Veteran journalist Jay Morgan senses that the simmering conflict in Kosovo is about to take on a new dimension when he hears rumors that a mysterious bearded foreigner, bearing weapons and money and preaching Holy War, has appeared in the rebelsтАЩ mountain camps. What is this mysterious manтАЩs mission? What new horror has he brought to the city? Together Jay and his translator, the beautiful AlijaтАФwho is searching for a missing brother and is herself a victim of the warтАФrace to find this prophet of jihad.
Each danger-fraught foray across the lines and each interviewтАФ whether with a rebel commander, Serb sniper, or American spook tasked to evaluate and take out this new threatтАФbrings Jay and Alija closer to each other and to the devastating truth about the conflict in the Middle East. PitchтАУperfect and keenly observed, FleishmanтАЩs novel delivers bracing suspense in a tale of substance reminiscent of Graham Greene and Ernest Hemingway.