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In one of the book's more poignant recollections, an illegal immigrant about to be deported comes across a policeman and recognizes "the look in his eyes: the look of a people losing their grip on a continent".

Aravind Adiga's recent book is a coloured portrayal of life of migrants - legal and illegal - in Australia. Told from the point of view of Danny - Dhananjaya - a Srilankan who has overstayed his student visa and becomes a cleaner.

With a vegan Chinese girlfriend and conscious ways of not drawing attention (like not cracking knuckles or not eating while walking), we meet Danny trying to stay invisible to white and brown people. Except one of his clients gets murdered by another and he might have to decide if he should turn witness. In 24 hours, Danny's conscience weighs him in as the scheming Dr.Rajashekar, the potential murderer is threatening him with his secret.

The book is more of an inquiry into the Australian processes which are fraught with loopholes. It makes it a crime to employ a illegal migrant and even has a citizen arrest program. Hence the ones who are most watchful for the aliens are one with legal migrant status.

Much like his earlier books the societal observations are sharp and incisive. The book however becomes a rambling in a needless time bound structure. The characters are monochrome and the morality argument is aided in large parts by fear.

All in all a decent book.