The Lie: A Novel
*Starred Review* Israeli human-rights lawyer Dahlia Barr specializes in defending Palestinians accused of terrorism. She’s smart, tough, and totally surprised when her law-school mentor, now the prime minister’s top advisor for security, drafts her to be the final arbiter of when the government can employ harsh interrogation techniques—torture—to keep the country secure. But the issue becomes intensely personal when Dahlia’s son, a lieutenant in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is captured in a daring Hezbollah incursion on the Israel-Lebanon border, and an Arab man she has known since childhood appears to be involved. What begins as a brilliant portrait of a fascinating character and the stunningly complex culture in which she lives becomes an utterly riveting thriller that is likely to rank as one of the year’s best. Kestin, who served in the IDF for 18 years as well as working as a foreign correspondent, seasons his story with brilliant bits about Israeli society, culture, and government—e.g., there is no word for subtlety in the Hebrew language; Israel is a “first-name country,” where even enlisted soldiers would address a general by his first name; Israeli officials refer to Arabs as “the cousins” in ironic recognition of their shared Semitic heritage. The Lie has everything: memorable characters, a compelling plot, white-knuckle military action, and an economy and clarity of prose that is direct, powerful, and at times beautiful. --Thomas Gaughan