The Samaritan's Secret

The Samaritan's Secret by Matt Rees explores the fractured and fascinating society thatexists on the West Bank of the River Jordan through the medium of a detective story. The main character is Omar Yussef a teacher at a UN school in a refugee camp who somehow finds himself involved in solving crimes. In this story he has travelled to Nablus to attend the wedding of his friend Sami, a police Lieutenant, who takes him to meet the Chief Rabii of the few remaining Samaritans, a small Jewish sect who keep themselves separate both from Israeli Jews and Palestinian Muslims. Their most sacred book has been stolen from their synagogue and it is upon this copy of the Torah, which differs fundamentaly from that used by other Jews, that their whole faith and community is based. Naturaly this is only the opening shot in a fusilade of interlocking episodes, some mysterious some violent, that make up this very readable book. Mr Rees manages to introduce his readers to many facets of a culture of which, I for one, knew little or nothing. He paints a vivid if depressing picture of the dangers and difficulties faced by ordinary Palestinians as they try to make a living and bring up their famillies. It is very sobering to read about people to whom life in Britain, with all it's problems, would seem like entry to the promised land.