Too much of the time I felt like I was reading a textbook instead of a novel. In my opinion, the author Lawrence Wright should have chosen one or the other and then gone full out to tell what he has to tell. As it is, the novel The Human Scale just didn't keep my interest.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

This book just wasnt for me, I was expecting more out of it and it just fell super short. I am glad that other people have enjoyed it, but as we all know not every book is going to be enjoyed by every person.

THE HUMAN SCALE takes readers to Hebron and drops them squarely in the middle of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Author Lawrence Wright creates believable characters as he weaves the convoluted story of animosity and cruelty between two communities, each believing God is on their side. There’s a mystery to solve as well, a murder, but once the characters are well-known, the mystery is fairly well solved. Aside from that detail, the book moves quickly and is filled with historical information and place descriptors. This is a fascinating book for its unyielding descriptions of life and death in Hebron. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I have the utmost respect for Lawrence Wright's journalism, and I have loved his non-fiction works, but this novel left me disappointed.

When I started reading it, I was hoping that he had done to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict what Don Winslow has masterfully achieved regarding the US-Mexican so-called war on drugs. On the surface, there are many similarities between "The Human Scale" and the "Power of the Dog" trilogy: a scarred, deeply conflicted main character; a panoramic view of a very complicated geopolitical situation; the interweaving of fact and fast-paced narrative fiction. Unfortunately, the effect is so heavy-handed that I found myself constantly gritting my teeth. While trying to provide a glimpse of the eponymous human scale of the conflict, he made all the protagonists give loaded political speeches, embodying different points of view. It was excruciating for me.

So, if you want to know more about the Middle East and what led to the October 7, 2023 attack and the brutal war that followed, you will certainly learn a lot from this book. But if you are looking for great literature that makes you understand a piece of modern history while keeping you deeply involved in the fate of fictional characters, choose Don Winslow novels.

Thanks to the publisher, Knopf, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Lawrence Wright’s The Human Scale is a gripping and timely mystery/thriller that tackles the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict. It’s a bold story that walks a difficult tightrope, attempting to balance perspectives without alienating supporters of either side. That said, I did feel like the author may lean—if only slightly—toward one perspective.

At the heart of the novel is Tony Malik, a former FBI agent recovering from an injury and hoping to get back into the bureau. On his way to a family wedding, he’s suddenly thrust into a murder investigation—not as a detective, but as a suspect. As Tony works to clear his name, the novel builds toward a tense, real-world parallel: the Hamas attack.

One of the book’s most compelling elements is how it explores the chilling math behind the value of human life, a concept that shifts wildly depending on who is making the calculation. It’s an educational mystery that’s bound to spark strong reactions. While the subject matter is heavy and complex, the thriller elements keep the pages turning.

Overall, The Human Scale is a thought-provoking read, blending real-world events with a fast-paced narrative. I’d rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

FBI agent Tony Malik is on leave, recovering from a traumatic brain injury after a failed bomb defusal. His love life is a mess, and his career is uncertain, so he decides to visit his family in Hebron for his cousin’s wedding.

Meanwhile, Yossi Ben-Gal, a Hebron police officer, finds himself caught in a web of violence and politics. When his boss is beheaded in what looks like a Hamas execution, Yossi isn’t convinced—it doesn’t fit their usual methods. Suspicious, he starts digging, but he doesn’t trust his own colleagues. Through a twist of events, he forms an uneasy alliance with Malik, whose cousin’s fiancé has been accused of the crime.

This book is packed with action and tension, but it also takes time to explain the deep-rooted history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While some might take issue with its portrayal of both sides, it offers a gripping and thoughtful look at the human cost of war. A compelling read for anyone wanting both suspense and deeper insight into the region’s turmoil.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Human Scale by Lawrence Wright is described as a thriller and an intricate tapestry. I found it to be anything but that. It starts with the death of an Israeli police officer with an FBI agent who is Muslim coming in to investigate. The book was hard to follow; it seemed to go all over the place. I didn’t feel it described the Israelis very well and appeared to be very one sided. Very controversial book. Definitely not for me.

