masked gunman who is threatening to shoot her dead unless she reveals her entire life story and confesses to all the crimes he is accusing her of. To add to her terror, he is putting her life up for an online auction, where the highest bidder will determine her fate.

With her very existence hanging in the balance, Devi proceeds to give her captor ‘a confession to beat all confessions’, while simultaneously engaging in a high-stakes battle of wits and endurance against impossible odds.

Thus commences an enthralling odyssey through the heart and soul of modern India, as over the course of a single night, Devi unveils the secrets of her seven extraordinary lives.

From the labyrinthine alleys of Delhi to the hallowed grounds of Punjab, from the serene landscapes of Kerala to the sun-drenched shores of Goa, and ultimately to the bustling streets of Mumbai, Devi’s captivating journey is a rollercoaster ride through a tangled tapestry of hidden truths, deceit, and shocking revelations which will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.

Devi is the ultimate survivor – a girl from the gutters who dares to rewrite her own destiny. But can she survive the longest night of her life?

Vikas Swarup’s long-awaited new novel is filled with the same evocative prose, immersive narrative and propulsive energy that made Slumdog Millionaire a global bestseller, and will resonate with readers looking for a thoughtful page-turner.

Before coming across this book, I wasn’t even aware that Slumdog Millionaire was a book. The movie blew my mind, and I had high hopes for this book. I was even more impressed when I was reading it and realized that Swarup far exceeded my expectations.

There are some books that grab hold of my attention and are impossible to put down, and this was one of them. I read this as an audiobook narrated by Rea Malhotra Mukhtyar, and have nothing but wonderful things to say about her. She has a melodic voice and that made it a pleasure to listen to. Each character is given their own unique voice and accent, making it easy to know who was speaking at any given time even with a relatively large cast of side characters.

Devi is our protagonist, and she’s immediately likable. The story begins with her kidnapping and being held at gunpoint by someone who has a strange demand of her: to tell her life story and confess to all of her crimes. Additionally, while he is videoing her confessions, he’s also running an online auction where the winner will get to choose her fate. Instead of throwing a pity party for herself, Devi’s quick wit, intelligence, and stubborn underdog nature are heavily used to figure out any solution she can. 

Chapters are titled with the time so we can follow Devi’s night chronologically as she tells about her seven, very different lives. Her story unfolds with tragedy, born into a poor family in Delhi and experienced plenty of loss. From there, she tells a story that couldn’t make me think of anything other than a modern day Scheherazade. She easily slips from one role into another and is the ultimate survivor, learning new skills, languages, yet somehow always landing on her feet. Until now.

Devi begins the story of her life as a young child with her family, and the readers learn how easily she can slip into a new name, a new personality, a new life. She’s really easy to like not just because of the situation that she lives in, but also because of who she is. She knows right from wrong, she has a strong desire to do right, but because of her life that she hasn’t had the opportunity. Every time an opportunity comes up a bigger challenge seems to arise.

Thus we get to understand seven different sides of Devi’s life, and the circumstances that got her there in each case. She’s remarkably clear minded and astute, and I found myself liking her personality as well. I wanted her to escape. I wanted her to succeed. I wanted her to reach her dreams. And in this propulsive fast paced thrill ride through the gritty underside of India whether it is in Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Kerala, or anywhere else that she finds herself.

Overall, this was an outstanding book. I couldn’t put it down—it grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go till the end. Throughout the story, I was so impressed with Devi and her innate talent for survival. It’s a fantastic tour through India, as Devi finds herself starting over yet again in a new place. She has a strong sense of morality but also learned along the way that she would do whatever she needed to do to survive. The story was well crafted, fast paced, and completely engrossing. This book put Swarup on my radar and I’ll be absolutely watching for any more of his books.

Bottom line: This is a fast paced, gripping roller coaster ride throughout India as one plucky young woman tells her story of survival.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission at no cost to you if you purchase through my links.