In Trouble at the Taj, Sonja Chandrachud weaves fiction into fact in the hope that it will encourage young adult readers to see the adventure that lies behind the pages of their 'drab' History textbooks

All is not well with Shah Jahan's grandiose plans to build the Taj Mahal for Mumtaz Mahal. Chief architect Ustad Ahmed Lahauri has been kidnapped and his dead empress' ghost won't allow a new architect to resume work. In the quest to find Lahauri, author Sonja Chandrachud takes the young adult (YA) reader on a roller coaster ride against the backdrop of the Mughal era. Excerpts from the interview:

Why did you zero in on the Taj as the focal point of this adventure?
I was very clear that the first mystery story in the DOA (Dead on Arrival) Detective Files would be located in Indian history, as it is filled with intrigue. The Mughal era, which lasted for over three centuries, is the most fascinating. Shah Jahan's rule saw the creation of one of the Seven Wonders of the World: The Taj Mahal, which took 22 years and millions of rupees to create -- incredibly, all for the love of a woman. This set me thinking: What if someone hated Shah Jahan enough to disrupt his plans? Who would be capable of such a daring act? The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that the Taj Mahal was the perfect location for a heart-pounding international whodunit with its sprawling surroundings and alleged secret chambers.