Allure of Deceit

MWSA Review

The author presents a clear picture of life in an Afghan village contrasted against Western values.

Zahira has established a clinic in the compound to provide medical services and family planning. Her clinic is funded by Paul Reichart, a representative of GlobalConnect, a charity established in the will of an extremely wealthy inventor, Michael Sendry, and run by his mother, Lydia Sendry. Tribal customs and taboos have thwarted Zahira’s good intentions.

The story is set in the post 9/11 era. Afghanistan is a country devastated by the Soviet-Afghanistan war, the Taliban, the U.S. invasion after 9/11, and attempt to modernize a country that resists change. U.S. troops are withdrawing and the Taliban is attempting to rise again.

Into this caldron of conflicting cultures rush the NGOs, non-government organizations, charities whose bottom line is money. Driven by the need to obtain grants from foundations like GlobalConnect and donations, representatives dive into an ancient, alien culture assuming they and their charity will be welcomed. NGO representative are seeking partners, examples of their good deeds to be used to obtain more donations and grants—and of course, advancement and job security for the representatives. 

Allure of Deceit is a story of conflicts and deceit: conflicts between families in Laashekoh; harsh treatment of young children because of their parent’s actions; forbidden and perceived forbidden love; land ownership and secret agreements; basic differences between Islamic and western law; and conflicts within GlobalConnect regarding succession and validity of donors receiving contribution. 

Paul Reichart, Michael’s best friend and GlobalConnect’s area director appears throughout the story. He has established a relationship with Laashekoh’ leader, Parsaa and his sons.

It is also the story of Western conflict and deceit. Why did terrorists kill Lidia’s son and his bride? Who will follow Lidia as chairwoman of GlobalConnect?

The story is more of a mystery than a thriller, however the tempo builds toward a climatic ending. A good read that provides insight into Afghanistan. 

Allure of Deceit is the sequel novel to Fear of Beauty, and I recommend reading Fear of Beauty first in order to fully appreciate the story.

Reviewed by: Lee Boyland (2015)

Author's Summary

A young inventor and his wife die in a car bombing - leaving behind a will that surprises friends and parents by directing a vast fortune toward charities in the developing world.

On the ground in Afghanistan, now that most coalition troops have withdrawn, international charities rapidly search for Afghan partners to compete for the attention of the new foundation - including an orphanage and a health team supporting reproductive rights. As part of their strategy to win the new funds the two groups try to focus attention on two particular women in the village of Laashekoh: a young mother imprisoned for murdering the village leader's oldest son and a woman who has a reputation for providing reproductive health care, including abortions. When they discover that the first woman abandoned her infant daughter, and the second has no actual patients, aid workers and lawyers scramble to enhance the stories.

Most Laashekoh villagers do not want Western charity and are astounded to be regarded as potential recipients. A group of orphanage workers visiting the village goes missing, and foul play is immediately suspected.

The stakes are high, the sums of money are huge, and cultures clash. All these are motivations for fraud and murder in Allure of Deceit.