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Finding Darla
Darla Roland Fernandez is an aspiring Sabahan actress who yearns for her big break. When a promising role brings her across the South China Sea, she quickly proves her worth as an actress, and everyone, especially her co-star, Donny Chiew, takes notice.
Nandhini Ganesan, a writer retrenched during the Covid-19 pandemic, struggles to make ends meet in the city of Kuala Lumpur. Hiding her current unemployment status from her family, she leads an exhausting double life until she discovers an old, abandoned car and her deceased grandmother begins appearing in her dreams, leaving a cryptic message for her to decipher.
With the help of a reformed gangster, an elderly hoarder, and an old friend, Nandhini begins to piece together the puzzle that her grandmother has left her. As one clue leads to another, Nandhini soon finds the thread that ties her to Darla. But is it too late? Can she help Darla protect what matters most?
This story of love, loss, and grief reminds us that everyone deserves to be remembered.
Nandhini Ganesan, a writer retrenched during the Covid-19 pandemic, struggles to make ends meet in the city of Kuala Lumpur. Hiding her current unemployment status from her family, she leads an exhausting double life until she discovers an old, abandoned car and her deceased grandmother begins appearing in her dreams, leaving a cryptic message for her to decipher.
With the help of a reformed gangster, an elderly hoarder, and an old friend, Nandhini begins to piece together the puzzle that her grandmother has left her. As one clue leads to another, Nandhini soon finds the thread that ties her to Darla. But is it too late? Can she help Darla protect what matters most?
This story of love, loss, and grief reminds us that everyone deserves to be remembered.
256 pages, Paperback
Published May 12, 2026
About the author
Vidhya Sathyamoorthy
2 books3 followersHi, I'm Vidhya, an author based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My debut novel, Frappes for Three, a YA romance novel set in my home city of KL, was published by Penguin Random House SEA in 2024.
I love all things romance (as evidenced by my debut YA romance), but above all, I love stories that are deeply human, which brings me to my next book: Finding Darla, a mystery novel, that comes out on 12 May 2026. Also set in Malaysia, this book explores the complex, messy lives of two seemingly unrelated women, Nandhini and Darla, until we ultimately discover the thread that ties them together across time.
Pre-order your copy of Finding Darla on MPH online and Amazon Singapore today!
I love all things romance (as evidenced by my debut YA romance), but above all, I love stories that are deeply human, which brings me to my next book: Finding Darla, a mystery novel, that comes out on 12 May 2026. Also set in Malaysia, this book explores the complex, messy lives of two seemingly unrelated women, Nandhini and Darla, until we ultimately discover the thread that ties them together across time.
Pre-order your copy of Finding Darla on MPH online and Amazon Singapore today!
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
(22/2026) 3.5/5🌟 Thriller (Fiction) | 245 pages
“𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣.”
Never had Nandhini ever thought that she would be involved in such thing.
Nandhini was a writer. Things turned out differently for her when Covid-19 strucked the whole world - she was retrenched. Not being able to tell her family what had happened, she decided to live a double-life, so as not to worry her family back at her hometown. One day, after visiting a relative at the hospital, Nandhini stumbled upon an old abandoned car at the parking lot and it triggered her curiousity, until her late grandmother began to appear in her dreams, delivering a peculiar message, which was weird because she couldn’t understand what her grandmother was trying to tell.
More than ten years ago, there was a young Sabahan girl, who was also an aspiring actress - Darla Roland Fernandez. Darla was in search for a big break that would really boost her into the local movie industry. Darla’s talent was soon discovered and she was offered a big role as one of the main casts, requiring her to fly to Kuala Lumpur for the production. However, Darla’s fate soon changed when she met Donny Chiew.
At the present moment, Nandhini became restless, because the dreams began to haunt her every night, they affected her daily life. She knew her grandmother was sending an important message and she must find the answers. It was just, she was unable to decipher what her grandmother was saying in all her dreams.
Little did Nandhini knew, that soon her life was going to be intertwined with Darla’s . Who was Darla? Why was Nandhini’s grandmother a part of this? Was her grandmother trying to ask for help to send a message to Darla?
I have only one problem with the whole story.
