The Dove's Necklace
by Raja Alem
When a dead woman is discovered in Abu Al Roos, one of Mecca's many alleys, no one will claim the body because they are ashamed by her nakedness. As we follow Detective Nassir's investigation of the case, the secret life of the holy city of Mecca is revealed.Tackling powerful issues, Raja Alem reveals a city and a civilization at once beholden to brutal customs, and reckoning uneasily with new traditions. Told from a variety of perspectives The Dove's Necklace is an ambitious portrait of a changing city, exploring the disappearing world of Mecca from the unique perspective of a female Saudi author, whose writing is beautiful and evocative.