India, Jan. 1 -- A debt-ridden immigrant's account of what it is like to run a restaurant in New York during the 2008 recession, K Anis Ahmed's Carnivore is both grotesque and gourmet-esque. The novel radiates a dark vibe in the initial chapters as Boris, a loan shark with two scary-looking henchmen, follows Kash everywhere to get back some thousands of dollars that he loaned to the unlucky restaurateur.

Kash's multiple cafes and eateries are now running dry with minimal cash flow. He must, by all means, get a gig that will help him pay off Boris or at least keep him off his trail for a while. In comes Adair, Kash's partner and the co-owner of one of his restaurants. Adair tells Kash about a client who wants exotic deconstructed peacock ...