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The Prisoner: A Novel
An international literary sensation, this chilling thriller "exposes . . . a world so dark that readers will come away terrified" ( Wall Street Journal , India).
An American journalist has been kidnapped in Karachi, Pakistan, days before the American president is due to visit. Those responsible have promised to execute him on video on Christmas Day. With no other leads, Constantine D'Souza, a Christian police officer, must get his former colleague Akbar Khan, a rogue cop imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, to help track down the journalist. But to do so, he has to navigate the streets of Karachi, where police corruption is a way of life and political motives are never what they seem. Caught between the United Front—the militant ruling party—and the Pakistani Intelligence Agencies, D'Souza is in a race against time to save a man's life and the honor of a nation.
Modeled on true events, The Prisoner is a fast-paced thriller that brings the byzantine politics and the moral ambiguities of justice in Pakistan to life. With a gritty authenticity based on personal experience, Omar Hamid reveals a society where corruption and extremism are commonplace, and the line between good guys and bad guys is never as clear as we would like.
An American journalist has been kidnapped in Karachi, Pakistan, days before the American president is due to visit. Those responsible have promised to execute him on video on Christmas Day. With no other leads, Constantine D'Souza, a Christian police officer, must get his former colleague Akbar Khan, a rogue cop imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, to help track down the journalist. But to do so, he has to navigate the streets of Karachi, where police corruption is a way of life and political motives are never what they seem. Caught between the United Front—the militant ruling party—and the Pakistani Intelligence Agencies, D'Souza is in a race against time to save a man's life and the honor of a nation.
Modeled on true events, The Prisoner is a fast-paced thriller that brings the byzantine politics and the moral ambiguities of justice in Pakistan to life. With a gritty authenticity based on personal experience, Omar Hamid reveals a society where corruption and extremism are commonplace, and the line between good guys and bad guys is never as clear as we would like.
344 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2013
125 people are currently reading
1395 people want to read
About the author
Omar Shahid Hamid
11 books189 followersOmar Shahid Hamid served with Pakistan's Karachi police for 12 years, during which time he was targeted by various terrorist groups and criminal outfits. He received his Masters in Criminal Justice Policy from the London School of Economics, and his Masters in Law from University College London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
April 3, 2020
This one is about police work in Karachi and that has to be tough given the violence and danger that always lurks in Pakistan's largest,most overcrowded city.
Omar Shahid Hamid,the author, is a serving police officer,who also writes books.His father was also famously murdered in Karachi's endless violence.
The book deals with the difficulties and frustrations of being a police officer in a violent city like Karachi,where criminals enjoy political patronage.And as the author states,if a policeman gets killed,the bosses will come to the funeral,and then forget about him,and his widow may have to spend five years to get his pension.
It is also a fact that most of the cops are corrupt.But as a novel,I didn't enjoy it.The writing style is pretty coarse,and there is a liberal smattering of slang,abuse and expletives,ostensibly to give a realistic touch to proceedings.I only found this off-putting.(The author helpfully provides a glossary explaining all the local terms of abuse).
The book is pretty disjointed.The title refers to a Daniel Pearl style kidnapping of an American,but most of the book has nothing to do with,as it just goes on and on about the difficulties of policemen's lives and different aspects of criminality in Karachi.The book didn't hold my attention.It lacks pace,it isn't particularly coherent.
My curiosity satisfied about Omar Shahid Hamid's books,I'm in no hurry to read the rest of his books.
This one is a very mediocre effort which bored me.
Omar Shahid Hamid,the author, is a serving police officer,who also writes books.His father was also famously murdered in Karachi's endless violence.
The book deals with the difficulties and frustrations of being a police officer in a violent city like Karachi,where criminals enjoy political patronage.And as the author states,if a policeman gets killed,the bosses will come to the funeral,and then forget about him,and his widow may have to spend five years to get his pension.
It is also a fact that most of the cops are corrupt.But as a novel,I didn't enjoy it.The writing style is pretty coarse,and there is a liberal smattering of slang,abuse and expletives,ostensibly to give a realistic touch to proceedings.I only found this off-putting.(The author helpfully provides a glossary explaining all the local terms of abuse).
The book is pretty disjointed.The title refers to a Daniel Pearl style kidnapping of an American,but most of the book has nothing to do with,as it just goes on and on about the difficulties of policemen's lives and different aspects of criminality in Karachi.The book didn't hold my attention.It lacks pace,it isn't particularly coherent.
My curiosity satisfied about Omar Shahid Hamid's books,I'm in no hurry to read the rest of his books.
This one is a very mediocre effort which bored me.
April 14, 2014
Finally a book by a Pakistani author which wasn't about booze, partying and how the fictional affluent in posh localities allegedly spend their lives in one long party with "first world problems." This one really went down to the underbelly of the city and tried to connect with the real stuff which happens here. Of course it is fiction and when you get beyond of how you feel connected to the story since it's set in the city you live in; it's a incredibly gripping thriller. Loved every moment of us and ripped through the pages in mere 36 hours!
July 17, 2020
“You think I didn’t feel bad for that old man that day? Of course I did. We all have daughters, sisters and wives. But we stay quiet because we don’t want what happened to his daughter to happen to our loved ones.”
This book makes it clear from the get go that there is no good or bad in this world. Certainly not in Karachi, where the majority of this book is set. In terms of outlining the gray areas of a city’s moral code, Omar Shahid Hamid’s debut novel is in a class of its own.
To be fair, the blurb is very misleading. Jon Friedland, the kidnapped American whose life everyone is trying to save, doesn’t actually even appear in the book until page 330. His sole importance lies in his nationality as an American and in the fact that he’s been kidnapped. Omar Shahid usesthe random American character Jon to show us how all the movers and shakers in Karachi react to the situation. This author knows this city, and he knows the police, and it shows.
“Whether it was the Inspector General who wanted to hush things up after his spoilt son shot someone at a part, the city police chief who wanted him to pick up the bill for his wife’s shopping excursions to Dubai or the industrialist who had been caught with an underage girl. All of these matters had been handled with discretion and, over the years, these services had made him indispensable to those in power.”
Summary:
On the surface this seems like a thriller. American journalist Jon Friedland, kidnapped from one of Karachi’s more posh areas, is going to be dealt with a very public execution on Christmas Day unless the combined intelligence of Pakistan’s best and brightest can recover him alive. But the question is not only will they save the poor kidnapped American from the clutches of the evil menacing Jihadis and set the world back on track? The mystery does exist, of course. The book races through five days of harried conversations which revolve around bringing the American back, but saying that that is all the book is about is to say that terrorism is the only problem plaguing Pakistan. It may be a big part of the story, but it’s not what the story is about.
This book is about the law, and specifically those who enforce it. How they work, what they do, why they do what they do. When one cold morning, Constantine D’Souza, Superintendent of the Karachi Prisons, is called upon to allow an Army man to visit a prisoner, he finds himself dragged deeper and deeper into the mystery of the kidnapping of the journalist. The prisoner, Akbar Khan, is an ex-police officer thrown into prison for killing a prominent political personality. He seemingly now holds the information that everyone, including the police, the government and the agencies so desperately need to free the American journalist for their own personal reasons.
