by Joseph Kanon
Simon & Schuster, 2012. 404 pgs. Mystery
Shortly after World War II, Leon Bauer, an on and off odd-jobs man and courier for the Allied War effort in Istanbul is asked to pick up an incoming defector, a valuable "asset" who has information of importance to the West. A routine assignment. But then someone starts shooting and when the assailant becomes known, everything changes. Leon must hide a man accused of despicable things, with no idea where to send him next. Soon the Turkish secret police, the Russians, and the Americans are searching for "Alexei", a man accused of despicable acts, and Leon feels honor bound to hide him without knowing why. Reminiscent of John le Carre's morally ambiguous espionage novels, Istanbul Passage is an intellectual and ethical puzzle. What to do when only two bad choices present themselves: leave his essentially comatose wife for another woman? let Alexei be taken when the enormity of his amorality and probable crimes becomes known? must someone be betrayed? All of Leon's inner turmoil and outer dangers play out against the extraordinary backdrop of Istanbul which functions more as the central character of the book than as merely the setting. Rich in action, characterizations, and moral dilemmas, Istanbul Passage is atmospheric and memorable. (Small objection: Leon's love interest seems unworthy of him--a bit of a whiny drag, and their one sex scene is gratuitous.)
LW
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