The novel is set in Baghdad during the period following the American invasion in 2003, where the Iraqi capital is in a state of chaos and destruction. The narrator recounts his daily attempts to continue his life amidst this ruin, until he suddenly meets a former US Marine, Daniel Brooks, who came specifically to meet the narrator. The novel intertwines contemporary historical events, such as the trial of soldier Bradley Manning for leaking secret documents, adding political and human depth to the narrative.