Allure of Deceit

Froetschel (Fear of Beauty) highlights the problems of charity in this subtle, thought-provoking mystery. After tech entrepreneur Michael Sendry and his bride perish in a terrorist attack in India, his will provides for the establishment of a foundation, GlobalConnect, which will operate in 30 developing nations and distribute more than $400 million annually to various charitable organizations. A health team supporting reproductive rights goes to Laashekoh, a farming village in Afghanistan, where the town leader, Parsaa, has enough problems without ladies from “Tex-is” dropping out of the sky and telling him what to do. In particular, Parsaa has to determine the fate of Leila, a young woman accused of pushing his oldest son, Ali, off a cliff and whose innocent sisters are now treated like pariahs. The truth behind Ali’s death proves far from simple in a novel that raises uncomfortable questions about Western efforts to assist people in the developing world. Agent: Alison Picard, Alison J. Picard Literary. (Feb.)