Against this backdrop of international tensions, Lily Sampson, an American graduate student, is involved in a dig—an important excavation directed by the eminent British archaeologist, Geoffrey Eastbourne.

An important member of the dig is murdered as he makes his way to the opening of the Rockefeller Museum. At the same time, precious artifacts from the dig go missing, one of which is a beautiful blue glass vial that Lily herself had excavated. Upset by the loss, she searches for the vial—enlisting the help of the miliary attaché of the American consulate.

But when she contacts the British police, they are evasive and offputting. Lily realizes that she will get no help from them and sets out on her own to find the vial. When she finds the victim’s journal in her tent, she assumes he had left it for her because he feared for his life.
Lily’s search for information leads into a labyrinth of extreme danger and intrigue.

This impressive historical mystery novel won first place in its category at both the Pike’s Peak and Southwest Writers Conferences in 2000.

Reviews

“Baron adeptly resurrects the uncertainty and the intrigue that characterized pre-World War II Jerusalem. . . . This atmospheric adventure will effortlessly transport lovers of historical mysteries to another time and place.”—Booklist

“Reading Aileen G. Baron’s vivid account . . . of the wave of terrorism that shredded the cosmopolitan social fabric of Jerusalem during the violent summer of 1938 is like standing on the balcony of the city’s new YMCA and watching a civilization go up in flames.”—Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

“The book’s chief strength is Baron’s beautiful writing style. If only more mystery writers would follow her lead, and adopt a lean, controlled style that delineates the characters sharply and lets the story tell itself!”—Denyse O’Leary, The Mystery Review

“Baron’s debut is not just a mystery but a fascinating look at pre-World War II Palestine and timeless in its issues.”—The Poisoned Pen Reviews