City of Lies: Love, Sex, Death and the Search for Truth in Tehran follows the story of Asghar, a former gangster who falls into debt and opens an illegal gambling den in Tehran, breaking a promise to his devoted wife, Pari. His story forms part of a wider portrait of lives shaped and constrained by Iran’s ruling system.

Written and narrated by journalist Ramita Navai, the book draws on real accounts gathered during her time reporting in Tehran. Many of the stories were previously censored, with names and identifying details changed to protect those involved.

First published in 2014, the work has received major literary recognition and international translations. Navai, an award winning foreign affairs reporter and documentary maker, is known for her investigations into conflict, corruption and human rights abuses around the world.