The book flits between the past and the present, introducing us to characters and then taking us back to when they first rose to prominence, or went into the shadows. As Constantine spends his present-day time being called here and there to answer questions by the increasingly agitated higher-ups, the past helps us trace his previous friendship with Akbar, their days on the force working together, and how events led to Akbar’s incarceration and Constantine’s position on the Prison team.
This book is written about Karachi for those who know the city. There is liberal, almost excessive use of swearing, a lot of haramkhor and saalay interspersed with the odd bastard and bloody thrown in for good measure. There are even Urdu words and phrases used generously during conversations, with the routine arre, thana, kya karoon and badmash right alongside the slang word for currencies (peti, khokha). This book is true to its roots, and has a degree of legitimacy in dealing with its characters. It peels at the layers of the Karachi involved in running a country, in maintaining law and order and exerting authority over a city of millions.
The characters:
The Main Character:
Constantine D’Souza is both content and frustrated, both calm and angry. Through the flashbacks in the book, we meet a man who is quietly disgusted with those around him, but also sometimes with himself, with his inability to do anything – such as when an old man comes begging for help from the police to save the life of his young daughter, who has been dragged into a local political station to be repeatedly raped by the party workers.
“So it was inconvenient to have the old man beg for his daughter’s life, was it? Was about our job as police officers?”
Constantine is an odd mixture of naivety and street-wise toughness. I didn’t feel anything for him, even during the few moments when his life was in danger/he was about to lose a job/his daughter was threatened, but it’s impossible to not be fascinated by the way he manages to be both honourable but at the same time hard, stout, robust. He is regularly praised by all other characters for being a decent, trustworthy fellow, and by all indications he is the hero of the story, but he also very casually and callously takes part in another man’s torture. So is the hero then? Is this man to be admired?
His complexity also lies in his conservatism. While he himself admits that he’s the son of an Anglican priest and feels uncomfortable when exposed to billboards showing the bared skin of women, he has had an affair, has slept on and off with women and is intimately acquainted with Karachi’s red light area by virtue of being posted in the police station nearby. This, coupled with his Christian identity, makes him more 3-dimensional than all the other characters in the book. His role as a Christian, which helps him be the intermediary in situations of Sunni-Shia conflict, also put him in trouble in regions where being a Christian could be life-threatening. Casually being called George Bush ka chamcha are all part and parcel of being a Christian in Karachi, and Constantine, whose name is repeatedly bastardized to Consendine by the majority of the characters, is very aware of how his religious identity affects those around him.
The Second protagonist:
“You can’t live your life always scared of the fact that someone is going to take a shit on you from above.”
Akbar Khan is the book’s main attraction: a smart talking, no-holds-barred police officer who has been thrown in jail for something which he was set up for. It is Akbar that everyone comes racing to when they can’t find any trace of the American journalist, although Akbar lives in a A-class prison cell by himself, not talking to anyone else except for the tableeghis who routinely visit his cell for religious purposes.
Akbar is another contradiction, a police officer who routinely hangs out with thugs, small time criminals and underworld gangsters while killing, arresting and torturing various hooligans throughout the course of the book. He picks and chooses the sins he doesn’t approve of, and is ruthless in hunting down the crimes he doesn’t endorse. All this, of course, with a sense of humour and a couldn’t-care-less attitude that seemingly disappears in jail, but comes back with time.
“Jail is the magic diet. Try it, and you’ll lose that belly of yours.”
If Constantine is the voice of this book, Akbar is the brains. It is his story we are really interested in, his meteoric rise to prominence, his fall from grace, his power even during incarceration. And as the book progresses, it is Akbar’s character that reveals more about the police and the underworld than Constantine’s own observations.
The recommendation
Recommended for everyone who is a desi at heart, or who has lived in Pakistan at one time or another. It might break your heart, you might need to take breaks to ingest what you’re reading, but it’s like watching an accident in slow motion: you are repulsed but fascinated, and you can’t look away.
**
I review Pakistani Fiction, and talk about Pakistani fiction, and want to talk to people who like to talk about fiction (Pakistani and otherwise, take your pick.) To read more reviews or just contact me so you can talk about books, check out my Blog or follow me on Twitter!
This book makes it clear from the get go that there is no good or bad in this world. Certainly not in Karachi, where the majority of this book is set. In terms of outlining the gray areas of a city’s moral code, Omar Shahid Hamid’s debut novel is in a class of its own.
To be fair, the blurb is very misleading. Jon Friedland, the kidnapped American whose life everyone is trying to save, doesn’t actually even appear in the book until page 330. His sole importance lies in his nationality as an American and in the fact that he’s been kidnapped. Omar Shahid uses
“Whether it was the Inspector General who wanted to hush things up after his spoilt son shot someone at a part, the city police chief who wanted him to pick up the bill for his wife’s shopping excursions to Dubai or the industrialist who had been caught with an underage girl. All of these matters had been handled with discretion and, over the years, these services had made him indispensable to those in power.”
Summary:
On the surface this seems like a thriller. American journalist Jon Friedland, kidnapped from one of Karachi’s more posh areas, is going to be dealt with a very public execution on Christmas Day unless the combined intelligence of Pakistan’s best and brightest can recover him alive. But the question is not only will they save the poor kidnapped American from the clutches of the evil menacing Jihadis and set the world back on track? The mystery does exist, of course. The book races through five days of harried conversations which revolve around bringing the American back, but saying that that is all the book is about is to say that terrorism is the only problem plaguing Pakistan. It may be a big part of the story, but it’s not what the story is about.
This book is about the law, and specifically those who enforce it. How they work, what they do, why they do what they do. When one cold morning, Constantine D’Souza, Superintendent of the Karachi Prisons, is called upon to allow an Army man to visit a prisoner, he finds himself dragged deeper and deeper into the mystery of the kidnapping of the journalist. The prisoner, Akbar Khan, is an ex-police officer thrown into prison for killing a prominent political personality. He seemingly now holds the information that everyone, including the police, the government and the agencies so desperately need to free the American journalist for their own personal reasons.
The book flits between the past and the present, introducing us to characters and then taking us back to when they first rose to prominence, or went into the shadows. As Constantine spends his present-day time being called here and there to answer questions by the increasingly agitated higher-ups, the past helps us trace his previous friendship with Akbar, their days on the force working together, and how events led to Akbar’s incarceration and Constantine’s position on the Prison team.
This book is written about Karachi for those who know the city. There is liberal, almost excessive use of swearing, a lot of haramkhor and saalay interspersed with the odd bastard and bloody thrown in for good measure. There are even Urdu words and phrases used generously during conversations, with the routine arre, thana, kya karoon and badmash right alongside the slang word for currencies (peti, khokha). This book is true to its roots, and has a degree of legitimacy in dealing with its characters. It peels at the layers of the Karachi involved in running a country, in maintaining law and order and exerting authority over a city of millions.
The characters:
The Main Character:
Constantine D’Souza is both content and frustrated, both calm and angry. Through the flashbacks in the book, we meet a man who is quietly disgusted with those around him, but also sometimes with himself, with his inability to do anything – such as when an old man comes begging for help from the police to save the life of his young daughter, who has been dragged into a local political station to be repeatedly raped by the party workers.
“So it was inconvenient to have the old man beg for his daughter’s life, was it? Was about our job as police officers?”
