The following version of the book was used to create this guide: Schroff, Parini. The Bandit Queens. Ballantine Books, 2023.

Parini Shroff’s third person limited narrative, The Bandit Queens, follows the life of Geeta, a widow who lives in a remote village in Indian, five years after her husband disappeared. When Ramesh left, the other villagers circulated rumors that Geeta was a churel, a scorned woman who would torture men. She felt isolated from the women in her loan group and unable to form connections. After Geeta covered Farah’s loan payment, the other woman asked her to help in the murder of her husband, Samir. While Geeta knew that he was abusive, she was disinterested in the plot until she learned that Samir was planning to steal her money. She was resolute that she would not allow another abusive alcoholic ruin her life. Initially, she suggested killing him with rat poison but her plan to procure it were foiled when Karem accompanied her to Kohra. She was surprised by how affable he was as they strolled the city together. When they went to visit Karem’s alcohol supplier, Bada-Bhai, Geeta was disgusted when she saw sick dogs chained in the yard. When she discovered that the don was poisoning the animals with methanol laced tharra, she set them free, putting the sickest puppy in her bag. Later Geeta suggested that they kill Samir by lacing his tharra with mosquito coils. After Samir’s successful death, Farah visited her and her usual air of ignorance was replaced but a threatening tone as she insinuated that the village would be more willing to believe that Geeta, a known killer, had murdered Samir alone.

As the novel progresses, Geeta solicits Saloni’s help to deal with Farah’s threats. While the women had had limited communication since their childhood, when they were close friends, Saloni agreed to assist. At the henna party, she tells Geeta that they can clear her name by demonstrating that Ramesh is still alive. Preity saw him in Kohra and would be willing to testify to it if Geeta helped her kill Darshan. Geeta was reluctant to get involved in another murder, but she felt that it was the only way to deal with Farah. Saloni and Geeta stole toxic pong pong fruit from Farah’s yard and cooked it into a curry to feed Preity’s husband. At the dinner, Geeta felt guilty for killing a man who had apologized for attacking his wife and was doting and affectionate. She switched her curry for the poisoned dish and excused herself from the table to find something to hide it in. As she searched for a napkin, Darshan entered the room and began to force himself on her. Geeta attempted to evade his grasp, but he choked her. The protagonist managed to grab a statue and smash it over his head. When he lunged toward her again, he slipped in his own blood and hit his head on the dresser. When the other women entered the room, they were irritated that Geeta had killed him so sloppily, but Priya agreed to pretend she killed him in self-defense.

After Geeta returned from the police station, Ramesh was waiting outside of her house. The protagonist was dismayed to see him and attempted to give him her wedding necklace so he would leave. However, Ramesh admitted that the necklace was a fake and promised that he was changed. After he lost his eyesight, from poisoned tharra, he became sober. In the following weeks, Ramesh reingratiated himself in Geeta’s life and Geeta spent less time with her friends. When Saloni confronted her about it, she admitted that Ramesh had extorted her parents and drained their savings Geeta was outraged and resolute on killing him. The night of Saloni’s Diwali party, she snuck away to kill Ramesh while Geeta established an alibi at the gathering. However, Ramesh was not blind, and was waiting for her, with Bada-Bhai, at the house. When Geeta arrived, Saloni was tied and gagged. The don wanted to exact revenge on Geeta to set an example for others who tried to cross him. As more women showed up at the house to check on Geeta, Bada-Bhai accidently fired his gun and shot Ramesh in the leg. Geeta realized that even if she escaped the don’s wrath, she would be stuck under Ramesh’s abuse. She grabbed the gun and shot Ramesh in the face when he tried to stab her. In the Epilogue, Geeta visits Ramesh, at his parents’ house, and serves him divorce papers.