My Thoughts
In her suspenseful new book “Almost Surely Dead,” Akhtar weaves a complex tale of a woman whose life takes a terrifying turn. Dunia Ahmed is a very successful pharmacist living an ordinary life in New York City after the death of her mother and a broken engagement until she survives not one but multiple attempts on her life. At first, believing the worst is over after her would-be killer turns up dead, Dunia is launched back into danger again and again as more murder attempts follow.
As Dunia struggles to make sense of why someone is trying to kill her, old childhood superstitions start to permeate reality. She becomes convinced that some sinister force is stalking her, ratcheting the suspense. The police suspect someone close to Dunia may be responsible, but the truth remains tantalizingly out of reach for both Dunia and the reader.
Akhtar does an excellent job pacing the suspense and the mystery around Dunia’s disappearance. Side plots like Dunia’s family dynamics and background as the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, as well as the true-crime podcast covering her case, add many interesting dimensions without taking away from the main storyline. The superstitious elements provide a unique undercurrent in the story.
This book has many thrills and chills galore as you race to find out why someone wants Dunia dead and whether she will survive. The mysteries piled upon the secrets will keep readers gripped until the final pages. For fans of fast-paced suspense thrillers with intriguing characters, many twists, and a dash of culture. I got this book from Prime Reads.
