Good People, Patmeena Sabit (Review by Abigail Blake)

Rating: 5.0/5 Stars

Patmeena Sabit’s Good People will grip you tightly with its many voices and refuse to let you go. Told like a documentary, with interview-like testimonies from friends, family, neighbors, and would-be witnesses, Good People explores the “possibility of an honor crime,” as the author’s note says. As fast-paced as a traditional thriller, you’ll keep turning the pages to learn what everyone thought of the Sharaf family, their culturally clashing daughter, and the aftermath of tragedy.

Good People focuses on the Sharaf family in the community of resettled Afghan immigrants in Northern Virginia. Their story, experiences, successes, and failures, are primarily told through the eyes of their family friends and neighbors. The novel turns when unexpected tragedy strikes, and the Sharafs face the judgements of both their Afghan community and America at large when the media sensationalizes their heartbreak. The story explores one family’s realization of the American dream contrasted with tragedy and cultural clashes judged in the court of public opinion. Everyone, including those closest to the family, acquaintances, and total strangers with their own vendettas, has something to say about the Sharafs.

Interestingly, we never actually hear from the Sharaf’s directly. The entire story is told from the perspective of those on the outside looking in.

Fans of the style of “Daisy Jones and the Six” will appreciate the personal touches of the many Sharaf family friend interviews alongside news clippings, announcements, and police reports. The novel plays out like a gripping documentary, exposing harsh and unsettling truths about the immigrant experience in the US as well as exploring common prejudices across cultures. Good People is a challenging, yet rewarding, read—expertly navigating numerous perspectives with dignity and honesty. It is also an incredibly timely novel for readers in 2026. Thought-provoking, and as beautiful as it is devastating, the Sharaf’s story will stay with you long after the last page.