SET MAINLY IN THE VERDANT, SUNSHINY LAND OF GOA, THE CRY OF THE KINGFISHER IS A WARM AND INSPIRING TALE OF HOPE AND COURAGE. IT DEALS WITH THE INNER AND OUTER FORCES IN LIFE THAT BREAK, AND MAKE, THREE DIFFERENT WOMEN. MAYOLA S SHELTERED, DUTY BOUND LIFE IS RIPPED APART WHEN HER GORGEOUS, TEMPESTUOUS OLDER SISTER, ZARELLA, IN WHOSE SHADOW SHE HAS GROWN, IS MYSTERIOUSLY FOUND DROWNED. ALL HER TRAINING IN MEDICINE AND PSYCHIATRY CANNOT HELP HER AS SHE GRAPPLES WITH THE SUDDEN EMPTINESS OF HER LIFE. ANGRY DESPAIR SPURS HER ON A QUEST FOR MEANING WHICH BRINGS HER IN CONTACT WITH DONNA AND SUCCORINA. SUCCORINA IS A VILLAGE GIRL, BORN TO SUPERSTITION, IGNORANCE AND THE DISASTER OF BEING THE FOURTH DAUGHTER INSTEAD OF THE LONG AWAITED SON. HER ATTEMPTS TO BREAK OUT OF HER POVERTY-STRICKEN EXISTENCE TAKE HER AS A HOUSEMAID TO KUWAIT, THROUGH A DISTRESSING ABORTION AND A FAILED MARRIAGE. NO LONGER ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE CRUEL TWISTS AND TURNS HER LIFE HAS TAKEN, HER MIND BEGINS TO CRACK. DONNA IS THE PROVERBIAL POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL , BROUGHT UP IN ENGLAND, SHOWERED WITH EVERYTHING EXCEPT LOVE. SHE TURNS PUNK, SINKING DEEPER INTO CHAOS AND BEWILDERMENT AS HER HOPES OF FINDING LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE START CRUMBLING UNDER AN EXPLOSION OF FEARS THAT THREATEN HER VERY EXISTENCE. YET, WHEN MAYOLA S PATH INTERSECTS WITH THESE TWO KINDRED SOULS, THEY EMBARK ON A JOURNEY OF SELF-REALISATION, UNRAVELING THE PAINFULLY TANGLED STRANDS OF FEARS AND DREAMS WAITING TO BE REALIZED. SHE WATCHES IN ADMIRING DELIGHT AS THEY BRAVELY SET OUT TO UPROOT THE MALEDICTION AND HOPE GUSHES OUT.