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The Centre

a dark, unsettling literary thriller about a mysterious language school with a sinister secret

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The Centre

By: Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi
Narrated by: Balvinder Sopal
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'Absolutely stunning . . . thrilling and unique' - Gillian Flynn
'Creepy, provocative and wildly entertaining' - Emma Stonex
'A banger!' - Chelsea G Summers
'Fantastic . . . compelling . . . wonderful' - The Observer

Welcome to The Centre. You'll never be the same . . .

Anisa Ellahi spends her days writing subtitles for Bollywood films in her London flat, all the while longing to be a translator of ‘great works of literature’. Her boyfriend Adam’s extraordinary aptitude for languages only makes her feel worse, but when Adam learns to speak Urdu practically overnight, Anisa forces him to reveal his secret.

Adam tells Anisa about the Centre, an elite, invite-only programme that guarantees total fluency in any language in just ten days. Sceptical but intrigued, Anisa enrols. Stripped of her belongings and contact with the outside world, she undergoes the Centre’s strange and rigorous processes. But as she enmeshes herself further within the organization, seduced by all that it’s made possible, she soon realizes the disturbing, hidden cost of its services.

By turns dark, funny and surreal, The Centre takes the reader on a journey through Karachi, London and New Delhi, interrogating the sticky politics of language, translation and appropriation with biting specificity, and ultimately asking: what price would you be willing to pay for success?

A remarkable debut from Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi, announcing the arrival of an extraordinary new talent.

 Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Words, Language & Grammar Fiction England
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Critic reviews

Fantastic . . . This Black Mirror take on the world of language opens up questions of cultural appropriation, the power of language, memory and privilege . . . Siddiqi’s easy storytelling and her heroine Anisa’s sweet narrative voice slip down like summer rosé. Siddiqi has the gift of maintaining propulsion and mystery, while keeping things human and realistic . . . compelling . . . wonderful
An absolutely stunning and unique novel . . . A book that is not only thrilling but deeply thought provoking, a combination that is truly rare (Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl)
Siddiqi . . . has the gift of maintaining propulsion and mystery, while keeping things human and realistic . . . a wonderful novel (Bidisha Mamata)
Creepy, provocative and wildly entertaining . . . I was gripped (Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters)
Ingenious . . . This is a book whose many delights and horrors are unlikely to be lost in translation
The Centre is a banger! . . . A book that feels both cheery and terrifying, The Centre draws you in with a gentle hand until it throws the mallet down in the last thirty pages. A terrific meditation on language, diaspora, alienation, and culture, it will stay with you long after you read (Chelsea G Summers, author of A Certain Hunger)
Propulsive and profound. I was gripped by the mystery haunting the core of the book — and equally gripped by Siddiqi’s exploration of the power of language . . . a debut of dazzling wit and insight (Helen Phillips, author of The Need)
A twisting mystery and nuanced exploration of identity and assimilation, The Centre cuts deep . . . A compelling, witty, sometimes gruesome tale of how we use language to connect and to sever, appropriate and explore (Julia Fine, author of Maddalena and the Dark and The Upstairs House)
I am obsessed with this book and you will be too! A brilliant meditation on language and translation and the most gripping novel I've read in forever . . . I'm in awe (Jennifer Croft, author of Homesick)
As haunting as it is tempting; this book devoured me back (Sarah Gailey, author of Just Like Home and Eat the Rich)
A gripping, surreal mystery about language, identity, and greed. The Centre explores impossible success at an equally impossible price—and the difference between merely paying for something and truly understanding its dark cost (Peng Shepherd, bestselling author of The Cartographers)
The most fascinating debut I've read in years—enigmatic, biting, absurd, and right when you think you've got it figured out, utterly horrifying (Daniel Kraus, New York Times bestselling author of The Shape of Water (with Guillermo del Toro))
All stars
Most relevant
A really unusual story. I found the themes really interesting and loved the character development throughout! So many twists and turns, I had no idea where it was going to go! Also as a white, British woman, I loved the opportunity to delve into Anisa’s world and culture. The issues that she tackles are so insightful. Excellent read! Highly recommend!

I was hooked!

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A distinct voice, a different story an interesting ending and an intriguing -at times wholly unpleasant, central character. As a language teacher I absolutely loved it. The opening on the English translation of l’étranger took me in from the word go. My A-level pupils are absolutely going to read this. I was really curious about the ending and it did not disappoint. Dark, funny, instructive and relevant….what a debut.

Dark, funny, instructive and relevant.

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The narration was solidly good but not superb . The story kept me attentive and the characters strong and realistic if not likeable.

Feminist, understated and not saccharine

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This story absolutely had me hooked from the beginning and I never stopped loving it until right at the very end —- where it all felt unresolved! A solution hinted at but never divulged.

This was in keeping with the whole story though in that it all felt so real. The imperfect main character- spiky but justifiably so - with her hypocrisy sometimes clear to herself and sometimes not. Yes a story of racism- but does not shy away from the racism and classism also present in those on the other end of white supremacy.

The main character reflections were so real - not showing herself in the most favourable light and if we are honest who would be viewed that favourably if we were all that honest?

The mystery was compelling - there were just so many layers to this.

What a fantastic first novel. Well narrated, fascinating that some didn’t love it- stick with the likes of K L slater if you like a simple story of good and evil. This one is far truer

Brave - imperfect people

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I really struggled to connect w the main character.
The themes of the story are all over the place. The book doesn't revolve around The Centre, rather the main character trying to figure herself out. Very average and not the easiest audible.

Slightly disappointed

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