Synopsis
In Khan’s compelling debut, In the Company of Strangers, we travel through the vast expanse of Lahore, one of the major cities of Pakistan, dive into its underbelly and uncover the layers of secrets, sordid affairs and the contemptible activities of the Lahori Aristocrats.
Khan weaves an unforgettable tale of love, loss and chicanery, driving us through the lives of Mona; a Lahori elite who is stuck in a failed marriage and is in search for raw connections and tender sentiments, and Ali; a model who belongs to the other side of the tracks and has an immense magnitude for endearment and intimacy.
In an unfortunate incident, Ali’s brother falls victim to one of the suicide bombings, and as he searches for aid he stumbles across the organization of Mir Rabiullah, a man who puts up a facade of being pious and God-fearing. Mona on the other hand is being acquainted with the world of glitz, glamour, drugs and immoral interests. Through mutual connections, they meet in the most uncomfortable of circumstances, but with each passing day grow attached to each other.
As havoc is wreaked on the city, a clandestine romance brews between the two. But as the dust settles, and the rubble subsides, we realize that Ali has fallen deep into an ambuscade fabricated by the terrorists, one that puts both Ali and Mona in immense danger.
Will both of them be able to walk out of it unscathed or will they succumb to the fear and peril?
Read In The Company of Strangers to find out!
Review
In The Company of Strangers talks about the high end parts of Lahore with unflinching candor, uncovering the best hid secrets of the elites. The author has illustrated Lahore with uncanny precision and has painted a beautiful landscape with words for his readers to savor. However, the physical descriptions of the characters were a bit lacking, and seeing as we do like to imagine the scenes to the very last detail, it was a bit difficult for us to conjure the characters up in our minds and have them play their parts. Nonetheless, In The Company of Strangers is a must read for all of you craving a fine contemporary novel.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.7/5 (3.7/5)
