‘The Other Side of Night’ by Adam Hamdy.

Published by Macmillan,
22 September 2022.
ISBN: 978-1-52908813-7 (PB)

At first sight, The Other Side of Night appears to be a description of the convoluted circumstances that led to Ben Elmys being charged with causing the death of police Sergeant Sabih Kahn.  Ben had come under scrutiny because he had been nominated as guardian to David and Elizabeth Asha’s son Elliot Asha, a role he had insisted on taking up after both Elliot’s parents died within a short time of each other whilst Elliot was still under ten years old.

Former detective Harriet Kealty, Harri to her friends, finds a scribble in the margin of a library book saying Help He’s trying to kill me. It was the book Elizabeth Asha had been reading before she died. Harri suspects Elizabeth’s death from cancer might have been contrived. As Harri is currently suspended from the police force, she asks Sabih –her partner in the Force before she was thrown out - to help her investigate Elizabeth Asha’s unusual claim.  Ben Elmys is her main suspect. The situation is complicated because Harri has already fallen for Ben whom she had met through a dating site.  It is further complicated because Harri was present when Sabih died and then plays a major role in the trial when Ben is accused of killing Sabih.

After Sabih dies, Harri continues with her investigations because she is still determined to get to the truth about both David’s and Elizabeth’s deaths.  It is impossible to relate - or even to hint at - where Harri’s enquiries lead without giving away the extraordinary ending of this engrossing, highly imaginative and completely different book. If you want to know how and why the Ashas died, I’m afraid you will have to read the book. Sufficient to say you will never have read anything quite like it before, and that the ending is predicated on the absolute trust and love that is only possible when two hearts truly beat as one. 
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Reviewer: Angela Crowther

Adam Hamdy is an author, screenwriter and filmmaker. In addition to his own original work, Adam has adapted a number of comic books and novels for the screen, including the forthcoming film version of David Mitchell’s novel, Number9Dream. Adam has a law degree from Oxford University and a philosophy degree from the University of London.  He is a seasoned rock climber, skier and CPSA marksman. Adam lives in Shropshire with his wife and three children.

 http://www.adamhamdy.com/

Angela Crowther is a retired scientist.  She has published many scientific papers but, as yet, no crime fiction.  In her spare time Angela belongs to a Handbell Ringing group, goes country dancing and enjoys listening to music, particularly the operas of Verdi and Wagner.