The First Stone: A Novel [Hardcover]

John Briley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1997

Under the direction of the Israeli secret service, a beautiful American spy marries a rich Saudi, but when the Mossad calls her to action, she is torn between duty and a new-found love for her husband."

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Briley won an OscarR for his screenplay of Gandhi, and it's easy to understand why after reading this novel: a fast-paced, exciting story, it is told in visual terms. When the niece and nephew of Jewish American college student Lisa Cooper are killed during her visit to their Israeli kibbutz, she decides to join the Mossad. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, she is the perfect mole. Her assignment? Meet and marry a handsome Saudi Arabian working on his MBA at UCLA. Lisa pulls this off without a hitch and heads off to live in his family's compound. The nature of her assignment requires her to live with the family for years, never knowing when (or if) she will be called to duty. As her brother-in-law grows more and more suspicious of her, she begins to care for her husband?despite the danger, despite his first wife, and despite their cultural differences. When she is finally called on by the Mossad, she must decide between her husband and her people. A gripping tale of romance and political intrigue; recommended for large fiction collections.?Kathy Ingels Helmond, Indianapolis-Marion Cty. P.L.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Talky, tear-jerking thriller from screenwriter/novelist Briley (The Traitors, 1969, etc.). Would you believe a blond, blue-eyed Jewish-American beauty who meets, captivates, and weds a Saudi Arabian princeling on orders from Israeli intelligence? That this brainy, worldly young woman remains tucked away in a desert harem for almost two decades before she's called upon to serve the murky cause of her masters in Tel Aviv? That the long-married lady genuinely regrets betraying her handsome husband? Then Briley has a book for you. At the behest of Mossad, Lisa Cooper contrives to run into Le'ith Safadi while both are students at UCLA during the late 1970s. The dashing young MBA candidate (whose given name means young lion) is soon besotted and, against the urgent advice of his US minders, he takes her to wife. While not of the royal house, the Safadis wield considerable influence within the oil-rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Although the unblushing bride eventually wins over the senior members of Le'ith's extended family, she doesn't fool her villainous, ambitious brother-in-law Rashid, who suspects her from the start. Meanwhile, the ever volatile Middle East is convulsed by events ranging from Israel's invasion of Lebanon through the Gulf War. At length, after the Jewish State and the PLO take their first tentative steps toward peace, Lisa is called upon to sell out Le'ith (who's negotiating with his traditional enemies to join forces in an economic development project that could benefit the whole region). One fine day in Cairo, she betrays him, albeit with a heavy heart. Barely escaping the ensuing violence with her own life. Lisa learns (after arriving in Israel) that Le'ith has survived as well. At this point, the in-from-the-cold agent realizes she truly loves her no longer young lion and returns to Saudi Arabia for a dramatically implausible reunion. Danielle Steel meets Robert Ludlum without any particularly gainful result. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 356 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; 1st edition (July 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068815235X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688152352
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,087,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, unusual, fresh theme, July 4, 2000

By 

Julie Ann Clarke (La Quinta, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The First Stone: A Novel (Hardcover)

The First Stone is a brilliantly written suspensful novel focued on a young man and woman who are devoted and dedicated to their cultural, religious, political and romantic belief systems. Together they bond and together they deceive, and continually they grow to learn the differences between the American and Arab world. Are they ever able to accept the reality of each other as their lives become exposed? Once you begin, you won't be able to put this novel down. The First Stone is not easily found in bookstores and if you are able to get your hands on a copy through Amazon DO IT!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best fiction novel I've read in decades!, August 25, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (West Bloomfield, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The First Stone: A Novel (Hardcover)

John Briley has certainly outdone himself with this suspense novel which is so timely. I was on the edge of my seat at all times while reading this book in record time: One day without stopping! He used an artist's pallette and paintbrush rather than a typewriter to paint the scenery. He certainly did a lot of research in this project. It surpasses his screenplay for "Gandhi" and will make for a great movie. A most timely novel, I recommend it to all readers of good books

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, August 16, 2008

By 

Lit Fan (WI) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The First Stone: A Novel (Hardcover)

This is a great book! I read it for a book club several years ago and just bought it as a gift. It's a thriller with a love story and you'll learn a lot about middle eastern culture.