(Reviewed by JD Jung)
“Would I have taken the bet if I’d known that as a result Israelis would be murdered, innocent people would die, the popular Israeli image would be shattered, India and Pakistan would be on the verge of a violent conflict that threatened to spiral into nuclear war, and the valleys of the Himalayas—the Shangri-La of earthly paradise, the isolated land of eternal happiness—would be set ablaze by the fires of terrorism?”
Fired Israeli security agent Dotan Naor is now a private investigator specializing in locating missing Israelis across the world or negotiating their release from foreign prisons. In addition to practicing martial arts he seeks wisdom from spiritual leaders from the East.
An acquaintance, Israeli arms dealer Willy Mizrachi leaves for India to locate his son. He really isn’t missing, but to his father’s chagrin, became a Buddhist monk. Willy is determined to bring him home, and in fact, is so sure of his success that he bet Dotan that his son would meet a woman and father a child within a year. That bet would end up haunting Dotan. He feels he’s part of the karma that lead to Willy’s death.
Willy winds up dead in a sleazy hotel in India and Dotan is determined to find out what happened. Did ideology or greed kill Willy?
Mossad is concerned that Israeli firearms have landed in the hands of Islamic terrorist organizations due to Willy’s arms deals to intermediaries. Strikes on young Israelis have been on the rise. Chabad House in Manali and guesthouses in Rishikesh were attacked in addition to the abduction of an Israeli couple in Kashmir. So, a female agent is assigned to accompany Dotan to India. As a classic misogynist and womanizer, he has met his match.
Yes, there’s a lot going on in Death in Shangri-La and maybe a bit too much. From Islamic terrorists to Tibetan freedom fighters and beyond, Dotan is constantly challenged by his belief system. That said, this fast-paced thriller, with fully developed characters will keep readers guessing until the end.
Though fans of crime fiction should enjoy Death in Shangri-La, it will have a special appeal to those interested in mysticism and spirituality. Unfortunately, that element was lost on me.
