This was the debut novel from the author of
“The Reluctant Fundamentalist”.
Set in modern day Lahore the book opens with
Darashikoh Shezad despairing in his prison cell. It soon regresses to the start
of his steep decline from prosperous young banker to this sticky end. His
narrative is punctuated by contributions – testimonies – from other characters:
his partner in crime Murad Badshah; his old friend Aurangzeb; and Aurangzeb’s
attractive wife Mumtaz.
Like the moths drawn to his candle flames,
Darashikoh circles disaster and makes one unwise choice after another. He is
not stupid and knows the potential consequences (ending up as moth smoke), but
each incremental step is taken as it offers a slim chance of escape from facing
up to his worsening predicament.
The Lahore setting is atmospheric and
convincing, against a backdrop of international tension over Pakistan’s first
nuclear bomb tests. The internal polarisation of society in to haves and have-nots
(of air conditioning) is palpable as Dara moves between the jet set and the shady
underclass.
Although increasingly difficult to
sympathise with Dara, his story remains compelling throughout, helped by some
key late reveals and a couple of twists in the tail.
I am not sure the somewhat strange prologue
and placing the reader in the position of the trial judge works particularly
well, but neither do they detract from what is a really good read.
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