INTO THE FOREST: A NOVEL

Into the Forest

Into the Forest is a deeply atmospheric and thought-provoking novel that explores humanity’s relationship with nature, migration, identity and belonging. Through a haunting mystery set in Germany, Avtar Singh examines loneliness, social divisions and the fragile connections that bind people together.

📖 About the Book

Into the Forest begins with the mysterious disappearances of three individuals. While all three cases appear connected to possible crimes, only one ends in murder. As questions surrounding these events unfold, the novel explores the hidden stories of those who are lost, forgotten and searching for meaning.

Set against the complex backdrop of Germany, a country shaped by its own historical fractures, the novel follows the lives of people navigating displacement, isolation and uncertainty. At its heart is a story about women, but its themes extend far beyond geography, speaking to the universal experiences of human struggle and survival.

Blending mystery with literary reflection, Into the Forest is as much a meditation on the human relationship with non-human life as it is an exploration of gender, class and race. It examines how moments of crisis can both separate people and create unexpected bonds.

Rich in atmosphere and emotional depth, the novel invites readers to reflect on migration, belonging and what it means to remain connected in an increasingly fragmented world.

✨ Key Highlights

• A literary mystery exploring disappearance, identity and human connection.
• Examines themes of migration, loneliness and belonging.
• Explores the intersections of gender, class and race in modern societies.
• Set in Germany, a landscape shaped by history and social complexities.
• A powerful reflection on humanity’s relationship with the natural world.
• Blends crime, philosophy and emotional storytelling in a unique narrative.

✍️ About the Author

Avtar Singh is an author and editor whose work spans fiction, journalism and literary criticism. His recent fiction includes the short story A Scandal in Punjab in The Hachette Book of Indian Detective Fiction (2024) and The Corpse Bearer in Subnivean.org, which was shortlisted for the Subnivean Prize 2023.

His non-fiction writing has appeared in publications including Foreign Policy, The Washington Post, Nikkei Asian Review, India Today and Biblio. He was a summer fellow at the MacDowell Colony in 2018 and has served as founding editor-in-chief of Time Out Delhi and managing editor of The Indian Quarterly.

Singh is also the author of Necropolis, a novel about crime, poetry and a mysterious woman who may be centuries old, which was published by HarperCollins India and Akashic Press in the US and later translated into German. His first novel, The Beauty of These Present Things, was published by Penguin India.

His work has appeared in collections including Mumbai Noir, Civil Lines and Pilgrim’s India. Having lived and worked in India, the US and China, Avtar Singh is currently based in Germany.

📚 Why Read This Book?

Into the Forest is a compelling literary novel for readers who enjoy stories that go beyond conventional mysteries. With its exploration of human relationships, displacement, nature and identity, it offers a profound and unforgettable reflection on what it means to find connection in times of uncertainty.