Constantine is an odd mixture of naivety and street-wise toughness. I didn’t feel anything for him, even during the few moments when his life was in danger/he was about to lose a job/his daughter was threatened, but it’s impossible to not be fascinated by the way he manages to be both honourable but at the same time hard, stout, robust. He is regularly praised by all other characters for being a decent, trustworthy fellow, and by all indications he is the hero of the story, but he also very casually and callously takes part in another man’s torture. So is the hero then? Is this man to be admired?
His complexity also lies in his conservatism. While he himself admits that he’s the son of an Anglican priest and feels uncomfortable when exposed to billboards showing the bared skin of women, he has had an affair, has slept on and off with women and is intimately acquainted with Karachi’s red light area by virtue of being posted in the police station nearby. This, coupled with his Christian identity, makes him more 3-dimensional than all the other characters in the book. His role as a Christian, which helps him be the intermediary in situations of Sunni-Shia conflict, also put him in trouble in regions where being a Christian could be life-threatening. Casually being called George Bush ka chamcha are all part and parcel of being a Christian in Karachi, and Constantine, whose name is repeatedly bastardized to Consendine by the majority of the characters, is very aware of how his religious identity affects those around him.
The Second protagonist:
“You can’t live your life always scared of the fact that someone is going to take a shit on you from above.”
Akbar Khan is the book’s main attraction: a smart talking, no-holds-barred police officer who has been thrown in jail for something which he was set up for. It is Akbar that everyone comes racing to when they can’t find any trace of the American journalist, although Akbar lives in a A-class prison cell by himself, not talking to anyone else except for the tableeghis who routinely visit his cell for religious purposes.
Akbar is another contradiction, a police officer who routinely hangs out with thugs, small time criminals and underworld gangsters while killing, arresting and torturing various hooligans throughout the course of the book. He picks and chooses the sins he doesn’t approve of, and is ruthless in hunting down the crimes he doesn’t endorse. All this, of course, with a sense of humour and a couldn’t-care-less attitude that seemingly disappears in jail, but comes back with time.
“Jail is the magic diet. Try it, and you’ll lose that belly of yours.”
If Constantine is the voice of this book, Akbar is the brains. It is his story we are really interested in, his meteoric rise to prominence, his fall from grace, his power even during incarceration. And as the book progresses, it is Akbar’s character that reveals more about the police and the underworld than Constantine’s own observations.
The recommendation
Recommended for everyone who is a desi at heart, or who has lived in Pakistan at one time or another. It might break your heart, you might need to take breaks to ingest what you’re reading, but it’s like watching an accident in slow motion: you are repulsed but fascinated, and you can’t look away.
**
I review Pakistani Fiction, and talk about Pakistani fiction, and want to talk to people who like to talk about fiction (Pakistani and otherwise, take your pick.) To read more reviews or just contact me so you can talk about books, check out my Blog or follow me on Twitter!
March 2, 2014
Omer Shahid has penned a brilliant novel. It's a first, in-depth, look at the lives of police officers that have been an integral part of Karachi's volatile political, ethnic, cultural and religious environment. The narrative is matter-of-fact, with liberal use of curses that give a touch of reality to the police characters. The relations of police with religious groups, ethnic and militant elements, government functionaries, agencies, common criminals and thugs, encroachers and boot-licking officers has been thoroughly explored.
The story is not entirely fiction. It is reality presented in the form of fiction. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who the United Front is in real life with a boss living self-exiled in New York. Neither it will take much time to figure out who Nawaz Chandio, Yousuf Chandio and Akbar Khan are in real life. The case of kidnapped journalist, Friedland, isn't hard to know from real life incident of a decade ago.
This novel is an inside story of countless policemen, all condensed into few characters, and what they went through to conduct the operations of the 90s and how they were dealt with afterwards. It also sheds light on how a change of government and government policies leave the same police officers out in no-mans land where their commitment to the orders get them killed when the orders are no longer relevant.
The story of Constantine D'Souza and his friend Akbar Khan, who start their friendship by cleaning up the criminal elements from Orangi town, develop and the events described go up to the journalist's kidnapping. The story is a holistic view of roughly 8-10 years of Karachi, starting from early operations of the 90s till the early 2000s.
The script is not highly articulating, proving Omer Shahid as not a genuine novelist, but the level of engagement with the narrative is very high. Omer Shahid wanted to tell us a lot of stories but he was limited to what could be done with the script and how much of lives can be accommodated by the characters. His depiction of Karachi of the old and new and the dynamics of the underground are quite unmatched and a welcome addition to the literary fiction of Pakistan. As a novel it may not be regarded very highly but when taken into account the past events of the city and its untold stories, this becomes a valuable addition and no amount of praise can do justice.
I thank the author, Omer Shahid, for this wonderful novel.
The story is not entirely fiction. It is reality presented in the form of fiction. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who the United Front is in real life with a boss living self-exiled in New York. Neither it will take much time to figure out who Nawaz Chandio, Yousuf Chandio and Akbar Khan are in real life. The case of kidnapped journalist, Friedland, isn't hard to know from real life incident of a decade ago.
This novel is an inside story of countless policemen, all condensed into few characters, and what they went through to conduct the operations of the 90s and how they were dealt with afterwards. It also sheds light on how a change of government and government policies leave the same police officers out in no-mans land where their commitment to the orders get them killed when the orders are no longer relevant.
The story of Constantine D'Souza and his friend Akbar Khan, who start their friendship by cleaning up the criminal elements from Orangi town, develop and the events described go up to the journalist's kidnapping. The story is a holistic view of roughly 8-10 years of Karachi, starting from early operations of the 90s till the early 2000s.
The script is not highly articulating, proving Omer Shahid as not a genuine novelist, but the level of engagement with the narrative is very high. Omer Shahid wanted to tell us a lot of stories but he was limited to what could be done with the script and how much of lives can be accommodated by the characters. His depiction of Karachi of the old and new and the dynamics of the underground are quite unmatched and a welcome addition to the literary fiction of Pakistan. As a novel it may not be regarded very highly but when taken into account the past events of the city and its untold stories, this becomes a valuable addition and no amount of praise can do justice.
I thank the author, Omer Shahid, for this wonderful novel.
January 22, 2020
I’ve been waiting for a book like this for years now. I have realized over time that no other genre reflects social faultlines and lived experiences better than crime fiction. And as far as crime is concerned, I can’t think of a city more interesting than Karachi, the commercial capital of Pakistan. In spite of having grown up in Mumbai, the city Bollywood had immortalized (and milked) as the city of glamorous crime, I often found myself more curious about Karachi, the second great subcontinental megapolis by the Arabian Sea. Like Mumbai, Karachi too has had to accommodate diverse groups of migrants. Except unlike Mumbai, which largely seems to get by on the moderating motto of thoda adjust kar lo, Karachi has receded into parochialism and violence, perpetrated by politically-backed militias organized along ethnic lines.
The city has long been ruled by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), originally founded by Muhajirs - Urdu-speaking refugees from India - to mobilize against the provincial reservation system favouring Sindhis in educational institutions and civil services. The MQM leader Altaf Hussain is known to remote control Karachi from his base in London, where he is in self-imposed exile. Meanwhile, on the ground, the city has been carved up into wards, like a piece of choice meat, and actual leadership of Karachi is in the hands of the MQM ward leaders or wardias who run a parallel government. The wardias are essentially criminals who run lucrative businesses in drugs, extortion, and prostitution. Except they have AK-47s and other hi-tech weaponry which they use to challenge the writ of the poorly equipped police forces.
