Murder on a Kibbutz: A Communal Case

By Batya Gur

From award-winning and internationally acclaimed author, Batya Gur, comes another twisty mystery featuring charming Israeli investigator Michael Ohayon.

Michael Ohayon must once again solve a murder that has taken place within a complex, closed society: the kibbutz. As he investigates, he uncovers more and more of the kibbutz’s secrets, exposing all the contradictions of this idealized way of life. 

Murder on a Kibbutz showcases once again Batya Gur’s storytelling talents in a thrilling mystery that readers will not soon forget.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jul 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9780062970398

Batya Gur

Batya Gur (1947-2005) lived in Jerusalem, where she was a literary critic for Haaretz, Israel's most prestigious paper. She earned her master's in Hebrew literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and she also taught literature for nearly twenty years.

Reviews for Murder on a Kibbutz

[seriousgrace · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This time Michael Ohayon must solve a mysterious death on the kibbutz. The secretary for the commune was poisoned. Before Michael comes on the scene you learn that the 50 year old kibbutz has been going through some controversial changes. Meetings are now televised so that members can "attend" in their rooms. There is a new open-air theater. Outsiders are being hired to help in the infirmary & fields. What used to be plum fields are now for cacti grown for the cosmetic factory where many kibbutz members work. But, probably the biggest change is the one yet to come. There is talk of creating a separate house for the elderly members of the kibbutz. For years there has always been a sleeping house for children and a house for adults. The elderly have never been separated before. Osnat, the murder victim, was spearheading this change. Michael Ohayon is still the coffee addicted lonely investigator.

[5eva5 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is mainly a view into kibbutz life with lots of commentary on the various directions that the kibbutz-movement is taking. The community and its characters are well described and the story gives you a good feel of the land and the people. Mystery-wise, it’s a little “iffy,” though. I for one figured out who the killer was almost immediately, but that may be because I’ve read Gur before and her set-up is similar from book to book. Also, the end is a bit deus ex machina where Ohayon somehow finds out a lot of information, but there is no explanation of how he finds out. Still an enjoyable read since I like Ohayon and the place and character descriptions are well written.

[joycepa_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The 3rd in the Michael Ohayon series, set in Israel.About the only good thing I can find to say about this book is that there is some interesting information about the challenges and changes going on in the kibbutz movement in Israel today. Beyond that, the writing is uninspired, and the characters are one-dimensional, as in her first book--you really don't care what happens to anyone you meet.To make matters even worse, after slogging through the book at least interested in how the murder is resolved, the reader is suddenly slapped in the face, in the last two pages, with an utterly unsatisfactory denoument that comes out of left field.Extremely disappointing.