First in a series.

In a perilous area during violent times, a clash of cultures is unfolding. The situation is rife with uncertainty and danger.

Victims are emerging, their lives torn apart by the chaos. Martyrs are also arising, those who sacrifice themselves for a cause.

Murderers lurk in the shadows, their identities hidden. Friends become hard to distinguish from traitors.

It is a complex web of loyalties and betrayals.

Who can be trusted? It is nearly impossible to tell.

The lines between right and wrong are blurred, and the only certainty is that more bloodshed and turmoil lie ahead.

As this clash of cultures continues to unfold, the world watches with bated breath, wondering what will become of this dangerous and volatile situation.

I really like this debut novel.

It's a pity that not more titles of the author, and in this series about Omar Yussef, have been translated into Swedish.

The story of Omar Yussef is captivating and full of interesting twists and turns.

The author has created a vivid and detailed world that draws the reader in from the very beginning.

I hope that more of the author's works will be translated so that Swedish readers can have the opportunity to experience the wonderful stories.

Overall, this debut novel is a great read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mystery and adventure.

I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us in the future.

As first novels go, this one is truly outstanding for a reader like me. I have a penchant for a story that combines a robust plot, excellent characterization with memorable characters, informative historical context, a good pacing, a balanced mix of action and dialogue without overly dense description, and a narrative that piques my interest in a particular place and issue and lingers in my mind long after I've finished reading.

Most of my knowledge about the daily lives of Palestinians stems from television news. However, Beynon Rees delves deeper into their world, beyond the familiar images of suicide bombers and the conflict with the Israeli state. He presents a rich, multi-faceted portrait of family life, culture, politics, and institutional structures as an essential part of the story, without ever turning it into a preachy sermon or overshadowing the story of Omar and his mission to save George.

What becomes evident is that, like every society, Palestine is complex and divided, with as many internal differences as those that exist between it and the society it ostensibly opposes. Benyon Rees' talent lies in his ability to transport the reader into the sights, sounds, and tastes of Omar's world, creating a vivid sense of place while also presenting a mysterious story. Although I had a fairly good inkling about the identity of the real collaborator well before the end, despite the author's attempts to keep a few potential suspects in the running, there were still enough twists and turns to make this an engaging read all the way to the last page.

This story unfolds in Bethlehem during the Intifada of the early aughts.

It delves into the power dynamics of terrorist groups in the West Bank and the bitter feud between Muslims and Christians in that region.

Omar Yussef, a Muslim school teacher, finds himself on a mission to clear his Christian friend who has been wrongly accused of a murder.

The narrative offers an interesting peek into the customs and traditions of the area, as well as the complex relationships between the characters.

However, the overall tone of the story is extremely depressing and sad, lacking even a glimmer of hope.

The author, a Welshman who spent many years as a reporter in Jerusalem, may have had his personal viewpoint influence his retelling of this apparently true story.

It is unclear to what extent his experiences and biases have colored his account.

Nonetheless, the story serves as a reminder of the harsh realities and conflicts that exist in that part of the world.

A gentle and interesting mystery unfolds, yet it has the horrible backbone of Israeli control of Palestine.

It is important to note that the Palestinians are the first to be affected.

The war serves as the context within which this mystery takes place.

It is a complex situation that intertwines the lives of many.

The gentle nature of the mystery might seem at odds with the harsh reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

However, it is precisely this contrast that makes the story all the more captivating.

As we delve deeper into the mystery, we are forced to confront the underlying issues of control and displacement.

The Palestinians have endured much throughout this long and arduous struggle.

Their stories are ones of pain, loss, and hope.

Through this mystery, perhaps we can gain a better understanding of their plight and the larger geopolitical forces at play.

The Collaborator of Bethlehem by Matt Rees is the first installment in his Omar Yussef mystery series. Omar Yussef, a teacher at the UN school in Bethlehem, is a middle-aged man discontented with the state of affairs in Palestine. His job is in jeopardy due to the American principal's dislike of his old-fashioned ways.

One day, Omar meets his old friend George Saba for coffee. George, a Christian, complains about the Palestinian rebels using his rooftop to fire into Israel, making his house a target for Israeli retaliation. That night, as George returns home, he finds his family hiding from the crossfire. He retrieves an old revolver and goes to the roof to deal with the Palestinians.

The next day, Omar discovers that George has been arrested for collaborating with the Israelis in the murder of another Palestinian rebel. Omar teams up with the police chief to investigate and uncovers clues that suggest George's innocence. He believes that George has been framed by the Martyr's Brigade leaders.

Omar's investigation is fraught with difficulties. The police are either powerless or involved, and the rebels terrorize the citizens. Omar's job and family are also threatened. He feels helpless and doesn't know who to trust. As the story unfolds, more people die, and Omar races against time to solve the crime and save his friend.

The Collaborator of Bethlehem is a scary and thought-provoking story that offers a glimpse into life in Palestine. While the accuracy of the portrayal may be debatable, Matt Rees' experience as Bureau Chief for Time in Jerusalem gives the story an air of authenticity. The book is not perfect and can be quite depressing, but it does have a somewhat positive ending. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series to see what else awaits Omar Yussef.

The Collaborator of Bethlehem by Matt Rees (3.5 stars)

Omar Yussef, a history teacher at the UN school in Bethlehem, is on the verge of retirement.

When George, one of his former students and a Christian, is arrested for collaborating with the Israelis, and another student's husband is killed, Omar takes a leave of absence to look into the matter.

