Narrator Deepti Gupta is an excellent choice for this story of diverse characters struggling to survive in contemporary Pakistan. Nargis, a middle-aged woman, is full of secrets. She doesn’t get to share them with her husband before he is killed as a bystander in a violent neighborhood clash. The story unfolds as tensions rise between Christians and Muslims in her upper-middle-class neighborhood, making enemies of formerly friendly neighbors. Gupta portrays Nargis as a gentle, pensive, and sympathetic woman battling increasing danger. Listeners who enjoy literary fiction and learning about other cultures will look forward to long drives or quiet afternoons to take in the twists and turns of this story. 

M.R. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine 

[Published: AUGUST 2017]