The MQM wardias are in turn, pitted against Pashtun, Baloch, and Sindhi gangs that have mushroomed to counter the rising clout of the Muhajirs. But that’s not all. The city is also home to many jihadi groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which claim allegiance to fundamentalist Islam and not to the Pakistani state, which they have sworn to destroy, along with Pakistan’s minorities. And pitted against these hardcore criminals and brainwashed terrorists is the bedraggled police of Karachi, compelled by circumstance to choose the lesser of the many devils.
At least that’s what The Prisoner would have you believe, written as it is by a former Karachi police officer. The book’s protagonist is Constantine D’Souza, a Christian police officer originally from Goa, who has seen the bloody history of gang wars in Karachi from close quarters. After years on the street as a beat cop, Constantine or Consendine, as everyone calls him, is now the Warden of a jail, a safe, lucrative posting. Except when an American journalist is kidnapped by jihadis, he is drawn into a complex cat-and-mouse game that will pit him against the spymasters of ISI, powerful politicos, and his own dear friend, disgraced policeman Akbar Khan who’s a prisoner in his jail.
I won’t spoil the plot any further. All I’ll say is read The Prisoner. It is a gripping, very well-written thriller that will have you turning the pages in anticipation. I earnestly hope someone makes this into a web-series soon. After all, no other city offers an explosive cocktail of organized crime, terrorism, and political violence like Karachi does.
The city has long been ruled by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), originally founded by Muhajirs - Urdu-speaking refugees from India - to mobilize against the provincial reservation system favouring Sindhis in educational institutions and civil services. The MQM leader Altaf Hussain is known to remote control Karachi from his base in London, where he is in self-imposed exile. Meanwhile, on the ground, the city has been carved up into wards, like a piece of choice meat, and actual leadership of Karachi is in the hands of the MQM ward leaders or wardias who run a parallel government. The wardias are essentially criminals who run lucrative businesses in drugs, extortion, and prostitution. Except they have AK-47s and other hi-tech weaponry which they use to challenge the writ of the poorly equipped police forces.
The MQM wardias are in turn, pitted against Pashtun, Baloch, and Sindhi gangs that have mushroomed to counter the rising clout of the Muhajirs. But that’s not all. The city is also home to many jihadi groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which claim allegiance to fundamentalist Islam and not to the Pakistani state, which they have sworn to destroy, along with Pakistan’s minorities. And pitted against these hardcore criminals and brainwashed terrorists is the bedraggled police of Karachi, compelled by circumstance to choose the lesser of the many devils.
At least that’s what The Prisoner would have you believe, written as it is by a former Karachi police officer. The book’s protagonist is Constantine D’Souza, a Christian police officer originally from Goa, who has seen the bloody history of gang wars in Karachi from close quarters. After years on the street as a beat cop, Constantine or Consendine, as everyone calls him, is now the Warden of a jail, a safe, lucrative posting. Except when an American journalist is kidnapped by jihadis, he is drawn into a complex cat-and-mouse game that will pit him against the spymasters of ISI, powerful politicos, and his own dear friend, disgraced policeman Akbar Khan who’s a prisoner in his jail.
I won’t spoil the plot any further. All I’ll say is read The Prisoner. It is a gripping, very well-written thriller that will have you turning the pages in anticipation. I earnestly hope someone makes this into a web-series soon. After all, no other city offers an explosive cocktail of organized crime, terrorism, and political violence like Karachi does.
January 19, 2015
The author has penned down a fantastic book with a balanced blend of facts and fiction. The story is a matter-of-fact and has liberal use of curses that definitely give a touch of reality to the police characters of the book. The author has brilliantly and thoroughly covered the relationship that police share with religious, ethnic, and militant groups, political parties,
criminals, local thugs, various intelligence agencies, and other government bodies.
The narration and the style of author is so easy that it makes it simple to relate with the characters. The description of characters is so vivid that you actually end up creating a mental image of them.
One commendable job is how he very smoothly kept international controversial topics aside (country=India). The depiction of several facts and blending them into a story is fantastic. As an Indian reader, when I read the book and when I read the plight or life of police in Pakistan, I don't see any difference from what is here. I must mention that it is my first book by a Pakistani author and on the topic that is half truth and half fiction. I confess when I thought of buying this book, I had reservations like it would be same one country blaming the other country. But now I guess I need to eat my words back. An awesome job done. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone who enjoys crime thriller containing blend of facts and fiction.
It is now a part of my recommended, favorites, must read books.
criminals, local thugs, various intelligence agencies, and other government bodies.
The narration and the style of author is so easy that it makes it simple to relate with the characters. The description of characters is so vivid that you actually end up creating a mental image of them.
One commendable job is how he very smoothly kept international controversial topics aside (country=India). The depiction of several facts and blending them into a story is fantastic. As an Indian reader, when I read the book and when I read the plight or life of police in Pakistan, I don't see any difference from what is here. I must mention that it is my first book by a Pakistani author and on the topic that is half truth and half fiction. I confess when I thought of buying this book, I had reservations like it would be same one country blaming the other country. But now I guess I need to eat my words back. An awesome job done. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone who enjoys crime thriller containing blend of facts and fiction.
It is now a part of my recommended, favorites, must read books.
February 9, 2015
Thank you Liberty Books salesman for recommending me this book. I am so glad I bought it because last time one of your guys suggested Homeboy and we know now THAT was a disaster.
Anyhoo, obviously it was a brilliant read. I mean my first proper English novel by a Pakistani author and it was AMAZING! I kind of feel for the police walas now.. things are not as black and white as we would like them to be. If this is the level of corruption and under the table deals they have to endure from higher authorities then it's a wonder people even join the police force!
Akbar and Constantine were the ultimate 'shades of grey' in the world of desi cops and the system but you somehow end up rooting for them anyway!
Highly recommended!
Anyhoo, obviously it was a brilliant read. I mean my first proper English novel by a Pakistani author and it was AMAZING! I kind of feel for the police walas now.. things are not as black and white as we would like them to be. If this is the level of corruption and under the table deals they have to endure from higher authorities then it's a wonder people even join the police force!
Akbar and Constantine were the ultimate 'shades of grey' in the world of desi cops and the system but you somehow end up rooting for them anyway!
Highly recommended!
December 11, 2013
A stupendous debut.... a credible plot full of twists, well-delineated characters and a cracking pace makes this a book any aficionado of the thriller genre should get their hands on and not relinquish till the last page has been turned over. Mr Hamid very skillfully weaves in contemporary events into his narrative to give an unforgettable view of Pakistani politics and life and law and order in Pakistan's biggest metrapolis. Deserves more stars, and I wish Mr Hamid will keep on writing... he has a unique flair for it
July 31, 2015
A fast paced action packed ride. Unfortunately in the Sub continent English literature, thriller writers (let alone good thriller writers) are a rare breed. However, for the first time, I found a writer who can try his hands on thrillers (making use of his experience in the police department)
and write in fluid prose and an accessible English. Prisoner also shows that Pakistani writers do have a talent to think beyond tasteless contemporary fiction one can hardly relate to (Examples: How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia and Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid and Karachi You're Killing Me by Saba Imtiaz. But that's just my opinion; both writers have a significant fan following otherwise).
