April 22, 2019
The 2015 Syrian refugee crisis provides the backdrop for Niemann’s memorable fourth Valentin Vermeulen thriller (after 2017’s Illegal Holdings). Vermeulen, an investigator for the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight, is sent to a refugee camp in Gaziantep, Turkey, to make sure the resources provided are used as intended. At the camp, Vermeulen meets Rima Ahmadi, a teacher who fled Aleppo when the war began, whose friend, Zada, is found dead after she suddenly left the camp to follow up on information about obtaining cash cards that might improve the harsh conditions they were enduring. After using Zada’s cellphone, Rima sets off a chain of events starting with an interrogation by the authorities and the first of many attempts made on her life and Vermeulen’s. As their investigations deepen, they both realize the corruption tied to Zada’s death runs deeper than imagined. Niemann blends an unusual locale with an appealing, relatable hero while drawing attention to the plight of refugees. Readers will look forward to Vermeulen’s next assignment.