FINDING NOUF
ZOE FERRARIS
MAY 6, 2009
The setting for this mystery is Saudi Arabia, where the harshness of the climate is matched by the severe laws. The strictest laws apply to women, one of which is for a woman to always wear a burqa covering her face. Nouf, a sixteen-year old, is rich and protected and in search of her independence. Her body is found in the desert. Nayer, a desert guide, begins the search for Nouf’s killer at the request of her family. Nayer is a gentle giant religiously following the Quran’s teachings. He holds all women in awe, respect, and fear.
Katya joins forces with Nayer to solve this mystery. She works in a forensic lab to help support her father and struggles with the strict rules upon all women in Jeddah. Unable to drive as a woman, she waits 5 minutes for the driver in the noon sun and her sandals melt to the pavement.
Each suspect is introduced as a rich and full character. Athman Shrawie is Katya’s fiancée and Nouf’s adopted brother. Muhammad is the driver for Nouf. Eric is an American who befriended Nouf. They all share secrets.
Evidence is found to lead an unlikely trail to the killer. Pink stiletto heels, a jet ski, a motorcycle and a zoo are odd clues for a young Saudi Arabian girl’s murder.
This story made me think. At first the culture was dominating the story. It opened my eyes to see how fortunate we are. At the same time I saw that we can all learn from each other. The idea of mutual respect was brought out through the relationship between Katya and Nayer and the story itself was woven together in an excellent mystery with strong characters. The ending surprised me which is rare. I highly recommend this book to all readers.
sah
5/6/09