The truly wonderful thing about reading fiction is that it can transport you to places that you might otherwise never go to, and give you an insight into a culture, a country or a conflict which you simply cannot gain if you just read the news. The Bethlehem Murders is a murder mystery set in modern day Palestine, with a backdrop of violence, injustice and religious and political unrest. You might wonder how, in a region which sees death and destruction on a daily basis, one particular murder could become an issue. But war should not remove humanity, and when people are killed without explanation or reason, it is absolutely correct that it should be investigated and the perpertrators should be caught.

The main character and unwilling detective in this novel is Omar Yussef. Yussef is angered and dissillusioned by what has happened to his homeland. An academic and peaceful man, before Israel began it’s strong arm tactics and before militarism was glorified above all else, he had had friends from all religions and all backgrounds. Although he works as a teacher, his liberalism is catching up with him at the time that the events of this novel occur.

Yussef is drawn into political events when one of his former students, George – a Christian and a good man – is arrested. Yussef knows that although George will have a trial, he is doomed to die. Finally, Yussef’s outrage with his country and his countrymen force him to do something, and he becomes embroiled in a dangerous game of politics. When another of his students – an innocent girl, is brutally murdered, Yussef nearly loses hope, but his perseverance drives him on to solve the crimes, and ultimately save himself and his family as chaos seems to hit.

I liked the character of Yussef, although he irritated me slightly. I admired his bloody-minded determination to find out what was happening, in spite of his age and lack of fitness, but at the same time it annoyed me. Maybe I have been spoilt by the brilliance of Adam Dalgleish, the sharpness of Tempe Brennan and the grumpy intelligence of Morse, so Omar Yussef just wasn’t a hero for me. Nevertheless, the story was gripping, and the window on a world that I barely know about. Granted, it only gave ‘one side’ of the conflict, although I can’t help but sympathise with the plight of the Palestinians. But if these were the kind of people Matt Rees encountered when he was there, then they certainly have an indomitable spirit.

Rating: 7/10
ISBN: 978-1843545927
Publisher: Atlantic Books
Year: 2007
Date Finished: 24 February 2009
Pages: 272