It’s too short, because I am such a sucker for mystery and thriller. I love intricate and twisty plots 😅 (sorry Vidhya if I scared you with the statement above 🤓). I feel like I want more. I have so many unanswered questions.
Nandhini is my favourite character. She is such a klutz sometimes, but she is one very determined person and I could understand that feeling. I couldn’t stand unanswered questions, I need to find answers pronto or I would be restless my whole life (LOL!). Nandhini is funny at such an unexpected times too.
The story deals heavily with themes of grief and longing, as well as side themes of self-doubt, insecurity, lack of confidence and determination. Darla and Nandhini might be two very different characters but both carry in them such determination that somehow changed their whole lives. I couldn’t help shedding some tears towards the end of the story, it certainly tugged my heart as a mother.
The story is written in dual timeline (one favourite criteria I enjoy in a lot of thriller writings), so readers would be moved back and forth from the present to the past and present again. I love the suspense element which kept me glued to the book and played guessing games, analysing to what actually had happened.
It is a light, comedic, suspenseful, heartbreaking and poignant - not at the same time, but all together in one story. Read this if you enjoy some mystery amd thriller read. Thank you #penguinbookssea for this review copy in exchange with my honest personal opinion.
#justreaddontbawang #bookmehnia #April2026 #2026reads #AprilReads #AprilTBRs #bookstagrammalaysia #bookstagrammy #malaysiamembaca #bookstagrammer #bookgram #bibliophile #bibliophilemy #bookish #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #readersofinstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworm #findingdarla #vidyasathyamoorthy #penguinbookssea
“𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣.”
Never had Nandhini ever thought that she would be involved in such thing.
Nandhini was a writer. Things turned out differently for her when Covid-19 strucked the whole world - she was retrenched. Not being able to tell her family what had happened, she decided to live a double-life, so as not to worry her family back at her hometown. One day, after visiting a relative at the hospital, Nandhini stumbled upon an old abandoned car at the parking lot and it triggered her curiousity, until her late grandmother began to appear in her dreams, delivering a peculiar message, which was weird because she couldn’t understand what her grandmother was trying to tell.
More than ten years ago, there was a young Sabahan girl, who was also an aspiring actress - Darla Roland Fernandez. Darla was in search for a big break that would really boost her into the local movie industry. Darla’s talent was soon discovered and she was offered a big role as one of the main casts, requiring her to fly to Kuala Lumpur for the production. However, Darla’s fate soon changed when she met Donny Chiew.
At the present moment, Nandhini became restless, because the dreams began to haunt her every night, they affected her daily life. She knew her grandmother was sending an important message and she must find the answers. It was just, she was unable to decipher what her grandmother was saying in all her dreams.
Little did Nandhini knew, that soon her life was going to be intertwined with Darla’s . Who was Darla? Why was Nandhini’s grandmother a part of this? Was her grandmother trying to ask for help to send a message to Darla?
I have only one problem with the whole story.
It’s too short, because I am such a sucker for mystery and thriller. I love intricate and twisty plots 😅 (sorry Vidhya if I scared you with the statement above 🤓). I feel like I want more. I have so many unanswered questions.
Nandhini is my favourite character. She is such a klutz sometimes, but she is one very determined person and I could understand that feeling. I couldn’t stand unanswered questions, I need to find answers pronto or I would be restless my whole life (LOL!). Nandhini is funny at such an unexpected times too.
The story deals heavily with themes of grief and longing, as well as side themes of self-doubt, insecurity, lack of confidence and determination. Darla and Nandhini might be two very different characters but both carry in them such determination that somehow changed their whole lives. I couldn’t help shedding some tears towards the end of the story, it certainly tugged my heart as a mother.
The story is written in dual timeline (one favourite criteria I enjoy in a lot of thriller writings), so readers would be moved back and forth from the present to the past and present again. I love the suspense element which kept me glued to the book and played guessing games, analysing to what actually had happened.
It is a light, comedic, suspenseful, heartbreaking and poignant - not at the same time, but all together in one story. Read this if you enjoy some mystery amd thriller read. Thank you #penguinbookssea for this review copy in exchange with my honest personal opinion.
