Under the Tamarind Tree is a very thoughtful novel. Alam manages to weave together multiple different storylines and two distinct time periods to create a narrative that is part family saga, part mystery, and does so masterfully. In addition to creating a structurally sound narrative, Alam also provides necessary commentary on the lasting effects and consequences of Partition on those who lived through it and the generations after, and is able to critique the class system through the events of the story, rather than being too overt.