He discovers overwhelming evidence that the Martyrs' Brigade, a group of cowardly thugs, is responsible for the killing. Despite the intense atmosphere of violence and vengeance that fills Bethlehem, Omar bravely fights to save George.

This is a crime novel and, in a broad sense, a thriller. However, it's not just a typical "whodunit" as the reader gets to experience Yussef's every suspicion, which seem justified as new facts come to his notice. He examines every possible angle, even suspecting that his old friend, the police chief, might be corrupt. He has to do this because that's the harsh reality of the world he lives in.

The book immerses the reader in the culture of the Middle East. It is not only a character study but also a study of the place, vividly evoking the despair, rage, shame, helplessness, and resignation of those living under the Occupation.

Powerfully written, moving, complex, and thoroughly human, this is a remarkable debut novel.

I truly liked this book.

I would rate it 4.5 stars mainly because of its rich and detailed descriptions of a culture that I had very little prior knowledge about. It was like opening a door to a whole new world, filled with unique traditions, values, and ways of life.

Additionally, the protagonist of the book was simply wonderful. Their character was well-developed, with a complex personality and a journey that kept me engaged from start to finish.

However, when it comes to the plot, I can only give it 2.5 stars. Although it was touted as a mystery, in reality, it didn't have much of a mystery element to it. The twists and turns were rather predictable, and I found myself able to figure out the outcome long before the end.

Overall, despite the somewhat lackluster plot, I still enjoyed the book for its cultural insights and the engaging protagonist.

Fascinating, yet even heart-breaking, is the background of day-to-day life in Palestinian Bethlehem.

Here, the surge in Muslim nationalism and militarism has pushed the Christians into a despised underground minority. The sight of thugs and soldiers engaging in street battles is a daily occurrence. What's more, the very people who are meant to protect the citizens are just as terrifying as those they are supposed to safeguard against.

Unfortunately, author Rees presents this story in such a dull and affectless style that it becomes difficult for the readers to empathize with the characters and their tragic situation.

The protagonist, Omar Yussef, is a decent and ordinary individual, but he proves to be a terrible detective. He collects evidence but misinterprets its meaning, jumps to unfounded conclusions, has a poor judgment of character, and utterly fails in his mission to save his friend.

Naturally, at the conclusion of the book, he decides to resign from his teaching job and open a private detective agency.

Matt Rees, a Welsh novelist and journalist, has crafted an engaging crime fiction series, The Palestine Quartet.

This is the first of his books I've delved into. Rees won a Crime Writer’s Association Dagger for his work. His novels approach the Middle East conflict from an unexpected perspective, focusing mainly on Palestinian society, with few Israeli characters.

Rees was dissatisfied with the one-sided news reporting of the conflict, which only presented Palestinians as terrorists or victims. Instead, the diversity of Palestinian society inspired him to write from a different angle.

He chose a murder mystery set in Bethlehem as the best way to convey his years of reporting. In 2003 Bethlehem, the idyllic scenes of the manger and shepherds have been replaced by gangster gunmen and overcrowded refugee camps.

The principal character, Omar Yussef, a teacher, is sickened by the culture of death and glorification of gunmen. He leaves the classroom to save an old pupil, George Saba, a Christian accused of collaborating with Israel, a crime punishable by death.

The Palestinian society in Rees's portrayal is divided by factions, religions, and authority. Yussef mourns the days when Christians and Muslims were closer but can do little to stop the growing mutual suspicion.

The Bethlehem Murders is an exciting read, rooted in real events Rees investigated for his non-fiction work, Cain’s Field. Through Yussef's eyes, readers gain insights into the real frustration of Palestinians and why the Palestinian Authority is reluctant to give up privileges.

Some readers may be disappointed by Israel's offstage presence, but Rees focuses on what he knows best. This story doesn't represent the whole Palestinian experience, but it offers valuable illumination. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more in the series.

An interesting debut novel kicks off a series featuring Omar Yussef, a Christian teacher in his mid-50s residing in Bethlehem. When one of the villagers he knows is brutally murdered and another friend is unjustly arrested, Yussef decides to take matters into his own hands and launch an investigation. He suspects that the leader of a gang is the actual culprit behind the killing. As he delves deeper into the case, he draws the attention of some extremely dangerous individuals. Moreover, the police are not happy with his interference. It is fascinating to observe how the relations between Muslims and Christians have evolved over time and the negative impacts these changes have had in Bethlehem. I am eagerly looking forward to reading the second installment in the series in a few weeks.

This is the second book about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that I have read after The Last Testament. Overall, this book made me not want to let it go (but I also had to read it slowly because I don't have many books).

It tells the story of the challenges faced by a history teacher, Omar Yussef, in trying to free his best student, George Saba, from being sentenced for being accused of being an intermediary (or perhaps a spy) for the Israeli side. In the attempt to free his student, he was exposed to various internal conflicts of the jihad plot in Palestine, which turned out to be even more intense. The author successfully made me fluctuate with what Omar Yussef felt, to the extent that at one point I was very angry with him because he failed to save George Saba's family even though George had long asked him to take his family out of Palestine.

According to the author, this story is a true story with a little drama injected to enliven the story. I don't know how much drama is injected, but there is one thing that I don't like. Although Omar Yussef and his friend Khamis Zeddan are Muslims, they still drink whiskey and other alcoholic beverages. I don't know if this is really the custom of Palestinians?

The ending of the story is a bit clichéd but does not kill the enjoyment of this story. I definitely will not hesitate to read another book by Matt Rees.