A Novel by Shilpi Somaya Gowda By Kamaljit Chohan Filled with immersive storytelling that is descriptive and colourful, The Secret Daughter is an impressive debut novel by author Shilpi Somaya Gowda, born and raised in Toronto. A tale of compassion, loss and strength, Gowda explores the power of a mother’s love. The prose sparkles and assaults the senses with the intoxicating smells, sights, and sounds of the bustling and overcrowded streets of Mumbai, the home of Gowda’s parents before immigrating to Toronto. The contrast between impoverished slums and wealthy Bombay is painted effortlessly through Gowda’s mastery of narrative storytelling.