by Lisa Randall
First published 2018
The narrator pours another glass of sidiki, the homemade moonshine that could land him in jail. He has spent over twenty years as an expatriate in Saudi Arabia, where Islamic law makes his lifestyle a constant gamble. Every party with mixed company, every drink, every moment of normal social interaction carries the threat of imprisonment, deportation, or public flogging. He watches women face stoning while navigating the complex world of Saudi royalty and the divide between Sunni and Shia Muslims. Through two Gulf Wars and countless close calls with authorities, he builds a successful career while living under the shadow of medieval punishments. The book follows his journey across the Kingdom as he witnesses the harsh realities of Sharia law enforcement and the hidden lives of both expatriates and Saudi women. His story reveals the tension between professional success and personal freedom in a society where ancient customs still dictate justice.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, middle-east
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, personal-freedom
Setting: Saudi Arabia
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
254 pages · Paperback · Independently published
Content warnings: alcohol-abuse, violence