Description
Description
In 2014 Alexandria, Egypt, history professor Omar El-Mohammedi is shattered when his once-promising son, Nasser, returns-not alive, but wrapped in silence and unanswered questions.
Was Nasser truly a terrorist, radicalized by faith, or a casualty of a fractured world that rarely seeks to understand? With no time to mourn, CIA agent Matt demands that Omar decode his son's journal, possibly the only way to stop a looming terrorist attack. As he unravels its brutal passages, Omar confronts unforgiving family revelations and his failings as a father.
Amid the aftermath of 9/11, the ensuing wars, and the Arab Spring, The Gales of Alexandria follows those left behind. His sister turns to faith, his fiancée to activism, and his best friends, who left for a new life in America, are caught in shifting tides. Meanwhile, Matt, torn between duty and doubt, and Risa, a Jewish woman in a failing marriage to Nasser's best friend, find themselves drawn into Nasser's fate.
The Gales of Alexandria explores politics, faith, and family-a story rooted in culture and history, unfolding with the pulse of a thriller. Why do we stray from our ideals? Can reconciliation emerge from loss, or are some wounds too deep to heal?
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"An intricate look at the precarious relationship between faith, politics, and their potent effects on people, shifting between characters and timelines while handling divisive themes with a graceful nuance."
- BookLife by Publishers Weekly (Editor's Pick)
"A painful picture of a lost young man striving to make his life mean something, at any cost... Depicting global history while remaining rooted in the very human dilemmas of finding meaning and staying true to one's beliefs."
- BlueInk Review (Starred Review)
"Deeply felt, richly detailed... A sobering tale of complex politics and histories."
- Kirkus Reviews
"Wow... it is not often that I finish a book and let out a giant sigh. Somehow this is a debut novel by Ehab Elgammal and it is fantastic. Part history lesson, part mystery, part action movie, and part meditation on faith, family, loss, and values. Beautiful prose, deeply immersive, and emphatically recommended."
- NetGalley Reviewer (5/5 ★★★★★)
"Melding the lyricism and cerebral style of literary fiction with the page-turning pull of a political thriller, and the emotional intrigue of a family saga."
- LoveReading UK (Indie Books We Love)
"In the face of global political events, connected people are set on different paths of self-discovery in the thoughtful thriller."
- Foreword Clarion
"One of those books that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after it has been finished."
- Midwest Book Review (Reviewer's Choice)
"Floating through horror and emotional connection alike with poetic grace."
- BlueInk Review (Starred Review)
"A riveting thriller exploring loyalty, religion, and humanity... Elgammal vividly showcases how historical events bleed into personal lives, leaving scars that span generations. Intriguing and thought-provoking."
- Independent Book Review
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
The Allstora Membership
Membership Perks:
- Save 30% on all online store purchases
- Exclusive access to author's content
- You pay less, but authors still earn double
Membership Terms:
- To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
- One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.