The Human Scale

A Novel

By: Lawrence Wright

Narrated by: Peter Ganim

In this sweeping, timely thriller, a Palestinian American FBI agent teams up with a hardline Israeli cop to solve the murder of the Israeli police chief in Gaza—from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Looming Tower and The End of October.

"A layered tale of intrigue and betrayal."—Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of March and Horse

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 the West Bank, 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.

Lawrence Wright populates the novel with richly drawn characters: Yossi's daughter studying in Paris, Malik's niece whose wedding is shattered by violence, her peacenik fiancé with ties to Hamas, and a cast of religious leaders, corrupt cops, and militants on both sides. Through these intersecting lives, Wright weaves an intricate tapestry that culminates in the devastating Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

More than a thriller, Wright's novel explores the complex history between Israel and Palestine, revealing the tragic human scale of this long-standing conflict and offering a nuanced perspective on a tragedy that continues to shape the region and the world.

Hopeless

America has the pleasure of not knowing - The awareness the author brings into his story is great.

The tapestry that forms and divides the Middle East

Such a fascinating book that allows the reader to think about the centuries long hatred that has fueled the Middle East.

Lessons that America should heed with the current divide.

Want to really understand the Israel - Palestinian war?

Brilliant novel. Takes you into the minds of the people on both sides. Some are fanatics and some are just trying to live their lives. Brings much understanding but little hope.

A novel that proves the point that fiction, when endowed with truth and reality, can be more powerful than non-fiction

The author’s ability to capture the emotions of both sides of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict

Exceptionally well researched and moving story

This novel The Human Scale is a riveting look at the Israeli Palestinian conflict in the Middle East. The story has strong characters and is set against many historical backdrops. Religion is ever-present but Lawrence Wright presents it in a neutral manner. We conclude that hatred on both sides is so extreme that peace is unlikely. Sad but true.