Good People
The most page-turning, must-discuss bookclub debut of 2026
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'Written with raw emotional insight . . . What a spectacular triumph. This is the Afghan novel I have been eagerly waiting for' KHALED HOSSEINI, bestselling author of THE KITE RUNNER
'Brilliant. The best debut I've read in a very long time' MONICA ALI, bestselling author of LOVE MARRIAGE
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Zorah Sharaf could do no wrong. Zorah Sharaf brought shame upon her family.
What's the truth? Depends on who you ask.
The Sharaf family live in an exclusive neighbourhood in Virginia, the father a successful businessman and the children attending the most prestigious schools. Zorah, the eldest daughter, is the apple of her father's eye. The family's arrival in America, as refugees from war-torn Afghanistan, feels far behind them.
But when Zorah dies in an unthinkable tragedy, everyone is left reeling and the family is thrust into the court of public opinion. There is talk that behind closed doors the Sharafs' happy household was anything but, and soon the veneer of the model immigrant family starts to crumble.
Those who knew her best - and those who didn't know her at all - all have an opinion on who Zorah really was, and what really happened to her...
A kaleidoscopic, urgent narrative, told through the chorus of voices surrounding the Sharafs, Good People is a riveting, provocative and unforgettable story of community, family and identity.
'A remarkable, unsettling snapshot of our complicated times' AMEER PANDYA, author of OUR BEAUTIFUL BOYS
'Brilliant. The best debut I've read in a very long time' MONICA ALI, bestselling author of LOVE MARRIAGE
___________________________________________________________________________
Zorah Sharaf could do no wrong. Zorah Sharaf brought shame upon her family.
What's the truth? Depends on who you ask.
The Sharaf family live in an exclusive neighbourhood in Virginia, the father a successful businessman and the children attending the most prestigious schools. Zorah, the eldest daughter, is the apple of her father's eye. The family's arrival in America, as refugees from war-torn Afghanistan, feels far behind them.
But when Zorah dies in an unthinkable tragedy, everyone is left reeling and the family is thrust into the court of public opinion. There is talk that behind closed doors the Sharafs' happy household was anything but, and soon the veneer of the model immigrant family starts to crumble.
Those who knew her best - and those who didn't know her at all - all have an opinion on who Zorah really was, and what really happened to her...
A kaleidoscopic, urgent narrative, told through the chorus of voices surrounding the Sharafs, Good People is a riveting, provocative and unforgettable story of community, family and identity.
'A remarkable, unsettling snapshot of our complicated times' AMEER PANDYA, author of OUR BEAUTIFUL BOYS
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- Published: Feb 12 2026
- Pages: 464
- ISBN: 9780349019437
Press Reviews
Monica Ali, author of LOVE MARRIAGE
Brilliant. The best debut I've read in a very long time
Sameer Pandya, author of OUR BEAUTIFUL BOYS
Good People is equal parts an immigrant novel, a tightly-wound mystery, and an oral history. Patmeena Sabit moves between these with insight, ease and grace to give us a remarkable, unsettling snapshot of our complicated times
Khaled Hosseini, author of THE KITE RUNNER
Good People is a stunning read. I could not recommend it more enthusiastically. The story of an investigation into a suspicious death, this rich novel is so much more. Written with raw emotional insight, this page-turner is a fascinating, kaleidoscopic look at a grieving Afghan family caught between culture and country. With startling empathy for all sides, Patmeena Sabit plumbs the fault lines of honor, truth, prejudice, and how identity shapes guilt in the aftermath of tragedy. What a spectacular triumph this book is. This is the Afghan novel I have been eagerly waiting for
Alka Joshi, author of THE HENNA ARTIST and the JAIPUR trilogy
A triumphant debut! With the sophistication and assurance of a seasoned writer, Patmeena Sabit has crafted a prescient East-West story as only a third culture talent could have. The plot: masterful. The writing: beguiling. The pacing: breakneck. The possibility I will read this again and again: absolute. I can't wait to read what Sabit will create next!