Asylum City by Liad Shoham

Asylum City by Liad Shoham

Another triumph.--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Poised between the shores of Africa and the developed coastline of continental Europe, Tel Aviv is home to a large refugee population. Many immigrants walk its streets, desperately yearning for a new life. To assist them, Michal Poleg, an ardent young activist, volunteers with the city's Office of Migrant Aid. But as badly as these immigrants would like to stay, there are more than a few locals who want them to leave. And when Michal is found dead in her apartment, her involvement with the controversial asylum seekers seems an obvious starting point in the search for answers.

Officer Anat Nachmias has never been asked to lead an investigation until she is assigned to Michal's case. But the deeper Anat delves into Michal's activism, the more she is convinced that the working theory is wrong, especially when she doesn't believe a word of the young African man who soon confesses to the crime. What she does believe is that Michal, a petite, opinionated woman, got herself involved in something much bigger, and far more dangerous, than she could handle.

Joined by Michal's clumsy but charming boss, Itai, Anat descends into a shadowy, amoral underworld--and what she discovers will shock the city, setting in motion events that will have dramatic, far-reaching consequences.

An amazing thriller. . . . Extremely well-written, this plot is one that will stay in the memory for a good, long time to come.--Suspense Magazine