A case of exploding mangoes

The death of the dictator of Pakistan General Zia alongside all his high-ranked officers plus the US embassador has intrigued people since the day it happened. The cause for the fall of the plane is still a mystery, becoming excellent material for a writer.

This novel depicts the reasons behind those events, having as a narrator a young soldier who has a grudge with the government, which apparently is the responsible for his father's death. His best friend Obaid disappears with a fight plane and the CIA and the Pakistani Intelligence agency decide that the protagonist must know something about this.

What is unique about this novel is the sarcastic tone which the protagonist/narrator uses to retells his adventures, trying to survive a few more days in order to acomplish his sole purpose on earth: to kill General Zia. At the same time, we learn about this general superstitious mind, his relationship with his officers and the level of corruption and intrigue that surrounds this dictatorial leader.

A truly page-turner, this novel replicates the characteristics of a book that Obaid recommends to the protagonist: 'Tale of a death foretold' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez: you know the end of the narrative from the beginning, but you want to know what has happened to get to that ending. Mohammed Hanif is a marvellous storyteller, creating a suspenseful plot that will keep you alert until the last page of the book.

Ana Ovejero

mail: ana.ovejero@gmail.com

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