Romantic Spy Thriller 'Of Rice, Love and War' by Elana Sabharwal

16 March 2026

The Book

Of Rice, Love and War by Elana Sabharwal

Amidst the turmoil of the Vietnam War, the line between loyalty and betrayal is blurred in this gripping romantic spy thriller.

Amelie, a French journalist born in colonial Indochina, navigates the treacherous landscape of espionage as a communist spy working for the North Vietnamese. Under the guidance of her handler, Tran, Amelie finds herself entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse, operating between Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

When Amelie receives crucial evidence from a burned CIA operative in Bangkok, she becomes further embroiled in the war's chaos and her emotions are torn between two men: Magnus, a dashing Scottish reporter, and Tom, a charismatic American officer.

As the stakes heighten and allegiances are tested, Amelie must confront the devastating impact of violence on her life and the cost of loyalty, duty, and love. Can she survive the war, find love, and uncover the truth without losing herself in the process?

How the book came to be

The author of LOVE, RICE AND WAR, Elana Sabharwal explains: “Growing up in South Africa in the mid 70s, I was always listening to adult conversation which focused on the war in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Embeth Davidtz's latest movie, ”Don’t Let’s Go the Dogs Tonight”, is an example of the climate at the time. And of course, the South African Bush wars with our neighbours, like Angola who were supported by the USSR. The threat of communism was real.

The Vietnam War wasn’t really mentioned, and I discovered it in Life Magazine at the school library. The photos were raw and ignited compassion and curiosity. I tried to talk about the war to adults who dismissed it as America’s war, not our concern, so I never understood it.

Finally, in 2011, I travelled to Vietnam and realised I wanted to write a story set during the war and explore the conflict. I hoped to write a novel from a woman’s perspective, unlike the war novels written by men featuring male protagonists.

The gist of my story came to me on a flight from Saigon to Danang. The following 10 years I spent researching and writing the story. I think someone who hasn't fully understood what the war was about would have a better idea after reading my book, without having to delve into academic and historical accounts. I have referenced the actual characters from that period and used creative license to incorporate them and events into the story.

A strange coincidence happened when I decided to call my male protagonist Tom Bass. I discovered that a book about Pham Xuan An, a communist spy, was written by Thomas Bass. It was strange, as I had already planned to base my character, who was to be my female protagonist’s communist handler, on Pham Xuan An. I decided not to change Bass’s name, and in the end, was encouraged to continue and complete this novel.”

Why you would read this book

Complex female protagonist: born in colonial Indochina, of French and English parents, and working as a communist spy for North Vietnam. The author ELANA SABHARWAL wanted to explore the role of a female spy since it's classically a male-dominated field
A unique setting: Vietnam's involvement in the Vietnam War provides a rich and complex historical backdrop, allowing for the exploration of politics, culture, and human relationships amidst conflict.
Author has been to Vietnam and did copious amounts of research to support the novel

About the author

Elana Sabharwal is a Goldsmiths graduate with a master's degree in Screenwriting. With a global background spanning Italy, India, and South Africa, Elana brings a unique perspective to her writing. Her debut novel, ”The Delhi Deception,” was published in 2012 and was optioned for film. Elana now resides in the New Forest, England, where she continues to write.