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The Haunting of Dr. Rahim-ud-Din Shamsi & Other Unsettling Tales
A dentist in 1990s Lahore begins to notice strange patterns in his patients—unnerving, silent, and entirely unexplainable. Born with a sixth finger and once warned by a tarot reader that his life would never be ordinary, Dr. Rahim-ud-Din Shamsi finds himself caught between science and the unseen. Set in a Pakistan straddling old worlds and new, this slow-burning horror—drawn from true accounts—follows the unraveling of a man who wanted nothing more than an ordinary life, but was never meant to live one.
In another corner of the city, Farwah Sheraz still dreams of the man she once loved. When her husband Faraz vanished without a trace, he took with him every certainty she’d ever known. Years passed. A new marriage followed. Then one night, Faraz returned—not as the man she remembered, but as something colder, quieter, and far less human. What follows is a sensual, terrifying unraveling of grief and memory, as Farwah is pulled between two lives and two one who haunts her nights, and one who shares her bed.
Bareera Khurram lives in Karachi’s finest house with the finest surname. But she forgets conversations, hears voices no one else hears, and wakes up with bruises no one remembers giving her. Therapy reveals layers of trauma—some inherited, some inflicted, and some entirely unholy. What begins as a standard psychological assessment spirals into something far darker, as the therapist herself starts questioning where the patient ends and the entity begins.
In another corner of the city, Farwah Sheraz still dreams of the man she once loved. When her husband Faraz vanished without a trace, he took with him every certainty she’d ever known. Years passed. A new marriage followed. Then one night, Faraz returned—not as the man she remembered, but as something colder, quieter, and far less human. What follows is a sensual, terrifying unraveling of grief and memory, as Farwah is pulled between two lives and two one who haunts her nights, and one who shares her bed.
Bareera Khurram lives in Karachi’s finest house with the finest surname. But she forgets conversations, hears voices no one else hears, and wakes up with bruises no one remembers giving her. Therapy reveals layers of trauma—some inherited, some inflicted, and some entirely unholy. What begins as a standard psychological assessment spirals into something far darker, as the therapist herself starts questioning where the patient ends and the entity begins.
350 pages, Paperback
Published September 18, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 10, 2025
I was on and off with this book but the enjoyment remained a constant! rtc (ikik I'll get to all of them)
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soft dnf because 1, I went back so I'm alone. 2, it got too scary. 3, long winter nights with the snreiking wind was not helping my case. (not a full dnf, I'll pick it in and put it down based on how brave I am on the days to come 😭)
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Did Jinnistan scare the living shit out of me? Yes.
Did I learn my lesson and decided to not buy the more scary version (aka this)? No
So, here we are 🧍🏻 the fact it's only three stories and I know they are gonna be so scary 😭 I only bought it when I came back so I wouldn't be alone, and with my fam 🙏🏻
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soft dnf because 1, I went back so I'm alone. 2, it got too scary. 3, long winter nights with the snreiking wind was not helping my case. (not a full dnf, I'll pick it in and put it down based on how brave I am on the days to come 😭)
__
Did Jinnistan scare the living shit out of me? Yes.
Did I learn my lesson and decided to not buy the more scary version (aka this)? No
So, here we are 🧍🏻 the fact it's only three stories and I know they are gonna be so scary 😭 I only bought it when I came back so I wouldn't be alone, and with my fam 🙏🏻
Did Not Finish
October 14, 2026Decided to give this a chance as maybe I was slightly too mean in my review towards Jinnistan but about forty pages into this book it is quite clear that large portions of it were written using AI.
Due to this, the prose became all too repetitive, the pages are filled with em-dashes where there needn’t be any and the metaphors/sentence structures are the same too, each ending with that infamous three-word description that LLMs love so much.
Although I cannot be ENTIRELY sure, the fact that the cover art and accompanying photos in the beginning of each story also seem to be AI generated as well is a strong indicator towards my assumption as well.
I wish the author all the best in her endeavors but I cannot endorse the use of AI especially during writing. It is entirely antithetical to the creative process, and therefore I cannot continue this book.
Due to this, the prose became all too repetitive, the pages are filled with em-dashes where there needn’t be any and the metaphors/sentence structures are the same too, each ending with that infamous three-word description that LLMs love so much.
Although I cannot be ENTIRELY sure, the fact that the cover art and accompanying photos in the beginning of each story also seem to be AI generated as well is a strong indicator towards my assumption as well.
I wish the author all the best in her endeavors but I cannot endorse the use of AI especially during writing. It is entirely antithetical to the creative process, and therefore I cannot continue this book.
Read
September 17, 2026okay, this book was NOT at all horror or eerie, it was just packed with psychological trauma and disorders, a bit disappointing but the second and third story were good.
The haunting of dr Rahim Ud Din Shamsi - 1 star
Finding Faraz - 4 stars
The possession of Bareera Khurram - 2 stars
The haunting of dr Rahim Ud Din Shamsi - 1 star
Finding Faraz - 4 stars
The possession of Bareera Khurram - 2 stars
September 28, 2025
I don’t usually write book reviews and honestly, this might be the only time I ever do - but wow. This book was everything I expected from this author and somehow so much more. It took me through a whirlwind of emotions, and I’ll do my best to put them into a coherent review. So, bear with me.
I was 16 when I first came across this author’s work and begged my mom to take me to Liberty Books so she could buy me Jinnistan. Now, at 22, living far from Pakistan and the comfort of Lahore, this book managed to take me right back to the place I miss most. Yes, it’s a horror book and it absolutely delivered on the intensity you’d expect, but it also did something deeper. It made me confront my faith, my ideologies, and my beliefs.
Each of the three stories hit me in a way that’s almost impossible to describe. As a university student constantly buried under assignments, I know I’ll be rereading this whenever I need to remember what Lahore feels like, what dhabbe ki chai tastes like, and what home feels like.
