The Lost Americans

When the lifeless body of Eric Castle, a weapons technician for a major American defense contractor, is found under his hotel balcony, both his employer and the Egyptian authorities quickly declare his death a suicide. But the dead man´s sister, Cate, doesn´t believe Eric took his own life and is determined to get to the truth. Traveling to Egypt she begins to piece together her brother´s life in Cairo with the help of a handsome, young, gay Egyptian man named Omar, who yearns to escape the brutality of his nation´s harsh, restrictive government. Unfortunately, Cate´s quest raises more questions--and problems--than she ever imagined, as she takes on not only the arms company´s top brass but the Egyptian military, secret police, and a slew of American expats with their own reasons to keep the dead buried once and for all. Soon she´s in over her head, and it´s not clear if either she or Omar will get out alive. This riveting thriller of set in loud, boisterous Cairo of Americans lost and found showcases Bollen´s depth of characterization and haunting descriptive powers.