Cobwebs

The novel is set in the Lebanon and uses archaeology and cultural references as the context for the story of a relationship between Harry - an agent working for a specialist intelligence unit in Washington and Julie - a Dutch woman who used to live in Israel. She is trained in archaeology and is working as a journalist. He fails to tell her the whole truth as their relationship develops, particularly his secret meeting with a Sheikh from Hezbollah on the border with Israel. Then she takes him to meet a friend in Byblos. With ancient stories as a backcloth to current political events and attitudes, something happens to change them both. The metaphor of a cobweb winds itself through the story, as a reminder of the complexities involved, some of which can never be unravelled or fully explained.