By
– December 20, 2011
Levin, a retired Israeli security services officer, is a loner. His marriage ended amicably. His children are grown and living abroad. Living in Jerusalem and acutely aware of the religious fervor and political conflicts in the area, he leads a self- contained life.
When an acquaintance asks him to follow his wife, Deborah, and find out whether she is having an affair, he accepts the offer despite the fact that he considers the task rather unsavory. It is a chance to use his investigative skills and explore Jerusalem’s rich history as he visits its colorful neighborhoods. It provides a stark contrast to the terrorist attacks and suicide bombings that he witnesses during his daily rounds. The case may actually have a solution.
As he follows Deborah, he finds himself assessing her as a potential lover. When the man that she was meeting is murdered, Levin wonders whether it was really a sniper’s bullet that killed him. When Deborah approaches him with a strange request, his carefully constructed ethical foundation is threatened. This beautifully written character study will appeal to both mystery buffs and those who enjoy literary fiction.
Barbara M. Bibel is a librarian at the Oakland Public Library in Oakland, CA; and at Congregation Netivot Shalom, Berkeley, CA.
