Mad, Bad & Dangerous To Know by Samira Ahmed

Synopsis:

“Told in alternating narratives that bridge centuries, the latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed traces the lives of two young women fighting to write their own stories and escape the pressure of cultural expectations in worlds too long defined by men.

It’s August in Paris and 17-year-old Khayyam Maquet—American, French, Indian, Muslim—is at a crossroads. This holiday with her parents should be a dream trip for the budding art historian. But her maybe-ex-boyfriend is probably ghosting her, she might have just blown her chance at getting into her dream college, and now all she really wants is to be back home in Chicago figuring out her messy life instead of brooding in the City of Light.

Two hundred years before Khayyam’s summer of discontent, Leila is struggling to survive and keep her true love hidden from the Pasha who has “gifted” her with favored status in his harem. In the present day—and with the company of a descendant of Alexandre Dumas—Khayyam begins to connect allusions to an enigmatic 19th-century Muslim woman whose path may have intersected with Alexandre Dumas, Eugène Delacroix, and Lord Byron.

Echoing across centuries, Leila and Khayyam’s lives intertwine, and as one woman’s long-forgotten life is uncovered, another’s is transformed.”

Review:

Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know brings everything I love into one place! Where do I begin? Paris, art history, romance, mystery – Samira Ahmed balances so many elements to create a story that I couldn’t put down. I love it when a setting becomes such an integral part of a story. And what better setting than gorgeous Paris with tasty pastries, hidden gardens, and cute boys?

Khayyam’s love for art history felt so familiar to me as I spent much of my time in undergraduate learning about art masters from centuries ago. I was even able to travel to France and Italy for art history trips. I loved following how artists, authors, and stories collided together in such a fun way.

You can’t very well have a teen going to Paris without a romantic interest. Samira deftly balances Khayyam’s pining for the comfort of the boy at home who pays her no attention with the cute descendent of Alexandre Dumas. As with all great romances, a conflict must occur. Although somewhat expected, I really enjoyed seeing how the story played out with an ending that left me completely satisfied and even a little wistful of Khayyam’s feelings for closure.

The mystery that spans time was so enjoyable to read. I love books with alternating perspectives and Samira is able to create two very distinct voices for the characters. Leila’s story unfolds, moving forward through time while Khayyam and Alexandre’s search reaches backwards to pull Leila into the present.

More Thoughts:

I purposefully point out a book’s diversity in my reviews, as I truly think it can add such value to a story. This book is not only full of diversity, it never feels forced. Languages, cultures, and misunderstandings intertwine in a convincing and believable way. Khayyam is American, Indian, French, and Muslim. Alexandre Dumas was one-quarter Black and dealt with discrimination his whole life. Leila is a Muslim woman who travels to Paris alone during a time that this would have unlikely happened as well. What I also loved was how much Khayyam struggled with finding more about Leila while also not taking advantage of her story as so many men did during her life. The focus on the many lost stories of women over the years was an interesting concept to mull over throughout the story.

This story felt like a more grown-up version of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler or Chasing Vermeer. A well-done art history mystery and one I would have loved to jump into the pages of.

I also loved Samira’s debut work – Love, Hate & Other Filters. And Interment is on my TBR!

Need to Know:

Title: Mad, Bad & Dangerous To Know
Author: Samira Ahmed
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Page Number: 336 pgs.