Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending an Advanced Review Copy.

This is a very short book. The first chapter entirely covers a brief biographic account of the author from his childhood. This background sets a context for the rest of the book. The author has taken the analogy of chess pieces to indicate the power held by various countries in the Middle East. He has spent subsequent chapter in explaining this analogy in detail. If we map the current affairs in the middle east, we can easyly make out what is happening and why/how it is happening. By looking at the power they held, its fairly easy for us to explain which countries bring most negotiating power to the table and why certain countries are more successful than other.

Anyone who is interested in the middle east, must read this book to understand the power and politics at play.

As someone who has only been able to read about the Middle East and study the history of the region through its inhabitants and those who have participated in the shaping of it, Buonocore’s book is a refreshing and welcomed addition to the collection. It amazing to see him share his insights into the Middle East through his experiences, but also to see him humbly admit that he does not have all the answers. So when he brings outside perspectives on certain topics that is amazing to see and allows the reader to dive deeper into the subject and share in Buonocore’s knowledge. This will definitely be a work worth reading and studying again and again for its wonderfully empirical overview of the modern pieces in the large scale game of chess being played in the Middle East.

Checkmate is a thought-provoking primer on Middle Eastern politics and the players that wield significant influence in the region. The book discusses the complex relationships between nations, likening them to pieces on a chessboard each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. The book carries this analysis through the region, providing a nuanced view of the current strategic makeup of the Middle East.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The use of chess as an analogy allowed the author to present the unique strengths of each regional player. I found the way the author wove the importance of homeland and cultural identity to be informative and provide useful context for understanding the societal movements and shifts of the last decade. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick introduction to the complexities of the Middle East, and as a starting point for further in-depth study.

The recent war in the Middle East between Palestine and Israel drew me to “Checkmate: The King’s Game in the Middle East” by Gennaro Buonocore. To appreciate the insights into a millennia-old fight, one has to understand the depth of experience Gennaro Buonocore has himself and the network of intelligence officers he draws on to write this book. However, the book elegantly sets that stage and then moves swiftly to unpacking how we have reached this point.

Using the analogy of chess, Buonocore clarifies which countries hold power and to what extent by allocating them a chess piece. This makes it easy for the reader to remember, when considering a new happening, what the power structure is and why certain countries are more successful than others in calling for ceasefires and hosting peace talks. He also brings light to the cloudy topics of arms deals and army training, resource swopping and why political allies are so crucial in this area.

“The Arabs feel that The Deal of the Century is merely a brand. American administrations change every eight years at the most, and a consistent policy cannot be expected. The only constant to be expected is America’s absolute support for Israel. This is what they have witnessed since 1948, therefore, they feel the Queen [in reference to America’s place on the chess board] will never be an honest broker, no matter with the administration is led by Democrat or a Republican – “Checkmate: The King’s Game in the Middle East” by Gennaro Buonocore

By giving the reader a framework, from a historical and cultural perspective, Buonocore allows one to develop one’s own beliefs about the causes and possible resolution options without bias or blame. It is elegantly and carefully done, he aims to get the reader to ponder the complexities rather than rush to an ill-advised conclusion. It is a fascinating journey to go on.

“Arabs often tell me that Chinese and Russian aid very rarely comes with conditions attached, unlike aid from the U.S., with conditions that reveal a paternalistic relationship and a lack of understanding of local culture. I easily reply that, in the Middle East, no foreign aid comes for free. The real price tag is in the small print, and, culturally, the U.S. tends to use a large print. – “Checkmate: The King’s Game in the Middle East” by Gennaro Buonocore

Buonocore concludes by encouraging the reader to continue their education and exploration of the Middle East and reinforces that his viewpoint is not the only or the right one, it is just a viewpoint. I deeply appreciated his honesty in recognising how multifaceted the challenges are. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. It is a five out of five on the enJOYment scale.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book begins by noting that some readers might be off-put by the author's Continental writing style and I certainly was one of those people. therefore, this may not be a fair evaluation of "Checkmate" but I simply did not like this book.