BOOK REVIEW: NAMAL BY NEMRAH AHMED

A CRIME THRILLER BY NEMRAH AHMED

Namal is a novel that stands out among all other Pakistani novels because of its intricate web of truth, deception, and, of course, the small stream of love that emerges among all these channels of existence. Namal, unlike other novels, revolves around the lives of various characters rather than focusing on a single character as the focal point of the entire plot.

STORY

The novel begins with a sense of mystery and suspense.

Faris Ghazi, a young man, is arrested and charged with murdering his stepbrother. The only eyewitness to the crime, Zamar Yusuf, a just but harsh district attorney who also happens to be Faris' ex-teacher, accuses him. A complicated and well-planned murder turns these two into adversaries.

Nemrah Ahmed has summarised Pakistan's complicated legal system in the most straightforward manner. While focusing on murder, she has managed to describe other illegal behaviours that occur in our daily lives and go mostly unreported.

CHARACTERS

Hashim Kardar (Faris's first cousin), a villain to the rest of the world but a hero to his family, is a guy we can all despise but also love. Hashim is a well-known lawyer who also owns an oil cartel. Despite his involvement in several illicit operations, Hashim's strength is his ability to keep his promises to his family. This character is depicted in greyscale, and Nimrah Ahmed leaves the final analysis to the readers to investigate in depth.

Saadi Yusuf, the next significant character, is the epitome of a lovely, young, and tender-hearted young guy who is both related to Faris and Zamar. He outwits the prime suspect by discovering who murdered Faris's stepbrother, Waris Ghazi.

Nimrah Ahmed has beautifully described several Quranic verses to us through Saadi, particularly "Surah Namal," therefore the title of her novel. She goes on to explain how a Muslim should never give up hope and cling to his or her essential beliefs no matter how difficult or exhausting the circumstances become. It is, after all, a test from Allah.

Last but not least, Nemrah Ahmed has shown to be a role model for young girls. From exploring the most complex issues confronting young females to the most basic, Nemrah Ahmed has supplied a solution in the form of Huneen Yusuf - A twenty-year-old super brilliant female and Saadi Yusuf's sister. Haneen deals with the eternal conflict between the heart and the soul. We consider Haneen as the ideal embodiment of a clever, intellectual, and knowledgeable young woman who is also human enough to be relatable to young people, since she gradually embraces her imperfections.

Overall, if you want to spend your entire week reading mystery, thrill, and humour, Nemrah Ahmed's Namal is the perfect way to spend your week - An in-depth character analysis centred on a murder, war, and love narrative. This one has definitely captured my hearts!