The Debba

A Novel

Mystery & Suspense, Thrillers
Cover of the book The Debba by Avner Mandelman, Other Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Avner Mandelman ISBN: 9781590513750
Publisher: Other Press Publication: July 13, 2010
Imprint: Other Press Language: English
Author: Avner Mandelman
ISBN: 9781590513750
Publisher: Other Press
Publication: July 13, 2010
Imprint: Other Press
Language: English

Winner of the 2011 Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Crime Novel

In Middle East lore the Debba is a mythical Arab hyena that can turn into a man who lures Jewish children away from their families to teach them the language of the beasts. To the Arabs he is a heroic national symbol; to the Jews he is a terrorist. To David Starkman, “The Debba” is a controversial play, written by his father the war hero, and performed only once, in Haifa in 1946, causing a massive riot. By 1977, David is living in Canada, having renounced his Israeli citizenship and withdrawn from his family, haunted by persistent nightmares about his catastrophic turn as a military assassin for Israel. Upon learning of his father’s gruesome murder, he returns to his homeland for what he hopes will be the final time. Back in Israel, David discovers that his father's will demands he stage the play within forty-five days of his death, and though he is reluctant to comply, the authorities’ evident relief at his refusal convinces him he must persevere. With his father’s legacy on the line, David is forced to reimmerse himself in a life he thought he’d escaped for good.The heart-stopping climax shows that nothing in Israel is as it appears, and not only are the sins of the fathers revisited upon the sons, but so are their virtues—and the latter are more terrible still.  Disguised as a breathtaking thriller, Avner Mandelman’s novel reveals Israel’s double soul, its inherent paradoxes, and its taste for both art and violence. The riddle of the Debba—the myth, the play, and the novel— is nothing less than the tangled riddle of Israel itself.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Winner of the 2011 Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Crime Novel

In Middle East lore the Debba is a mythical Arab hyena that can turn into a man who lures Jewish children away from their families to teach them the language of the beasts. To the Arabs he is a heroic national symbol; to the Jews he is a terrorist. To David Starkman, “The Debba” is a controversial play, written by his father the war hero, and performed only once, in Haifa in 1946, causing a massive riot. By 1977, David is living in Canada, having renounced his Israeli citizenship and withdrawn from his family, haunted by persistent nightmares about his catastrophic turn as a military assassin for Israel. Upon learning of his father’s gruesome murder, he returns to his homeland for what he hopes will be the final time. Back in Israel, David discovers that his father's will demands he stage the play within forty-five days of his death, and though he is reluctant to comply, the authorities’ evident relief at his refusal convinces him he must persevere. With his father’s legacy on the line, David is forced to reimmerse himself in a life he thought he’d escaped for good.The heart-stopping climax shows that nothing in Israel is as it appears, and not only are the sins of the fathers revisited upon the sons, but so are their virtues—and the latter are more terrible still.  Disguised as a breathtaking thriller, Avner Mandelman’s novel reveals Israel’s double soul, its inherent paradoxes, and its taste for both art and violence. The riddle of the Debba—the myth, the play, and the novel— is nothing less than the tangled riddle of Israel itself.

More books from Other Press

Cover of the book All Russians Love Birch Trees by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book Monsieur Proust's Library by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book The Parting Gift by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book My Brother Moochie by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book The Meursault Investigation by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book The Cost of Courage by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book Article 353 by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book Your Voice in My Head by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book Is It All in Your Head? by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book The Dig by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book The Art Prophets by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book Mendel's Dwarf by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book The Reservoir by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book King of the Jews by Avner Mandelman
Cover of the book Solo Pass by Avner Mandelman
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy