Buscando a Nouf (Spanish Edition)

Ferraris's murder mystery, set in present-day Saudi Arabia, is a gripping page-turner. Having lived there, Ferraris renders an honest portrait of life in Saudi Arabia, including that of women within that Islamic society. When a pregnant 16-year-old turns up dead days before her marriage, investigator Nayir, a conservative Muslim Palestinian, is not satisfied with how quickly her family wishes to see the case closed. Because of his faith, he struggles with the young girl's murder, as well as what becomes a complex relationship with the coroner who assists in his investigation. This is a rich novel in that it offers three-dimensional characters in a changing Middle East. In light of the current political landscape, Ferraris's story is timely. In Nayir, we see the depiction of the Middle Eastern man, a man of faith who questions injustice in a land that in recent weeks has shown the world it has had enough of corruption and whose people want to move toward a place where human rights are relevant. Galindo's translation is crisp and superb. Strongly recommended for academic and public libraries.—Vivian Gómez, Woodside, NY