Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris
Nouf, a sixteen year old bride to
be, is found dead in a wadi in the Arabian Desert. It was assumed that she ran away to the
desert, but the autopsy determines that she was hit on the head and then
drowned. How did she drown in the
desert? Did she run away from her
marriage? Or was she kidnapped? Nafir, a family friend and desert guide, is
asked to investigate Nouf’s death and look for the murderer, if she was
murdered. Nouf’s brother Othman also
asks his fiancée, Katya Hijazi, an assistant at the coroner’s office to look
into the death as well. Nafir and Katya
need to work together to solve the crime, but can the strict rules of society
be bent enough to allow the pair to succeed?
I haven’t read anything set in Saudi
Arabia before so I thought this would be an interesting read. I enjoy mysteries in foreign settings so that
was another factor in its favor. However
I found this book very difficult to get through. Once I was about a third into it the mystery
really starting to take center stage and I read eagerly. Before that point it was really difficult
going. It started as a detailed and slow
paced introduction to the characters and society, well written, but difficult
because of the subject matter. I am
allowed to drive, ride a bike, go outside in any weather (nevermind over a
hundred degrees) without my body and face completely covered and interact with
men and women at work, at home or on the street. All things Katya was not allowed to do, and
when she did she had to fear the religious police. I couldn’t imagine living day to day in this
city; forget trying to solve a crime.
I’m glad I read it, it was a great mystery, but I don’t think I could
take reading any others in the series.