Lawrence Wright is a fantastic non-fiction author and with this novel you can see the work he put in. Wright sets this novel in Palestine/Israel with characters from both nationalities. In the telling of his story he gives a excellent background on the conflict in the middle east, with a fairly objective view. ( I think he does favor one country more, but I'll leave that guess up to the reader). Over the course of this book we follow a murder case where there are suspects from all angles. One by one we piece together who did what and why. Overall I will give this 4 stars for a great book that was well researched. My only complaint is that Wright likes to throw in a romance and honestly I don't think he writes romance very well. But otherwise pick up this book if you want a new kind of mystery and want to learn a bit about the world as well.
4 stars.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest reivew.

“The Human Scale” is a lengthy, complex novel about the murder of an Israeli police chief in Gaza. Although billed as a thriller, it’s more a portrayal of relations between Israeli settlers and Palestinians than a merely entertaining murder mystery. Author Lawrence Wright packs his novel with a host of very human, very well-drawn characters to impart to readers the history of, and some of the many perspectives at play in, this troubled region. Mr. Wright's storytelling reminded me very much of authors like Herman Wouk, James Michener, and Leon Uris. Anyone interested in what it was like to be ‘on the ground” in Gaza before the beginning of the recent war may very well want to give “The Human Scale” a close look.

Lawrence Wright always writes fantastic books. This one, a very tough subject of Palestine and Israel relationships is part fiction but part history. There is a lot of emotion in it and can be a hard read. Overall a very good book that I highly recommend to anyone.

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Very interesting book about the struggles between Israelis and Palestinians wrapped up in a mystery. The book opens with the decapitation of an Israeli police chief, which people assume was done by Hamas. A FBI agent of Arabian decent works with the Israeli murder investigator. I liked that the author would interject historical information as to the tensions within the Middle East. It took a bit for me to get involved with the book but once I did, found it interesting.

Gosh, this was a tough story to read. Melding a murder mystery with current events was very distressing for me. This will not be a book I'll ever be tempted to re-read. I will recommend this book to people who want a bit more history of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict..

The informational portions of the book were the best parts in my opinion, and I learned something. Three stars because a book sometimes needs to be uncomfortable to allow us to understand other viewpoints.

Tony Malik, a Palestinian-American, an FBI agent, who is still recovering from his injuries suffered from a bomb detonation a year before. He's heading to the West Bank for a family wedding of relatives he has never met. He is asked by his supervisor to visit an Israeli police chief who would like an under the radar meeting. Once Malik arrives the police chief has been executed an it looks like it has been done by Hamas though they have not taken credit. Malik is then targeted as a suspect, but he starts working with Yossi Ben-Gal a bitter underling of the police chief. Together they start peeling back the layers who might be behind the chief's murder. What makes this an above average political thriller is that Wright has written extensively about the mideast and does an excellent job of looking at the various characters politcial motivations and how the Israeli-Palestine conflict has an extensive history with no simple or easy solutions and how the extremists on both sides continue to poor fuel on the fire. A must read for those who enjoy political thrillers but want a better understanding of underpinnings of this ongoing conflict.

Thanks to Lawrence Wright; Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor; and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is not an easy book. It is well written and moves along nicely while the plot works to resolve the murder of a police chief. The murder case is solved but the deeper problems of Palestine and Israel remain – brought to light by an author with knowledge and experience on the subject. As Agatha Christie said, murder is easy, but the deeper conflict is full of emotion and frustration with no easy answers or resolution.

Recommended but realize that this book will draw passionate responses from many on its portrayal of the situation – from both sides. For others it will be eye-opening to gain some insights into this long standing conflict where there are no easy answers and there haven’t been for millennia.

After recovering from injuries received from a bomb and still dealing with memory issues, FBI agent Tony Malik decides to explore his paternal Palestinian roots by attending a family wedding in Gaza. While there, the chief of police is beheaded and Tony becomes a prime suspect. Once cleared, he teams up with an Israeli police inspector to investigate the murder.

Wow! What an excellent book, well written by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Lawrence Wright. More than just a mystery/thriller, Wright delves into the historical roots of both the Arabs and Israelis and their conflict, with the archival and mythical flowing seamlessly back and forth with the contemporary plot. The story follows characters on both sides, exploring their backgrounds and experiences, culminating in the October 6, 2023 attack in Israel.

Engrossing and informative, I learned much of the historical perspective of both the Arabs and the Israelis. Unfortunately, it left me with the feeling that there will never be justice, peace, or the resolution of this conflict. Despite many peace seeking people on both sides, the hatred and the atrocities that have been inflicted do not seem that they can be overcome.

