Jen here. So happy that Manju is our guest today. Grab a cup of chai (or your favorite beverage) and learn about Manju and her new debut! 🎉 In honor of her visit with us–and her mom–Manju’s offering a giveaway. (U.S. residents only, please.) Comment on the post and be entered to win a signed copy of THE MASALA CHAI MYSTERY CLUB.
Thank you for having me on as a guest, Chicks!
Recently, I’ve been asking myself a lot of existential questions, you know, like, if a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Or, if I’m open-minded, will my brain fall out? And, is Botox the same as rigor mortis?
Okay, in all seriousness, this is a bit of gallows humor because existential questions became very real after my mom died a few years ago.
My mom left behind a legacy of children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, people who loved her and her cooking, but what I miss the most about her, her laugh. She didn’t laugh often, but when she did it was girly peel of laughter, high pitched and mischievous. It truly was a beautiful sound.
Why am I telling you this? Because I’m not sure what this blog post is about… no, wait, it’s because I wanted to talk about heirlooms.
What’s my most treasured heirloom? It’s hard to choose, especially since I’m the family archivist. If I had to choose one item, it would be this green saree. My mom wore it to my wedding more decades ago than I’d like to divulge, and here I am with my dad when I wore it to my niece’s wedding a couple of years ago.
Sarees are the inspiration behind my debut THE MASALA CHAI MYSTERY CLUB where my protagonist Neeti Shah wears a saree. My mom wore one every day until her dementia caused her to forget how to wear one.
Do clothing matter in a mystery? Of course, they do. Neeti’s sarees distinguish her and point to her strong sense of herself and the tradition she’s trying to maintain.
Alfred Hitchcock was meticulous when it came to Janet Leigh’s underwear in PSYCHO, Mother’s shoes in the same movie, and the shoes of the two leading men in Strangers on a Train, which immediately defined one as wealthy and sophisticated and the other more middle class.
And of course, the GOAT (greatest of all time!) Agatha Christie, had her sleuth, Ms. Marple, solve a murder in a short story called A CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY by noticing a misplaced hat! “I explained that the hat had been on poor Gladys’s head, whereas now it was lying beside her….I asked him to fit that hat on the poor girl’s head—and of course he couldn’t. It wouldn’t go on. It wasn’t her hat, you see.”
And even the great Hercule Poirot was sentimental at times. “Hastings, my good friend, take my watch in your hand—with care. It is a family heirloom!” he says in the short story THE JEWEL ROBBERY AT THE GRAND METROPOLITAN.
So dear Readers, please share an example of an heirloom you treasure, or one of your characters does, or maybe a clue, or one that defines a character in your story?
Thank you for reading!
About THE MASALA CHAI MYSTERY CLUB (MCMC):
The MCMC features a saree-wearing retired librarian and her diverse cast of chai-loving friends, as they delve into the investigation of their despised HOA president’s murder, which echoes the plot of their latest Agatha Christie book club read. It’s perfect for fans of ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING and Richard Osman’s THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB. You can preorder it here or from your local bookstore.
“This multicultural and multigenerational novel has intrigue, heart, and excellent storytelling that is perfect for readers who enjoy the “Detective Aunty” series by Uzma Jalaluddin or Jesse Q. Sutanto’s Vera Wong and “Aunties” books.” —Library Journal Starred Review
About MJ (Manju) Soni:
Manju (MJ) Soni grew up in South Africa and wrote, DEFYING APARTHEID, a part-memoir about being a doctor/ activist under apartheid. Since then, drawing on her American, African, and Indian background, she’s written mystery short fiction and her debut cozy mystery, THE MASALA CHAI MYSTERY CLUB, which are full of heart and humor, with a saree-wearing librarian protagonist is to be published on July 21 with Crooked Lane Books.
You can connect with her at her website, or via newsletter on Substack or Instagram and on Facebook.
