Kerala Novel Ten Out of Ten: Why a Perfect Match Turns Deadly in Munnar

Read the First Pages of Ten Out of Ten, a Kerala Romantic Suspense Novel

Nov 10, Mumbai

If you haven't yet, there is still time. Over the past week, this series has taken you into the world of the novel: the nervous pennukaanal, the all-important porutham, the Kerala rain and the misty tea hills of Munnar. On the eve of launch, there is only one thing left to do. Let the book speak for itself.

Read the opening pages

This is how Ten Out of Ten begins.

"Heavy rain continues across the state. A red alert has been declared in Idukki district. There is a high chance of landslides in the hill areas, including Munnar. People are advised to avoid night travel..."

The day my husband tried to kill me, it had been raining for three days straight.

I know. Big opening. Very dramatic. Sorry not sorry.

But that's how it happened. I still remember the fog that evening. Thick, white, everywhere, like someone had deleted the whole world. I remember the smell of wet earth, the cold under my bare feet, and a tiny red light blinking far away across the valley, like a heartbeat that belonged to somebody else.

I also remember thinking: this cannot be my life. I'm literally the most boring person I know.

And honestly? I was. Until I wasn't.

So let me start where every Malayali girl's story starts.

With a horoscope.

A moment from later in Chapter 1

After the pennukaanal, the elders send Priya and Rahul to the back of the house to "let the children talk." Standing by the canal, she asks him the one question nobody else has asked.

"Do you actually want this? This marriage thing? With me?"

The pause was too long. A crow landed on our clothesline, looked at us, and flew off like it didn't want to get involved.

"My parents want this," he said.

"That's not what I asked."

What happens next

Priya is twenty-four, with a master's in social work, forty-one job rejections and a mother who has just discovered matrimony apps. When the astrologer declares her match with Rahul, a quiet bank officer from Thrissur, a perfect ten out of ten, the whole family celebrates.

Everyone except Rahul. He never smiles in photos. His phone lights up at night with a single letter. And against his entire family, he insists on a honeymoon in Munnar, in the middle of a monsoon red alert.

High in the misty tea hills, a sunset picnic, a cup of tea and a small black bird will turn Priya's perfect match into a fight for her life. And nothing that happens on that hill is what it seems.

Who will enjoy this book

• Kindle: worldwide from 11 November, with a special launch price of ₹149 on Amazon.in for the first week
• Kindle Unlimited: free to read for subscribers
• No Kindle device? Read it on the free Kindle app on your phone, tablet or computer
• Paperback outside India: from 12 November on Amazon in the USA, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia and Japan
• Paperback in India: coming soon

Get it here:

• India: Amazon.in
• USA and worldwide: Amazon.com
• United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk

Frequently asked questions

When will my pre-order arrive? Pre-orders are delivered automatically on release day, 11 November. Open your Kindle or the Kindle app and the book will be in your library.

Can I read a free sample first? Yes. Tap "Read sample" on the book's Amazon page to read the opening chapter before you buy.

Is the ₹149 launch price available everywhere? The launch price is for Amazon.in during the first week. Readers in other countries will see their local price on their own Amazon store.

Is the book suitable for teenagers? It is written in simple English, but it deals with mature themes, including violence and abuse within relationships. It is best suited for readers aged 16 and above.

How can I support the book? If you enjoy it, leave an honest rating or review on Amazon and tell a friend. For a first-time author, every review makes a real difference.

See you tomorrow

A horoscope said ten out of ten. A hill in Munnar had other plans. Tomorrow, you can find out what happened.

Get Ten Out of Ten on Amazon

— TINN