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Fieldwork

Set in Thailand, this suspenseful thriller features a fictional young journalist named—like the book's author—Mischa Berlinski, who finds himself at the center of a mystery involving the death of an American anthropologist. Mischa comes to Thailand to join his girlfriend, Rachel, a schoolteacher. A seasoned freelance writer, he's initially excited by the prospect of investigating the anthropologist's story, but soon learns there's more to the incident than meets the eye. The anthropologist, a woman named Martiya van der Leun, was serving a 50-year prison sentence for murder when she took her own life in her jail cell. An outgoing Berkeley graduate, Martiya had been convicted of killing a missionary. Mischa delves into Martiya's past, only to become obsessed with her. Martiya's story leads him into an exploration of native Thai culture and the effects upon it of both missionaries and anthropologists—groups with different and often conflicting agendas. The author, who worked as a journalist in Thailand, writes with wonderful command about the country and its customs. He uses different types of fieldwork, both religious and scientific, to build a thematic foundation that is rich, complex and satisfying. A 2007 National Book Award finalist, this riveting novel is Berlinski's first—an accomplished narrative that has established him as a gifted new writer.

A reading group guide is included in the book.