Book Review: The Other Side of Night by Adam Hamdy

 My Rating: 4.5⭐

“If you had the power to save the life of someone you loved, how far would you go?”

The Other Side of Night by Adam Hamdy is the story of a father, David Asha, an author who shares the story of how he came to be separated from his son Elliot, in his new book. It is also a story of his son, a boy who loses his father soon after his mother dies from cancer. It is also the story of Ben Elmys, a family friend and colleague of the Ashas, who is responsible for Elliot's care after his parents are gone.

This is also the story of Harriet “Harri” Kealty a disgraced police officer who loses her job after being unable to prove her innocence when she is wrongfully accused in a case-related incident . Harri finds a cryptic message in a book she finds in a library sale – a message that leads her to Elliot and his guardian Ben Elmys, a man with whom she once dreamed of a future. Her subsequent investigation into the Asha family and Ben results in her fate becoming inextricably linked to the lives of those she is investigating.

The story is told from the perspectives of Harri and Elliot as well as through chapters from David’s book that also includes court transcripts, police reports, passages from a book and journal entries from some of the characters. At times the narrative might feel disjointed but rest assured, it all comes together (and how!) in the end. If you decide to read this book it is best to go in blind! The pace is on the slower side, but the beautifully penned passages make this worth the read and be prepared to be confused, surprised, unsettled, heartbroken and then finally, filled with a sense of wonder at this thought-provoking and genre-defying novel. This is an unusual story –one that combines elements of family drama, a love story, mystery and speculative fiction. Though this is not a fast-paced thriller, I could not put this book down until I reached the very end.

Many thanks to Adam Hamdy, Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital copy of this incredible novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The Other Side of Night is due to be released on October 11, 2022.