A Good Place to Die

1974. Eighteen-year-old drifter John Pitt leaves England with nothing more than his wits and a desire to see the world. When he reaches Iran, despite a poorly forged university degree, he lands a job teaching English. On his first day, he is struck by a veiled woman with luminous black eyes and 'lovely feet' – the headstrong Shirin. The two fall naively and fiercely in love, without considering the consequences of a love like theirs in the Shah's Iran. As the forces of revolution begin to rip through the country, John and Shirin are brutally separated, and John finds himself alone amid a vicious and devastating conflict in a region he barely understands. Pulse-thumping and lyrical, A Good Place to Die evokes the history of a vastly complicated land and the lengths to which we'll go for those we love, even when faced with the truly unthinkable. 'Lyrical in the intensity of its writing, A Good Place to Die tells of the love of a callow British youth for a Persian girl and for her tortured, beautiful country. It's a must-read.' – Donna Leon 'James Buchan writes like a dream . . . This novel is a rare achievement.' – The Times 'Airy, graceful and big with truth . . . There is really no word for it but «masterpiece».' – Spectator 'Sooner or later James Buchan will be recognised as the top adventure writer of his time.' – Evening Standard