I can’t wait to read whatever this author gives us next.
I was 16 when I first came across this author’s work and begged my mom to take me to Liberty Books so she could buy me Jinnistan. Now, at 22, living far from Pakistan and the comfort of Lahore, this book managed to take me right back to the place I miss most. Yes, it’s a horror book and it absolutely delivered on the intensity you’d expect, but it also did something deeper. It made me confront my faith, my ideologies, and my beliefs.
Each of the three stories hit me in a way that’s almost impossible to describe. As a university student constantly buried under assignments, I know I’ll be rereading this whenever I need to remember what Lahore feels like, what dhabbe ki chai tastes like, and what home feels like.
I can’t wait to read whatever this author gives us next.
April 23, 2026
eerily, hauntingly beautiful.
i’ve read almost all of Ayesha’s works before but she outdid herself with this one. the striking tones between the three stories were so nuanced. i loved the fact i could relate to her Lahori/religious references (as i do - in all of her books). the first story broke my heart a little in a good way and made it ache in a good way. the second one just plainly spooked me out AND broke my heart for Faraz. the third finally creeped me out in a way that none of her other stuff has. nobody does horror better than Abus Jinns <3
i’ve read almost all of Ayesha’s works before but she outdid herself with this one. the striking tones between the three stories were so nuanced. i loved the fact i could relate to her Lahori/religious references (as i do - in all of her books). the first story broke my heart a little in a good way and made it ache in a good way. the second one just plainly spooked me out AND broke my heart for Faraz. the third finally creeped me out in a way that none of her other stuff has. nobody does horror better than Abus Jinns <3
February 10, 2026
The Haunting of Dr Rahim Ud Din Shamsi
I’m not gonna lie I expected more. The story opens with Rahim’s mother sensing strange, clearly paranormal occurrences around him as a newborn, which is far from ordinary. Then she consults a baba, and he confirms it. Naturally, I assumed Rahim was haunted. Rahim was the center of the mystery, the vessel, the one everything was building toward. I braced myself for a spiraling, intense narrative focused on him.
Then he opens his clinic, weird things start happening, and I thought, YESSSS finally a possession arc. And then… it turns out the clinic itself is haunted, not Rahim.
I mean, what was the buildup for? Decoration? Vibes? Aesthetic tension? Why establish Rahim as the core of the paranormal and then just… drop it?
Did the story still keep me hooked? Absolutely.
Did I feel a little betrayed by the narrative shift? Also, yes.
Finding Faraz
This one??? ATE. DEOWNNNNNNNNN.
It ragebaited me so hard, but I was LOCKED in. The plot lowkey felt like I was watching a corny ARY Digital sitcom (never even seen one in my life, mind you) but make it horror. Drama. Trauma. Paranormal delusion. Absolute chaos.
And miss girl Farwah??? Crying. Throwing up. Sliding down walls. Over FARAZ??? A grown manchild with the emotional depth of a damp sock, like babes what exactly are we mourning here?
After the first story, I wasn’t expecting much but the plot just kept getting better and better. Farwah’s exorcism scene legit had me spooked. And also… this one question has been bothering me so much, where did Faraz's body go after the accident? Hello??? We’re just not going to address that??? Like it vanished into thin air?
I lowkey wish the author had gone full-on wild with it like what if Faraz lost all his memory, survived somehow, and is living under someone else’s name? And Farwah moves on with her life, he moves on with his life… and they unknowingly pass each other in the world? Something like that would’ve been insane. But even with all the unanswered questions and ragebaiting, it still hit. It was scary, it was chaotic, and I was addicted.
The Possession of Bareera Khurram
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL WAS THAT ENDING.
I had to reread it because my brain short-circuited.
But before I get on with the last part I need to talk about the scene where Bareera goes feral, stabs her fingers into her husband’s eyes, starts speaking in the therapist’s husband’s voice and the therapist throws water on her to “get her out of her trance” ARE WE DEAD FUCKING ASS?? And Bareera’s husband is rightfully concerned about her and the therapist is STILL like “Nothing is wrong with her, take her home, she'll be fine.” Babes tell me the name of your clinic so I can make sure to never visit it ever in my life.
ANYWAYS the last part (ending), so TURNS OUT Bareera and Khurram DIDN’T EVEN EXIST??? Miss therapist was out here roleplaying two entire humans in her own case files???
I’m sorry but how did she even get licensed because what do you MEAN you’re having full conversations with your own delusion and still practicing therapy.
BLINK TWICE IF YOU NEED HELP.
WHO PRINTED YOUR DEGREE.
I just feel like this story too had a lot of potential and the twist didn't even hit me hard. I was confused not in a mind boggling, ye tou bohat crazy hogaya yaar way but in a “HAIN?” way. It felt like she made up the ending abruptly at the last minute to finish the book.
Overall rating: 3.75/5 very mazaydar, some aspects of the book didn't land exactly how I wanted them to, it was still entertaining.
PRE-READ
ik i said i wont be reading for the time being but truthfully if i dont read anything besides my course books i WILL go feral and start clawing at the walls like a starved animal
I’m not gonna lie I expected more. The story opens with Rahim’s mother sensing strange, clearly paranormal occurrences around him as a newborn, which is far from ordinary. Then she consults a baba, and he confirms it. Naturally, I assumed Rahim was haunted. Rahim was the center of the mystery, the vessel, the one everything was building toward. I braced myself for a spiraling, intense narrative focused on him.
Then he opens his clinic, weird things start happening, and I thought, YESSSS finally a possession arc. And then… it turns out the clinic itself is haunted, not Rahim.
I mean, what was the buildup for? Decoration? Vibes? Aesthetic tension? Why establish Rahim as the core of the paranormal and then just… drop it?
Did the story still keep me hooked? Absolutely.
Did I feel a little betrayed by the narrative shift? Also, yes.
