Lost In Mecca

A gripping Arabic literary crime novel set during Hajj, exploring loss, privilege, and the price of justice.

Lost in Mecca is a powerful and heart-wrenching novel by Bothayna Al-Essa, exploring grief, privilege, and the search for meaning. Set during the Hajj pilgrimage, the story follows a seven-year-old Kuwaiti boy who vanishes in Mecca. As his parents search desperately, they uncover the city’s darker layers—where political structures, social hierarchies, and moral boundaries blur.

Told through shifting points of view, this Arabic literary crime novel delves into systemic injustice and personal loss. The family’s journey reveals uncomfortable truths about class, faith, and the invisible forces that shape human worth. What begins as a search for a missing child evolves into a haunting meditation on justice, responsibility, and what it means to truly see others.

Lost in Mecca stands out as a remarkable work of contemporary Arabic literature, asking difficult questions in a moving and unforgettable way.