And if you’re in the Northeast please come and say hi at one of her events, which can be found here.
Chicks on the Case 
Your hypothesis makes sense, MJ. Thinking about movies I’ve seen and books I’ve read, authors use clothing to flesh out their characters’ psyches.
THE MASALA CHAI MYSTERY CLUB sounds like an interesting novel. I’ll enjoy reading it, should I win your giveaway!
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This sounds like a great mystery! I love Chai tea so the title caught my attention right away. Clothes are very important in the movies and help actors get into their role and help inform who their character is. Author Marjorie McCown worked in costuming and has a lot of fascinating stories about her time in Hollywood. As for an heirloom, one of my brothers has a secretary that our great great grandfather made. He was a carpenter and made it sometime before the 1870s.
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Thank you! I love antique furniture, it’s a cool heirloom.
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Thx Mary! Clothes say so much about us, and our characters
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Manju!!! Welcome to the blog! It’s so wonderful to have you visit with us. Thank you again for allowing me to read an advance copy of THE MASALA CHAI MURDER CLUB. I loved it so much! It’s my happy place. I revisit it often in my mind. One of my favorite family heirlooms is my mother’s sweater. I keep it on the back of my desk chair.
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Thanks to you and ALL the Chicks for having me as a guest! And to you for reading and blurbing, you made my day with your lovely words!
A sweater, on the back of your chair, call me sentimental but that feels like she has your back while you’re writing, no?
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Absolutely! That’s how I feel. Thank you for recognizing that. 💞💞💞
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I have and often wear my dad’s wedding ring. It is a narrow gold band with their initials and wedding date etched on the inside. He had small hands, so mine are about the same size, making it easy to keep him close.
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Thx for sharing. I love a jewelry heirloom for sooo many reasons 🙂
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Beautiful saree. I can’t wait to read THE MASALA CHAI MYSTERY CLUB.
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Thank you! I love the saree too, it’s one of my most ‘fancy’ ones.
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Manju, I gasped when I read this. I always say that one of the things I miss most about my mom is her laugh. How I wish I’d recorded it. And that saree is beautiful.
I don’t know if I have anything I’d call an heirloom but I do have my mother’s wedding band, which was her mother’s, so it’s over a hundred years old. And from Italy, where Mom was born.
I really enjoyed your book! Congrats on your debut!
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Thank you Ellen! And for reading 💕
Yes, I also don’t have my mom’s laughter on video ☹️ Another thing we no longer have much of is handwriting.
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Welcome, Manju, and thanks so much for being a guest today with the Chicks-your new book looks marvelous! (And, having worked for a law firm that represented the HOA of a ritzy subdivision, I can tell you that plot sounds very realistic, lol.)
My most prized heirloom would have to be my mother’s wedding ring, which I’ve worn on my right hand ever since she passed away. I love having something so important to her always with me.
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Thx for having me on Leslie! My own HOA is wonderful but the internet is full of stories. Great for research.
I love that you still wear her ring 💕 I have my mom’s pendant but it’s too fragile to wear often.
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Lovely that you have the pendant, though.
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The fabric on that saree is beautiful. Once upon a time I had my grandmother’s engagement ring. The one time I tried to wear it – on a necklace I got from my mother – the hoop came unclasped. I lost the ring and the silver charms, one for me and one for my daughter. My mother wore that necklace for 30 years and that never happened.
Sigh
I do have a rose gold ring with pearls and rubies that was my mother’s. Actually, I gave it to my daughter who likes to wear it for special occasions.
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Awww, that’s too bad about your grandmother’s ring, but I’m happy your mother’s ring is around for your daughter to wear.
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Thx Liz. So sorry that you lost the ring, it’s like disconnecting a thread to the past.
As Jen says, I’m glad you still have your mom’s ring and your daughter treasures it 💕
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I have a few bracelets of my mom’s that I use once in a while; even though she didn’t often wear jewelry, she was gifted pieces, particularly when she got married. The practical things I use more often are the food processor she passed down to me and this lovely lace tank top (especially nice during the summer).