Finding Faraz
This one??? ATE. DEOWNNNNNNNNN.
It ragebaited me so hard, but I was LOCKED in. The plot lowkey felt like I was watching a corny ARY Digital sitcom (never even seen one in my life, mind you) but make it horror. Drama. Trauma. Paranormal delusion. Absolute chaos.
And miss girl Farwah??? Crying. Throwing up. Sliding down walls. Over FARAZ??? A grown manchild with the emotional depth of a damp sock, like babes what exactly are we mourning here?
After the first story, I wasn’t expecting much but the plot just kept getting better and better. Farwah’s exorcism scene legit had me spooked. And also… this one question has been bothering me so much, where did Faraz's body go after the accident? Hello??? We’re just not going to address that??? Like it vanished into thin air?
I lowkey wish the author had gone full-on wild with it like what if Faraz lost all his memory, survived somehow, and is living under someone else’s name? And Farwah moves on with her life, he moves on with his life… and they unknowingly pass each other in the world? Something like that would’ve been insane. But even with all the unanswered questions and ragebaiting, it still hit. It was scary, it was chaotic, and I was addicted.
The Possession of Bareera Khurram
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL WAS THAT ENDING.
I had to reread it because my brain short-circuited.
But before I get on with the last part I need to talk about the scene where Bareera goes feral, stabs her fingers into her husband’s eyes, starts speaking in the therapist’s husband’s voice and the therapist throws water on her to “get her out of her trance” ARE WE DEAD FUCKING ASS?? And Bareera’s husband is rightfully concerned about her and the therapist is STILL like “Nothing is wrong with her, take her home, she'll be fine.” Babes tell me the name of your clinic so I can make sure to never visit it ever in my life.
ANYWAYS the last part (ending), so TURNS OUT Bareera and Khurram DIDN’T EVEN EXIST??? Miss therapist was out here roleplaying two entire humans in her own case files???
I’m sorry but how did she even get licensed because what do you MEAN you’re having full conversations with your own delusion and still practicing therapy.
BLINK TWICE IF YOU NEED HELP.
WHO PRINTED YOUR DEGREE.
I just feel like this story too had a lot of potential and the twist didn't even hit me hard. I was confused not in a mind boggling, ye tou bohat crazy hogaya yaar way but in a “HAIN?” way. It felt like she made up the ending abruptly at the last minute to finish the book.
Overall rating: 3.75/5 very mazaydar, some aspects of the book didn't land exactly how I wanted them to, it was still entertaining.
PRE-READ
ik i said i wont be reading for the time being but truthfully if i dont read anything besides my course books i WILL go feral and start clawing at the walls like a starved animal
December 29, 2025
One of the best horror books I’ve ever read. The author writes in such a beautiful and compelling way that I found myself collecting quotes in Snapmark. The characters are so well written that you genuinely feel with, and for, them. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
December 20, 2025
Definitely my favourite book out of the 3 (Jinnistan, Bhabhis of Lahore and this) This was such a disturbingly good read. Ayesha Muzaffar’s writing is so vivid and sensory that it almost crawls off the page. You do not just read these stories, you feel them. When the air turns heavy and the characters struggle to breathe, you find yourself holding your own breath, like a silent witness to something you were never meant to see.
Story 1: The Haunting of Dr. Rahim Ud Din
Horror rating: 7/10
Hands down my favorite. The story is deeply immersive, unsettling, and surprisingly airtight. There are no plot holes and no loose ends, everything feels justified. I genuinely got scared reading this at 4 a.m., which says a lot. The dread creeps in slowly and refuses to let go.
Story 2: Finding Faraz
Horror rating: 6/10
This one leans more into emotional unease than outright terror. The characters are so fiercely driven by their cause that it almost becomes frustrating in the best way. I found myself emotionally invested and unsettled, even if it was not the scariest of the three.
Story 3: The Possession of Bareera
Horror rating: 5.5/10
The least frightening overall, but the plot twist completely blindsided me. I genuinely did not see that coming.
Overall rating: 3.7/5, rounded up to 4
A solid, chilling collection that proves atmosphere and storytelling can be just as terrifying as jump scares. If you enjoy slow burn horror that seeps under your skin and lingers long after the last page, this book is definitely worth picking up.
Story 1: The Haunting of Dr. Rahim Ud Din
Horror rating: 7/10
Hands down my favorite. The story is deeply immersive, unsettling, and surprisingly airtight. There are no plot holes and no loose ends, everything feels justified. I genuinely got scared reading this at 4 a.m., which says a lot. The dread creeps in slowly and refuses to let go.
Story 2: Finding Faraz
Horror rating: 6/10
This one leans more into emotional unease than outright terror. The characters are so fiercely driven by their cause that it almost becomes frustrating in the best way. I found myself emotionally invested and unsettled, even if it was not the scariest of the three.
Story 3: The Possession of Bareera
Horror rating: 5.5/10
The least frightening overall, but the plot twist completely blindsided me. I genuinely did not see that coming.
Overall rating: 3.7/5, rounded up to 4
A solid, chilling collection that proves atmosphere and storytelling can be just as terrifying as jump scares. If you enjoy slow burn horror that seeps under your skin and lingers long after the last page, this book is definitely worth picking up.
April 6, 2026
easy read, interesting premises and stories. the loss of personal style in this one as the prose' structure improves is sad tho.
May 5, 2026
I went into The Haunting of Dr. Rahim-ud-Din Shamsi wanting to be scared. I came out wondering what the point of it all was.
Every story in this collection follows the same frustrating pattern: an intriguing opening that hooks you in, a meandering middle that loses all momentum, and an ending so flat and abrupt that you're left staring at the page thinking that's it? Major questions are raised and simply never addressed. Plot threads are left dangling as though the author lost interest before the reader did.
The collection never commits to being horror. It reads more like a melodramatic soap opera that happens to mention the supernatural occasionally. There is no sense of dread, no building unease, no moment where the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. The premise is never taken seriously enough to generate any real fear.
