Winner of the 2023 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature, Mohammed Said Hjiouij's 'Layl Tanja' (Tangier's Night) is a gripping noir novel that plunges readers into the city's dark underbelly. The narrative follows a complex protagonist through a labyrinth of crime, corruption, and forgotten histories. Hjiouij masterfully crafts Tangier as a living, breathing character, exploring profound themes of marginalization, memory, and the haunting specters of the past. This is a compelling literary thriller that dissects the social and psychological layers of a city caught between its mythical past and its harsh present reality.