When the Apricots Bloom

At night, in Huda''s fragrant garden of apricot trees, a breeze sweeps in from the desert, carrying warning of visitors at her gate . . .

Huda, a secretary at the Australian embassy, has been ordered by the mukhabarat - the secret police - to befriend Ally Wilson, the deputy ambassador''s wife. Huda has no wish to be an informant, but she fears for her teenage son, who may be forced to join a deadly militia. Little does she know, Ally has dangerous secrets of her own.

Meanwhile, Huda''s former friend, Rania, enjoyed a privileged upbringing as the daughter of a sheikh. Now her family''s wealth is gone, and Rania, too, is battling to keep her child safe and a roof over their heads.

As the women''s lives intersect, their hidden pasts spill into the present. Facing possible betrayal at every turn, all three must trust in a fragile, newfound loyalty, even as they discover how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect their families.