An Algerian spy novel in Arabic - Code from a mirage by Ismael Ben Saada

A code from a mirage (شيفرة من سراب)

by Ismael Ben Saada

Chihab editions,

published in 2008, pp. 283.

My review in French on TSA :

L’histoire se situe en 1968. Yacoub Mayer, algérien de naissance, est un espion de la CIA. Il est souvent à Alger, une ville dépeinte comme un terrain de jeux d’espionnage internationaux. Lors d’un de ses séjours dans la capitale, il est soudainement accosté par Francesca, l’épouse de Cherif Khan, un ancien collègue. Elle lui transmet un message. Son époux veut le rencontrer en secret. Khan est aussi espion en Algérie. Durant la guerre d’indépendance, il avait été recruté par les services français et en avait profité pour transmettre des infos classifiées aux Algériens. À l’indépendance, Cherif Khan change de camp et travaille pour les Italiens...continue reading here...

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Very saddened to hear from his editor on 11 July that Ben Saada passed away.

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