Nevertheless, Prisoner is still a "rudimentary" thriller with the plotting not as thorough as in mainstream thrillers being produced elsewhere (US, UK for instance). I mean, on a 1-10 Forsyth-LeCarre-Follett-espionage-thriller scale, I would rate Prisoner at 3.5. Background discussion on Pakistani politic and politics of security agencies was limited. Ending was somewhat disappointing, or at least not as grand as I thought it would be. 'Khoda Paharr, Nikla Choha' (dug a mountain, only to find a small rodent). Moreover, there were some anomalies in the story that left a sour taste in the mouth. Flashbacks were too many and completely pushed the main story in the background. It certainly looked as if the author used those flashbacks to build characters; nonetheless, this seems to be done at the cost of almost neglecting the main story. I read Bloodmoney by David Ignatius couple of years ago and it was a much better read (an espionage fiction involving mind games between CIA and ISI).
Some random observations:
- Some of the names were quite unusual, some downright comical, making it a bit difficult to relate to. Constentine, Tarkeen, Rommel, Shashlik Khan (say again!). Karachiites hardly, if ever, hear such names.
- It's rather absurd that, in this age of media and information abundance, a Major from intelligence agency doesn't know the recent political history of Karachi and a policeman had to walk him through it.
- Consider this: A cloud of dust is headed towards the police van from opposite direction and police officer thinks it's a dust storm. When it’s meters away, they realize it’s a motorcade. Really?? When someone is driving towards you on an unpaved road, dust cloud is formed "behind" his/her car, not in front of it. What a folly!
- Near the end, a police officer with an uncany help of another officer breaks a criminal for some information. Nothing unusual. But, the way that criminal breaks and gave them information was just too unbelievable, absurd and rather foolish.
Finally, I still very much appreciate Omar's venture into thriller genre. Over time, I believe if he keeps building on his experience, makes a better use of research and avoids superfluous experiments (and keep reading top-notch thrillers), we have a genuine thriller writer in our hands.
and write in fluid prose and an accessible English. Prisoner also shows that Pakistani writers do have a talent to think beyond tasteless contemporary fiction one can hardly relate to (Examples: How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia and Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid and Karachi You're Killing Me by Saba Imtiaz. But that's just my opinion; both writers have a significant fan following otherwise).
Nevertheless, Prisoner is still a "rudimentary" thriller with the plotting not as thorough as in mainstream thrillers being produced elsewhere (US, UK for instance). I mean, on a 1-10 Forsyth-LeCarre-Follett-espionage-thriller scale, I would rate Prisoner at 3.5. Background discussion on Pakistani politic and politics of security agencies was limited. Ending was somewhat disappointing, or at least not as grand as I thought it would be. 'Khoda Paharr, Nikla Choha' (dug a mountain, only to find a small rodent). Moreover, there were some anomalies in the story that left a sour taste in the mouth. Flashbacks were too many and completely pushed the main story in the background. It certainly looked as if the author used those flashbacks to build characters; nonetheless, this seems to be done at the cost of almost neglecting the main story. I read Bloodmoney by David Ignatius couple of years ago and it was a much better read (an espionage fiction involving mind games between CIA and ISI).
Some random observations:
- Some of the names were quite unusual, some downright comical, making it a bit difficult to relate to. Constentine, Tarkeen, Rommel, Shashlik Khan (say again!). Karachiites hardly, if ever, hear such names.
- It's rather absurd that, in this age of media and information abundance, a Major from intelligence agency doesn't know the recent political history of Karachi and a policeman had to walk him through it.
- Consider this: A cloud of dust is headed towards the police van from opposite direction and police officer thinks it's a dust storm. When it’s meters away, they realize it’s a motorcade. Really?? When someone is driving towards you on an unpaved road, dust cloud is formed "behind" his/her car, not in front of it. What a folly!
- Near the end, a police officer with an uncany help of another officer breaks a criminal for some information. Nothing unusual. But, the way that criminal breaks and gave them information was just too unbelievable, absurd and rather foolish.
Finally, I still very much appreciate Omar's venture into thriller genre. Over time, I believe if he keeps building on his experience, makes a better use of research and avoids superfluous experiments (and keep reading top-notch thrillers), we have a genuine thriller writer in our hands.
April 20, 2015
Based on the abduction and murder of Wall Street Journal's Daniel Pearl in Karachi, it's a frank assessment of the corruption and politics rife in Pakistan's police, especially in a metropolis like Karachi. The fate of the fictional double of the American journalist is not the same as Pearl's (you guessed it!). So the novel ends with a formulaic and filmic twist of Bollywoodian proportions.
The novel suffers from the pitfalls of first time writers. Dialogue is spectacularly artificial. Characters explain whole decades of fast history in a self-conscious tone to put their next move into context. It creates problems of believability and indicates lacunae in plot.
Since it's debut novel I should take a charitable view. At best it's a second-rate thriller with some heart-racing action - a light and fast read for an afternoon.
The novel suffers from the pitfalls of first time writers. Dialogue is spectacularly artificial. Characters explain whole decades of fast history in a self-conscious tone to put their next move into context. It creates problems of believability and indicates lacunae in plot.
Since it's debut novel I should take a charitable view. At best it's a second-rate thriller with some heart-racing action - a light and fast read for an afternoon.
February 2, 2014
What a book, after a long time I have finally read a thriller which got my blood pumping. Omar has certainly produced a scintillating and absorbing crime thriller based on Karachi filled with very interesting characters of all the main players. We have the wardias (MQM), jihadis, Karachi police, Bhuttos, and the Agencies. I loved the captivating and stimulating dialogue coming out of various confrontations in the novel with some pertinent and astute observations made. Without spoiling the plot I would highly encourage all Pakistanis and non Pakistanis to read this book in order to understand the mindset of Pakistani authorities. I also found the title very relevant right till the end.
My heartiest congratulations to the author and hope he keeps reproducing similar works in future.
My heartiest congratulations to the author and hope he keeps reproducing similar works in future.
January 21, 2014
Read full review on: http://samramuslim.com/book-review-th...
For me what makes this book stand out is the fact that it makes me see the trials and tribulations that the police force in Pakistan go through - which we living in this country never tend to notice!!
Story itself was a great narrative on the ongoing war of terror - but still a weak plot line for a crime thriller genre!!
Writer has spent too much time focusing on descriptions of the environment and less on the plot itself ... I guess he was confused between penning facts and fictions & forgot to cross the fine line at time ...!!
Commendable effort nonetheless
For me what makes this book stand out is the fact that it makes me see the trials and tribulations that the police force in Pakistan go through - which we living in this country never tend to notice!!
Story itself was a great narrative on the ongoing war of terror - but still a weak plot line for a crime thriller genre!!
Writer has spent too much time focusing on descriptions of the environment and less on the plot itself ... I guess he was confused between penning facts and fictions & forgot to cross the fine line at time ...!!
Commendable effort nonetheless
February 14, 2016
Absolutely brilliant!
I had always wanted to get my hands on this book since it got published and I'm glad I did.
The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid is a gripping tale in the life of a Karachi Police Officer from beginning to the end and would certainly exceed your expectations for a debut novel.
