Review
“This book takes the vibe and emotion of Jesus’ Son and The Things They Carried, and shakes it up, telling a unique war-torn, medical thriller story infused with drugs, capers, and layers of trauma. It’s Hunter S. Thompson via Usman T. Malik with a dash of Irvine Welsh.” -- ―Richard Thomas, author of Disintegration and Breaker (Thriller Award nominee and Bram Stoker Award finalist)
“Mustafa Marwan is coming out of the gate strong—Guns and Almond Milk is an incredible debut, with a gripping voice, enthralling action, and a unique take on geopolitics that introduces you to an often-forgotten part of the world while never forgetting to uncover the depths of humanity to be found there.” -- ―Rob Hart, author of The Paradox Hotel and class director at LitReactor
“Tense, fast-paced and propulsive, this novel takes you on an adrenaline-fuelled journey into war-torn Yemen where all bets are off. Packed with action and suspense, this book will have you at the edge of your seat as you race through it, devouring every last page. Marwan has truly arrived.” -- ―Awais Khan, award-winning author of No Honour and In the Company of Strangers
“If you can imagine being unconscious in an operating theater somewhere in Yemen while a hideous war without rules is raging around the bedraggled hospital and then suddenly coming awake on the metal table just long enough to glimpse two bloodstained surgeons working away furiously over you who greatly resemble Raymond Chandler and Thom Jones, then you will start to grasp the beautiful monstrosity that is Guns and Almond Milk, the brilliant noir debut of Mustafa Marwan both traditional and unheard of, and one worth celebrating darkly. Trust me when I say this book goes places you've never been. “ -- ―Lee Durkeeauthor of The Last Taxi Driver
“This un-put-downable thriller weaves together two stories: one among high-end thieves in London and another among mercenaries and aid workers in Yemen. The two stories come together through the narration of a sarcastic, sharp-eyed doctor who can see the world clearly – except when it comes to his own emotions.” -- ―Marcia Lynx Qualey, editor-in-chief of ArabLit
“Absolutely Amazing. I picked it up and literally couldn’t put it down. Darkly comic and beautifully written with many plot twists. Guns and Almond Milk has all the elements of a fantastic story of Love, grit, thrill, murder, everything. A winner!” -- ―Pamela Paterson, Amazon best-selling author
“Guns and Almond Milk is a thrilling odyssey that explores themes of identity, redemption, and the price of one’s choices. Marwan’s masterful storytelling, rich with cultural and psychological insights, is set against the vibrant backdrops of London and the tumultuous regions of the Middle East, where we follow Luke, a man caught in the crosshairs of his own conflicted existence.” -- ― Ahmed Naji, author of Rotten Evidence
“With its well-founded observations of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Mustafa Marwan's debut novel, Guns and Almond Milk, could not be more relevant to ongoing crises in the Middle East. Marwan's razor-sharp wit skewers all the parties involved when a hospital comes under siege: foreign aid workers seeking distraction from their lives, mercenaries without a common cause, diplomats distant from and ignorant of the crisis, and famished young men with guns. A complex and compassionate meditation on the often misunderstood themes of identity and belonging, Guns and Almond Milk sheds much-needed light on the continuing alienation of the global south.” -- ― Ausma Zehanat Khan,
"Guns and Almond Milk crackles with the raw intensity of war-torn landscapes and the gritty allure of underworld capers, weaving a narrative that pulses with adrenaline and introspection, immersing readers in the depths of human complexity." -- ― Ibrahim Fawzy, Rowayat
About the Author
Mustafa Marwan is an Egyptian writer, aid worker, and trainer with over a decade of experience in more than a dozen conflict zones in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. His debut novel, Guns and Almond Milk, a 2021 Page Turner Awards Finalist, is set in Yemen and the United Kingdom, where he has lived and worked. Mustafa has a Bachelor’s in Pharmacy and a Master’s in Public Health and has lectured and consulted in the UK on topics such as management and leadership, health and social care. He has also facilitated intercultural dialogue programs in several countries. Mustafa currently resides in Bangkok, Thailand.
