‘Honor killing’ and other cultural secretsCalifornia author/screenwriter Lucette Walters was born in Alexandria, Egypt, grew up in Paris, relocated with her family to Chicago, and eventually moved to Los Angeles where she pursued a career in film. Now she makes a stunning debut as an author of substance with LIGHT OF THE DESERT.Pertinent to her unique style of concept and exposition, Lucette cleverly opens with a significant incident in 1993 that takes place in Al-Balladi, Jordan – a scenario that introduces the 21-year-old Noora, her younger sister Zaffeera, her father and a strange man from London – all the ingredients of an overture to the novel that then unfolds in 1972 as we witness the birth of Noora by her mother Yasmina and an early indication of the relationship between Noora and her brother Nageeb. Two years later there is equal attention to the birth of Noora’s sister Zaffeera. The reason for concentrating on this aspect of Lucette’s novel is to alert the reader to one of the very important aspects of this story – family, filial relationships, and an aspect of life in the Middle East that includes a tradition called ‘honor killing’ – an ancient secret practice that exists among conservatives in Middle Eastern culture allowing men the right to kill their daughters or other female relatives without impunity if it is believed the woman has dishonored the family.Lucette wisely condenses this sweeping story in her synopsis – ‘It is 1972 when Noora Fendil is born into a wealthy Middle Eastern family. As she grows up blessed with beautiful eyes and a lean body, Noora’s intelligent yet plain younger sister, Zaffeera, becomes increasingly jealous. But now that Noora is engaged to the only man she has ever wanted, Zaffeera’s envy is about to spiral out of control. Just before her wedding, Noora is framed by Zaffeera, who has developed a diabolical plan to destroy her sister’s happiness. Believing she has shamed him and dishonored the family name, Noora’s father follows a secret ancient practice and attempts to drown her. As her lifeless body floats away from him, Noora’s father has no idea she has survived. Now on a journey to escape her nightmare, Noora’s dangerous path takes her from Jordan to Egypt and France, and eventually California. Along the way, she hides her true identity in the hope that one day she can return to prove her innocence, even as a fundamentalist determined to seek justice stalks her. Light of the Desert shares the moving tale of a Middle Eastern woman’s remarkable journey of survival, courage, and the ultimate act of humanity.’A great story, beautifully sculpted by an artist who innately understands the rich culture of the Middle East and is able to unfold that sensitively for the reader. It also relates an intense survey of the differences between the cultures of the various locations in which she places her lead character. Somehow Lucette has managed to create a suspense filled story that embraces passionate love, loss, murder, sex and violence with both Middle Eastern family traditions, contrasts with Western ways, and very contemporary lines of betrayal, revenge, escapes, manhunts, and tragedies beyond description and still allow her main character those attributes of spiritualism, faith, and forgiveness. It would make a very fine film, but sociologically it opens windows onto the views of the Middle Eastern life so that the reader in the West can better understand and appreciate the importance of universals and similarities – instead of differences and misunderstandings. Highly recommended on all levels.