What I loved most about the book was how it related to most of the characters of the book to all the real life characters, from police officers to politicians from time to time in the political history of Karachi and mocked at them like, 'see what I did there?'
The typical language of Police walas to their psyches and general functioning was described so truthfully without a hint of exaggeration that you couldn't help but smile at the genius of it.
More importantly, it paints a true picture of Karachi we know--its streets to roads to winds and winter, its people and posh areas, to the lives lived in the city according to the area you belong--rather than the one idealized by many authors in their books.
Looking forward to reading The Spinner's Tale soon.
I had always wanted to get my hands on this book since it got published and I'm glad I did.
The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid is a gripping tale in the life of a Karachi Police Officer from beginning to the end and would certainly exceed your expectations for a debut novel.
What I loved most about the book was how it related to most of the characters of the book to all the real life characters, from police officers to politicians from time to time in the political history of Karachi and mocked at them like, 'see what I did there?'
The typical language of Police walas to their psyches and general functioning was described so truthfully without a hint of exaggeration that you couldn't help but smile at the genius of it.
More importantly, it paints a true picture of Karachi we know--its streets to roads to winds and winter, its people and posh areas, to the lives lived in the city according to the area you belong--rather than the one idealized by many authors in their books.
Looking forward to reading The Spinner's Tale soon.
January 28, 2017
Violence and gore aside, the dark underbelly of Karachi is a complicated mix of criminal codes, law enforcers’ greed, dirty politics and religious fanaticism. Each element operates as an independent, systematic unit - but tip the scale of one and all others react. In his debut novel, 'The Prisoner' Omar Shahid Hamid combines all these elements to come up with a crime-thriller masterpiece.
The author has intricately woven all the scenes with such minute details that it mesmerizes the reader and engulfs his attention. The characters and scenes described in the book have a close resemblance to those of real incidents and this is what makes reading a more thrilling experience.
All in all, an excellent book. Highly recommended.
The author has intricately woven all the scenes with such minute details that it mesmerizes the reader and engulfs his attention. The characters and scenes described in the book have a close resemblance to those of real incidents and this is what makes reading a more thrilling experience.
All in all, an excellent book. Highly recommended.
May 16, 2016
I can see how some folks would enjoy this book but I can't even bring myself to finish it, it's dreadfully boring and slow-moving.
January 26, 2019
25 JAN 2019 - this is a very well-written novel. The characters are real people with faults and no one is completely good or completely bad. I felt from the beginning as if I were reading a headliner story ripped from the pages of a large circulation newspaper.
Truth! I did not really "care" too much about the kidnapped American - I was caught up in the lives of the other characters.
Give The Prisoner a try and be pleasantly surprised. Read It!
Truth! I did not really "care" too much about the kidnapped American - I was caught up in the lives of the other characters.
Give The Prisoner a try and be pleasantly surprised. Read It!
February 15, 2019
Omar Shahid Hamid's life rivals the adrenaline-fueled roller coaster of his novel, The Prisoner. He left Karachi, Pakistan when there were too many contracts on his life. His father was assassinated. Hamid served with the Karachi Police and was targeted by various terrorist groups. He was wounded in the line of duty, and his office was bombed by the Taliban in 2010. He definitely has the background to write this book.
There are two separate storylines in The Prisoner: the current hunt for the kidnapped journalist, and the backstory showing Constantine D'Souza and Akbar Khan working together as police officers and Khan's subsequent imprisonment for a crime he didn't commit. The pace at the beginning was a bit slow and took some time to get moving, and occasionally the transitions between the two stories were muddled and it took me a few seconds to get myself straightened out, but these certainly weren't major issues. Although the story held my attention captive until its climax, that wasn't the most important part of the book for me.
The part that kept rocking me back on my heels was the portrait of Karachi. The differences between rich and poor. The fact that the police and government are so corrupt that policemen often have to break the law in order to get the worst criminals in prison where they belong. And-- great merciful heaven-- that labyrinthine, almost incestuous system of politics, military, and police! Most officials seem to be in their positions for the number of bribes they can rake in. It's all about the money (hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of dollars) and has little to do with justice or doing what's right. It's all fascinating but not conducive to me journeying there any time soon.
I picked up The Prisoner because I wanted to know more about Pakistan. When I'd turned the last page, I knew that I'd gotten much more than I'd bargained for. What an experience, especially for a first book!
There are two separate storylines in The Prisoner: the current hunt for the kidnapped journalist, and the backstory showing Constantine D'Souza and Akbar Khan working together as police officers and Khan's subsequent imprisonment for a crime he didn't commit. The pace at the beginning was a bit slow and took some time to get moving, and occasionally the transitions between the two stories were muddled and it took me a few seconds to get myself straightened out, but these certainly weren't major issues. Although the story held my attention captive until its climax, that wasn't the most important part of the book for me.
The part that kept rocking me back on my heels was the portrait of Karachi. The differences between rich and poor. The fact that the police and government are so corrupt that policemen often have to break the law in order to get the worst criminals in prison where they belong. And-- great merciful heaven-- that labyrinthine, almost incestuous system of politics, military, and police! Most officials seem to be in their positions for the number of bribes they can rake in. It's all about the money (hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of dollars) and has little to do with justice or doing what's right. It's all fascinating but not conducive to me journeying there any time soon.
I picked up The Prisoner because I wanted to know more about Pakistan. When I'd turned the last page, I knew that I'd gotten much more than I'd bargained for. What an experience, especially for a first book!
June 9, 2018
I just finished “The Prisoner” and I am overwhelmed by all the emotions that hit me in last chapters. I feel lightheaded as if I just got off from a roller coaster and have yet to balance myself.
I am grateful that it ended on a note that is unlike the life in general. But above all, it changed my views regarding police. Everyone I know who got a chance to interact with police is heavily inclined to not repeat the experience again. Amidst all the dreadful stories, it was refreshing to hear the stories from the other side. Sometimes, we civilians fret over our rights and issues so much that we cease to see policemen as regular members of society with families to take care of and futures to worry about. I am not writing police off for the atrocities sometimes they commit but in the long run, I will be forcing myself to see stuff from their side as well. I might even advocate for police much to the shock of my area people because let’s face it, when police chowki of my area gets its hand on a person, I can hear his screams right from my house gate too.
To the writer Omar Shahid: Your shout out to Chaudhry Aslam was touching. Your observations made sense and your characters seemed so real. I constantly found myself worried sick for protagonists and it took everything in me to not check final paragraph while reading exceptionally thrilling chapters. You are right in your acknowledgement that there were stories that could have been told only under the guise of fiction though it made me feel utterly miserable. I cannot imagine how it must have been for you. Thank you for this book. What a beautiful writing style you have!
I am grateful that it ended on a note that is unlike the life in general. But above all, it changed my views regarding police. Everyone I know who got a chance to interact with police is heavily inclined to not repeat the experience again. Amidst all the dreadful stories, it was refreshing to hear the stories from the other side. Sometimes, we civilians fret over our rights and issues so much that we cease to see policemen as regular members of society with families to take care of and futures to worry about. I am not writing police off for the atrocities sometimes they commit but in the long run, I will be forcing myself to see stuff from their side as well. I might even advocate for police much to the shock of my area people because let’s face it, when police chowki of my area gets its hand on a person, I can hear his screams right from my house gate too.