What the stories do deliver in abundance is TRAUMA. But it is trauma without craft. Rather than placing you inside a character's terror and making you experience what they experience, the narrative simply unloads their suffering onto you and expects that to be enough. It is not. There is a world of difference between showing a reader why something is terrifying and simply telling them that a character had a bad time. This collection does the latter, repeatedly.
The writing itself feels padded. Scenes stretch far beyond what they need to, dialogue circles back on itself, and the overall impression is of material that exists to fill a page count rather than to serve the story. A tighter, more disciplined edit could have cut a significant portion of this book without losing anything of value.
Nothing here felt original. The ideas, the tropes, the character arcs all of it felt borrowed and underdeveloped, like a first draft that was published before it was ready. For a book marketed as horror, I expected it to at least try to frighten me. Instead, it felt like fluff well-intentioned, perhaps, but ultimately hollow.
If you are looking for Pakistani horror that actually delivers, this is not it.
Every story in this collection follows the same frustrating pattern: an intriguing opening that hooks you in, a meandering middle that loses all momentum, and an ending so flat and abrupt that you're left staring at the page thinking that's it? Major questions are raised and simply never addressed. Plot threads are left dangling as though the author lost interest before the reader did.
The collection never commits to being horror. It reads more like a melodramatic soap opera that happens to mention the supernatural occasionally. There is no sense of dread, no building unease, no moment where the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. The premise is never taken seriously enough to generate any real fear.
What the stories do deliver in abundance is TRAUMA. But it is trauma without craft. Rather than placing you inside a character's terror and making you experience what they experience, the narrative simply unloads their suffering onto you and expects that to be enough. It is not. There is a world of difference between showing a reader why something is terrifying and simply telling them that a character had a bad time. This collection does the latter, repeatedly.
The writing itself feels padded. Scenes stretch far beyond what they need to, dialogue circles back on itself, and the overall impression is of material that exists to fill a page count rather than to serve the story. A tighter, more disciplined edit could have cut a significant portion of this book without losing anything of value.
Nothing here felt original. The ideas, the tropes, the character arcs all of it felt borrowed and underdeveloped, like a first draft that was published before it was ready. For a book marketed as horror, I expected it to at least try to frighten me. Instead, it felt like fluff well-intentioned, perhaps, but ultimately hollow.
If you are looking for Pakistani horror that actually delivers, this is not it.
October 26, 2025
*Contains Spoilers*
Ayesha Muzaffar is my favourite author when it comes to writing about the entities that dwell among us, yet we cannot see them or horror in particular.
I had been eagerly waiting for this book to hit the shelves, and when I got to know that it was up for pre-order; I pre-ordered without wasting a second! And two weeks later, when I finally got it, my happiness cannot be described in words;)
The book consists of three stories in total: each one crazier than the other!
A boy born with a sixth finger, which his mother insisted had a will of its own; lives a peculiar life, immersed in books, a frail child, coddled by his mother as she fears for his life because a tarot card reader once told her that her son is marked and his life will be anything but ordinary. Rahim ud Din Shamsi grows up a frail child, a disappointment to his father, and is sent to a boarding school by his father to help him grow up into a man. Life passes and he grows up to be a dentist. His father helps him set a clinic in Lahore, and all seems to go well. Until, he starts getting visits from unusual people, a man whose jaw can stoop as low as his feet, and all sorts of unusual things, for which no one can offer a logical explanation.
A slow burn horror story, based in Lahore. So well written and awesomely executed that it will leave you striving for answers till the very end. The element of horror in this story was good but it was even better in the second one.
A woman who marries the love of her life, and starts living the best of her life alongside her husband until he vanishes forever in the aftermath of a terrible accident. Devastated, Farwah spends her days in dullness, as if she died with him but still has to live. Until, she is forced to marry again. Her new husband, Basit, loves her, but Farwah still cannot move on from her first husband, Faraz. When they have their first child, things spiral out of control. Farwah feels as if Faraz is still with here and mentions him often. Things take an even darker turn, so much so that Farwah actively feels a presence with her, and starts doing unexplainable things. Her endless vulnerability invites an entity to make lair in her body, disguising itself as Faraz. The story further follows a long battle between the paranormal and Farwah.
A story that starts off with endless suspense and builds up to a full blown climax. I loved reading this one, and it was my favourite out of all three!
The third one is even more peculiar than the last two, with a twist that you will never be able to guess even in your wildest dreams!
Bareera Khurram lives in Karachi with her husband. But something is sincerely wrong with her, she forgets conversations, gets weird bruises on her body that she is unable to explain where she got them from. Her husband signs her up for a therapist, and all seems to be going well until after some sessions the therapist starts noticing weird changes in Bareera, as if something controls her from within. Bareera has episodes in which she is not quite herself. It’s spirals into something unholy, so much so that the therapist is unable to distinguish between Bareera herself and the entity that controls her.
A fast paced story that will keep you on your toes throughout the whole ride! With a jaw-dropping final twist that left me feeling like i had been betrayed!
And the best thing about this book is that it is a non-fiction book! Meaning that all three stories are loosely inspired by real-life events! I had so much fun this week reading this book, straight from the brilliant mind of Ayesha in my hands. It is so well written that you can read it one sitting if you want! With all its twists and creepy characters, this is simply one of the best books I have read this year!
Overall, this is her best book till now. And if you still haven’t read it till now, THEN WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING?? Go read it and be haunted! I personally cannot recommend this book enough!!
Ayesha Muzaffar is my favourite author when it comes to writing about the entities that dwell among us, yet we cannot see them or horror in particular.
I had been eagerly waiting for this book to hit the shelves, and when I got to know that it was up for pre-order; I pre-ordered without wasting a second! And two weeks later, when I finally got it, my happiness cannot be described in words;)
The book consists of three stories in total: each one crazier than the other!
