A Literary Murder

Rating:
Summary: Definitely literary
Review: As always, Batya Gur has crafted an excellent story, and an ambiance which makes us feel we are in Israel. Detective Michael Ohayon is, as usual, brilliant. Gur writes well above the usual "mystery" genre, and her books are worth reading for their literary merit by anyone who enjoys good fiction.

Rating:
Summary: The Israeli P.D.James
Review: Batya Gur is reportedly Israel's bestselling mystery novelist, and from this book you can see why. The whole structure of the story echoes England's popular detective novelist, P.D.James, rather closely, though there are of course significant differences.

In this outing, Gur's protagonist, Detective Michael Ohayon, must deal with two separate killings that appear to be unrelated. The two victims, however, worked at the same university in the literature department, and so it seems too coincidental that they should die so close together in time. Things are further complicated in that the elder of the vicitims was Israel's best-known living poet, a womanizing character with a rather haughty attitude towards anyone who lacked his talent, who therefor had no shortage of enemies and people who generally loathed him.

Ohayon's an interesting character, and this is a very literary novel. There are no chases, shootouts, or other suspense devices in Gur's novels: instead, there's a mystery, and various interesting characters and atmosphere. In this entry, everything is well-done, though it does drag a bit in the middle (hence only four stars). I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Israel, and of course to mystery fans.

Rating:
Summary: Academic Lectures Meet Crime
Review: Batya Gur's entrancing novel captivates readers with its rich plot and well-developed cast of lively characters. Gur masterfully intertwines the murder mystery genre with an academic genre of literary interpretation, allowing readers to understand her book on different levels. The murder plot itself is gripping from the beginning of the novel when two Hebrew University literature colleagues are found dead. Readers follow chief police inspector Michael Ohayon's painstaking procedure of discovering whom he can and cannot trust. The process of fathoming the mystery shows that everyone has secrets and lies, whether they are directly related to the murder or not. Emphasizing the constant tension of discerning truth from lies, Michael and his staff constantly rely on and refer to the polygraph machine, which indicates that nearly all witness testimonies are "inconclusive." The solution of the novel in fact reveals that false identities in fact lie at the center the mystery.
The motivation behind the murders is perhaps more fascinating to the reader than the basic "whodunit" question; revealed at the book's conclusion, the reasoning and background behind the crimes shock readers more than the actual killers. In order to fully enjoy and appreciate the novel, readers must pay close attention to Gur's literary allusions and analogies throughout the plot. Gur interweaves academic lectures on the nature of poems and interpreting lectures within her murder mystery. Although readers may be tempted to skip over the academic speeches as seemingly unrelated to the mystery at hand, the lectures actually parallel, hint at, and comment on the mystery's solution. Connecting the literature professors' lectures on poetry with the reasoning behind the crimes allow readers to perceive a larger implication about the nature of art and its relative importance in the world.

Rating:
Summary: Academic Lectures Meet Crime
Review: Batya Gur's entrancing novel captivates readers with its rich plot and well-developed cast of lively characters. Gur masterfully intertwines the murder mystery genre with an academic genre of literary interpretation, allowing readers to understand her book on different levels. The murder plot itself is gripping from the beginning of the novel when two Hebrew University literature colleagues are found dead. Readers follow chief police inspector Michael Ohayon's painstaking procedure of discovering whom he can and cannot trust. The process of fathoming the mystery shows that everyone has secrets and lies, whether they are directly related to the murder or not. Emphasizing the constant tension of discerning truth from lies, Michael and his staff constantly rely on and refer to the polygraph machine, which indicates that nearly all witness testimonies are "inconclusive." The solution of the novel in fact reveals that false identities in fact lie at the center the mystery.
The motivation behind the murders is perhaps more fascinating to the reader than the basic "whodunit" question; revealed at the book's conclusion, the reasoning and background behind the crimes shock readers more than the actual killers. In order to fully enjoy and appreciate the novel, readers must pay close attention to Gur's literary allusions and analogies throughout the plot. Gur interweaves academic lectures on the nature of poems and interpreting lectures within her murder mystery. Although readers may be tempted to skip over the academic speeches as seemingly unrelated to the mystery at hand, the lectures actually parallel, hint at, and comment on the mystery's solution. Connecting the literature professors' lectures on poetry with the reasoning behind the crimes allow readers to perceive a larger implication about the nature of art and its relative importance in the world.

Rating:
Summary: Literally a Literary Murder
Review: I discovered this novel quite by accident, and I found a real treasure! "Literary Murder" is by far the best written and most intellectual example of the mystery genre I've seen in quite some time. It's set in academia, at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, with some action taking place in the United States. The characters have depth and dimension, and are profoundly interesting. The plot is integrated well into the setting and the characterization. And the prose and poetry are superb.

