A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif

A Case of Exploding Mangoes is a ‘factional’ story based around the mysterious 1988 crash of a Hercules, which carried General Zia, Pakistani dictator of 11 years, and the American Ambassador to Pakistan, Arnold Raphel, to their deaths. Despite the high profile passengers, the circumstances of the crash remain unclear and have thus been fruitful ground for many conspiracy theories, which Hanif neatly combines and twists to create an entertaining tale. While the title is loud and absurd, this belies the subtlety and gentleness which also trademarks the book: It’s been likened to Catch 22, and while it doesn’t tackle the same ubiquitous themes of war, nor leave such a heavy imprint with the reader, Hanif writes with a similar dry-but-accessible wit and evocative absurdity to Heller. Hanif’s military background also lends a convincing depth of detail to the story. While consolidating the conspiracy theories (including curse-carrying crows, intelligence officers protecting their pensions, and overripe mangoes that could spontaneously combust) and convincing you of their individual viability while weaving each into one grand plot, Hanif gains unexpected depth by exploring the human condition through a Brokeback-esque love story, and an ageing dictator dealing with his demise. A thoughtful, entertaining read. [Renée Rowland]