A forewarning to those who wish to take this book to bed – it is not likely to let you sleep. The narrative of Sam Bourne’s The Last Testament (pen name for Jonathan Freedland) is too much to be bookmarked for another day. It has all the elements to create a adrenaline rush – a secret inscribed in a clay tablet that could trigger the last of wars in a region already distressed by vicious conflicts; tension escalating on both sides of the warring factions owing to spate of killings; slowing down a peace talk nearing closure owing to these killings on both sides; summoning of star negotiator with a “mistake” in the past to put a “lid on the violence” and “close the deal”; a trail of clues that lead to unsettling discoveries.

One can certainly trust Freedland with a story set in Middle East diplomatic circles – as a journalist he has covered the Middle East conflict for 20 years and even chaired a dialogue between Israel and Palestine. The subject is therefore well known to him and one can look forward to what in common parlance is called the “real thing”. His characters are also real but one like Shimon Guttman comes across as a wizard. With the way he masterminded the movement of the tablet makes him a little more than human, the rest of the people are fine with a job to do and they do it well.

Having said that, the reader can be a bit critical about the too many similarities with Freedland’s earlier novel The Righteous Men. The same theme of an ancient secret that can save or undo the world; the seemingly disconnected killings that actually connect with that odd secret; like Maggie Costello here, Will Monroe the journalist in The Righteous Men follows a trail to come up with a link; here Maggie finds an accomplice in Uri Guttman and there Monroe reconnects with childhood sweetheart to take his mission forward. Of course, every action both here and there, is linked to a declaration that could change the world order.

Coming back to the story well told in The Last Testament, Freedland definitely has a style that does not fail to impress in the midst of all the action. In keeping with the theme of the novel, the language is contemporary, no-nonsense and full of verve. For instance the way Maggie negotiates with the estranged couples and tries to get them buy her solution or even Judd Bonham’ s way of talking Maggie into accepting her new assignment and return to a career which she thought she has left for good – these are entertaining in a very serious way.

Technology has been brilliantly used in the narrative to build up the drama and move the plot. The Internet simulation game is vital to unraveling and linking many parts. Right from where Shimmon Guttman has indicated the location of the tablet to how communication channels are secretly kept alive among the topmost political leaders who are apparently at loggerheads.

The surveillance activities that keep a tab on Maggie and Uri like the Silent Night Programme that tracks their computers remotely or the hidden cameras installed in their clothes and flower bouquets are all very thrilling for sure.

High drama and tension accompanies the ending. As the world in tenterhooks wait for Abraham’s will, Maggie becomes the ace negotiator that she is, turns the tables, brings the parties “in the room” for the peace talks to progress. How she comes in control of the situation against the odds is something that would make an impression on the reader.

Finally, as a parting note one would recommend this book for anyone who cares to know how power broking works at the highest international platforms. It’s scary and that’s what urges you to wake all night.

Aditi Basu is a communications professional working with a leading business conglomerate in Kolkata. She has over five years of experience in journalism.

Click here to visit the Book Review Archive.