Sacrifice of Isaac

Probing complex issues of heritage and identity while rethinking assumptions about WWII heroism and villainy, this spellbinding tale recounts the dramatic search of a young man and woman for the truth of their intertwined family histories amid elusive legacies of the Holocaust and deadly, present-day intrigue. Luke Benami, a 26-year-old American, is working as a translator for the U.N. when he learns of the death of his father, a famous Israeli soldier, statesman and hero who helped hundreds of Jews flee Austria and escape the death camps. Natalie Hoestermann, 22, who narrates parts of the novel, lives in Vienna with her father, a former Nazi officer. Luke's estranged older brother, Danni, a dealer in stolen or illegal antiquities, has been digging for the untold facts of his father's wartime operation. For different reasons, Luke and Natalie each search for Danni in Paris and get caught up in a web of deception and murder dating back to the war years. First-novelist Gordon artfully balances the gripping suspense of his story--whose vividly described venues range from New York to Jerusalem--with insightful treatment of his characters' complex reactions to the unfolding events. Braced by careful research, his strong, polished narrative tells a tale that is both entertaining and provocative. (July)