#justreaddontbawang #bookmehnia #April2026 #2026reads #AprilReads #AprilTBRs #bookstagrammalaysia #bookstagrammy #malaysiamembaca #bookstagrammer #bookgram #bibliophile #bibliophilemy #bookish #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #readersofinstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworm #findingdarla #vidyasathyamoorthy #penguinbookssea
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is not a thriller, but it still has a bit of mystery that made me want to keep reading.
.
I liked reading Nandhini’s POV the most. She is funny and made the story more fun to read. For Darla’s POV, she felt very naive and I pity her a lot. She only wanted to follow her dreams. I also love her bond with her brother Manny. It was sweet, so I felt sad when she had to stop contacting him after everything happened.
.
Jimmy the dog POV was the saddest part 😭😭 Imagine waiting for your best friend and not knowing where she went. That really got me.
.
I also love the ending. I’m happy everything worked out well for Nandhini. She deserved it after all she went through.
.
My only wish is the guy who ruined Darla’s acting life gets his karma. That’s all.
.
Thanks to @ishani2309 and @penguinbookssea for sending me this ARC copy of Finding Darla in exchange for my honest review. Please check out her author as well @vid.writes. Finding Darla will be published on 12 May 2026.
.
I liked reading Nandhini’s POV the most. She is funny and made the story more fun to read. For Darla’s POV, she felt very naive and I pity her a lot. She only wanted to follow her dreams. I also love her bond with her brother Manny. It was sweet, so I felt sad when she had to stop contacting him after everything happened.
.
Jimmy the dog POV was the saddest part 😭😭 Imagine waiting for your best friend and not knowing where she went. That really got me.
.
I also love the ending. I’m happy everything worked out well for Nandhini. She deserved it after all she went through.
.
My only wish is the guy who ruined Darla’s acting life gets his karma. That’s all.
.
Thanks to @ishani2309 and @penguinbookssea for sending me this ARC copy of Finding Darla in exchange for my honest review. Please check out her author as well @vid.writes. Finding Darla will be published on 12 May 2026.
June 3, 2026
Nandhini, a writer retrenched during the Covid-19 pandemic, discovered an abandoned car. Her deceased grandmother appeared in her dream sending her message in connection to the car. Clueless Nandhini trying to figure the connection between her dream and the mysterious car.
In 2007, we follow Darla, an aspiring actress from Sabah, making her breakthrough to play a main character in a film. As she flies to KL for her shoot, she became close with the lead actor. Darla then disappeared after completing the film.
What happened to Darla? Can Nandhini piece together the puzzle to find the answer.
This is my first book from this author. As Malaysian, I felt so connected with the book. This dual timeline will have us moved between 2023 and 2007 but thankfully, it is not confusing and the author keeps us engaged throughout. Love the way the story balances the emotion driven between the two main characters. Jimmy quickly became my favourite. I love the ending. Finding Darla remind us that some people shall not be forgotten.
In 2007, we follow Darla, an aspiring actress from Sabah, making her breakthrough to play a main character in a film. As she flies to KL for her shoot, she became close with the lead actor. Darla then disappeared after completing the film.
What happened to Darla? Can Nandhini piece together the puzzle to find the answer.
This is my first book from this author. As Malaysian, I felt so connected with the book. This dual timeline will have us moved between 2023 and 2007 but thankfully, it is not confusing and the author keeps us engaged throughout. Love the way the story balances the emotion driven between the two main characters. Jimmy quickly became my favourite. I love the ending. Finding Darla remind us that some people shall not be forgotten.
June 2, 2026
Finding Darla is a beautifully written story that blends mystery and emotion with great effect. Told through dual timelines and the perspectives of Nandhini and Darla, the novel explores dreams, identity, loss, and self-discovery.
I especially loved how the mystery surrounding Darla gradually unfolded while also leading Nandini on a journey of personal growth. A special chapter in the book added even more emotional depth to the story.
I especially loved how the mystery surrounding Darla gradually unfolded while also leading Nandini on a journey of personal growth. A special chapter in the book added even more emotional depth to the story.
May 18, 2026
Honestly, Finding Darla was a roller coaster ride of emotions for me. A guaranteed tear jerker with a satisfying conclusion, I would highly recommend for those looking for mystery reads with local flavor.
The story of Darla and Nandhini will stay with me for a long time.
The story of Darla and Nandhini will stay with me for a long time.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews