Whether it's raising her daughter, adapting to life in Germany, or finding a new mosque, Lujayn never seems to have enough time. That changes when she inherits a minute from her grandfather. The minute, a timeless dimension only accessible during 4:39 AM, provides Lujayn respite from the demands of daily life. But 4:39 contains more than peaceful gardens and a rustic cottage—it also holds clues to her grandfather's mysterious past.

Lujayn is soon hounded by corporate agents, private collectors, and malevolent warlords, all intent on gaining control of the minute. To protect her family, Lujayn seeks out unlikely allies: a surly plumber with secret knowledge, a Tanzanian journalist on the run, and a female imam with a penchant for paradoxes.

Lujayn's peril intensifies as she descends deeper into the world of minutes, but unless she uncovers her grandfather's past, she may be doomed to repeat his misdeeds.