In brief: Dr Alfred Jones is a man whose world is small. Indeed, the publication of his paper Effects of increased water acidity on the cadis fly larva is the height of his ambition. Not that this is a bad thing, just that concentrating on the micro world hasn't really prepared him for Sheikh Muhammad and his world. For the Sheikh has a vision. He sees salmon leaping in the rivers of his homeland, and all the disparate peoples of his troubled home coming together to fish. Casting away the troubles of their lives, so to speak. And the Sheikh needs Dr Jones to turn his vision into reality. The only trouble is that the Sheikh's homeland is the Yemen, not really known for its northern European climate, so salmon could never survive there, could they?

In detail: Through a collection of emails, diary entries, letters and reports, we learn of the plan to introduce salmon fishing into the Yemen, and the characters who try to implement the plan, those who are violently opposed to the project, and those who just think it's a bit daft.

Dr Alfred Jones is contacted by the representatives of Sheikh Muhammad, who want him to give them scientific advice about how best to introduce salmon into the Yemen. Dr Jones is understandably rather reluctant to pursue the matter, and attempts to fob them off. It then becomes clear that there is some interest in this project from "high up" and pressure is brought to bear. Indeed, the interest goes right up to the Prime Minister, who really likes the idea of a "fishing in a wadi" photo-opportunity!

Dr Jones is, however, not a happy fisheries scientist. He wants to get on with his cadis fly larva paper, and what with the pressure from his boss, and the chilly emails from his increasingly distant wife, it's a good job he has his diary as an outlet for his understandably aggrieved thoughts.

Despite his grave reservations, Dr Jones finds himself forced into the peculiar plans of a Middle Eastern Sheikh, whose sole basis for believing that his madcap scheme will work is the will of God! Dr Jones knows that it will take more than that to achieve the impossible. But, the more he thinks it through, and with the combination of his knowledge and the not inconsiderable funds available, maybe, just maybe, something could be achieved.

So Dr Jones finds himself flying to Scotland with the Sheikh's representative, Harriet, a most engaging companion. Harriet has her own problems to contend with, not least the covert movements of her soldier boyfriend. In Scotland Dr Jones meets a man who will, quite simply, change his life. For as he becomes more and more involved in the Sheikh's dream, he begins to see that there is more to life than facts and figures. His mind opens to the possibility of something beyond his small world, and as he warms to the project, he also begins to rather enjoy the time he spends with Harriet. She, meanwhile, comes to see that there is more to Dr Jones than cadis fly larvae.

As Dr Jones and Harriet work together on the eccentric project, Dr Jones begins to make progress. And he starts to realise that sometimes belief, combined with some good science, of course, just might be enough.

As the plan moves into its final stages, and all the players take their places, a conclusion of a sort no one predicted begins to unfold: a photo-opportunity for the PM that he certainly didn't envisage . . .

About the author

Paul Torday read English Literature at Pembroke College Oxford before embarking on a very successful career in engineering. His work took him all over the world, from the Americas to China, and most places in between, including the Middle East. More recently he has been able to take a step back from business, and has had time to write. He has also travelled extensively in Oman, exploring the desert and back country in company with his wife.

He lives in Northumberland and has been a keen salmon fisherman for fifteen years.

For discussion

• What did you think when you first picked up the novel? Did you enjoy the construction (as a collection of documents), or did it put you off? Did you change your opinion as you read? How would you have told the story?
• The Sheikh thinks that we have in this country "a great deal of snobbery" about class. Do you think this is still the case?
• Sheikh Muhammad believes that bringing salmon fishing to his country will create the "patience and tolerance" in his people he sees in fisherman in this country. Is there any merit in his vision? Would it work? Or do people who are patient and tolerant by nature simply choose to fish?
• Does Dr Jones's unsatisfactory marriage discourage him from embracing the Yemen project, or has his reluctance to take on anything outside his experience given him a distant wife?
• Does Harriet fall in love with Dr Jones?
• The book has at its heart the contrast between the secular world of the west, and faith-based societies of the Middle East. Which world comes out with most credit, do you think?
• Did you notice the change in Dr Jones's diary entries as he becomes more involved in the world of Sheikh Muhammad? How does his style of writing evolve?
• Dr Jones has "moved on from religion". Instead of going to church on a Sunday, he goes to Tesco. Has he lost or gained?
• "In this Old Testament land it is difficult not to believe in myths and magic and miracles." Do our surroundings in the west make it harder to believe?
• In the west, we live in "a world which only recognised what it could count, measure, sell or buy". Dr Jones finds a land that still has the "innocent power of belief", and he learns to believe in belief. Is the power of belief "innocent", or is there a reason why the west has "moved on"?
• How well do you believe the novel worked as a satire of our bureaucratic and spin-doctored political system?
• How happy were you with the end of the novel? Its structure meant we couldn't know too much of the future of the protagonists. Would you have liked to know more?

Suggested further reading

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre
Erewhon by Samuel Butler
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera