Mystic Author Pens Debut Cozy Mystery Novel

MYSTIC, CT — A local writer who has a non-fiction title and several short stories to her name will have her first novel published over the summer.

MJ Soni's book, "The Masala Chai Mystery Club," will be published July 21 by Penguin Random House.

The novel features retired librarian Neeti Shah, who along with mystery-loving friends investigates the killing of a much-despised neighbor.

Soni has lived in the Mystic area for 25 years. "The Masala Chai Mystery Club" is set in a fictional town that resembles Mystic.

The story is pitched as a good fit for fans of "Only Murders in the Building" and Richard Osman's "The Thursday Murder Club."

Soni said she loves the Mystic area. The book refers to the Mystic River Bascule Bridge, which Soni called "wonderful."

She added that New England is often represented in cozy mysteries as white and that she wanted to represent people of color. Soni describes herself as a lifelong fan of the genre's founder, Agatha Christie. With Soni's fiction, "I now draw upon my love of the culture and cuisine of my diverse Indian, African, and American background, to write heartwarming murder mysteries set largely in coastal New England," according to her bio.

Her first published book was a non-fiction title about her time in South Africa titled "Defying Apartheid."

She has also published several short stories in prestigious mystery publications like Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.

Soni was an eye surgeon in South Africa and the United Kingdom. When she moved to the U.S., she was working for Pfizer, developing prescription drugs for the eye.

A lifelong fan of writing, she took an evening writing course in Stonington and began work on "Defying Apartheid," which she described in her bio as a part memoir, part non-fiction book about young activists fighting against the system of legalized racism.

"It was kind of a cathartic experience to revisit my experience in South Africa," she said.

Soni said she grew up near the Johannesburg Public Library in South Africa, but that she could never go there as it was whites-only. Fortunately, her father was an avid reader and bought them books.

She added that when she came to the U.S., she "found it fascinating that there was this resource" of libraries.

The protagonist in her novel, Neeti Shah, is a librarian who was pushed into retirement due to budget cuts.

"I feel like librarians are on this front (to ensure) people have access. I see them as brave," Soni said, adding they are key to standing up to censorship such as book bans.

Shah is also inspired by Soni's mother, who she described as a "very traditional" Indian woman who always dressed in a sari. Soni's mother suffered from dementia and died in 2024.

"Subconsciously, I am trying to find my mom before she had dementia," she said of crafting Shah's character.

Soni said she finds writing non-fiction easier and that writing a novel is the hardest thing she's ever done. She said it's a challenge to start with a blank slate.

"I'm hoping the writing process gets easier as I learn more," she said. "But it's fun. I really enjoy the process of it."

Her novel centers around the murder of a homeowners' association president who has an obnoxious style of leadership.

Soni said that this aspect of the book isn't based on her personal experience. "My HOA is just wonderful," she said.

However, she's heard "so many horror stories" about other HOAs. As she did more research, she discovered "how much power they have."

Pre-order "The Masala Chai Mystery Club" by going to the Penguin Random House website.

More on Soni is available from her website.

The book launch will be July 21 at Bank Square Books in Mystic. More information is available here.

Soni also has the following events confirmed:

• Barrett Bookstore in Darien, July 24
• Barnes & Noble in West Hartford, July 25
• Barnes & Noble in Warwick, RI, Aug. 2