Berkley educated Parveen is an idealistic American of Afghan heritage who decides to do research in a remote Afghan village that has become famous because of a memoir written by an American doctor who had spent time in the area and had funded a hospital in the village. Parveen is certain that her presence will do the locals some good, but nothing is as it seems. The doctor's memoir is mostly fabricated, the hospital is unstaffed, and Parveen's presence sets off deep and unexpected ripples. Masterfully written with a nuanced cast of characters and attention to the contradictory and layered nature of the American presence in Afghanistan, this book is a must-read.