In Leda: A Novel by A.A. Eimont, Leda is married, wealthy, childless. To all intents and purposes, she has a life many dream about. She is fastidious about her appearance and maintains a social calendar that connects her with other prestigious people. She leads an idyllic existence until her curiosity is aroused by the plight of the Palestinians. She is outraged by their treatment at the hands of the Israelis and is determined to make her life more meaningful by helping in whatever way she can.

With the consent of her beloved husband, and the help of a college friend, she embarks on a mission to see the refugee camps herself. Once there, she is immediately enamoured by the attentions of an Egyptian physician, whose goal is to enrol her in a plan to get world attention. In other words, he wants her to become a terrorist for his cause. He tenaciously pursues her and she falls for his ploy. As the story progresses, Leda finds herself embroiled in more than she can handle at times, as diplomatic pressures give her cause to suspect duplicity in not only world politics, but also in the promises of those she should be able to trust. This revelation propels her into a world of shadowy exploits. A dangerous place.

This is a very engaging story. It is an interesting mix of relationships, politics, terrorist activity, and trust. I found myself horrified at some of her choices, while completely understanding why she reaches certain decisions. Does she aspire to her personal goals to help a beleaguered people, or does she join a terrorist plan? Brilliant story. This is an excellent book, and good for most audiences.

Leda: A Novel by A.A. Eimont is a thriller. Leda is a rich, retired physician with no children, who finds herself drawn into becoming a terrorist. Against the better wishes of her husband, Leda goes to the refugee camps in Palestine to work with her Muslim friend. Watching the conditions of the camp under the Israelis, Leda becomes radicalized and finds herself attracted to Talib, a young Egyptian physician. He physically seduces her while they are on a camel trip through the desert, on the way to Palmyra, and asks her to help him fight for the downtrodden people. He wants her to get into the government at the highest level, so she befriends the wife of the Vice-President. Leda performs a terrible act of killing. Now find out what drove her to do it, and what goes on inside the mind of a woman you wouldn’t suspect of being a terrorist.

Leda: A Novel by A.A. Eimont is a fascinating read. Packed with political, medical and philosophical debate, it is one of the most up to the minute books I have read in a long while. It gives some insight into what may go through the minds of some of the people who get radicalized, and what drives them. The plot was very well thought out and complex, but not so much so that it couldn’t be followed. Character development is excellent, leaving you in no doubt as to the mind set of the main protagonists, and letting you get to know them more or less intimately. The story followed a natural course with plenty going on for a reader to get their teeth into. I think this is the kind of story that would appeal to a very wide range of readers. I also think it would suit being made into a film, or even a TV series. Excellent story, I look forward to reading more.

Leda: A Novel by A.A. Eimont is a fictional tale of an unlikely terrorist. Leda is a retired, wealthy American physician, who feels she has to do something significant, something that would give meaning to her life, perhaps even make a difference in the world. She finds that "something” when she takes a journey to Damascus where she joins Aliyah, her Muslim friend from college, to work with Palestinian refugees. It is there that she meets a young and handsome Egyptian physician, Talib, who introduces her to radicalized ideals. The death of her husband, which she blames on the American government, her attraction to the young Egyptian, and her experiences with Israeli control of the West Bank make her vulnerable to radicalization. But it’s a medical diagnosis that convinces her that death for a cause is better than a natural course of events.

Set against the backdrop of Palestinian territories and refugee camps, Leda by A.A. Eimont is a fast-paced story, filled with twists and turns that give the reader a good look at problems in the Middle East and facts that many Palestinians are faced with on a daily basis. A.A. Eimont introduces us to a facet of Palestinian life that we don’t usually see in the western media headlines. I loved the psychological development of Leda’s character — from an old, wealthy, American woman, who as a member of the Conservative Club rubs shoulders with dignitaries and politicians — to a radicalized terrorist. It proves how little it takes for a human mind to shift from point A to point B.

The fiction work, Leda: A Novel, by A.A. Eimont, begins with the nagging question - what does a retired ophthalmologist, who decided not to have children decades earlier, do with her time? Dr. Leda Eimont is successful in every way – she has a rewarding career; enjoys a fulfilling marriage with a wealthy businessman, Arthur Lodge; pursues literature, the arts and intellectual conversations; she has many accomplished and supportive friends. Leda practices her Catholic faith, leading her to have strong opinions about politics and social justice. Leda decides to join a long-time Muslim friend from her college days, Aliyah, working in the Palestinian refugee camps near Damascus. A relationship with a young Egyptian radical extremist, as well as some terrifying experiences while living in the Middle East, change the course of her life. Becoming involved in a terrorist plot to assassinate the President of the United States becomes her new mission.

Leda: A Novel, by A. A. Eimont has it all – interesting and believable characters, an engaging plot, travel to several countries, international intrigue and suspense. It is a page-turning thriller with unexpected twists and turns. The author is an excellent writer as he carefully crafts a credible tale with almost implausible circumstances. At the same time, he presents many insights into Middle Eastern culture (and modern day refugee camps, from the eyes of physicians) that will be unforgettable to any reader of this book. It will broaden and perhaps challenge a reader’s understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A most fascinating read!