Reviews
“These are women I know”
“REMARKABLE”
—Richard Marcus, Blogcritics, on The Lover
“Beautiful and Intriguing”
—Richard Marcus, Blogcritics, on The Jealous
(warning spoilers in review)
“Enthralling”
—Richard Marcus, Blogcritics, on The Unseen
The Lover and The Jealous are
“Discovered Diamonds”
“A well-written and enjoyable novel … For students of history who enjoy crime, this is an excellent and entertaining way to gain more information about the history of Islam.” A.K. Morrissey, Historical Novel Society
“Dust and cool water; ascetism and the bonds of love. In 10th century Baghdad, Zaytuna is torn between the mysticism of Sufi practice and her need for connection to the world – and the reality of survival day to day. When a child dies in a fall, she must try to understand why, bringing her into conflict with both powerful people and her own brother, and challenging, too, her own understanding of herself and her faith.”
— Marian Thorpe, Author of the Award Winning Empire's Legacy Series
“Silvers’ exquisite descriptions of Baghdad and erudite knowledge of its historical denizens render real the people of Baghdad to the reader, whether pious mystics, cynical wine merchants, or frontier soldiers turned detectives. It’s a great mystery and its faithful portrayal of Baghdad.”
— Sherwan Hindreen Ali, McGill University
The Jealous
Fofky’s Readers Choice Award for Best Thriller
“The Jealous intertwines the stories of two mysteries, the first – the murder of a wealthy Imam in tenth-century Baghdad – secular, the second – the mystery of the soul’s journey to God – spiritual. In this sequel to her acclaimed debut novel The Lover, Laury Silvers has written a riveting tale that will have the reader turning pages far into the night.”
— Joyce Lionarons, Bestselling Author of the Matthew Cordwainer and Gavin Rownt Mysteries
“In this exceptionally well-written and lucid book, Laury Silvers brings the intricacies of medieval Islamic religiosities and society to life. Exploring the little-known religious communities of medieval Baghdad, The Unseen invites the reader to journey through the often forgotten multifaceted dimensions of pre-modern society, addressing questions such as dissent, sectarianism, and communal relations.”
— Ahab Bdaiwi, Leiden and Cambridge Universities
“Completely engrossing and richly atmospheric. Tenth century Baghdad comes alive through the eyes of a dazzling cast of characters.”
— Ausma Zehanat Khan, acclaimed author of The Getty-Khattak Mysteries
The Lover
#1 Amazon Bestseller
"Silvers masterfully uses literature to fuse suspense and mysticism and capture readers in an intricately-woven historical mystery that taps into timeless human experiences."
— Layla Abdullah-Poulos, Managing Editor, NbA Muslims
“The Unseen is an emotionally complex and layered mystery-thriller set in medieval Baghdad.”
— Karen Heenan, Author of the Award-Winning Tudor Court Series
The Sufi Mysteries
over 4 stars on Goodreads and Amazon
“These are women I know.”
— Sara Abdel-Latif, AltMuslimah
“The Jealous shows the complexities between what is right and what may be your rights, the biases we hold even if we don’t realise we hold them and the trauma that is inflicted on the innocent and guilty alike. I really hope book three isn’t too far away.”
— Goodreads Reader, 4 Stars.