The book centres on a wealthy, middle-aged housewife, her childhood in Istanbul and her time as a student at Oxford University where she fell in love with a philosophy professor.

[5][6] The book describes the present and past of Peri, who was born and raised in Turkey by her parents.

[7] For this reason, while studying at Oxford University, she attends a lecture on God given by a professor of the campus, Azur.

In short, "Set in modern-day Istanbul, this riveting book follows Peri — married, wealthy, and on her way to a party.

As her night unfolds, bringing with it a series of terrorist attacks, she finds herself lost in memories of the friends she made while studying at Oxford University, and the scandal that tore them apart.

"[8] The book starts in Istanbul, Turkey, where Peri is with her daughter when she is robbed and is subject to an attempted rape.

[9] In her late teenage years, Peri left to study at Oxford and met Professor Azur, who changed her life.

Peri also meets two women at the campus: Mona, an Egyptian who is a true Muslim, and Shirin, who is a faithless Iranian.

"Islam, for her, was reminiscent of a childhood memory — so very familiar and personal but also somehow vague, far removed in time and space.