‘Istanbul Crossing’ by Timothy Jay Smith

Published by Leapfrog Press,
24 September 2024.
ISBN: 978-1-94858599-6 (PB)

Istanbul Crossing is an easy to read, sensitively written story based in and around Istanbul over a nine-day period. It has one main protagonist, a young Syrian refugee called Ahdaf, and two main topics: people smuggling and Ahdaf’s embryonic homosexuality.

Ahdaf left Syria in a hurry after it became obvious that his sexuality made him an ISIS target – his cousin Sadiq had been pushed off a roof and murdered for just this reason. After walking for ninety days, he arrived in Istanbul and found himself a basic flat. Then, using his language skills, he set about making a meagre living by helping fellow countrymen with some of the arrangements necessary for them to cross over to Greece. Ahdaf is a caring and generous soul who never tries to overcharge those he helps. He understands exactly what it is like to flee your homeland because you fear persecution of one type or another. Carrying his own load of guilt and shame he had often considered suicide. Death sometimes seemed the only option for those of his sexuality.

One day after he’d got himself established, Ahdaf made the mistake of taking Kalam, a refugee he was trying to help and to whom he was attracted, back to his flat. Unfortunately, Malik, the leader of an ISIS cell at the mosque Ahdaf attended, was having him followed.  Malik warns Ahdaf that his sexual proclivities are known. Under pain of exposure and death, Malik blackmails Ahdaf into helping with his nefarious activities. The CIA, in the person of Selim, have Malik under observation. They see an opportunity to enlist Ahdaf’s help so the hapless Ahdaf becomes a double agent. Selim and Ahdaf are attracted to each other. 

Hair raising adventures follow including the shooting of five policemen by Malik’s thugs and the death of innocent refugees who had already lost nearly everything bar their lives. When the opportunity to cross to Greece presents itself, Ahdaf has to make two major decisions:  does he want to leave Istanbul, and whom to spend the next part of his life with, Kalam or Selim?

Whilst it is undoubtedly full of tragedy, Istanbul Crossing is also a tribute to the resilience and fortitude of the ordinary - or perhaps the extraordinary - Syrian people who have had the bravery to leave their homeland, driven out by the terrible persecution they faced.  In the gentle character of Ahdaf, we have a wonderful reminder of the kindness of mankind. The book may break your heart, but it may also help to restore your faith in man’s humanity.
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Reviewer Angela Crowther.

Timothy Jay Smith has travelled the world collecting stories and characters for his novels and screenplays which have received high praise. Fire on the Island won the Gold Medal in the 2017 Faulkner-Wisdom Competition for the Novel. He won the Paris Prize for Fiction for his first book, A Vision of Angels. Kirkus Reviews called Cooper’s Promise “literary dynamite” and selected it as one of the Best Books of 2012. Tim was nominated for the 2017 Pushcart Prize for his short fiction, "Stolen Memories." His screenplays have won numerous international competitions. Tim is the founder of the Smith Prize for Political Theatre. He lives in France.

Angela Crowther is a retired scientist.  She has published many scientific papers but, as yet, no crime fiction.  In her spare time Angela belongs to a Handbell Ringing group, goes country dancing and enjoys listening to music, particularly the operas of Verdi and Wagner.