{"product_id":"the-end-of-the-sahara-paperback","title":"The End of the Sahara - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eSaid Khatibi\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eAlexander Elinson\u003c\/b\u003e (Translator)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn an early autumn morning in 1988, on the outskirts of an unnamed Algerian city, a shepherd stumbles upon the lifeless body of Zaza Zaghouani, a stunning nightclub singer who left her hometown seeking a brighter future. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe story is set in 1988 Algeria. It takes place in just forty days, ending as mass protests erupt in the country. In a small town on the edge of the desert, plagued by a locust infestation and a food shortage, teetering on the brink of uprising, the body of Zakia Zaghouani--the singer at the Sahara Hotel--is discovered. Suspicion immediately falls on her lover, who is thrown into prison. The incompetent and greedy Inspector Hamid begins an investigation. So does the defense lawyer of the main suspect. Family, friends, and close ones give their testimonies, finding themselves confronted with their past. Secrets, betrayals, grudges, but also dreams and hopes shed light on their connection to the victim: each person harbors, for one reason or another, the desire to take revenge on her.\u003c\/p\u003e\"Khatibi layers the story with vivid detail. Alexander Elinson's translation from the Arabic feels lively and authentic. Khatibi handles each character with care and skill, unpeeling their personal stories, their web of connections and the grim reality of life in a one-party dictatorship.\" \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFinancial Times: Best Thrillers of the Month\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\"Elegant prose and a keen sense of place help bring the narrative to life. It's a solid whodunit that doubles as a captivating look at a country in transition.\" \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKIRKUS STARRED REVIEW\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e \"In the fall of 1988, shortly before the outbreak of mass youth riots in Algeria over unemployment and a lack of basic goods, a town's collective anger over the murder of a nightclub singer reflects what's to come. An absorbing novel that should broaden Khatibi's following.\"\"Evocative, brooding, and perfectly hard-boiled!\"--- \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCrimeReads\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\"Original, exceptional, engaging, deftly crafted, \"The End of the Sahara\" by Said Khatibi is the story of how on an early autumn morning in 1988, on the outskirts of an unnamed Algerian city, a shepherd stumbles upon the lifeless body of Zaza Zaghouani, a stunning nightclub singer who left her hometown seeking a brighter future. Showcasing Said Khatibi's genuinely compelling, narrative-driven storytelling style, \"The End of the Sahara\" is a singularly riveting, suspense-driven read from start to finish. Unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Historical Murder Mystery collections.\".---\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMBR (Midwestern Book Review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSaïd Khatibi\u003c\/b\u003e is a novelist, travel writer, translator, and journalist born in 1984 in Bou Saâda, Algeria. He currently lives in Slovenia. He writes in Arabic and French and translates between both. His novel \u003ci\u003eSarajevo Firewood\u003c\/i\u003e, was shortlisted for the 2020 International Prize for Arabic Fiction and was his first novel translated into English. His other novels are \u003ci\u003eThe Book of Errors\u003c\/i\u003e which was published in 2013, and \u003ci\u003eForty Years Waiting for Isabelle \u003c\/i\u003ewhich won the 2017 Katara Award for Arabic Novels. He has written a travel book about the Balkans, \u003ci\u003eThe Inflamed Gardens of the East\u003c\/i\u003e, 2015, and has written extensively on raï music, including a book (\u003ci\u003eWedding Fire\u003c\/i\u003e, 2010). \u003ci\u003eThe End of the Sahara\u003c\/i\u003e won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award Young Author category in 2023.\u003c\/p\u003e  \n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 336\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.18 x 7.72 x 5.04 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 24, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46904257970315,"sku":"9781916725225","price":28.54,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0670\/2579\/7259\/files\/JdB58AMC709781916725225.webp?v=1778611825","url":"https:\/\/thetaletrade.com\/products\/the-end-of-the-sahara-paperback","provider":"The Tale Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}