I Know What I Saw

A mesmerising thriller - wonderful writing and a brilliantly gritty, street-level perspective. Don't miss this one -- T. M. Logan Every bit as fantastic as everyone says. Utterly gripping -- The Secret Barrister Mahmood gets deep into the psychology of a damaged man in this unusual novel, and the ending is like a blow to the gut * Sunday Times * With pace and fineness, I Know What I Saw brings together an impossible crime, a witness no one wants to believe and an unflinching study of life on the streets. Intelligent, imaginative and meticulously plotted, this is an author at the top of his game - simply sensational -- M. W. Craven It's a truly Hitchcockian thriller ride, a white-knuckle ride through the tortuous labyrinth of human memory -- Chris Brookmyre Mahmood, following his innovative, breakout hit, You Don't Know Me, once again delivers a twisting narrative full of surprises and blind alleys -- Vaseem Khan Mahmood has a rare gift for combining hypnotic prose with a page-turning pace. A gripping and beautiful read -- Ayisha Malik Spectacular - an absolute treat -- A. A. Dhand I stayed up way past lights out last night to finish what was in short a quite phenomenal novel. Having absolutely loved You Don't Know Me, I was fairly certain this one would be good too, but it was far better than I could have hoped. What an astonishing voice Imran has created for Xander, at once intelligent, resourceful and yet also deeply flawed. I thought the complex plot was handled masterfully, and that double punch at the end was superb. I thoroughly enjoyed it. -- James Oswald Unforgettable ... I didn't think Mahmood could top You Don't Know Me but he most certainly has. A searing take-down of privilege, our unequal society and indeed of traditional crime whodunnits. Mahmood writes sympathetically and intelligently about people who live on the fringes of society -- Gillian McAllister Smart, atmospheric, poignant, and will keep you hooked -- Saima Mir This complex mystery (set on the streets of London) took my breath away. Themes of memory, privilege & identity - it's a book that that pulls you in deep. Gripping & utterly immersive. Mahmood is a master storyteller -- Will Dean A tense literary thriller about the lies we persist in telling ourselves and our inability to escape our damaged pasts - packed with moments of pathos and unexpected humour. I believed completely in Xander Shute -- Sarah Vaughan I Know What I Saw takes us on a tense, nerve-jangling journey into the world of Xander Shute who believes he's witnessed a murder, but also makes us question our own preconceptions towards people who've fallen through society's cracks. Intelligent and thought-provoking, it marks a welcome return for a supremely talented writer -- Abir Mukherjee Clever, mercilessly addictive and deeply thought-provoking, I Know What I Saw blends a dynamite plot with heartfelt characterisation. Wonderful -- Chris Whitaker I was a big fan of Imran Mahmood's first book, YOU DON'T KNOW ME, and his second, I KNOW WHAT I SAW, is every bit as gripping, insightful and beautifully written. [...] I was absolutely captivated -- Simon Lelic An intense, complex mind-bender of a book, told through eyes you can't always trust. As compelling a tale as I've ever read; you won't put it down until you know the truth -- Tony Kent As a portrait of vulnerability it's sympathetically rendered and the resolution surprisingly disturbing * The Times * Not only a deftly written and nerve-jangling thriller, but also a multi-layered and unflinching portrait of life for those marginalised on the fringes of society * Herald * Heart-wrenching and jaw-dropping, I held my breath until the final word -- Holly Seddon Every bit as fantastic as everyone says. Utterly gripping -- The Secret Barrister The violent narrative inexorably grips the attention ... it's the examination of the mental state of his intelligent protagonist caught in a downward spiral that affirms his talent * Financial Times * Elegantly constructed, educational, involving and moving, this is a terrific novel * Literary Review * I Know What I Saw consolidates [Mahmood's] position as an unpredictable crime writer able to tell a complex fast-paced story and keep readers hooked * Eastern Eye * Highly original and deftly plotted, delivering a gut-punch of an ending * Sunday Express *