Where Mayflies Live Forever centers around identity of belonging from a small town in India. The grotesque act of beheading a distinguished man and the dissipation of his head shocked the people of the town. Just like the head, a geography teacher at the local school named Veni disappears too. The investigation for the murder of the prominent man undergoes severe challenges as the perturbing reality of the situation becomes conspicuous. Veni's life as a woman had been mistreated in the hands of the men who were supposed to be in a position of power. Aatha and mother's role in her life was like a form of love for that same idea of womanhood, that was made into a matter of decay in the society that holds patriarchal values. As the narrative unfolds, Veni as an individual is explored. From finding Veni, it turns into a journey of recognizing Veni.

The prose of reads like a literary fiction novel and the thrilling storyline adds a spark to it. What didn't make this an engrossing read for me despite all the elements done well, there was the sense of unfamiliarity. In works that are regional in their tone, it is a common setback where I've noticed that the book fails in welcoming readers. Sadly, that was the case for this too. It did not encapsulate me and hence, despite the promise of the book, I did not care much for the characters. The story lacks absoluteness and feels like a read for a very targetted audience.