Review: The Collaborator of Bethlehem by Matt Beymon Rees

TP, $15.95, 0618959653

This mystery is set in Bethlehem. A Palestinian Christian is arrested for collaborating with the Israelis. Teacher Omar Yussef knows that his friend would not collaborate with the Israelis and starts investigating the circumstances of the charge. Omar teaches at UN Relief & Work Agency for Girls. A young Hamas fighter is shot and they suspect Israeli soldiers. His wife, a former student of Omar Yussef, is also murdered. The story takes many twists and turns and reflects the turmoil that exists in the Middle East. The author was, until recently, the bureau chief for Time magazine in Jerusalem. I really enjoyed this story and would recommend it for readers who like rich characters, cultural settings, and human frailty.