Death and Deceit: The Murder of Raif Bagawi

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer has written Death and Deceit: The Murder of Raif Bagawi for readers who appreciate mysteries that combine a compelling storyline, interesting characters and critically important social issues. The setting for this book, which is the first in a planned series of University Murders, is the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Raif Bagawi, a Muslim student from Saudi Arabia, is found dead by the Mississippi River a few blocks from campus. Officers at the scene determine that he was murdered but officials from the US State Department, Homeland Security and the FBI intervene and pressure the St. Paul Police Chief to rule Raif's death accidental.
The case is officially closed but two related mysteries unfold. Who killed Raif Bagawi and why? And why did the murder of an international student from Saudi Arabia trigger a coverup involving three of the most powerful agencies of the US government? As these mysteries unfold, there are ten credible suspects, a second murder, and a great deal of political intrigue. There are also interesting characters that doggedly pursue these questions including the main protagonists: Jake Coolidge, a UST professor and former CIA agent, and his wife, Elise Hoffman, who is a private detective.