Taha Kehar

No Funeral for Nazia by Taha Kehar is takes place in Pakistan shortly after a woman’s natural death. Instead of the funeral customs that would normally be carried out, she leaves a message for her sister to set up a special party for her family and close friends.
This is advertised as a mystery which it really is not. There are long-held secrets for several of the characters but these lead only to various resentments and changes in relationships, not a crime or murder as one would expect.
As a novel, it is fine. The setting in a household in Pakistan is interesting because there are cultural dynamics that I don’t often read about. The story is driven by character, not plot, which means that the main players are well drawn, and the motivations are slowly brought forth which creates some tension in the narrative. The last third dragged quite a bit as each character goes one by one to confront their secrets; it was a bit repetitive. The writing itself flowed well but didn’t stand out in any particular way.
The biggest reveals were in the ways that friends and family learn to view each other more holistically, although the way they get there is a bit contrived.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Neem Press for providing the eARC.… (más)