Point of View

Rather than describing events neutrally, the novel alternates between points of view, allowing us to consider the same plot details from different angles. The first-person point of view helps us to relate to the characters and share their emotions, as we follow their innermost thoughts. Whereas Misbah tells her story with the benefit of hindsight, the use of the present tense for Noor and Sal contributes to a sense of immediacy and intensity, as it puts us in the moment with the characters.

The novel employs reliable, credible narrators who do not mislead the reader. However, there are limits to the information that they are willing or able to provide, so we still have to look for clues – comparing and contrasting the alternate narratives – in order to fill the gaps. For instance, Noor describes her shock when she thinks that Jamie has found out her...