Book Review: The End of the Sahara By Saïd Khatibi

On an early autumn morning in 1988, on the outskirts of an Algerian city on the edge of the desert, a shepherd stumbles upon the lifeless body of Zakia Zaghouani, the stunning nightclub singer at the Sahara Hotel. Suspicion immediately falls on her lover, who is thrown into prison.

The incompetent Inspector Hamid begins an investigation. So does the defense lawyer of the main suspect. Family, friends, and close ones give their testimonies, finding themselves confronted with their past. Secrets, betrayals, grudges, but also dreams and hopes shed light on their connection to the victim.

Each person harbours, for one reason or another, the desire to take revenge on her. So, who really killed Zakia? And what if, behind this woman’s murder, lie secrets so unbearable they could tear an entire community apart?

*****

What starts as a normal morning for an Algerian Shephard ends up being anything but when he finds the body of a young woman. Later identified as Zakia Zaghouani, a singer at the Sahara Hotel, an investigation begins to find her killer.

The premise of this novel was intriguing – a fictional murder mystery set against the real backdrop of the 1988 October Riots in Algeria.

It didn’t take the author long to get me right into the thick of the story. Although it’s main focus is the murder of Zakia, I could feel the rumbles of the riots simmering all the way through the novel. There’s something within the undertones of every description and piece of dialogue. It really did pull me into the situation and gave me a small idea of what it must have been like at that time for the characters in this story.

The plot is strong as it makes its way to the big reveal of who murdered Zakia? Themes such as unrest, unemployment, loyalty, betrayal, jealousy, grief, loss, ambition, family, and societal expectations – all of this is explored within the pages. It’s an interesting and important commentary on what was happening at that time. At the heart though, are these people and the place in which they live.

The characters are a varied bunch. You have Ibrahim who runs a video store, Inspector Hamid, the officer investigating the murder, Maimoun, the Sahara Hotel owner, Bachir, Zakia’s boyfriend and his lawyer, Noura. Then there is Kamal, the hotel’s receptionist. Each with their own history, place in society, layers, flaws, view of the world and all have their own unique voices. Told from many viewpoints, this book does give you a wide picture into each character, what their motivations are and how they fit into the overall narrative. It was fascinating to see how some of them were connected and how this affected their behaviour and actions. Even though she’s been murdered, Zakia was always there, in the background.

There’s not much more I can say about this book without giving everything away. The End Of The Sahara is a gritty, captivating tale of life in 1988 Algeria. It was an education for me, and the backdrop is something I’ll do more research on for sure. This is a book that will stay with me long after I’ve finished the last page. If you like historical novels with societal and political themes, this book is for you.

(Thank you to Bitter Lemon Press for the reading copy in exchange for an honest review).

The End Of The Sahara was released by Bitter Lemon Press in February 2026. Click to buy on Amazon UK, Amazon US, Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. 

About Saïd Khatibi – 

Saïd Khatibi is a novelist, travel writer, translator, and journalist born in 1984 in Bou Saâda, Algeria. He currently lives in Slovenia. 

He writes in Arabic and French and translates between both. His novel Sarajevo Firewood, was shortlisted for the 2020 International Prize for Arabic Fiction.

His other novels are The Book of Errors which was published in 2013, and Forty Years Waiting for Isabelle which won the 2017 Katara Award for Arabic Novels.

He has written a travel book about the Balkans, The Inflamed Gardens of the East, 2015, and has written extensively on raï music, including the book Wedding Fire, 2010. The End of the Sahara won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award Young Author category in 2023.

Find out more about him on the Bitter Lemon Press website. 

About Alexander Elinson (Translator) – 

Alexander Elinson is a Professor of Arabic and Head of the Arabic Program.

He has authored numerous academic articles and translated notable works by Youssef Fadel, Yassin Adnan, Khadija Marouazi, Amara Lakhous, and Saïd Khatibi.

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Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
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I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
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