review by Corinna Christopher on show 2nd Dec 2010
This is a quirky suspense tale set in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The title is taken from an event in the Quaran, a physical and spiritual journey which reflects what happens to Nayir, the subject of the story. There are plenty of references to the Quaran and if you wish to understand the behaviour and reasoning behind many of their customs you will enjoy this book.
Nayir is a Palestinian-born desert guide who is engaged to find 16 year old Nouf who has disappeared just before her arranged marriage. She is the daughter of the Shrawi family, a wealthy Saudi dynasty who live on an exclusive island near Jeddah. Subsequently Nouf’s battered body is found in a desert wadi and Nayir is given the task of solving the crime.
There are lots of mysterious facts that Nayir is confronted with and he has to search in many different locations. His great friend Othman, one of the Shrawi sons is an enigma and Nawir has also to socialise with the rest of the family who live in socially hide-bound parameters on their comfortable island. Only the young daughters sometimes escape their upbringing by whizzing off on their jet-skis and taking shopping trips to the city always accompanied by an escort.
Whilst investigating the death Nayir comes into contact with the beautiful female forensic scientist Katya Hijazi. A devout Muslim he finds it difficult to understand her freedom to live her life without so many constraints and their relationship throws up many problems.
Eventually we learn what really happened to Nouf and there are surprises that unfold. I found it difficult to reconcile the anomalies that occur for the women, the escorts provided for the girls appeared to turn a blind eye to much that went on, visits to an abandoned zoo, riding on scooters with a disguised men’s cloak, meals at mixed cafes and visiting a marina. Nayir lived on a yacht and somehow I found this rather strange as well.
There is a nice optimistic finale to the book in which Nayir’s feelings and emotions are changed by what has happened. At the end of it all the reader knows that Nayir is a good kind man and will find happiness.
review by Corinna
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