Afula, 3 Opera Street
This witty suspense thriller takes place within the court rooms of Afula and Nazareth, where everyone knows everyone else. The sharp-tongued lawyer, Susan Sa’adon, is a loser with an impressive history. After completing her legal studies cum laude, she began training as an intern in the legal department of a large Tel Aviv office. There she met the boss’ wealthy and privileged son. She goes on to marry him and the two have a daughter. The destiny of this small-town girl from the wrong side of the tracks, who managed to enter society, suddenly changes when a terrorist bomb goes off at a coffee house where she is sitting with her husband. Her husband is killed and she is seriously wounded. Susan, now missing an eye, returns to her home town of Afula with her daughter and tries to practice law. She has a hard time. She begins to drink large quantities of vodka, and becomes addicted to pain killers, however her personal problems do not affect her wonderful sense of humor. Things take a turn when a long-time friend is accused of murder.
Jacko, a wonderful and warm homosexual, met someone over the Internet. A brief sexual encounter leads to an argument, and Jacko leaves his acquaintance’s apartment in a huff. Shortly afterwards the young man’s body is found. The victim was in the habit of documenting his sexual experiences on video tape, and Jacko is accused of the murder. Susan, employed solely by Jacko, sets out to prove her client’s innocence. She enlists the aid of another loser, a formerly brilliant criminal lawyer who lost her license after becoming involved in a drug scandal. The two women are surprised to discover that the real killer is one of the victim’s regular clients, none other than the Honorary Judge Ze’ev Malka. The motive: the young man had been blackmailing the judge.
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“This is the best, most original and most enjoyable mystery to be published here in recent years.”