When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson is a very intriguing novel that involves three women in Iraq. Each of the women are connected through work or a past friendship but have their fates bound together as a result of secrets during the reign Saddam Hussein’s rule.
One is Ally, the wife of an Australian diplomat. Hudda is another. She grew up up poor but became a secretary at the Australian embassy, and Rainea is the rich daughter of a sheik and former friend of Hudda that has been on the outs since Hudda’s brother was executed during a government uprising.
When Hudda is forced to spy on Ally as a government informant to save her son from being enlisted into an assassin training program, she also pulls in Rainea later for the extra help. She needs to guarantee her son isn’t taken. At the same time, she doesn’t know her former friend also needs help to save her daughter from Saddam’s son. Though they started out without trust and secrets, the three become friends to help each other from the ruthless secret police.
One is Ally, the wife of an Australian diplomat. Hudda is another. She grew up up poor but became a secretary at the Australian embassy, and Rainea is the rich daughter of a sheik and former friend of Hudda that has been on the outs since Hudda’s brother was executed during a government uprising.
When Hudda is forced to spy on Ally as a government informant to save her son from being enlisted into an assassin training program, she also pulls in Rainea later for the extra help. She needs to guarantee her son isn’t taken. At the same time, she doesn’t know her former friend also needs help to save her daughter from Saddam’s son. Though they started out without trust and secrets, the three become friends to help each other from the ruthless secret police.