The splintered relationship between two Indian American cousins is at the center of this dark, twisty YA mystery—perfect for fans of Tiffany D. Jackson, Karen McManus, and Angeline Boulley.
Shy, nerdy Tanvi has always thought of her perfect cousin Mimi as her sister. Not only did Mimi’s family raise Tanvi after the tragic death of her parents, fierce Mimi has always protected Tanvi at school. At least until Mimi fell under the spell of their flawless, rich classmate, Beth . . . Tanvi’s biggest bully.
Fearing another terrible year, Tanvi decides to take a desperate, preemptive strike—and captures an incriminating photo of Mimi and Beth at a party. When Tanvi wakes up the next day with a bump on her head, scratches on her leg, and no memory of what caused her injuries, Mimi is gone.
When the investigation for the missing girl takes a dark turn, Tanvi begins to fill the gaps in her memory, hoping to bring her cousin home alive. She questions Mimi’s friends and enemies—including Mimi’s shady boyfriend, who refuses to answer her questions, and Beth, who catalyzed the split between the once-close cousins. Meanwhile, the cops announce that they are now hunting a murderer—are they hunting Tanvi?
To preserve her family and find the truth, Tanvi must revisit the worst night of her life and the darkest parts of her past to discover if she’s capable of murder—and the truth of what happened to Mimi.
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Praise for When Mimi Went Missing
She Reads Most Anticipated YA Thrillers of Fall 2024
“[A] heartstopping debut.”
—Teen Vogue
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“Sukumar’s debut gives readers a glimpse into the harrowing world of social ostracism and the manipulation teenage girls often contend with. While it is a well-executed thriller, the book’s power is in the deep character exploration of Tanvi as a young woman finding her inner strength. Readers will be inspired by this story of resilience in the face of multiple traumas.”
—Booklist
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“When Mimi Went Missing had me up all night missing sleep, but I had to find out what happened to Tanvi and her cousin. It’s a fast-paced, heart pounding, character driven story that’s perfect for thriller lovers. It’s hard to believe this is Suja Sukumar’s debut novel. A much needed addition to the YA crime fiction genre, she’s already been added to my must-read author list!”
—Kellye Garrett, award winning author of Missing White Woman
“When Mimi Went Missing is a chilling psychological thriller that delves deep into the bonds of sisterhood, grief, trauma, and loss. Suja Sukumar displays a real gift at portraying the complex dynamics between teen girls. A promising debut!”
—Tanaz Bhathena, award-winning author of A Girl Like That
“When Mimi Went Missing is a sharp, twisty psychological thriller that delicately explores themes of grief and loss. Suja Sukumar has written an affecting debut that will stay with you long after reading. A gritty, heartrending story with an unpredictable ending!”
—Dana Mele, author of People Like Us and Summer's Edge
“Full of unpredictable twists and turns, When Mimi Went Missing gripped me from start to finish with nail-biting tight pacing and unreliable narration. Readers won’t be able to put it down!”
—Katie Zhao, author of How We Fall Apart
“A heart-pounding debut that will have you frantically turning pages until the very end as it keeps you guessing about what really happened that night.”
—Kelly deVos, author of Go Hunt Me
.“This book had me guessing to the very (shocking) end. I was hooked. Readers who appreciate stories with twisty narratives, mental health struggles, and immigrant family dynamics will definitely want to check this out.”
—Francesca Padilla, author of What’s Coming to Me
.“Gripping.”
—Foreword Reviews
Picked as a "Dazzling Debut" by the School Library Journal Day Of Dialog Spring 2024