A boy born with a sixth finger, which his mother insisted had a will of its own; lives a peculiar life, immersed in books, a frail child, coddled by his mother as she fears for his life because a tarot card reader once told her that her son is marked and his life will be anything but ordinary. Rahim ud Din Shamsi grows up a frail child, a disappointment to his father, and is sent to a boarding school by his father to help him grow up into a man. Life passes and he grows up to be a dentist. His father helps him set a clinic in Lahore, and all seems to go well. Until, he starts getting visits from unusual people, a man whose jaw can stoop as low as his feet, and all sorts of unusual things, for which no one can offer a logical explanation.
A slow burn horror story, based in Lahore. So well written and awesomely executed that it will leave you striving for answers till the very end. The element of horror in this story was good but it was even better in the second one.
A woman who marries the love of her life, and starts living the best of her life alongside her husband until he vanishes forever in the aftermath of a terrible accident. Devastated, Farwah spends her days in dullness, as if she died with him but still has to live. Until, she is forced to marry again. Her new husband, Basit, loves her, but Farwah still cannot move on from her first husband, Faraz. When they have their first child, things spiral out of control. Farwah feels as if Faraz is still with here and mentions him often. Things take an even darker turn, so much so that Farwah actively feels a presence with her, and starts doing unexplainable things. Her endless vulnerability invites an entity to make lair in her body, disguising itself as Faraz. The story further follows a long battle between the paranormal and Farwah.
A story that starts off with endless suspense and builds up to a full blown climax. I loved reading this one, and it was my favourite out of all three!
The third one is even more peculiar than the last two, with a twist that you will never be able to guess even in your wildest dreams!
Bareera Khurram lives in Karachi with her husband. But something is sincerely wrong with her, she forgets conversations, gets weird bruises on her body that she is unable to explain where she got them from. Her husband signs her up for a therapist, and all seems to be going well until after some sessions the therapist starts noticing weird changes in Bareera, as if something controls her from within. Bareera has episodes in which she is not quite herself. It’s spirals into something unholy, so much so that the therapist is unable to distinguish between Bareera herself and the entity that controls her.
A fast paced story that will keep you on your toes throughout the whole ride! With a jaw-dropping final twist that left me feeling like i had been betrayed!
And the best thing about this book is that it is a non-fiction book! Meaning that all three stories are loosely inspired by real-life events! I had so much fun this week reading this book, straight from the brilliant mind of Ayesha in my hands. It is so well written that you can read it one sitting if you want! With all its twists and creepy characters, this is simply one of the best books I have read this year!
Overall, this is her best book till now. And if you still haven’t read it till now, THEN WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING?? Go read it and be haunted! I personally cannot recommend this book enough!!
November 22, 2025
I just finished this collection and honestly had such a great time with it. There are three horror stories here, all different vibes, but the first one, The Haunting of Dr Rahim-ud-Din Shamsi, was easily my favourite.
It’s imaginative, a little eerie, and feels weirdly believable (because it might be!), like it might actually be inspired by some real old story (because it is possible!). I loved Rahim as a character, but I also really liked Salman — his best friend. I kept wanting to know more about him! I genuinely hope Ayesha writes a separate story about Salman someday, because there’s definitely potential there. The whole story flows so smoothly, and even without jump scares, it still managed to creep up on me.
The second story, Finding Faraz, was sad and haunting in its own way. The main girl really tested my patience though 😂 I get love and obsession, but she had her happiness right there and still kept running after Faraz. But honestly, I think that frustration was exactly the point, it made the story more emotional.
The third story played with that thin line between mental illness and the supernatural, which I always enjoy. And the twist at the end? So good. Didn’t see it coming that way.
I’ve read all of Ayesha Muzaffar’s books and I really feel her storytelling keeps levelling up. This collection is atmospheric, emotional, and such a good pick for anyone who likes desi horror with depth.
It’s imaginative, a little eerie, and feels weirdly believable (because it might be!), like it might actually be inspired by some real old story (because it is possible!). I loved Rahim as a character, but I also really liked Salman — his best friend. I kept wanting to know more about him! I genuinely hope Ayesha writes a separate story about Salman someday, because there’s definitely potential there. The whole story flows so smoothly, and even without jump scares, it still managed to creep up on me.
The second story, Finding Faraz, was sad and haunting in its own way. The main girl really tested my patience though 😂 I get love and obsession, but she had her happiness right there and still kept running after Faraz. But honestly, I think that frustration was exactly the point, it made the story more emotional.
The third story played with that thin line between mental illness and the supernatural, which I always enjoy. And the twist at the end? So good. Didn’t see it coming that way.
I’ve read all of Ayesha Muzaffar’s books and I really feel her storytelling keeps levelling up. This collection is atmospheric, emotional, and such a good pick for anyone who likes desi horror with depth.
October 22, 2025
Spooky season would be incomplete without me indulging in some good old-fashioned horror stories and this time, Ayesha Muzaffar’s The Haunting of Dr Rahim ud-Din Shamsi and Other Unsettling Tales caught my eye. I decided to give it a chance, and I’m so glad I did.
The writing is simple yet beautiful, making it incredibly easy to get lost in the stories. I found myself completely absorbed and unable to put the book down, I devoured it in one go and was left wanting more. Each tale carries a quiet eeriness that lingers long after you’ve finished reading, leaving you deliciously unsettled, exactly what good horror should do.
The author has another horror anthology, and I’ll definitely be picking that up next. We need more Pakistani voices in every genre, and it’s wonderful to see one delivering such atmospheric, homegrown horror.
Highly recommend for anyone craving something eerie, elegant, and deeply unsettling this spooky season.
The writing is simple yet beautiful, making it incredibly easy to get lost in the stories. I found myself completely absorbed and unable to put the book down, I devoured it in one go and was left wanting more. Each tale carries a quiet eeriness that lingers long after you’ve finished reading, leaving you deliciously unsettled, exactly what good horror should do.