This is a very worthwhile read.

***Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this upcoming book***
Before reading this, I was only familiar with Mr. Wright's non-fiction works having read The Looming Tower. I don't want to get into the political aspects of the novel and will just be discussing the story.

The story focuses on a Tony, a FBI agent who is almost killed by a bomb. He eventually recovers and tries to rebuild his life and will do whatever it takes to get back to his job at the FBI. He finds out that he has distant relatives in Palestine and wants to travel there for a family wedding. He stops in to chat with his former colleague and when the colleague finds out where he is headed, he asks Tony to meet up with an Israeli police chief. Shortly after meeting Tony, the police chief is kidnapped and brutally murdered and this launches the crux of the story.

The characters are all nicely fleshed out but the story is a bit of a mess and jumps all over the place. Also, I was wondering if the story would tie into the real world attack that Hamas launched on Israel, and it does. I thought that the author treated the subject matter respectfully but that's my opinion and yours might differ.

This was an enjoyable but messy story that will appeal to people looking for a mystery that ties into real world events.

This book is a thoroughly engaging thriller and murder mystery but it is so much more. I love reading books where the story grabs you from the very first page and launches you through an intricately woven plot to deliver you to the last page more educated and knowledgable than when you started. I learned so much about the history of the Israel/Pakistani conflict while completely engrossed in the story telling and he characters. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an advanced reader copy

Tony Malik, a half-Irish, half-Arab FBI agent based in New York, specializes in tracking money from drug and arms deals. His life takes a dramatic turn when a long-term relationship ends and his job hangs in the balance. Amid personal turmoil, Malik becomes intrigued by his Palestinian father's past. He decides to visit his ancestral homeland for his niece's wedding, accepting a seemingly simple FBI assignment along the way.

Upon arrival in Gaza, Malik's world is upended when the Israeli police chief is murdered. Initially a suspect, Malik's investigative prowess soon earns him a place in the Israeli investigation. At the heart of the story is Malik's complex relationship with Yossi, the hardline anti-Arab Israeli police officer leading the case. They must learn to trust each other because, as they move closer to solving the case, they realize there is no one else they can trust on either side.

Fantastic adventure into and education of the Middle East and its conflict. This was an engaging story from the first page and kept me glued to the page the whole way through. I especially appreciated learning more about the Palestinian and Israeli cultures and their conflict. 4⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

I was completely absorbed by this timely and intricate thriller that masterfully weaves together personal drama, political tension, and the complex reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It poses the question: on the human scale, is an Isralei life worth more than a Palestinian?

Wright's story centers on Tony Malik, a Palestinian-American FBI agent whose seemingly routine trip to Gaza for a family wedding becomes entangled in a high-stakes murder investigation of an Israeli police chief. At its heart is the compelling partnership between Malik and Yossi, a hardline Israeli police officer. Their evolving relationship serves as a microcosm of the larger conflict, as these two men from opposing sides must learn to trust each other in an environment where trust is a rare commodity.

Wright demonstrates his expertise in crafting fully realized characters, from Malik's bride-to-be niece to Yossi's daughter studying in Paris, and even a peacenik fiancé with Hamas connections. Each character feels authentic and three-dimensional, contributing to the story's rich tapestry of intersecting lives and conflicting loyalties.

The novel excels in its ability to explain the complicated history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict without becoming didactic. Wright weaves historical context naturally into the narrative, helping readers understand the deep-rooted tensions that influence every interaction and decision in the story.

The novel builds to a devastating climax that coincides with the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. I found myself deeply moved by Wright's ability to transcend the typical thriller format and create something far more meaningful – a profound exploration of human nature, loyalty, and the devastating cost of generational conflict.

A big thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a hard book to read, long and very dense and very painful. The characters, vividly drawn Palestinians and Israeli represent many of the issues that is present in the intense conflict between the two communities. And more than that, they represent the heart that wants to love, that wants to heal and the heart whose grief can only be expressed in hate and desire for revenge and for some the desire to keep the revenge going. Lots oif other issues addressed , both historically and currently, the corruption of leaders, drugs, that lack of free elections, the devastation from living your whole life under these conditions. He also discusses the similarities in dna among both peoples and the cultural similarities as well. the peace movement, the anti government movement is talked about as well. It is an ambitious project and he does it well. I think if you can get past the beginning, which is very dense at times, you will be glad you did