Really 2.5--an enjoyable murder mystery novel set in Saudi.

If you like James Patterson, D. Baldacci, similar best action/action w/a twist of mystery, you will enjoy this books.

A well done, layered novel that explores Saudi culture through an investigation of a serial killing. The narration is largely through the eyes of 2 characters, although there are moments narrated by other key characters.

The key plot of the novel is about the pursuit of a serial killer by Detective Ibrahim Zahrani and a female lab worker Katya Hijazi. The details of the killings, and the investigation are well thought out and intriguing. The additional twist of the male/female interaction and relationship rules in Saudi Arabia adds complexity to an already difficult case, which is further compounded by the nature of the victims (foreign women, most probably illegally in the country).

The author Ferraris does draws excellent secondary characters who are more than stock - the passed over detective, the chief who is aware of the politics of the station, the daughter-in-law who is unhappy. Through them, we begin to see the complexity of a society largely unknown by and misrepresented to most Americans. She does this by giving us glimpses into them as people instead of just having them perform a function in the story.

Ferraris true success comes however by the complexity of the main characters. Hijazi is a intelligent woman who wants to help people by solving crime, but faces a system that has little place for her. We watch her not only struggle at work, but in her relationship with her fiancé, largely conservative man. How that would all turn out was a mystery on a different level. Likewise, Detective Zahrani is also complicated and flawed. He is not particularly religious, and has a miserable marriage. His relationship with another woman, an illegal worker, is a key plot point and that relationship's connection to the serial killer investigation is played out over the course of the novel. Ferraris manages to deftly weave the realistic personal stories, the societal complexities and the thrill of a serial killer investigation into one well written novel.

I enjoy Zoe Ferraris' books because they let me peek in on a culture so very different from, yet somewhat like, mine. This book was no exception although it did seem to wrap up very quickly. But that may be because I was towards the end, had to put it down for a week and quickly finishing reading when I was able to get back to it.

I would say this is my favourite in the Katya Hijazi series....It kept me guessing till the very end, and I felt the writing was more mature than the previous two in the series.

Keep up the good work and please keep more books (in this series) coming :)

Great book! I love Zoe Ferraris and this was her best yet. I couldn't put it down!

Found a copy of this third and final in the series in a used bookstore and read most of it flying home. I have really enjoyed the characters in these mysteries as well as learning more information about the very restrictive society of Saudi Arabia. Katya Hijazi continues to work as a forensic scientist in the Jeddah Police Department's crime lab. A grave has been uncovered in the desert and 19 women are found, all with their hands removed. Katya is allowed into the investigation by the senior officer in charge who is more liberal than some of his colleagues; however, he has a personal mystery that needs to be solved as well. Katya helps him, while trying to figure out how much she can share with her husband to be. A fitting finale to a favorite series.

Wow. Raced through it. Did not even realize it was part of a series.

One the best reads so far this year. I will definitely be looking up and reading her previous two books. Well plotted well written, and completely new, at least to me.

This is essentially a police procedural set around a newly discovered serial killer. What makes it a great read is that it is set in Saudi Arabia, with all of the cultural differences that are part of that society - the role of women (not in the work place, to be sure) the role of foreigners (doing all the jobs Saudi will not) the role of religion in everyday life, etc

The main character appears at first to be a male detective but soon shifts to a female forensics technician who wishes to be more.

I am eagerly anticipating her earlier books and l
ooking forward to more views of a way of life that I really know nothing about.