Book Review: ‘Line Up’ by Liad Shoham

Crime is universal, and the subterfuge used to hide from the consequences of one’s actions remains purposeful and often unique. Once in a while, well-meaning families looking for ways to rebuild their own sense of safety can obscure the actual villain.

In Line Up by Liad Shoham, we are taken into the streets of Tel Aviv where a brutal rape has occurred. The detective in charge, Eli Nahum, is ready to move forward, hoping to wrap up a case that could prove to be very high profile. When the father of the victim brings him a suspect, he feels as though the case will move forward with ease.

Ziv Nevo seems to be the most likely suspect. He is near the scene and refuses to give a reason. Yet he knows he is not the rapist. He works for a notorious crime boss, and is now himself in danger, as he struggles to find a way to convince his boss he will not give him up for his own freedom.

When the rush to judgment causes the case to be thrown out, Eli Nahum loses his job, and Ziv is now on the run for his life. Released from jail he must take his family and hide. When another rape occurs, the police are eager to find him. Knowing he escaped judgment for his first crime, they are eager to make him pay for this second brutal rape.

Hiding from both the Mafia and the police with nowhere to turn, Ziv realizes his only choice is to find Eli Nahum and convince him of his innocence. He must do this without giving up the real reason for his presence in the area where the rape occurred. Can he get Nahum, by all accounts to be a great detective, to believe him? Will he be able to stay ahead of the mob connections as he tries to prove his innocence and save his family?

Shoham takes us into the heart of Tel Aviv with descriptions of locales and events that take you there. While the crime is brutal, he gives us the long reaching effect that can occur when things go wrong in an investigation. The lives of the victims family has changed, the hopes and dreams of a police detective are crushed and a man finds his family in danger. To juggle all this and tell a fascinating story, with an outcome that seems unexpected, Liad Shoham has shown a great insight into the fallout of a crime that ensnares more than just the usual suspects.

IF you enjoy mysteries and danger this is a great book for your library. A strong choice for a reading group, they will find a great deal of information for discussion. The description of a county we often only read about takes you there, giving you a view of a place often shrouded in mystery. This only adds to the interest and allure of the novel.