The Last Kestrel

‘Disturbing and heartfelt' THE TIMES

‘A moving, compassionate and impressive first-novel which fans of The Kite Runner will love’ DAILY MAIL

Two strong women. Two cultures. One unifying cause: survival.

Ellen Thomas, experienced war correspondent, returns to Afghanistan's dangerous Helmand Province on assignment, keen to find the murderer of her friend and translator, Jalil. In her search for justice in a land ravaged by death and destruction, she uncovers disturbing truths.

Hasina, forced by tradition into the role of wife and mother, lives in a village which is taken by British Forces. Her only son, Aref, is part of a network of underground fighters and she is determined to protect him, whatever the cost.

Ellen and Hasina are thrown together – one fighting for survival, the other searching for truth – with devastating consequences for them both.

The Last Kestrel is a deeply moving and lyrical story of disparate lives – innocent and not-so-innocent – caught up in the horrors of war. It is a book which will resonate with fans of The Kite Runner and The Bookseller of Kabul.

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‘This book is moving and disturbing. Both sides are given honest portrayals, and the characters are very real. It will change the way you read headlines’ BOOKLIST

‘McGivering’s prose is infused with the gritty realism of combat horrors and buoyed by the suspended moments of humanity one finds in war’ PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

‘Jill McGivering has produced a deeply compassionate and thoughtful novel, written with the humanity that is a trademark of her reporting’ FERGAL KEANE

‘A novel to move you and bring a better understanding about what is happening in Afghanistan…Beautifully written’ WOMAN’S DAY

‘With an impeccable BBC pedigree, Jill McGivering is better placed than most other writers to give difficult stories about the realities of war-torn Afghanistan authenticity and immediacy’ YORKSHIRE POST