Andalusian Dream

Andalusian Dream is the first detective novel by Naser Farzinfar. Excitement, suspense, search, and tension are characteristic of the detective genre. These elements have made this genre popular in both literature and cinema. Farzinfar aims to utilize these appealing features in Andalusian Dream. The novel begins with a search—to find a girl lost behind the dust of time. The protagonist travels from Tabriz to Tehran to find clues about the girl. This search and the suspense within it engage the reader with the main character. The reader wants to know if the young man can finally find Sara. The protagonist spent four years in Tabriz prison and is financially unstable. He must work, so he works in a bookstore during the day and in a public bath at night, where he also sleeps. By finding Sara’s study notes and her marginalia in those notes, he hopes to locate her. Those around him call his quest a hopeless sign of despair, but he remains determined. The author has tried to surprise the reader according to the conventions of the genre, arranging the story so that the reader cannot predict upcoming events. As the story progresses, subplots develop, secondary characters are added, and the narrative space expands, immersing the reader in an extensive, unpredictable detective story. The story advances in the present but also delves into the past so the reader becomes aware of the young man’s background and experiences, making his search understandable and tangible. The story is layered, with these layers gradually revealed to surprise the audience. The novel’s chapters are short and follow a fast pace. With the addition of secondary characters, the plot moves in directions unpredictable to the reader. Writing detective fiction in Iranian literature has not been widely embraced, and few successful works exist in this genre. The detective narrative in Andalusian Dream is acceptable and readable. This novel can be a suitable choice for fans of the detective genre.