Last Man In Tower

Twenty-first-century Mumbai is a city of new money and soaring real estate, and property kingpin Dharmen Shah has grand plans for its future. His offer to buy and tear down a weathered tower block, making way for luxury apartments, will make each of its residents rich – if all agree to sell. But not everyone wants to leave; many of the residents have lived there for a lifetime, many of them are no longer young. As tensions rise among the once civil neighbours, one by one those who oppose the offer give way to the majority, until only one man stands in Shah’s way: Masterji, a retired schoolteacher, once the most respected man in the building. Shah is a dangerous man to refuse, but as the demolition deadline looms, Masterji’s neighbours – friends who have become enemies, acquaintances turned conspirators — may stop at nothing to score their payday …

‘The story of a struggle for a slice of shining Mumbai real estate brings all of Adiga’s gifts for sharp social observation and mordant wit to the fore … His scope, in this novel teeming with life and skulduggery, is Dickensian … [Adiga is] a writer who is evocative, entertaining and angry’ – Daily Telegraph

‘Beautifully done … As honest a book as it is entertaining: funny and engaging as he can be Adiga never forgets the seriousness of his subject’ – The Times

‘In this complex and multi-layered novel, Aravind Adiga continues his project of shining a light on the changing face of India … Compelling’ – Guardian ‘Funny yet deeply melancholic, this is a brilliant and remarkably mature second novel … A rare achievement’ – The Economist