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The Collaborator of Bethlehem
By Matt Beynon Rees
A new book, a new author and a penetrating glimpse into a view of life in the Palestinian territories by a man from South Wales who was the Jerusalem bureau chief for Time magazine until recently.
Matt Rees has begun a new mystery series starring Omar Yussef.
Omar ia a respected teacher of history to the Christian and Muslim children of Bethlehem. Omar is also the head of an old and important Muslim family who lived in peace and harmony for many years with Christians and Jewish friends. Times have changed, and Omar Yussef is trying to bridge the hate on all sides - to be fair and humane in the face of evil.
The plot in this novel is compelling, but also shows the distress and mistrust in everyday life for the people who, by chance, have always lived in this part of the world.
We meet George Saba, a former Christian pupil and still a good friend, as well as Elias Bishara, another favorite pupil and now a Catholic priest in Bethlehem.
Omar is even suspicious of his old friend Khamis Zeydan, a Muslim policeman. The Swedish U.N. regional director, Kurt Wallender, appears, and Christopher Steadman, an American who was his superior at his present school is full of surprises.
This is an outstanding book - Omar finds himself enjoying his transformation into a detective, despite the emotional and political turmoil involved. It is also beautifully written and brings the people involved to life in a powerful way.
Matt Beynon Rees is also the author of the nonfiction :
Cain's Field: Faith, Fratricide , and Fear in the Middle East .
Published : Soho Press, Inc.
Copyright : © 2006-7 by Matt Beynon Rees
Reviewed : Joan G. Smith, 03/31/07
Copyright : © 2007 by Joan G. Smith 220
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