I can't recommend this novel highly enough!

Rating:
Summary: Literally a Literary Murder
Review: I discovered this novel quite by accident, and I found a real treasure! "Literary Murder" is by far the best written and most intellectual example of the mystery genre I've seen in quite some time. It's set in academia, at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, with some action taking place in the United States. The characters have depth and dimension, and are profoundly interesting. The plot is integrated well into the setting and the characterization. And the prose and poetry are superb.

I can't recommend this novel highly enough!

Rating:
Summary: Literally a Literary Murder
Review: The title embodies the text: quality literature combined with a murder mystery. When acclaimed professor Shaul Tirosh is found dead in his office the same weekend his young collegue, Iddo Dudai, has died in a scuba �accident,� the quiet Hebrew University braces for intrusion and attention from the community and police. Chief investigator, Michael Ohayon, must decipher the clues to understand if the murder of Tirosh, a womanizer and popular icon known for his poetry, is at all linked to the death of Dudai. Tuvia Shair, Tirosh�s number one fan and friend, who so respects Tirosh that he allows for him to conduct an affair with his wife, is eventually placed on the suspect list. This quiet man driven by his passion for teaching and Tuvia�s poetry serves as an example of how the people in this area treat their icons and local celebrities. When it comes down to the solution to the murders, as in classic mysteries, the most crucial clue is uncovered at the start of the investigation but is mistakenly overlooked.

The plot not only entertains but also is didactic, exploring a serious world of poetry and literature. Over the course of the text, Gur skillfully incorporates a class led by suspect Tuvia Shai in which an excellent discussion is led about the poem, �Samson�s Hair.� Beautifully and believably written, this section truly places readers in the culture and atmosphere of the fictional but representative Hebrew University and its scholars. The intertwining lives of the characters in the forms of friendships, romances, and affairs weaves a text full of vivid personas through which the Hebrew lifestyle and intellectual pursuit is well developed. In the police�s view, several professors like Ariyeh Klein (recently returned from abroad), Tuvia Shai and University staff seem to be hiding something critical to the solution of the case. Who will be the murderer(s) and what has been the motive behind two such violent deaths? Ultimately, the ending is a surprise, relying more upon the affects of the literary community, copyright laws, and fame through writing than on the typical motive of revenge, hate, or accidental murder. Following Investigator Ohayon through the plot, the revelation he uncovers will have drastic effects upon the academics and ethics of literature while entertaining and drawing readers into a fast-paced and information filled Jerusalem.

Rating:
Summary: Literally a Literary Murder
Review: The title embodies the text: quality literature combined with a murder mystery. When acclaimed professor Shaul Tirosh is found dead in his office the same weekend his young collegue, Iddo Dudai, has died in a scuba 'accident,' the quiet Hebrew University braces for intrusion and attention from the community and police. Chief investigator, Michael Ohayon, must decipher the clues to understand if the murder of Tirosh, a womanizer and popular icon known for his poetry, is at all linked to the death of Dudai. Tuvia Shair, Tirosh's number one fan and friend, who so respects Tirosh that he allows for him to conduct an affair with his wife, is eventually placed on the suspect list. This quiet man driven by his passion for teaching and Tuvia's poetry serves as an example of how the people in this area treat their icons and local celebrities. When it comes down to the solution to the murders, as in classic mysteries, the most crucial clue is uncovered at the start of the investigation but is mistakenly overlooked.

The plot not only entertains but also is didactic, exploring a serious world of poetry and literature. Over the course of the text, Gur skillfully incorporates a class led by suspect Tuvia Shai in which an excellent discussion is led about the poem, 'Samson's Hair.' Beautifully and believably written, this section truly places readers in the culture and atmosphere of the fictional but representative Hebrew University and its scholars. The intertwining lives of the characters in the forms of friendships, romances, and affairs weaves a text full of vivid personas through which the Hebrew lifestyle and intellectual pursuit is well developed. In the police's view, several professors like Ariyeh Klein (recently returned from abroad), Tuvia Shai and University staff seem to be hiding something critical to the solution of the case. Who will be the murderer(s) and what has been the motive behind two such violent deaths? Ultimately, the ending is a surprise, relying more upon the affects of the literary community, copyright laws, and fame through writing than on the typical motive of revenge, hate, or accidental murder. Following Investigator Ohayon through the plot, the revelation he uncovers will have drastic effects upon the academics and ethics of literature while entertaining and drawing readers into a fast-paced and information filled Jerusalem.