Zoe Ferraris

Zoe Ferraris

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Zoe Ferraris is an exceptionally talented author. Award winning author Diana Abu-Jaber first recommended Zoe Ferraris to me. Ferraris writes a mystery series that explores life in the Middle East without denigrating the culture while telling a good story. It takes you behind the chador, but does not ridicule the culture. Zoe Ferraris married a Saudi Arabian man and lived for a while in Jeddah, the setting for her series. She uses her intimate knowledge of the setting and the people to give us a compelling mystery.

Finding Nouf blew me away! Nouf goes missing; her prominent family hires Nayir, an experienced desert tracker, to help in the search. When her body is found, the facts do not sit comfortably with Nayir. Katya in the medical examiner’s office also has concerns. The tension between Nayir and Katya as they try to discover the truth is part of the story. Nayir, a devout Muslim man, is uncomfortable interacting with Katya. There are taboos on what is permissible between a single woman and a man.

Such a powerhouse first book is hard to top, but Zoe Ferraris succeeds with City of Veils. A young woman is found dead on a beach, the victim of a horrible murder. Nayir and Katya must collaborate to discover the truth. At first the victim is thought to be a serving girl, a throwaway person. Katya’s clever sleuthing proves she is a young woman from a good family, a documentary film maker. As more of the victim’s life is uncovered the suspects for her killing multiply. This story blazes across the pages, picking up speed and not letting go!