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The Return of Faraz Ali

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About this listen

A spellbinding debut set in Pakistan during the anarchic late '60s - a multi-layered tale of family, identity and the politics of power in a caste-ridden society.

As riots erupt on the streets of Lahore, Inspector Faraz returns to his birthplace, the red-light district in the ancient walled city where women still pass on the profession of courtesan to their daughters. Plucked from it as a small boy by his influential father, Faraz has kept his roots well hidden. Now his father has sent him back: to cover up the murder of a young prostitute.

It should be a simple task in the marginalised community, but Faraz finds himself unable to obey orders or to resist searching for the mother and sister he left behind. Chasing down the walled city's labyrinthine alleys for answers that risk shattering his carefully constructed existence, he is unaware that his sister faces having to return, too, and to a life she thought she had escaped.

As riveting as it is thought-provoking, as profoundly intimate as it is wide in scope, The Return of Faraz Ali poses a timeless question: whom do we choose to protect and at what price?

©2022 Aamina Ahmad (P)2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Crime Fiction Genre Fiction Historical International Mystery & Crime Literary Fiction Mystery South Asian Creators Fiction Crime Exciting

Critic reviews

"A gripping read—everything beautifully evoked, from the alleys of the Old City to the atmosphere of corruption and secrets." (Kamila Shamsie)
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I didnt like that the pronunciation of Urdu worlds were very poorly done. " Roti kapra -Makaan - sounded like the work butter and not house

Heeramandi story- very hounest

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I was expecting a bit of a police procedural to be honest but found a really interesting exploration of family, nature v nurture and to whom our loyalty is owed set mostly before and just after the birth of Bangladesh.

Not a simple crime drama

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Potential to have an enthralling plot but too many subjects were tackled and skimmed over and left the reader confused and bewildered - was tempted so many times to just give up BUT that said, the author writes well - just subject, plot and structure needed help - my opinion

Too detailed, not enough explanation of local language - a glossary of explanations would have helped

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