I am delighted to be able to provide this review of Miriam Drori’s latest crime novel, Loyalty and The Learner. This is a few days later than planned thanks to a nasty bout of Covid, but this highly enjoyable book definitely helped me to take my mind off the symptoms once I was well enough to read.
This review is provided as part of a Reading Between the Lines blog tour, and I received an advance review copy (although I’d actually already pre-ordered it anyway!)
The Review:
Asaf and Nathalie are now engaged and have just moved into a flat together. Rather inconveniently, a week after they move in, one of their neighbours gets murdered.
After the initial stress when the police suspect Asaf of the murder, Nathalie and Asaf work together with their other friends to solve the crime and bring the true culprits to justice.
There is an enjoyable degree of tension throughout the book. There is excellent pace and suspense, but no blood, guts and gore – pitching it at a great level for fans of cosy crime. The characters are very engaging. Their personal difficulties, particularly around Asaf’s social anxiety, feel very real and add depth to the story.
I loved the way the setting is woven into the narrative. Without reams of description, the reader gets to learn about everyday life in Jerusalem.
I would highly recommend Loyalty and The Learner, particularly for anyone interested in life in Israel or living with social anxiety, but it’s an entertaining read for all crime fiction fans who prefer their blood uncurdled!
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Miriam Drori was born and brought up in London and now lives in Jerusalem.
With a degree in Maths and following careers in computer programming and technical writing, Miriam has been writing creatively since 2004. After some success with short stories, Miriam turned her hand to longer fictional works, publishing NEITHER HERE NOR THERE and THE WOMEN FRIENDS: SELINA, co-written with Emma Rose Millar.
Social anxiety features in Miriam‘s latest publications. SOCIAL ANXIETY REVEALED is a non-fiction guide that explores this common but little-known disorder from multiple points of view. The book has been highly recommended by ‘sufferers’ as well as professionals in this field. CULTIVATING A FUJI is the story of a fictional character who battles against social anxiety before learning to make friends with it. STYLE AND THE SOLITARY, a crime novel, asks an important question: what happens when a suspect can’t stick up for himself?
When not writing, Miriam enjoys reading, hiking, dancing and touring.
BLURB
Once again, Asaf is suspected of murder, but he’s soon released when the victim’s wife, Lihi, is arrested. Nathalie, now engaged to Asaf, is certain of Lihi’s innocence, and is determined to find the real murderer.
As Nathalie, Asaf and friends stumble along the path to achieving their goal, with a little inspiration from Molière, Hillel and Adenauer, they discover new places in Jerusalem and also venture west and north. Despite experiencing fear, sadness and other painful emotions, they never lose their sense of humour – and find that sharing their worries helps them pull through.
While some questions are answered on the way, new ones take their place. But what about the original question: Who killed Ofir? And how much is Nathalie willing to put at risk in order to solve this mystery? Her relationship? Her life?
LINKS TO BUY
https://mybook.to/LoyaltyandtheLearner
WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559937239829
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4829682.Miriam_Drori
https://www.pinterest.com/miriamdrori/
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/miriam-drori
https://www.instagram.com/miriam.drori/
http://www.wattpad.com/user/MiriamDrori
https://www.youtube.com/@miriamdrori
