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'A truly remarkable ride through a Pakistan I never knew with one of the foremost talents in the genre.' Imran Mahmood
A life hiding her heartbreak. A message that will change her world.
To strangers that pass her on the streets of Lahore, Mona Ahmed lives a life to be envied. Married to wealthy businessman Bilal, with happily married children and living in a vast home with staff to attend to her every desire, she seems to want for nothing.
But behind the gilded exterior lies a past of secrets and heartbreak. While they may have weathered the storm of Mona's infidelity, with Bilal embracing the child born out of that secret love affair, their marriage remains shaky.
While Mona's heart is broken with memories of her lost soulmate, she hides her pain behind becoming the perfect wife, hosting glamorous, high-profile gatherings for the rest of Lahore's high society, keeping up appearances for fear of inviting gossip.
Each day has the same slow, regular rhythm... until the first message arrives, and everything in Mona's life changes in an instant. Will the secrets of Mona's past threaten her future, her marriage and even her life?
An utterly captivating, thought-provoking and heartbreaking read that fans of Christy Lefteri and Nadia Hashimi won't be able to put down.
Praise for Awais Khan:
'Remarkably beautiful but haunting and thrilling in equal measure, Khan's writing is assured, accomplished and compulsive. I loved it.' Helen Fields
'A dark drama showing the raw reality of Pakistani high society, beautifully written, with a clever twist in the tale.' Michael Wood
'A triumphant return to the glittering world of Pakistani high society.' A.A. Chaudhuri
'Set in Lahore, Pakistan, a city full of extremes, of violent gangs and incredible wealth, we follow Mona and Bilal as they navigate family secrets and forgiveness. Stunning.' Louise Swanson
'A terrific read that kept me gripped all day and a fascinating glimpse into both the glamour and the sometimes suffocating social codes of high society Pakistan.' Frances Quinn
'A real page-turner, full of drama and intrigue. A fascinating insight into high society in Lahore. I couldn't put it down.' Lisa Timoney
'A searing indictment of Pakistani high society that nonetheless gives us reason to be optimistic. I thoroughly enjoyed this masterpiece by one of Pakistan's best writers.' Alan Gorevan
About the author
Awais Khan was born in Lahore, Pakistan. He is a graduate of The University of Western Ontario and Durham University and studied Creative Writing at Faber Academy. In his free time, he likes to read all types of fiction, especially historical fiction and psychological thrillers.
