When Nouf ash-Shrawi, the sixteen-year-old daughter of a wealthy Saudi dynasty, disappears from her home in Jeddah just days before her arranged marriage, desert guide Nayir is asked to bring her home.

But when her battered body is found, Nayir feels compelled to uncover the disturbing truth, travelling away from the endless desert to the vast city of Jeddah, where, most troubling of all, Nayir finds himself having to work closely with Katya Hijazi, a forensic scientist. The further into the investigation he goes, the more Nayir finds himself questioning his loyalties: to his friends, faith and culture.

* A compelling page-turner with a wonderful central character, which also gives a fascinating insight into the closed world of Saudi Arabia

About the Author
Zoe Ferraris lived in Jeddah for a year as part of a strict Saudi community before returning to live in the United States. She has received an MFA from Columbia University and now lives in San Francisco with her daughter.

Reviews
** 'Subtle, interesting explorations of sexual and religious repression. Ferrarris . . . has a lucid eye for cultural pressures and the sympathy she extends to her (often fearsomely devout) characters makes this both a likeable novel and a timely one * NEW STATESMAN *
** 'Ferraris's remarkable debut is a tense psychological drama, and a riveting portrait of everyday life in a society with paranoid attitudes towards women and sex. * SUNDAY TIMES *
** 'Gripping . . . this is a fascinating mystery, with a complex and likable hero * THE TIMES *
Zoe Ferraris lived for a time in a religious community in Saudi Arabia and has drawn on ** her experiences in The Night of the Mi'raj . . . as a portrait of contemporary life in Jeddah, it's a success. * OBSERVER *


Awards
Short-listed for CWA Daggers: John Creasey (New Blood) 2008 (UK).



Book Information
ISBN 9780349120324
Author Zoe Ferraris
Format Paperback
Page Count 368
Imprint Abacus
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Weight(grams) 252g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 128mm * 25mm