William S

A wonderful story filled with characters the reader can care about.
Wildly funny at times, tragic and serious at others, this book deserves a second reading. I have read many books over the last year. This one has been the most enjoyable.

The sections of the book that deal with the Congo, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor are harrowing. Salak writes about some of the horrors and dangerous places in our world with an insider's knowledge. Portions of the sections that describe Marika's relationships with Seb and Sanders seem contrived at times. However, they also reflect the rage that Marika has about what she has seen and experienced. This profound rage is ultimately given full expression by Lewis. I closed the book hoping that Marika and Lewis find peace and maybe even salvation.

Interesting cast of characters. Strong plot line provides imaginary circumstances and conspiracies that lead to the killing of a dictator in Pakistan. Hanif's characterizations of martinets and over-the-top intelligence officers are comedic and also deadly serious. There is an uneven quality in this debut novel but the story becomes stronger near the end of the book. Read as dark comedy, political thriller, and as a fable for our contemporary world.