With the intrigue of a psychological thriller, the heart of a romance and the beauty of a fantastical dive into history, The Tears of Boabdil tells the story of an undercover special agent unwittingly drawn into a forbidden romance and a glimpse of a distant past that mirrors today.
Longlisted for the McKitterick Prize
Vince is an accomplished liar and undercover Special Branch agent. Truth, for him, is the story we tell. Sworn to his country, committed to his work, he takes on a new mission - masquerading as an Islamic convert to infiltrate a British Jihadi group. There, he meets the beautiful sister of the leaders and soon becomes entangled in a way he never thought possible and which threatens his grip on reality. As reality weakens with each story about Moorish Spain Vince spins to seduce Ayesha, the more the fictional world blends into his world. But which will he choose: a duty that strengthens barriers or a love that breaks them?
"A thematically ambitious novel, interweaving multiple narrative lines. Both disturbing and arresting."Adam Craig, author of Vitus Dreams and fiction editor for Cinnamon Press
"A joy to read—a range of emotions from sympathy to horror."Alina Voyce, author of Lifelights