The author has another horror anthology, and I’ll definitely be picking that up next. We need more Pakistani voices in every genre, and it’s wonderful to see one delivering such atmospheric, homegrown horror.
Highly recommend for anyone craving something eerie, elegant, and deeply unsettling this spooky season.
June 15, 2026
I went in expecting a haunting that would unsettle me, but I finished this book feeling strangely content, even with all the eerie details. Out of all of Ayesha Muzaffar’s books, this one is closest to my heart. I felt the ache for Rahim, Faraz, and Dr. Anum— I would’ve happily read more about all of them. Her stories always remind me to hold my ground and be content with what I have.
April 9, 2026
Okay, Ayesha Muzaffar - you did the thing. The Haunting of Dr. Rahim-ud-Din Shamsi & Other Unsettling Tales served up two proper hauntingly scary jinn stories. The first delivers a delicious slow-burn chill, and the second... That ending left my jaw on the floor. Actual gasp material.
This was my first read by a Pakistani author and honestly, my bookshelf needed this glow-up. The new (to me) settings, cultural texture, and little bursts of local phrases and vocabulary made everything feel vivid and new.
This was my first read by a Pakistani author and honestly, my bookshelf needed this glow-up. The new (to me) settings, cultural texture, and little bursts of local phrases and vocabulary made everything feel vivid and new.
November 29, 2025
From the author of Jinnistan — whose novel Deemak even made it to the big screen — this book does not disappoint! Packed with real-life paranormal encounters, from the motorway to Anarkali and all the way to Karachi, the simple, flowing English keeps you hooked (and slightly spooked). A smooth, gripping read for anyone who enjoys a little chill with their chai!
October 21, 2025
Probably one of the better works by Ayesha Muzaffar. I adore her last 2 pieces. This one is slow-burn horror but it definitely gets under your skin.
October 21, 2025
Half way down in 3 hours❤️ good read actually
November 7, 2025
So, I finished this last night and I must say the stories are so intense, mature, eerie, and deep! They make you question so many ordinary things one does without thinking. These hauntings and possessions will make you ponder on your faith as well.
The whole idea of otherworldly beings present beside us, how they can feed on our vulnerabilities and also the huge impact of grief, loneliness, and memories is so well written. These stories will stay with you for a long time!
The whole idea of otherworldly beings present beside us, how they can feed on our vulnerabilities and also the huge impact of grief, loneliness, and memories is so well written. These stories will stay with you for a long time!
June 3, 2026
A lot of things were kept or forced in just for the sake of the plot which made it really hard to see past and take the story seriously. For instance, (in the first story) when Salman told them to shift to another clinic given every particle of the current clinic could be the culprit, and they know that, Rahim has been miserable because of it. Instead what do they do? They stay in the same clinic. They just clean it up. The cement of the walls is still there isn't it? Or when the family dropped their jaws unnaturally low, he saw and then went back to work on the child's teeth?!! No explanation for that? He didn't burst out screaming? Ok I know this had become a chronic occurrence and the mind does get wierdly adapted in those situations, but even then, whenever there is a lack of transition, I feel the plot loses coherence, and that becomes sort of a dealbreaker for me. It could've just added 'he knew he should've stormed out screaming his lungs out, or pass out from the living nightmare, but for some unsettling reason unbeknownst to even himself, he resumed his attention back down and dutifully tended to his patient' or something like that! The story just loses coherence and flow at various places. Not to mention completely abrupt and anticlimactic ending.
The second was just a huge contradiction. Her father told her it's OK to snatch a guy that's already taken as long as its not on paper, then a few pages later proceeds to call her out on liking someone who's already unofficially taken?? The first one was also filled with contradictions like that.
The third one was the worst. It's like the author remembered midway that the solution to every supernatural problem is Allah SWT. So she proceeds to write irrelevant paragraphs advocating religion, and then when the protagonist finally embodies the fold of Islam, guess what? Their problem is still not solved! Or gets worse. If you don't know how to blend religious preaching with horror genre, for God's sake refrain from doing so! No one will reproach you as long as you don't throw any hate towards the religion. It felt like thr author got scared every now and then that she would be accused of blasphemy. If you don't have talent in writing such themes, and you clearly don't! Please don't waste paper!
Lastly majority of the characters were unlikeabke
The second was just a huge contradiction. Her father told her it's OK to snatch a guy that's already taken as long as its not on paper, then a few pages later proceeds to call her out on liking someone who's already unofficially taken?? The first one was also filled with contradictions like that.
The third one was the worst. It's like the author remembered midway that the solution to every supernatural problem is Allah SWT. So she proceeds to write irrelevant paragraphs advocating religion, and then when the protagonist finally embodies the fold of Islam, guess what? Their problem is still not solved! Or gets worse. If you don't know how to blend religious preaching with horror genre, for God's sake refrain from doing so! No one will reproach you as long as you don't throw any hate towards the religion. It felt like thr author got scared every now and then that she would be accused of blasphemy. If you don't have talent in writing such themes, and you clearly don't! Please don't waste paper!
Lastly majority of the characters were unlikeabke
April 1, 2026
The opening, also the title story, was incredibly awkward, hampered by a constant onslaught of one-word sentences that felt artificial and jarring. Rather than building tension, the prose felt off. While this story technically contained more horror elements than the others, it failed to deliver any actual scares—which is saying a lot considering what followed.
The second one lacked even a hint of horror. It was a very hard to read, tortuously slow sort of a tragic love story. Unfortunately, I couldn't buy into the romance because the characters felt flat and unrealistic. It was hard to take the narrative seriously when a character supposedly under jinn possession is randomly humming the Safeguard soap jingle under her breath.
The biggest bore of the collection was the third story. Absolutely nothing happened, leaving me wondering how this could even be classified as horror in the first place.
