Saudi-born author Keija Parssinen€s stunning debut offers the intricate, emotionally resonant story of an American expatriate who discovers that her husband, a Saudi billionaire, has taken a second bride€"an emotionally turbulent revelation that blinds them both to their teenaged son€s ominous first steps down the road of radicalization. Readers of The Septembers of Shiraz will be captivated by Parssinen€s story of love and betrayal, fundamentalism, family and country in the Middle East. Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead, hails Parssinen€s characters as €œrichly conceived, and her evocative petrol universe of wealth, privilege, and intrigue is unforgettable,€ characterizing The Ruins of Us as having €œpowerful storytelling that is refreshing and entertaining.€Â