Perfect for fans of Daniel Silva and Nelson DeMille.Dotan Naor, an Israeli private investigator, ousted from Shin Bet—Israel’s internal security service—goes to Thailand to find Sigal Bardon, a beautiful young girl from a wealthy Israeli family. Sigal has disappeared in Bangkok—completely. Dotan has connections in Thailand and he’s familiar with Bangkok’s dark side—the narrow alleys with bars and … alleys with bars and hookers, trenches of stagnant water, hotel rooms with illicit activity. This is where he intends to start his search. But when the passport of the missing Israeli girl ends up in his hands during his first taxi ride in the city, he’s suspicious that someone is playing him. But who? And why?
As Dotan searches for Sigal, police corruption blocks his every path. Every lead he pursues draws him closer and closer to a black hole in his “own” past—one intertwined with his pursuit of Sigal—one that leads him to Reuven—and the haunting failure that led to the dismissal of both of them from Shin Bet. The wound between Dotan and Reuven is raw and deep, but Dotan realizes it must be healed in order to save Sigal.
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For book lovers with a leaning towards action thrillers, Passport to Death certainly ticks most of the boxes. Set in the seedier parts of Bangkok with a cast of characters who are various shades of dark, there is no dawdling as we get right into the intrigue surrounding the disappearance of Sigal Bardon who appears to have got on the wrong side of some very uncompromising individuals.
The mystery deepens as various interested parties insinuate themselves into Dotan’s investigation, and despite his previous experiences in Bangkok, even he begins to question what is true and what is fake news.
The characters are drawn very well and few are likeable, including the missing girl whose family are desperate to find her. Unsurprisingly, Dotan’s actions reflect his previous work as part of the Israeli Secret Service and he brings his own darkness to the story..
This is not a cozy mystery and there is sex, drugs and quite a bit of violence in the book. Some of the young people who are spending their gap year travelling, are drawn into the dark alleyways of this City in search of adventure, away from the smiling faces and simple life to be found across most of Thailand. There are predators only too willing to take advantage and to hook them on their drug of choice. Some eventually struggle to the surface and find sanctuary at temples on the outskirts of the city until found and returned home, and others simply disappear.
It is not a place to send Miss Marples to find the lost. It needs someone edgy and familiar with the darkness to unravel the spider’s web of corruption and deceit. Dotan Naor is the man for the job and under the circumstances, should a child of mine go missing in a similar environment, his number would be the first I called.
The author has done a good job creating this chilling environment and the damaged characters inhabiting it.
Author Yigal Zur and his international protagonist Dotan Naor of Israel are back at it again, this time in Passport to Death. I first met Naor in Death in Shangri-La, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Passport is even more engaging, hard as I would have thought that could be. Both are genuine must reads!
i am not going to review my own book just add what some great thriller writers wrote about it:
“A twisty, propulsive story, a sardonic and charismatic hero, evocative settings, drama, action, heartbreak, and a snappy translation – this book has it all.”
Lee Child
“The dark and seedy side of Bangkok is wonderfully dissected in all its glory with visceral, sensual authenticity in this fast-moving and engaging “prequel” to the equally-excellent Death in Shangri-La. Dotan Naor is back, working his cynical yet effective investigative skills in search of a missing Israeli girl. It’s a gritty thrill-a-minute, and one you will read in a single sitting!”
–Raymond Benson, author of BLUES IN THE DARK and THE BLACK STILETTO: THE COMPLETE SAGA