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The Dowry Bride
Shobhan Bantwal
2007, Kensington Publishing
kensingtonbook.com

The horrific details are buried in the pages; flash by as fleeting images on TV, of young girls killed by their in-laws over money.

The dowry, illegal in India since 1961, is still alive in parts of India. Fathers promise money, often sums beyond his ability to pay, to the groom's family for the honor of marriage. Shobhan Bantwal's Dowry Bride begins with 21-year old Megha overhearing her mother-in-law and husband's plans to kill her because her father had not paid the promised dowry. It's been one year, and she's not even pregnant!

Panic-stricken, she flees and ends up on the doorstep of Kiran, her husband's cousin, begging for sanctuary. Conveniently, Kiran is in love with Megha and willingly hides her in his home.

There are two stories: the main story of Megha in hiding, and the second, flashbacks to a bleak life as a Ramnath wife. Portrayed as a sheltered and naïve young woman, Megha often comes off as being a little too worldly.

While told primarily through Megha's eyes, the book shifts focus a few times to give Kiran a voice. Vinayak and Chandramma, Megha's parents-in-law, also get a chance in the spotlight.

With the exception of Megha, the characters are all cardboard cutouts: Kiran as the bland protector and Chandramma as pure evil. However, Dowry Bride forces the reader to think about the dowry's impact on everyone, and not just of the brides. Any book that can do that is worth a read despite its flaws.