To the writer Omar Shahid: Your shout out to Chaudhry Aslam was touching. Your observations made sense and your characters seemed so real. I constantly found myself worried sick for protagonists and it took everything in me to not check final paragraph while reading exceptionally thrilling chapters. You are right in your acknowledgement that there were stories that could have been told only under the guise of fiction though it made me feel utterly miserable. I cannot imagine how it must have been for you. Thank you for this book. What a beautiful writing style you have!
August 26, 2014
The Prisoner by Omar Shahid Hamid is probably the quickest read I have had in many months. It took me less than 2 Days to finish off this amazing well plotted book. Plot is simple but could not be any better. Aside from Hunting of kidnapped American we get to know about the inside of Law and Enforcement of Pakistan. Where there are good cops with heart of steel there is also muddy corruption. Author has hidden identity of many factions and characters pretty well, one such example is NEWYORK-DON-UNITED FRONT. I kept on smiling because every Pakistani knows who the author was referring to whole time. Being a karachite myself I can relate to every alley and every locality mentioned in the Book be it a busy route of Chundgrigar Road or Posh Area of Defence. Ending was not what I expected but you will not be least disappointed. Overall: fast paced, raw writing, colourful characters and suspense makes THE PRISONER well worth reading. Highly Recommended.
December 4, 2014
An absolute gem! Picked this up while on the move, with no clue as to how it might turn out to be. And I must say, I was mighty impressed by the pace and the connect of the story! Contrary to the title, it has very little to do with the prisoner - an American journalist who is kidnapped in Pakistan. It is about the entities that dominate the city of Karachi, and the interplay between them - the agencies (armed forces), the government (the United Front), the underworld and the police force. As each entity tries to manipulate others to further its own interests, two of the story's protagonists are impacted to various extents, who in no less measure allow this manipulation for their own personal reasons - one for glory, and the other for friendship (and to a small extent the hidden thirst for action).
Literature from Pakistan (e.g. Mohsin Hamid), Afghanistan (e.g. Khaled Hosseini) and nearby countries seems to be a growing force. And this an awesome phenomenon for the readers!
Literature from Pakistan (e.g. Mohsin Hamid), Afghanistan (e.g. Khaled Hosseini) and nearby countries seems to be a growing force. And this an awesome phenomenon for the readers!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2015
"In the end, we are all prisoners of our own destiny. And so it was."
The Prisoner is one book which takes you on a journey in the microcosm of Pakistan, Karachi, where things are not what they seem. Violence, criminals and thugs thrive. Religious, Political workers and followers devour each other. All is stemmed from Power and Money. In midst of all this realistic backdrop of the daily battle of Cops and Criminals there is a kidnapping. The stories unfold bringing back each character's own demons. A place where every action has cost and every person has a price. Police, criminals, politicians and agencies all come together in man hunt which will reveal each institutions thought and process! The book keeps you entwined and makes you aware of the reality of society which avoid or at some point are part of. Like the author says in the end . We are all prisoners in our own ways! Intelligently written and well put.
The Prisoner is one book which takes you on a journey in the microcosm of Pakistan, Karachi, where things are not what they seem. Violence, criminals and thugs thrive. Religious, Political workers and followers devour each other. All is stemmed from Power and Money. In midst of all this realistic backdrop of the daily battle of Cops and Criminals there is a kidnapping. The stories unfold bringing back each character's own demons. A place where every action has cost and every person has a price. Police, criminals, politicians and agencies all come together in man hunt which will reveal each institutions thought and process! The book keeps you entwined and makes you aware of the reality of society which avoid or at some point are part of. Like the author says in the end . We are all prisoners in our own ways! Intelligently written and well put.
October 16, 2014
Loved every word of it! The best Pakistani novel I've read so far.
Every action scene ; imaginable. The city seen for its reality (beauty and beastliness) inside out, described beautifully.
Scenes etched into amazing passages that make the words play into action right before your eyes. Karachi at its lowest and at its real. Omar Shahid has painted the best verbal masterpiece for readers who love a ride no matter how brutal, real and bumpy.
Every action scene ; imaginable. The city seen for its reality (beauty and beastliness) inside out, described beautifully.
Scenes etched into amazing passages that make the words play into action right before your eyes. Karachi at its lowest and at its real. Omar Shahid has painted the best verbal masterpiece for readers who love a ride no matter how brutal, real and bumpy.
Read
May 29, 2019It is a very gripping story. Most probably real events are weaved into a story to tell. I rate the writer very high because it is near to real life novel. Reader can learn a great deal of life lessons. I now understand how much my father as a policeman had to face in the line of duty which he never told us.
October 12, 2018
Writing is ok, but unfortunatelly it dives into the detail of the everyday rampang corruption among the police forces in Pakistan forgetting completely to tell the story.
Read
December 30, 2025Reading The Prisoner this December in London, I was transported back to my own memories of past winters in Karachi; when political tension, street gossip and the restless energy of the city felt ever-present, even as life continued in familiar, ordinary ways. That mix of homesickness and unease is exactly the atmosphere Omar Shahid Hamid captures in this Karachi-set crime thriller.
The Prisoner centres on the kidnapping of an American journalist in Karachi and the frantic efforts of the police and intelligence services to rescue him before his execution is broadcast on Christmas Day. The outline is familiar: terror groups, foreign hostages, diplomatic pressure but what makes the book compelling is how deeply it is rooted in Pakistan’s own political, ethnic and institutional fault lines. Nothing feels simplified or reduced to easy villains.
The emotional core of the novel lies in two Karachi policemen: Akbar, a legendary “encounter specialist” now languishing in jail for allegedly killing a powerful politician and Constantine D’Souza, his former colleague drawn back into the mess. Through their relationship, Hamid explores loyalty, compromise and the cost of working inside a system where corruption and political interference are part of everyday policing.
Karachi itself feels like a third main character. The story moves between affluent neighbourhoods, congested inner city streets, police stations, prisons and militant hideouts, revealing how invisible boundaries of party control, religious affiliation and gang power shape the city. For someone who has lived there, the language, humour and institutional dysfunction are painfully recognisable, even when the novel heightens the danger for dramatic effect.
Stylistically, Hamid writes in a clear, straightforward way, prioritising plot and procedural detail over literary flourish. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue sometimes blunt, but his insider perspective as a former Karachi police officer gives the novel a credibility that many “war on terror” thrillers lack. The ending is deliberately bleak and cynical, underlining that while individual bravery can matter in the short term, the larger machinery of power and collusion remains largely untouched.
For readers who enjoy crime fiction with strong political undercurrents, The Prisoner offers both a gripping story and a textured portrait of a city too often reduced to headlines. For those of us reading it far from Pakistan, it carries a different kind of charge, the strange comfort of recognising a place that is flawed, dangerous and deeply loved at the same time.
The Prisoner centres on the kidnapping of an American journalist in Karachi and the frantic efforts of the police and intelligence services to rescue him before his execution is broadcast on Christmas Day. The outline is familiar: terror groups, foreign hostages, diplomatic pressure but what makes the book compelling is how deeply it is rooted in Pakistan’s own political, ethnic and institutional fault lines. Nothing feels simplified or reduced to easy villains.
