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Book Author

15 Grams

Mahita Vas
Buying Options
Paperback / Hardback
Amazon

Set against the growing pains of a nascent Singapore in the 1980s, 15 Grams chronicles the circumstances behind 18-year-old Gitanjali “Li Li” Mistry’s arrest after she is found with 15 grams of heroin, the minimum threshold for the mandatory death penalty. While Li Li’s family struggles to deal with the fate that has befallen their youngest, most beloved member, Li Li grapples with her demons in prison, likewise struggling to cope with her imminent execution—and the knowledge that she is innocent. As Li Li’s death sentence looms, she finds solace in her family’s unconditional love and the unlikely friends she makes in prison, strengthening her resolve to uncover the truth about herself, more than anything else, from her family before her time is up.

Equal parts tragic and hopeful, 15 Grams stands as both historical recollection and existential discovery—simultaneously transporting readers to a long-forgotten, more communal Singapore and taking them through the moral complexities of Li Li’s journey as she finds dignity in her pursuit of truth, and peace in her situation.

Published: Jul/2026

ISBN: 9789815323986

Length: 288 Pages

15 Grams

Mahita Vas

Set against the growing pains of a nascent Singapore in the 1980s, 15 Grams chronicles the circumstances behind 18-year-old Gitanjali “Li Li” Mistry’s arrest after she is found with 15 grams of heroin, the minimum threshold for the mandatory death penalty. While Li Li’s family struggles to deal with the fate that has befallen their youngest, most beloved member, Li Li grapples with her demons in prison, likewise struggling to cope with her imminent execution—and the knowledge that she is innocent. As Li Li’s death sentence looms, she finds solace in her family’s unconditional love and the unlikely friends she makes in prison, strengthening her resolve to uncover the truth about herself, more than anything else, from her family before her time is up.

Equal parts tragic and hopeful, 15 Grams stands as both historical recollection and existential discovery—simultaneously transporting readers to a long-forgotten, more communal Singapore and taking them through the moral complexities of Li Li’s journey as she finds dignity in her pursuit of truth, and peace in her situation.

Buying Options
Paperback / Hardback
Amazon

Mahita Vas

Mahita was born in Singapore to South Asian parents, raised by a Cantonese nanny and educated at a Catholic school. After diverse roles in hospitality and advertising, Mahita gave up corporate life for writing and has published four books. She is a staunch advocate for mental health and migrant worker welfare. Mahita often participates in mental health and writing events, including Singapore Writers Festival. She counts novels, cake and Singaporean street food as her greatest weaknesses. On any given day, she can be found either immersed in a book or enjoying a meal at a hawker centre. Mahita has twin daughters in their thirties and lives in Singapore with her husband. 15 Grams is Mahita’s fifth book.