At the centre of Swati Kaushal’s ‘Lethal Spice’ (Hachette India; Rs. 350) is Niki Marwah, the steadfast cop she had introduced in her previous work, ‘Drop Dead’. Now the SP of Shimla, Niki gets to the bottom of the mystery of the death of one of the judges of a reality cooking show being shot in the hill town. Swati narrates a story of intrigue and blends it deliciously with food. As much as she indulges her readers with the food that’s being whipped up by the contestants of the reality show Hot Chef, she doesn’t let it override the main plot of human relationships and aspirations. Excerpts from an interview with the author:
How did the idea of blending food with a murder mystery come about?
I am a foodie, and I love the adrenaline and action of competitive food shows like Master Chef, Top Chef and Hell’s Kitchen. I guess my love for food is what led me to my first job with Nestle, where I worked on brands such as Maggi and Milkmaid, where we were always experimenting with exciting new flavours and recipes.
As a writer in the well-explored ‘whodunit’ genre, where such giants as Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Alfred Hitchcock have seemingly done it all, one is always looking for a milieu that is fresh and exciting. Plus there’s something about the gleaming edge of a chef’s 8-inch knife, the fire of a kitchen stove and the quiet mystery of jars of powders and spices that has always seemed rife with possibility to me.
What prompted you to set the story in Shimla, Mumbai and Goa?
Shimla has always appealed to me with its natural beauty, rich history, architecture and culture. Growing up, it was a fun getaway when things got too hot and dull in Delhi. When I first had the idea of writing a murder mystery series, I wanted to provide a ‘getaway’ for the readers. Shimla was a natural choice. Also, for me the milieu or setting of a book is always as important a factor as any of the characters. For ‘Piece of Cake’ it was the MNC/office setting; for ‘A Girl Like Me’, it was Gurgaon and Delhi schools/college. For ‘Lethal Spice’, I wanted to take readers on a long, picturesque journey in and outside Shimla, and provide a variety of ‘getaway’ experiences.
What was the thought process that went into sketching characters of the participants of Hot Chef? Do they reflect people whom you’ve observed around you?
The participants are not based on any real people. I knew I wanted the participants to be young and competitive, and drawn from a variety of backgrounds — three young men and women, each with a unique story and star power. I wanted for there to be something appealing, and yet something dark about each of them. The rest was just letting my imagination take charge.
You introduced Niki Marwah in ‘Drop Dead’. Having stayed with the character, how did you see her evolve in ‘Lethal Spice’?
Niki has grown a lot since ‘Drop Dead’, where she was younger, merrier... fell in love and agonised over her wardrobe. In ‘Lethal Spice’, she is surer of who she is, and how she appears to the world. A person grows a lot in any professional role, as they move from junior to senior management levels, and I imagine it to be even truer when you’re in law enforcement. In ‘Lethal Spice’, Niki has been SP Shimla for over two years and she has grown in stature, confidence and authority. She is aware of the tremendous responsibility and opportunity she has to make a difference, and she has chosen dedication to her work over relationships. That said, there is still a personal side to her that is human and feminine and she will always be a bit of a rebel.
From a chick-lit to a murder mystery, you’ve traversed different genres. How would you look back at your growth as a writer?
It’s been a bit of a journey in 10 years. For an amateur writer like me, the first book or two are usually semi-autobiographical; drawing heavily on one’s own experiences and observations. After that, you ask yourself, ‘do I still want to write?’ and ‘what do I write now?’ Personal growth has always been a guiding factor in my choices. I prefer to throw myself at new challenges. So after exploring women’s fiction/humour and young adult fiction which were more character driven; I felt the urge to try my hand at a plot-driven suspense story and hone my storytelling skills. I feel writing the Niki series has helped me grow as a writer; I feel more well rounded, competent and confident with plot, pace and storytelling.
Do you foresee ‘Lethal Spice’ being adapted into a film?
I’d love to see a screen version; I think it has tremendous cinematic appeal.
A few years ago, making the shift from a high-profile marketing job to writing books must have been a leap of faith. What were your thoughts when you quit a safe, well-paying job?
It’s a hard choice to make; I won’t paint it otherwise. My advice to those considering making it would be to write while still employed; it is hard to support yourself financially as a writer. As to my own story; I was planning to take a break from a high pressure job anyway in order to care for my newborn son. I do wish I could have continued to work in marketing, as well as write, as well as have time with my family; but back then, it wasn’t possible.
