by Colum McCann and Diane Foley
This book is written ten years after James Foley’s death, beheaded by IS in Syria ,in 2014, a death staged in a video used as propaganda for Daech ,that became viral worlwide : « A message to America ».
James Foley was an American free-lance journalist in Syria , detained for two years by IS, who converted to Islam during his detention and finally was beheaded in « a reprisal againstthe international military intervention in Syria and Irak ».
The killer Alexanda Kotey was captured and put on trial in 2020, condemned not to the deathpenalty but to life imprisonment.
This book is about trying :
To understand how a young man himself with a family, a former British citizen from London, radicalized , went to the desert to accomplish what « God wanted him to accomplish ».
To understand how Diane Foley felt let down by the Obama administration who took no action toward liberating James while other countries cared about their hostages and get themout.
To understand a mother who believes in atonement and redemption.
A mother who built a bridge between her and her son’s killer, first by writing then by visitinghim in prison .
The most poignant moment in the book is when the mother and the killer shakehands and she gives her pardon .
Alexanda Kotey said « There are times I wish I did not do things that I was ordered to do.Iwish I could have stopped myself. But that is hindsight. When you are in the thick of war,youdon’t have an opportunity to pause and reflect ».
Diane Foley thought : I lost my son, but he lost his liberty , his family, his country. In another world, James and Alexanda could have been friends.
The writers also reflect about the importance of journalism « That’s what journalism isabout : the truth. If you didn’t tell the truth, then what would happen to the truth ?No matterwhat ethic you think you have, it’s never worth your life ».
Colun McCann said in an interview « We allow the atrocities to unfold right in front of our eyes, the worst of human instincts….but we must keep believing in man’s humanity ».
When discussing the book in our group , many could hardly believe this encounterbetween the mother and her son’s killer. But what gave her this strenghth was herstrong belief in religion and the support of her family and local community.
This book is above all a moving testimony of resilience and faith, not a literary workas Colun McCann’s previous book we read « Apeirogon ».
But both books are about empathy and human understanding.
Anne Van Calster
February 2026