The collection suffered from constant repetition and felt unnecessarily long; it was in desperate need of a rigorous edit. Beyond the lack of horror, I struggled with the depiction of the characters. While I don't want to invalidate anyone's experiences, the protagonists felt less haunted and more like they were dealing with schizophrenia (the second one) or dissociative identity disorder (third one) or was simply high on mushrooms (the first one).
It is worth noting that (apparently) a vast majority of cases perceived as jinn possession are actually manifestations of mental illness. I feel like I’m being gaslit by the rave reviews—did we even read the same book?
The second one lacked even a hint of horror. It was a very hard to read, tortuously slow sort of a tragic love story. Unfortunately, I couldn't buy into the romance because the characters felt flat and unrealistic. It was hard to take the narrative seriously when a character supposedly under jinn possession is randomly humming the Safeguard soap jingle under her breath.
The biggest bore of the collection was the third story. Absolutely nothing happened, leaving me wondering how this could even be classified as horror in the first place.
The collection suffered from constant repetition and felt unnecessarily long; it was in desperate need of a rigorous edit. Beyond the lack of horror, I struggled with the depiction of the characters. While I don't want to invalidate anyone's experiences, the protagonists felt less haunted and more like they were dealing with schizophrenia (the second one) or dissociative identity disorder (third one) or was simply high on mushrooms (the first one).
It is worth noting that (apparently) a vast majority of cases perceived as jinn possession are actually manifestations of mental illness. I feel like I’m being gaslit by the rave reviews—did we even read the same book?
October 27, 2025
There are very few books that leave you silent after the last page (not because they scare you, but because they unsettle you.) The Haunting of Dr. Rahim-ud-Din Shamsi & Other Unsettling Tales is one of those books.
Ayesha Muzaffar doesn’t write horror in the Western sense — no jump scares, no gimmicks. Her horror breathes. Through the stories in this book, she captures a kind of terror that’s deeply cultural, spiritual, and heartbreakingly human.
Set in Pakistan across different eras, this isn’t a collection of random ghost stories. These are full-length tales that intertwine faith, guilt, and the supernatural.
But what makes this book extraordinary is how Muzaffar uses horror as a mirror. You see yourself in her characters. You can smell the Lahore rain, hear the fan hum through long nights, feel the dread of footsteps outside a closed door.
Every story that follows — though set in a different time, with different people — carries the same pulse: that of faith and fate colliding.
This is not just one of the finest horror books to come out of Pakistan — it’s one of the finest explorations of fear I’ve ever read, period. It’s literary without being pretentious, spiritual without being preachy, terrifying without ever losing its soul.
If you’ve ever loved the quiet dread of Turkish horror, the melancholy of Manto, or the atmosphere of Shirley Jackson — this book belongs on your shelf.
Ayesha Muzaffar doesn’t write horror in the Western sense — no jump scares, no gimmicks. Her horror breathes. Through the stories in this book, she captures a kind of terror that’s deeply cultural, spiritual, and heartbreakingly human.
Set in Pakistan across different eras, this isn’t a collection of random ghost stories. These are full-length tales that intertwine faith, guilt, and the supernatural.
But what makes this book extraordinary is how Muzaffar uses horror as a mirror. You see yourself in her characters. You can smell the Lahore rain, hear the fan hum through long nights, feel the dread of footsteps outside a closed door.
Every story that follows — though set in a different time, with different people — carries the same pulse: that of faith and fate colliding.
This is not just one of the finest horror books to come out of Pakistan — it’s one of the finest explorations of fear I’ve ever read, period. It’s literary without being pretentious, spiritual without being preachy, terrifying without ever losing its soul.
If you’ve ever loved the quiet dread of Turkish horror, the melancholy of Manto, or the atmosphere of Shirley Jackson — this book belongs on your shelf.
January 28, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed the first two parts and got the heeby jeebies too, the kind you get while flipping through Ayesha Muzzafar's works and a good horror. However, the last part, the ending in particular, felt too abrupt, all over the place, the story felt like it didn't know where to flow and just how exactly to flow either. The ending particularly, was too similar to Abbu's jinns. As a reader, I definitely felt the story had potential perhaps, felt it was connecting to something deeper, a possession that took place in Bali perhaps, but that end, utterly spoiled it and it felt like it fell flat. Also, on page no.318, the third paragraph opens with "Bareera returned to her home a few days later. Khurram, as I'd expected, said nothing about the conversations I'd had with his mother" But in the previous paragraphs, the author had talked about the Doctor conversing with Bareera's mother, not Khurram's! Ayesha you should look into that, I feel like that was an error and not intentional.
Overall, this book was a fun read regardless! Gripping, right up till the end.
Overall, this book was a fun read regardless! Gripping, right up till the end.
July 23, 2026
The was my first time reading horror as an adult and when my sister asked me if it was really scary, i couldn't say yes.I dk how horror books are supposed to be but i thought i would be reading a scary scene in every page. This wasn't it. Ayesha takes her time to help you know the characters, understand them and feel like their pain is yours. You see yourself or your family in them and then it happens.
The first time i started reading it, i was alone so i left it but then it kept bothering me to have this book in the same room that i had to live in so i stored the book in a drawer in our lounge. I thought I'll read out outside of home, in a metro and tell me why whilst i was reading a scene where the lights flickered, the metro decided to do that as well. I gasped audibly whilst looking a passenger in his eyes. 🤦🏽♀️ . i just hope for him to have seen my book cover and know that it was the book.
Can't count how many times, i looked behind my back or above my head whilst reading it.
The first time i started reading it, i was alone so i left it but then it kept bothering me to have this book in the same room that i had to live in so i stored the book in a drawer in our lounge. I thought I'll read out outside of home, in a metro and tell me why whilst i was reading a scene where the lights flickered, the metro decided to do that as well. I gasped audibly whilst looking a passenger in his eyes. 🤦🏽♀️ . i just hope for him to have seen my book cover and know that it was the book.
