The story takes place in Saudi Arabia, where Religious Law rules.
Katya works in the medical examiner's office, a job she loves, but had to pretend to be married to work there alongside men (not exactly alongside because her lab is separate from the others'). She sees a brutally beaten body, found on the beach, and notices some things that suggest it is not "just another housemaid". She enlists the help of a friend, fundamentalist Nayir, and the two of them discover that the body is that of a young filmmater named Leila. They further determine that she was working on a film that had a controversial subject: a challenge to the belief in the perfection of the Koran. What they unearth shakes Nayir, who struggles with his beliefs. The two make the acquaintance of a young American woman whose husband has disappeared, and they make connections with the death of Leila.
What was interesting to me throughout this book was the insight it provides into the day-to-day lives of Muslims in places like Saudi Arabia, and the lives in general of women who live there, Muslim or not. The religious restrictions hurt not only the women.
Katya works in the medical examiner's office, a job she loves, but had to pretend to be married to work there alongside men (not exactly alongside because her lab is separate from the others'). She sees a brutally beaten body, found on the beach, and notices some things that suggest it is not "just another housemaid". She enlists the help of a friend, fundamentalist Nayir, and the two of them discover that the body is that of a young filmmater named Leila. They further determine that she was working on a film that had a controversial subject: a challenge to the belief in the perfection of the Koran. What they unearth shakes Nayir, who struggles with his beliefs. The two make the acquaintance of a young American woman whose husband has disappeared, and they make connections with the death of Leila.
What was interesting to me throughout this book was the insight it provides into the day-to-day lives of Muslims in places like Saudi Arabia, and the lives in general of women who live there, Muslim or not. The religious restrictions hurt not only the women.
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