With the world in such a turbulent state at the moment, I was intrigued when Mustafa Marwan got in touch about his debut novel Guns and Almond Milk. Sadly, I simply don’t have time to read it at the moment but instead I have asked Mustafa to stay in with me to tell me a bit about it.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Mustafa Marwan

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Mustafa. Thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Thanks for having me, Linda.

 I’m sure I know, but which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it? 

I brought my debut literary thriller, Guns and Almond Milk, because it includes facts from history, observations from reality, and imagination from the pen.

I understand Guns and Almond Milk is out today so happy publication day. I find the cover fascinating as it looks like a flower until you look closely at it! Tell me, what can we expect from an evening in with Guns and Almond Milk?

You can expect a literary thriller that deals with identity, diversity and old coins of arguable value.

Interesting. Tell me more.

You can also expect a discussion on modern societies and their polarities through a timeline based in the UK where a British Egyptian doctor tries to be from two worlds at the same time. In the second timeline, there’s an experience-based window to aid work, war, and lifestyles where extremes become the routine.

I have a feeling that is an experience many are going through right now Mustafa.

What else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

I’ve brought some early quotations and comments about Guns and Almond Milk because I’m so pleased at how it is being received.

Those are fabulous endorsements for a debut writer. Congratulations. And, thank you so much for staying in with me to chat about Guns and Almond Milk. I hope it’s a huge success for you.

Thanks Linda! There’s a trailer here for the book too if readers would like to take a look.

I’m sure they will! Let me give them a few more details too:

Guns and Almond Milk

An adrenaline-fueled journey into war-torn Yemen, this novel is the perfect read for fans of passionate, fast-paced fiction.

Luke Larson, a British Egyptian doctor, runs from his problematic past in the UK and becomes a war surgeon. When he is taken hostage by Western security contractors in a besieged hospital in Yemen, he realizes that after spending years saving the lives of others, he needs to face the demons of his past in order to save his own.

Guns and Almond Milk is a study of identity, war and redemption. It is The Sympathizer mixed with M.A.S.H by the way of Ramy.

Born to Egyptian parents and raised as a first-generation British Muslim, Luke Larson struggles to be from two worlds at the same time. He is working in a humanitarian mission in Aden, at the height of the Yemeni conflict. Max Gorsky, Luke’s new patient, is a security contractor working for the government forces. Rebel forces have taken over the city, and Max’s team is now taking refuge in the city’s hospital, in preparation for their final stand. Luke and his team find themselves caught in a deadly clash between the ruthless rebel group and the desperate security contractors. At the same time, Max and Luke need to settle debts from their shared past in the UK where they joined forces in fencing a multi-million-dollar stolen artifact operation that went wrong.

Guns and Almond Milk is a fast-paced story of love, murder, and thrill that provides readers with a fresh perspective on humanitarian work, religion, assimilation, and Middle Eastern politics.

Published by Simon and Schuster Interlink in the UK today 20th February, Guns and Almond Milk is available for purchase here and in the US through the publisher links here.

About Mustafa Marwan

Mustafa Marwan is an Egyptian writer, aid worker, and trainer with over a decade of experience in more than a dozen conflict zones in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. His debut novel, Guns and Almond Milk, a 2021 Page Turner Awards Finalist, is set in Yemen and the United Kingdom, where he has lived and worked. Mustafa has a Bachelor’s in Pharmacy and a Master’s in Public Health and has lectured and consulted in the UK on topics such as management and leadership, health and social care. He has also facilitated intercultural dialogue programs in several countries. Mustafa currently resides in Bangkok, Thailand.

For further information, visit Mustafa’s website or follow him on Twitter/X @MustafaMarwan. You can also find Mustafa on Facebook.