Book Review: Keepers of the Gate

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Keepers of the Gate     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Jon Land
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Thriller   Ethnic
Series: Ben Kamal # 4
Forge, Apr 2001, $25.95, 320 pp.

Destiny has played a horrible trick on Palestinian American Detective Ben Kamal and Israeli Chief Inspector (Packed) Danielle Barnea. They met during a joint investigation and became lovers, but Danielle ended it because she knew they had no future together. Her compatriots will never accept Ben as her lover of husband, but only a deadly enemy.

After a time, the duo becomes lovers again, but this time Danielle becomes pregnant. She ends their relationship again, planning to raise the child by herself. However, destiny intercedes as they work on the same case from different perspectives. Someone has murdered Palestinian and Israeli children attending the same school. At least two of the homicides are covered up to make them seem more like accidents or suicides. Danielle goes overseas where she meets up with Ben seeking answers, but killers stand in the way, willing to blow both of them into oblivion if they don't stop asking questions.

Jon Land writes exciting and believable political thrillers in the tradition of Clancy, and Cornwall even if he has not received the recognition he deserves. The theme of KEEPERS OF THE GATE is universal yet heart wrenching so that readers will understand the motives of the key players, whose flaws make them so human. Mr. Land is a great storyteller who enriches his audience with every novel he writes.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner