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The Tiger By The River
The Tiger By The River
Mar 16, 2026 7:17 PM

Author:Ravi Shankar Etteth

The Tiger By The River

Swati Varma is one of modern Delhi's more blessed inhabitants. But then one brilliant morning when the world seemed cleansed by the coming of the rains, the unthinkable happens: his pregnant wife is killed in a road accident. Devastated, Swati makes a pilgrimage back to the land of his forebears, Panayur, in the state of Kerala, to scatter his beloved's ashes in the sacred waters of the Papanasini river.

Returning to this long-forgotten world, he is reunited with a childhood companion who now cares for the crumbling, ghost-filled palace that was his home. For Panayur - seemingly still free from the religious turmoil that threatens so much of the country - was once a kingdom, and Swati is the direct descendant of the its last king. As two friends talk, share memories and exchange secrets, thousands of miles away, Vel - a cousin Swati never knew he had - sets out on a quest for the truth about his family that will take him from America, to Berlin and, ultimately, to Panayur.

And so begins an extraordinary and healing journey. One that will lead both Swati and Vel back through the cruel, vibrant, myth-filled history of the kings of Panayur to the legend that lies at its heart - the legend of the tiger by the river . . .

Reviews

A majestic novel of love and loss'

—— Books

'Full of stories and overlapping voices, teeming with history and myth...Etteth negotiates the cultures of west and east and the narratives of folklore and modernity with a rare and appealing skill'

—— Sunday Herald

'The Tiger by the River dazzles with its intricate plotting and stylish prose'

—— David Davidar, author of The House of Blue Mangoes

'A heady mix of mythology and myth-making...a rewarding, atmospheric read, laden with ghosts'

—— Time Out

This, ladies and gents, is a true thriller, complete with mass hysteria, brutal murder, and one scary badass witch raised from the dead…read this book... you just might want to plan on sleeping with the lights on.

—— darkfaerietales.com

While I was utterly repulsed and quite terrified of some of the things that happened in The Thirteenth Sacrifice, that did not keep me from being completely engrossed in the story. I was covered with chills as I watched things unfurl and the threat of Samantha's discovery just about killed my nerves, but that only made me enjoy it all the more. I'd recommend The 13th Sacrifice to anyone one who enjoys an on the edge of your seat thriller with a major creepy factor that will utterly haunt you.

—— Abookobsession.com

This excellent thriller features a deeply conflicted heroine trying hard to do the right thing in the face of powerful black magic. If you are looking for a scary, compelling witch hunt, look no further then Viguie’s first of the Witch Hunt novels.

—— Monstersandcritics.com

I fell in love with it. It was dark and dangerous and incredibly thrilling with tons of action, more intrigue than I knew what to do with, surprises around every corner, and psychological and theological undertones.

—— Paranormalbookclub.co.uk

The Thirteenth Sacrifice is suspenseful and creepy - I enjoyed it.

—— Michellesramblins.com

A terrific thriller.

—— Alternativeworlds.com

The characters are well-rounded and interesting…the imagery beautifully describedI enjoyed The 13th Sacrifice immensely, and will definitely be following the Witch Hunt saga with interest.

—— Verity Hayter , Geek Planet Online

For Christmas, I will give to dinner party conversationalists:... Tom Wolfe’s Back to Blood.

—— Fay Weldon , Daily Telegraph

What really drives all this is Wolfe’s extraordinary style.

—— Robert Murphy , Metro

As broad and panoramic as ever.

—— Craig Brown , Mail on Sunday

There are some dazzling satirical riffs and politically incorrect laughs.

—— Jake Kerridge , Sunday Express

Wolfe’s prose is as punchy as ever.

—— Time Out

Energetically set against the deco licentiousness of Florida’s steamiest party capital.

—— Vogue

Class, family, wealth and corruption are all themes in this examination of life in Miami.

—— Sunday Business Post

[Tells] us about the way we live now... enjoyable.

—— Wynn Wheldon , Spectator

Classic Wolfe. A delight

—— William Leith , Evening Standard

Epic, hectic, satirical… It’s scathing, funny, and has great set-piece scenes

—— Brandon Robshaw , Independent on Sunday

Contemporary Miami gets the Wolfe treatment in a grand, sweeping satire on race, class, lust and immigration

—— Sunday Telegraph
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