Catfishing Caitlyn by Omar Imady is an exciting and engaging novel that takes the reader on an adventure through the Middle East. At the center of this novel is Caitlyn, a recent Ph.D. graduate in Middle Eastern history. Caitlyn wants to venture out into the world to find her calling and wants something exciting in her life, but her father just doesn’t understand.
The novel opens with Caitlyn considering two options for her future: let her father get her a job or find something for herself. She decides against working with her father as she wants to be independent and enjoy her freedom. On the night that her library access was to be revoked since she has graduated, she receives a mysterious application to be part of a game. She has to solve riddles and find answers to questions in manuscripts; it offers financial rewards too. She wonders how this came just in time when she needed a way forward but goes along with it.
With time, the game takes her on a journey through London, Turkey, and Jerusalem, where she meets new people and discovers new things while looking for answers to the questions posed by the game. However, she can’t tell anyone about the game, and everyone assumes that she has joined the CIA due to the level of secrecy surrounding her new job.
The game ends shockingly with no way of tracing its origin and Caitlyn begins to suspect that one of the people she met on the journey might have been involved in the game.
The story is an intriguing mix of adventure, mystery, and cultural discovery. The book not only offers a glimpse into Middle Eastern countries’ traditions and culture, but also highlights critical themes such as sexuality, independence, and friendship. Caitlyn’s life is shaped by the impact of her parents’ separation and her struggle to balance her independence and loyalty to her father.
Omar Imady presents incredibly relatable characters. Caitlyn is an easy-to-root-for protagonist, and her struggles and triumphs are brilliantly captured throughout the novel. The author’s writing style is easy to follow, descriptive, and engaging, keeping the reader hooked from beginning to end.
Catfishing Caitlyn is a must-read for anyone who loves adventure, culture, and mystery. It is an excellent book for people who want to learn about history and culture without feeling like they are reading a textbook. The author’s vast knowledge and experience on several topics make this book an outstanding and informative read. The cover design is stunning, and overall, the book is a page-turner that will keep readers entertained from start to finish.
