A review by smblanc1793
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The premise—“Who’s more invisible than [middle-aged housewives]? We can get away with murder. Literally.”—is strong, and it maintains a heavy presence throughout the novel, a clear thesis statment that the story certainly substantiates (in it’s own highly quixotic way.) 
 
The overall result is enjoyable, if not slightly discordant. The dialogue is as often quippy and smart as it is distractingly kooky. The balance between serious discussions of oppression and domestic abuse sometimes fall in step with and sometimes grate clumsily against the outlandish slapstick comedy of it all. It was not perfect—it could have been funnier when it was funny; it could have been more impactful in its moments of consequence—but it was still enjoyable, full of memorable characters, surprising twists, and a taste of culture and setting that I rarely see represented on the page.
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