Jerusalem, 70 BC. During roman invasion on the Holy Temple, the highest Rabbi revealed a top classified secret to a young boy. He was entrusted the biggest secret a great secret, known only to a few that should be guarded with his life along with his descendants.
Southern Germany, 1944. Six German prison camp inmates, 4 jews, 1 communist and 1 gay dragged a Nazi-purloined holy relic down an abandoned coal shaft. A secret to be buried in the cave for protection. A secret that was paid with their death.
Egypt, present day. Yusef Ezz el-Din Khalifa of the Luxor police investigated the murder of an old man, Piet Jansen, whose body has been found at an archeological site in the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the nile. The murder brought memory of his past investigation on the murder of a Jewish old woman, Hannah Schlegel 13 years ago. His conscience always convinced him that they got a wrong man for the murder. The innocent was sentenced to death, leaving his wife and small children alone. A past guilt that haunted him forever. The more he investigated the case, the more he was convinced that Piet Jansen had strong connection with the murder of Hannah. Now, he had second chance to redeem his past mistake. Despite opposition from his superiors and his own misgivings about working with the Israelis, Khalifa re-opened the case and teamed up with hard-nosed Jerusalem detective Arieh Ben Roi.
Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, Palestinian journalist Layla al-Madani and Israeli police detective Arieh Ben-Roi have their own sad histories and complicated lives to deal with. Layla witnessed his father brutally attacked by an angry Palestinians mob…he died in front of her merely for following the call of his profession as a doctor…treating a wounded Israeli. This event had tremendously changed her course of life forever. Arieh Ben-Roi saw her bride, Galia, died in suicide bombing at their wedding day. She was an activist who vigorously promoted peace between Israel and Palestina. An attack that was claimed many lives and Al-Mulatham was responsible for it. From that moment on, Arieh investigated secretly the al-Mulatham to get his revenge. Within his own ways, he scrutinized any incidents connected with al-mulatham, including its news coverage by Layla.
At the same time, Har Zion, an extreme Israeli nationalist Baruch Har-Zion, Israeli military commando fighter always provoked war against the Palestinian. He seized every opportunity to destroy the people. He had story of his own and he dogged Layla movement with close attention.
Layla received an anonymous letter at her Jerusalem home. It requested her help in contacting “Al-Mulassam” (“The Veiled One”), a Palestinian extremist leader she had recently interviewed; in return it offered her the scoop of a lifetime.
Against a backdrop of escalating violence between Israelis and Palestinians, she followed up the cryptic letter while Khalifa and Arieh slowly uncovered the unpleasant truth about Piet Jansen. Their investigations intertwined as they all got further in to the web of duplicity and intrigue that had at its center an ancient artifact of such potent symbolism that it could plunge the Middle East into an all-out war.
Reading this book reminded me the moment I read Da Vinci Code. It’s so interesting to find many mysteries and suspenses in the two books. There’s always a surprising element that is so hard to predict. The answer will be found by the end of the chapter…that’s what makes me read the whole book. At first, full concentration is required because at its beginning the stories seem have no relation and each character acts within their own premise and stand alone. As the chapter moves on, the web connection is gradually built smartly. I could never guess the final ending…and frankly speaking it shocks me to know the end. I should have known that I should be prepared for “expect the unexpected”. What I thought to be a hero turned out the opposite. It’s a good book to read!
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