When Ranjit Singh, a disgraced Sikh Indian Army captain, escaped India, he was hoping to make a better life for his wife and young daughter in Boston. Instead, they met with prejudice and heartache. Leaving Boston to find work on Martha's Vineyard, Ranjit soon becomes caretaker for several vacation estates during the off-season. Having established a close relationship with a U.S. Senator and his wife, Ranjit decides to move his family into their home while it is vacant. It will be one of the worst mistakes of his life, almost as bad as the tragic incident in India that caused the loss of his career.

Everything seems to be going well, until the night two men break into the Senator's home looking for a priceless doll from the wife's extensive collection. Even though Ranjit is able to flee with his family, they are not safe. Unbeknownst to Ranjit, his daughter has hidden a doll she fancied in her backpack. Of course, that is the one doll the men are after, so the hunt is on. When Ranjit finds the doll, he confiscates it and goes on the run, leaving his wife and daughter with her uncle in Boston. Believing them to be safe, he is shocked when they are taken by Homeland Security for deportation to India. Who is pulling the strings that are causing all this trouble? And why are they so intent on finding this particular doll? The answers to those questions put Ranjit in more danger than he has ever experienced, especially since his family is involved.

Interspersed with flashbacks of his horrific Army experiences depicted in detailed scenes of the brutal war between India and Pakistan, THE CARETAKER is a fast-paced, action-packed political thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Ranjit's past haunts him constantly, which makes dealing with his present situation even more difficult. A. X. Ahmad writes with authority in a tightly woven plot with much suspense and anticipation of the outcome. However, the resolution of Ranjit's personal situation leaves some unanswered questions.

Book Summary

Ranjit Singh, a former Indian Army Captain trying to escape a shameful past, lives with his family among the migrant workers of Martha's Vineyard, working as a caretaker of the vacation homes of the rich and powerful. Needing a place to stay, Ranjit moves his family into an empty Senator's home.

Happily, but illegally ensconced in the house, he tries to forget his brief affair with Anna, the wife of an African- American senator, and focus on providing for his family. But one night, their idyll is shattered when mysterious armed men break into the house, looking for an antique porcelain doll. Forced to flee, Ranjit is pursued and hunted by unknown forces, and becomes drawn into the Senator's shadowy world. To save his family and solve the mystery of the doll, he must join forces with Anna, who has her own dark secrets. As the past and present collide, Ranjit must finally confront the hidden event that destroyed his Army career and forced him to leave India.