Customer Reviews

Saladin Murders (Omar Yussef Mystery 2)

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It might be helpful to mention that"The Saladin Murders" is the new name of "A Grave in Gaza". I must say I was not pleased to make the discovery after buying the book.

I was disappointed by this book. As much as I loved the first one ," the Collaborator of Bethlehem", which I found absolutely gripping and wonderfully written, my impression was that Rees had trouble coming up with a good plot for this third novel in the Omar Yussef series. He spinned things out so the story just drags on.

On the bright side, Matt Rees is skilled in describing events and places. You can feel that not only has he been to Gaza, where most of the story takes place, but that he has also witnessed first hand some (if not all) of the tragic events that he relates. I hope that this great journalist and writer will come up with a meatier 4th novel.

Matt Rees writes well - it isn't a happy book - the reality of Gaza isn't a happy place - but there a people trying survive with their integrity intact. I hope!

The history teacher Omar Yussef has a teaching profession assignment, but solves mysteries on his way. The solution to the main mystery is nice and unexpected, still logical enough (p.339 and etc.) On his way is also told the story of the Gaza strip (there is a map in the front of the book, but one can also follow Omar Yussefs travels on a pad.) It is a sad story, about corruption, murders, terrorism and misuse of government power - it is not very favorable for the governing of Gaza. There are very few decent people on that strip, if we believe the author, except for Eyad Masharawi, a lecturer at the university, and a few others. The story, of course, is a deception, as it should be. But is the setting real. Or a deception as well? The quote: "Sometimes the things historian ought to say are said better by writers of literature" p. 154 suggests that the author has taken care to paint a realistic frame for his story, if so; it is not a bad book. However, there are few, if any sentences to remember. But some scenes that not easily go away.

This is repackaged, not sure why. This is actually Grave in Gaza, not a new book by excellent author on the trials and tribulations of Omar Yussef, a teacher at a UN school for girls on the West Bank, who is confronted with murders which he solves. A literary perspective rarely seen here.