Can't count how many times, i looked behind my back or above my head whilst reading it.
November 3, 2025
Many people think horror is easy. Create a monster, make it as terrifying as you can, throw in jumpscares, and, if well-versed, use surface-level knowledge of heard-of lore and call it a day.
Ayesha Muzaffar is not that author.
As someone who's read every book, every post, I am beyond delighted to see her evident growth as a writer, as evidenced through her work.
With each book, the flavor of her writing grows more delectable, the nuances are more pronounced, and the horror? That's her forté. When I now think of horror in Pakistan, I think of Ayesha and Abu's Jinns.
Much like her previous work, this book is rich with chilling tales, told with maturity and a haunting eerieness only Ayesha can create. She lives, breathes, loves horror, and it shows.
I can't wait for the next one.
Ayesha Muzaffar is not that author.
As someone who's read every book, every post, I am beyond delighted to see her evident growth as a writer, as evidenced through her work.
With each book, the flavor of her writing grows more delectable, the nuances are more pronounced, and the horror? That's her forté. When I now think of horror in Pakistan, I think of Ayesha and Abu's Jinns.
Much like her previous work, this book is rich with chilling tales, told with maturity and a haunting eerieness only Ayesha can create. She lives, breathes, loves horror, and it shows.
I can't wait for the next one.
February 24, 2026
I really enjoyed The Haunting of Dr. Rahim-ud-Din Shamsi & Other Unsettling Tales. It’s not the kind of horror that tries to scare you instantly, instead, it slowly gets under your skin and stays there. I found myself thinking about several of the stories even after finishing the book.
The title story stood out to me the most. It wasn’t just creepy, it had an emotional depth that made it feel more real and unsettling. I liked how the author explored themes like guilt and consequences rather than just focusing on fear.
That said, I did feel like a few stories were a bit uneven, and some endings left me wanting a little more closure. But overall, I appreciated the atmosphere and the way the stories made me think.
For me, this was a strong 4.25, great for anyone who prefers subtle, psychological horror over jump scares.
The title story stood out to me the most. It wasn’t just creepy, it had an emotional depth that made it feel more real and unsettling. I liked how the author explored themes like guilt and consequences rather than just focusing on fear.
That said, I did feel like a few stories were a bit uneven, and some endings left me wanting a little more closure. But overall, I appreciated the atmosphere and the way the stories made me think.
For me, this was a strong 4.25, great for anyone who prefers subtle, psychological horror over jump scares.
May 7, 2026
This was my first book by Ayesha and it was absolutely brilliant. I’m a little new to this genre but this book made sure that I will be exploring more of it.
I felt it had proper description of Lahore and its culture. sort of made me feel a bit giddy with excitement when I could find some place I had been to or that mention of Salt and Pepper’s famous chicken breast. A family favourite it is.
The most heartbreaking story for me was the second one. I cried my eyes out when I found out it was based on a real story! And the last one gave me the chills! I had not seen the plot twist coming.
I feel like I’ll be going back to this book from time to time. It was an easy read. Just one thing I’m curious about: I feel the author is a bit too obsessed with the concept of “shadi” as seen in her other books as well.
I Wonder where that comes from.
I felt it had proper description of Lahore and its culture. sort of made me feel a bit giddy with excitement when I could find some place I had been to or that mention of Salt and Pepper’s famous chicken breast. A family favourite it is.
The most heartbreaking story for me was the second one. I cried my eyes out when I found out it was based on a real story! And the last one gave me the chills! I had not seen the plot twist coming.
I feel like I’ll be going back to this book from time to time. It was an easy read. Just one thing I’m curious about: I feel the author is a bit too obsessed with the concept of “shadi” as seen in her other books as well.
I Wonder where that comes from.
May 16, 2026
I’ve read and absolutely loved Ayesha’s previous books, so I went into this one with really high expectations. Unfortunately, it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad read, it was just okay. The writing is fine, but the stories felt a bit flat. With her other works, I’m usually left thinking about the characters and the plot for days after finishing the final page. This one, though? Nothing really stuck with me, and it lacked that spark that usually makes her books so unforgettable.
If you’re a die-hard fan, it’s still worth a read, but it definitely didn't leave the same lasting impression as her earlier stuff.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad read, it was just okay. The writing is fine, but the stories felt a bit flat. With her other works, I’m usually left thinking about the characters and the plot for days after finishing the final page. This one, though? Nothing really stuck with me, and it lacked that spark that usually makes her books so unforgettable.
If you’re a die-hard fan, it’s still worth a read, but it definitely didn't leave the same lasting impression as her earlier stuff.
October 21, 2025
Ayesha Muzaffar’s latest collection is not just a book it’s an experience and an invitation into the shadows of everyday life in Pakistan, where the familiar becomes strange, and the uncanny hides around the corner. In The Haunting of Dr. Rahim-ud-Din Shamsi & Other Unsettling Tales, she weaves together three (or more) spine-tingling narratives rooted in the local imagination, but elevated by her deft storytelling and psychological acuity. In conclusion, I recommend everyone to read this book you will forget horror movies.
September 30, 2026
i don't exactly know why rahim was the leading man for this novel, when farwah was right there!!!
this was a really fun and eerie book that opened up my world to pakistani horror novels, especially the concepts of jinn. unfortunately i think the first and second story just lacked the same substance as the second, which kind of affected my attention span in a way.
but the writing style flows really nicely and its easy to pick and and start the story again after a break. its a fun read! not really a scary one.
this was a really fun and eerie book that opened up my world to pakistani horror novels, especially the concepts of jinn. unfortunately i think the first and second story just lacked the same substance as the second, which kind of affected my attention span in a way.
but the writing style flows really nicely and its easy to pick and and start the story again after a break. its a fun read! not really a scary one.
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