The emotional core of the novel lies in two Karachi policemen: Akbar, a legendary “encounter specialist” now languishing in jail for allegedly killing a powerful politician and Constantine D’Souza, his former colleague drawn back into the mess. Through their relationship, Hamid explores loyalty, compromise and the cost of working inside a system where corruption and political interference are part of everyday policing.
Karachi itself feels like a third main character. The story moves between affluent neighbourhoods, congested inner city streets, police stations, prisons and militant hideouts, revealing how invisible boundaries of party control, religious affiliation and gang power shape the city. For someone who has lived there, the language, humour and institutional dysfunction are painfully recognisable, even when the novel heightens the danger for dramatic effect.
Stylistically, Hamid writes in a clear, straightforward way, prioritising plot and procedural detail over literary flourish. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue sometimes blunt, but his insider perspective as a former Karachi police officer gives the novel a credibility that many “war on terror” thrillers lack. The ending is deliberately bleak and cynical, underlining that while individual bravery can matter in the short term, the larger machinery of power and collusion remains largely untouched.
For readers who enjoy crime fiction with strong political undercurrents, The Prisoner offers both a gripping story and a textured portrait of a city too often reduced to headlines. For those of us reading it far from Pakistan, it carries a different kind of charge, the strange comfort of recognising a place that is flawed, dangerous and deeply loved at the same time.
April 20, 2025
A quick-paced and thrilling read. Omer Shahid Hamid’s experience in the police force clearly shines through, lending the story a strong sense of realism. What stands out most is that the book remains focused on the story itself rather than drowning in historical or political information. This keeps the pace sharp and the reader’s interest alive throughout.
The characters are refreshingly human. Hamid doesn’t paint Akbar, Constantine, or the other police officers as saintly heroes on a divine mission. They have flaws, take their share of compromises, yet you can’t help but root for them because of their bravery and the dark forces they’re up against. He reveals the prejudices against the minorities, within the department and in society as well, by keeping a Christian character at centre of the story Yet, he never portrays him as a helpless victim, which adds to the strength and realism of the character and narrative.
Hamid also portrays the shift in state policy post-9/11 and the resulting political landscape with nuance. Rather than spelling out national issues, he uses his characters’ journeys to reflect the ripple effects of those changes—showing a tight grip on storytelling that avoids turning the book into mere political commentary.
Another compelling aspect is the portrayal of the complex relationship between intelligence agencies and the police. Sometimes they work together; at other times, they compete, clash, or manipulate one another—whenever it suits their interests. Omer Shahid Hamid also effectively captures the failure of a simplistic mindset within the security forces to grasp the convoluted political and social realities of Karachi. Through the characters of Maj. Romael and Col. Tarkeen, he skillfully presents their arrogance, competence, and occasional subtlety, adding further nuance to the narrative.
This is a powerful debut novel and my second read by Omer Shahid Hamid. Anyone interested in fiction and thrillers—especially those rooted in Pakistani settings—should not miss this one. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of his work.
The characters are refreshingly human. Hamid doesn’t paint Akbar, Constantine, or the other police officers as saintly heroes on a divine mission. They have flaws, take their share of compromises, yet you can’t help but root for them because of their bravery and the dark forces they’re up against. He reveals the prejudices against the minorities, within the department and in society as well, by keeping a Christian character at centre of the story Yet, he never portrays him as a helpless victim, which adds to the strength and realism of the character and narrative.
Hamid also portrays the shift in state policy post-9/11 and the resulting political landscape with nuance. Rather than spelling out national issues, he uses his characters’ journeys to reflect the ripple effects of those changes—showing a tight grip on storytelling that avoids turning the book into mere political commentary.
Another compelling aspect is the portrayal of the complex relationship between intelligence agencies and the police. Sometimes they work together; at other times, they compete, clash, or manipulate one another—whenever it suits their interests. Omer Shahid Hamid also effectively captures the failure of a simplistic mindset within the security forces to grasp the convoluted political and social realities of Karachi. Through the characters of Maj. Romael and Col. Tarkeen, he skillfully presents their arrogance, competence, and occasional subtlety, adding further nuance to the narrative.
This is a powerful debut novel and my second read by Omer Shahid Hamid. Anyone interested in fiction and thrillers—especially those rooted in Pakistani settings—should not miss this one. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of his work.
April 21, 2025
There is a joke about the police that goes like this: Three Police officers from the US, the UK, and India were exchanging notes upon the investigations and cracking the cases of theft in their respective countries. The US policeman said that they were able to break the cases of burglary in a couple of days, the UK one replies that it’s a matter of a few hours for them to catch the thieves. After hearing all this the Indian policeman boasted that before the crime is committed they know where, when, and who is committing the crime! 🤣😋😁
Jokes apart, but this book, ‘The Prisoner’, by Omar Shahid Hamid is a fictionalized account of what happens on the ground in South Asia. This book, I think, is the first novel by the author, who served in the police in Karachi, Pakistan. I found the plot too interesting to put the book down. The way the characters are intertwined and woven with each other and their backgrounds are narrated, it seems that this is not fiction. The book is a strong case to be adapted into a series on OTT platforms like Netflix.
The book was suggested by my daughter and I am glad that I read it. It will stay with me for a longtime. As I have started reading, I have found that each area in the world has something interesting and deep to offer in the form of stories. I have found that there are some excellent authors from the subcontinent. I look forward to reading more work from this region.
The book, though a fiction, can be easily passed as nonfiction, since as I said earlier, the story is influenced by the actual scenarios. I extremely enjoyed reading ‘The Prisoner’ and it took me on an exhilarating journey into the kidnapping of an American Journalist and its aftermath. I give the book ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jokes apart, but this book, ‘The Prisoner’, by Omar Shahid Hamid is a fictionalized account of what happens on the ground in South Asia. This book, I think, is the first novel by the author, who served in the police in Karachi, Pakistan. I found the plot too interesting to put the book down. The way the characters are intertwined and woven with each other and their backgrounds are narrated, it seems that this is not fiction. The book is a strong case to be adapted into a series on OTT platforms like Netflix.
The book was suggested by my daughter and I am glad that I read it. It will stay with me for a longtime. As I have started reading, I have found that each area in the world has something interesting and deep to offer in the form of stories. I have found that there are some excellent authors from the subcontinent. I look forward to reading more work from this region.
The book, though a fiction, can be easily passed as nonfiction, since as I said earlier, the story is influenced by the actual scenarios. I extremely enjoyed reading ‘The Prisoner’ and it took me on an exhilarating journey into the kidnapping of an American Journalist and its aftermath. I give the book ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 4, 2017
One of the very few books that I'd recommend every Karachiite should read.
September 7, 2023
Wonder book!
January 21, 2015
3.5 STARS
This book started quite well but then it became too much detail-oriented and less action, suspense, thrill which I was looking for when I bought this.
The details about Karachi areas, Police, Corruption, Politics, Agencies were very well written and explained but I think it got the real story to drift away.
It ended well which I think is a plus.
For a debut novel I think it's a job well done by the author.
This book started quite well but then it became too much detail-oriented and less action, suspense, thrill which I was looking for when I bought this.
The details about Karachi areas, Police, Corruption, Politics, Agencies were very well written and explained but I think it got the real story to drift away.
It ended well which I think is a plus.
For a debut novel I think it's a job well done by the author.
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