When a newly built lavish theater opens in Jaipur, India, the gala soon turns into a nightmare, as several supporting columns inside collapse, killing a famous actor and injuring countless others. The Royal Palace is a backer of the construction company that built the theater, so fingers are soon pointed at Manu Argawal, who is the facilities director of one of the companies. He is a close friend of Lakshmi Kumar, who believes him innocent of using faulty materials, and sets out to prove her case. This is a fascinating tale of the castes in India, and how fortunes can turn on a dime. This novel follows The Henna Artist, with Lakshmi and many of the other original characters returning. I enjoyed both, and recommend them to fans of historical fiction.