Istanbul Crossing is a gripping and thought-provoking literary thriller by Timothy Jay Smith, which tells the story of Ahdaf, a gay Syrian refugee whose life is caught in a deadly web of politics, love, and survival. Ahdaf flees Syria after witnessing the brutal execution of his cousin by ISIS for being homosexual. Seeking safety, he finds himself in Istanbul, where he earns a living by smuggling refugees across dangerous routes to Greece. However, his past reputation as a people smuggler puts him in constant danger, and the threat of discovery looms over him, especially since ISIS would kill him if they found out about his sexuality.