The Betrayers

by David Bezmozgis

This is the story of as Israeli politician who finds himself in a compromising position.

He is in the cabinet and he is opposing closing some of the Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory.  His party wants him to be quiet but he isn't.  They then threaten him with revealing an affair he is having with a young woman if he doesn't be quiet.  His reaction is to run away with the young woman to Eastern Europe.  They choose to stay in a B&B with a couple.  The man of the family turns out to be a man the Israeli was instrumental in imprisoning in Russia years before.  The man had changed his name and is trying to create a new life for himself.  He is afraid the Israeli will blow his cover.

As the book proceeds the Israeli and the other man relive the past and eventually the former prisoner reveals that he took the fall for his brother.

This is a book about memories and assumptions people make about each other.

I found it an interesting story, it is hard to describe more of the book because so much was cerebral.