I’m on the Book tour for The Secret of Karabakh by Fidan Bagirova on behalf of Random Things Tours. Thank you to Lume Books and Anne Cater for the copy of this book to take part in the tour.
You are not who you think you are. Your future is not what you think it will be.
You are in danger…
Alana Fulton, the beloved only child of wealthy American parents, is bookish and passionate about the past. In the final stages of a PhD in archaeology at the University of Cambridge, Alana’s future is bright and assured. Then comes the anonymous note: You are not who you think you are. Suddenly, everything in her life – including her sense of self – is under assault.
As Alana flees unknown pursuers and mounting danger, all that is familiar crumbles away. In time, it becomes clear to Alana why she’s being pursued; and she must ask herself where her loyalties and her future lie.
The Secret of Karabakh is a fascinating, compelling blend of all-action narrative and political history. Perfect for fans of The Goldfinch, The Da Vinci Code, and The Kite Runner.
A novel that is a skilful blend of action thriller and historical fiction. The Secret of Karabakh is written by an author that’s brand new to me, so I had no idea what to expect from this book. The synopsis gave me the idea that I could possibly love this book. The cover with its tag line intrigued me, so I decided to find out and started it.
This is one heck of an interesting, intriguing and gripping thriller. Archeology, politics and even history are all part of the web that Fidan Bagirova weaves together that kept me captivated.
We meet Alana Fulton, a woman with everything. Only child of wealthy parents, she is finishing her PhD in Archeology at Cambridge and is in a relationship with a movie star. She couldn’t be any more blessed if she tried. Then, things begin to unravel in a way that unnerves Alana to the point that she is living a nightmare. A note she receives triggers memories that aren’t whole but fractured. She is pushed to protect everyone around her that she loves and stay alive, as well as attempt to discover who she really is. I couldn’t stop reading! I needed to know why she was the target of a killer and about her past so much. As the story unfolded her past was slowly revealed that meant it became so important for me to find out everything, like, yesterday!
A book that was such an addictive and interesting read, not only giving me the thrills of the chase but also educating me too. I was transported to a place and time I knew nothing about. I always say the best part of reading is not just to be entertained but also educated. This book did exactly that, the Azeri culture and history was great to learn about. The fact that it’s been lost and invaders has stolen their history too just has so many similarities with what’s going on in todays world. It just highlights what happens time and time again in our world.
Fidan Bagirova has put her heart and soul into this book and it’s clear throughout. Her love for Azerbaijan shines through. She manages to bring the culture to vivid life right in front of your eyes so It was so easy to imagine yourself there.
A thriller that has all the ingredients to keep you rooted to your chair, vivid detail compelling characters and the twists and turns to top it off too. I would certainly read other books by this author again with no problem. A recommended read from me.
Author Bio
Fidan Bagirova is a writer, sculptor and multimedia artist. She was born in Geneva, to parents from Azerbaijan. They, like hundreds of thousands of others, lost everything during the Armenian invasion described in The Secret of Karabakh, and for Fidan, writing this novel has been a way of expressing her longing for the Azerbaijani people’s identity and stolen heritage.
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