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Nice!
The food processor made me smile because my mom was notoriously bad at grinding all life out of kitchen appliances 😂
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Ha!
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A jade necklace from my parents.
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Lovely, Mary
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I have so many treasured items from my parents, grandparents and aunt, but your post reminded me of one that I’ve had tucked away for decades: My mom’s velvet capri pants with a mid-century design cat applique! I’ve thought about making them into a pillow so I can appreciate that fabulous applique on a regular basis. Maybe this is my sign! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by today!
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Thank you! I started an entire business recycling some of my mom’s sarees.
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Amazing! Do you still have a shop? Would love to see the designs.
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Ooh, nice! Show us the final product!
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My daughter and I started it when she was in high school. We called it Sarecyle 🤣
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oops hit send too soon. How do I attach a pic
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Manju – Congratulations on your debut novel. It sounds like a delightful read!!
As for the heirloom that I treasure, it’s my mom’s mink jacket that has been hanging in my closet for many years. She grew up in poverty and as an adult liked to splurge on things she never dreamed she’d ever have. I keep saying I’m going to wear it in her memory but haven’t. You’ve made me vow I will do so this year!
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Thank you Debra! I’m glad my post is making people think of the heirlooms they have hidden away 💕
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I am excited to read your novel with this new female amateur detective while sipping a chai! This post speaks to me because my mom is declining rapidly since a fall in February. I know what I will miss most about her when the time comes is her voice and very bright fuchsia lipstick she is never without…truly her lips might be stained bright pink due to the lipstick all these years.👄💄
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Thx Missy! I love that she wears it even at this age. I feel so self conscious already wearing too bright a shade. Good for her! 💋
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I have so many of my parent’s treasures. Her platinum engagement diamond and white gold diamond wedding ring along with her wedding dress. His gold wedding ring with the inscription “Ever thine.” I used to wear hers, but a jeweler told me they were too delicate to wear. Some other jewelry–a three strand pearl necklace from 1941 with a sterling clasp. A coral necklace with gold and matching earrings that could be made smaller by removing the pendant and earring drops and a crystal necklace. Gold Hoop earrings with a scrolled S inside, also too delicate. But one of my most favorite possessions was an old sign that my father had. It was on old broken wood, jagged edge sign that says, “Old Wood to burn, Old Wine to drink, Old Friends to trust, Old Books to read.”
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Wow, that’s amazing. Such a collection. And I love the sign, especially as I age 🙂
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I would love to send a photo of it, but can’t seem to here.
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Congratulations on your release! It sounds wonderful. As far as heirlooms go, I inherited some jewelry pieces I treasure. I have a habit of wearing something I inherited when I travel. It makes it feel like that person is still with me seeing the same lovely views.
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Thank you! and that’s so sweet to take the people with you… love that
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I inherited an antique table that was my great grandmothers and holds a lot of emotional significance. TMCMC sounds fantastic! khpinelake (at) gmail (dot) com
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Congratulations on your new release! It sounds interesting and I love the inspiration behind the book!
The saree is beautiful! I bought one when I visited my home country years ago.The precious heirloom that my grandmother gave to me is a delicate necklace with a heart shaped jade pendant. It’s so shiny green and precious, I seldom wear it because I don’t want to lose it…
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Thx Emily! Yes, I love my saree, it’s embroidered with pure silver. And I think jade is so beautiful!
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Thank you for all your responses and lovely comments, and also sharing your stories about your treasured heirlooms.
I did a draw and Mary Garback won the giveaway—congrats Mary! I hope you enjoy The Masala Chai Mystery Club!
Thanks All!
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Could you tell us a little about your publishing journey? Who is your editor? Did you have an agent when you submitted to Crooked Lane? I’ll definitely be reading your book!
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