TESTIMONY

Review published on June 6, 2017.

William Ten Boom, prosecutor for the District Attorney in Kindle County, has been offered a new job at The Hague in the International Criminal Court. This novel is about his first case there – the investigation into the alleged deaths of 400 Roma at Barupra in Bosnia in April 2004.

Boom and his friend, Goos – an affable Aussie forensic scientist – make the journey to Bosnia to uncover remains in Barupra and to determine whether further human remains will be found at the salt mine near Tuzla where the missing 400 are supposed to have been buried alive.

But who can Boom believe in this case? There is only one witness, a Roma named Ferko, and his initial testimony leads them to uncover the bones of three men. But the grave has been disturbed and the evidence doesn’t stack up. Ferko’s introduction to the ICC has been through one woman, Esma Czarni, but is she who she says is?

Boom’s investigation takes him globe trotting to find witnesses, constantly up against military security for which he is not cleared, and into an unwise affair with the seductive and adventurous Esma. Absolutely gripping throughout, this novel has so many twists, dead ends and surprises it won’t fail to keep you entertained. The balance between legal investigating, political wrangling and personal stories is perfect. Five stars!