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The Haunting of Dr. Rahim-ud-Din Shamsi & Other Unsettling Tales
- GenresHorror
350 pages, Paperback
Published September 18, 2025
15 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
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December 2, 2025soft 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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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 🙏🏻
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
October 9, 2025
Book Review: The Haunting of Dr. Rahim-ud-Din Shamsi by Ayesha Muzaffar
I’ve only just started reading, but when I say I can’t put this book down, I mean it. It’s so beautifully written — I’ve teared up at least five times because the words touched my heart and moved my soul. The story resonates so deeply.
Ayesha, you’ve truly outdone yourself. This book is phenomenal — every sentence feels deliberate, poetic, and powerful. I’ve even started highlighting my favourite lines (and there are many).
The writing is exquisite, and it’s incredible to see how far Ayesha has come in just five years. Absolutely breathtaking work!
I’ve only just started reading, but when I say I can’t put this book down, I mean it. It’s so beautifully written — I’ve teared up at least five times because the words touched my heart and moved my soul. The story resonates so deeply.
Ayesha, you’ve truly outdone yourself. This book is phenomenal — every sentence feels deliberate, poetic, and powerful. I’ve even started highlighting my favourite lines (and there are many).
The writing is exquisite, and it’s incredible to see how far Ayesha has come in just five years. Absolutely breathtaking work!
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.
October 21, 2025
The best horror genre book of 2025, without a doubt! The chills you get while reading it are witness to the outstanding writing by Ayesha Muzaffar. If you’re reading this book outside of Pakistan. It will take you right back, from the streets of Lahore to the old houses and streets that have seen and heard what the human eye cannot comprehend. 10/10. Highly recommended!!
January 4, 2026
This was the first book i read from Ayesha Muzaffar, even though i was told to start from Jinnistan but oh well. To say that this book was not thrilling would be a gross injustice. I was hooked from the first page and i think this was the first book in my life that i finished in a day and a half. The stories were amazing as it is. I wont go into details but i'd just say that it is worth a read.
October 18, 2025
The jinns may not frighten you, but they make you recognize pain that hides in plain sight, and that recognition lingers much longer than fear. Each story feels like a slow burn, where the unease grows not from what’s seen, but from what’s felt in the silences between words.
January 5, 2026
A gripping read, Ayesha's writing has tremendously improved over these few years. Might not be her scariest books but definitely one of her best ones. For me Abu's Jin and this latest one are top rated. Good luck Ayesha for the next one
October 9, 2025
The writer has left me speechless.
November 3, 2025
Cannot put this book down. This has to be this author's beat book yet. Deeply connected to the charactersm beautiful writing!
November 26, 2025
-1 star because such a suspenseful scene & the person starts reciting the safeguard Pakistan jingle?! Please.
December 10, 2025
Ayesha has done her magic again!! Loved the stories and writing has improved so much!
December 17, 2025
The Haunting of Dr. Rahim-ud-din Shamsi 3.5/5
Finding Faraz 4.5/5
The possession of Bereera Khurram 4/5
Finding Faraz 4.5/5
The possession of Bereera Khurram 4/5
December 31, 2025
it was good but it could have been better. I really enjoyed the last part tho, it was amazing
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews