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    The Missing File
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    The Missing File
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    The Missing File
    Ebook359 pages5 hours

    The Missing File

    By D.A. Mishani

    3.5/5

    ()

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    Unavailable in your country

    About this ebook

    Sixteen-year-old Ofer left his home in the suburbs of Tel Aviv for school one morning and disappeared without a trace. Police detective Avraham Avraham takes on the case, a seemingly routine investigation that soon spins out of control, taking over his life. It seems that the more he finds out about the boy and his background, the further he gets from the truth. Ofer’s older neighbour and schoolteacher Zeev Avni has some information but gradually becomes one of the main suspects. Will the neighbour’s strange story save the investigation before it’s too late?

    Told from the perspectives of both men, The Missing File, is an adept and suspenseful mystery and a rare Israeli crime novel. D. A. Mishani portrays an outstanding picture of suburban life and tensions in Israel. He has created in Avraham Avraham an unforgettable character, both extraordinary in his work but common in his abilities. The Missing File is a true page-turner whose unexpected resolution forces readers to question all they have taken for granted about innocence, guilt and the ways in which truth evades us.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateMar 26, 2013
    ISBN9781443412421
    Unavailable
    The Missing File
    Author

    D.A. Mishani

    D. A. Mishani is a literary scholar specializing in the history of detective literature. His first novel, The Missing File, was the inaugural book in his literary crime series featuring the police inspector Avraham Avraham.

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    Reviews for The Missing File

    3.5/5

    5 ratings8 reviews

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    • 4/5
      As an avid reader of international crime fiction, I have books from several countries around the world, but The Missing File is my first crime-fiction novel from Israel. It is also the first in a projected series (which I deduced from the final words "to be continued" at the end of the book) to feature detective Avraham (Avi) Avraham, who works out of a small, depressing office in Holon, close to Tel Aviv. As a police procedural it is not quite the same as most books in that category, although Avi shares the what's-becoming-ever-more-traditional detective/personal life angst of many other well known fictional crime solvers. Right away the reader is clued in that this story may actually be something different: a mom comes in to report her son missing and Avraham tells her to go home. The story continues with different twists and turns that also signal that this is not going to be your average police detective novel. No formulaic resolution for this author -- he is bringing something a little different to the crime-reading table in this book, and that's a good thing.The case of missing 16 year-old Ofer causes Avraham a great deal of anxiety and causes him a major amount of second guessing himself throughout the story. Without going into any great detail about plot, the case takes some very strange turns. The Missing File, however, is less about the plot and more driven by character -- Avraham is supposed to be an ace detective but there are times that as a reader, you'll find yourself a) questioning decisions he makes to the point where it's difficult to understand why he's held in such high regard and b) wondering whether or not this case is ever going to be solved.Avraham works in shabby surroundings, has to deal with a younger, more tech-savvy fellow detective in his squad who gets his boss's attention with his modern theories, and Avraham also comes home to an empty house every night, to watch Law and Order while picking off every mistake in the TV detectives' cases that would make them unprosecutable. He is constantly second guessing himself on the job and when he makes mistakes, he's virtually inconsolable; when he realizes he's brushed off a mother's concerns and the son still hasn't returned the next day, it causes him to dive into the case with a vengeance.If you're looking for the average point A to point B solution, this is not the place where you'll find it. I appreciate anything beyond the ordinary, and Mishani has certainly given me that in this novel. Many readers have noted that the action in this book is slow, and that is definitely true. They've also noted that the action in The Missing File is not exactly what they're used to in a police procedural, and that is also the case, but from where I see it, that's a plus. My issue isn't with either one of these points; for me careful character development is key to any first novel in an ongoing series. Plot, pacing and solutions are important to me as well, but when I pick up what may be a series opener, I want to know if I like the main character enough to continue with a second installment. On finishing the book, Avraham still remains a mystery -- while we have a few clues as to what makes Avraham tick, I'm still not sure what lies beneath this very different detective. Then again, trying to discover that unknown factor just might be a very good reason to pick up the next book in the series. Definitely recommended, it should appeal to international crime-fiction lovers.
    • 3/5
      A missing person case lands on Detective Avraham Avraham's desk, but surely nothing really bad could have happened - life in Tel Aviv is not dangerous like it is in mystery novels, is it? There are (as the main character points out) very few mystery novels written in Hebrew and I had to pick this up to see where the genre has gone since Batya Gur wrote her books about Detective Michael Ohayon. It's an interesting novel, but the mystery leaves quite a bit to be desired and the fact that it takes place in Israel isn't really important - there is very little about the locale in the text. There is a huge red herring that should have lead somewhere, but that thread didn't quite pay off. There is also the problem with the ending, or rather, the not-quite-ending; there is one solution given (which "our" detective isn't actually part of - someone else solves the mystery!) but hints are given at another one and the book literally ends with "to be continued." There are a few characters that had potential, but we don't really find out what makes them tick, so I wasn't able to bond with them as much as I would have liked. I haven't decided if I will pick up the next book in the trilogy, but if I do, it'll be from the library rather than a bookstore.
    • 4/5
      The Missing File is a debut crime/procedural novel by D. A. Mishani, an Israeli crime writer, editor and literary scholar. When Hannah Sharabi, the mother of teenager Ofer Sharabi, reports her son as missing in Holon, a suburb of Tel Aviv, Detective Avraham Avraham is sure that he will turn up and doesn't take her seriously. However, when she returns the next morning saying Ofer is still missing, Avraham realizes that he must start an investigation into the missing teen. The obvious suspect is neighbor Ze'ev Avni who was also Ofer's English tutor. Since the reader is privy to Ze'ev's thoughts and actions, he is clearly the main suspect right from the beginning.

      Avraham approaches his investigation almost reluctantly and with what feels like a lot of trepidation. He does not seem to have a great deal of confidence in his abilities and in his team. In contrast to the clever, spot-on detective of most police procedurals who is one step ahead of everyone, Avraham is seemingly one step behind and confused. It is an odd feeling in a crime novel to wonder if the detective is up to the challenge of the investigation. In the meantime, the reader knows all about the activities of neighbor Ze'ev and he is clearly setting off all sorts of red flags.

      The story does take a turn and comes together in the end but it follows few of the formula's we are used to, especially concerning the twist at the very end (which I wondered if it was the true reason earlier, so other's might also guess this.) Avraham is a protagonist who doesn't seem to have many heroic virtues, which can make it difficult to feel a great amount of sympathy for him. On the other hand, The Missing File is written to reflect a more realistic picture of an investigation rather than the idealized fictional version we are all so used to seeing.

      There were some instances where I felt like something was lost in this translated novel, but since I have an advanced reader's copy some of those mis-steps could have been corrected in the final published novel. In the end I did feel connected enough with Avraham to want follow him on future investigations and maybe get a better hold on this melancholy character.
      Highly Recommended


      Disclosure: I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the
      publisher and TLC for review purposes.
    • 3/5
      I am somewhat confused as to why this novel was called the Missing File as the name appears to have nothing to do with the story told in this novel. Perhaps this is merely a lost in translation issue.In contrast to the more fast paced USA mystery type novels, this one sets a slower pace and feels as though the actions of the protagonist are more authentic. In this novel the detective is ‘ploddy’ he takes his time working through this investigation and in so doing the author describes the more mundane aspects of police work. This detective constantly doubts himself and often misses major clues proving he is not a good detective. He is aware of his own limitations and the limitations of his office. The detective has the makings of a very complex and compelling character. But this reader did not find him a likeable character with very few redeemable characteristics (it may be that some of the protagonists characteristics have been lost in translation). Perhaps this is something that the author will deal with in later novels in the series. This novel deals more with police procedure and the need for run of the mill detectives to constantly report to their superiors than actually investigating the incident in question. The interactions between the bungling detective and the more astute, quick humoured colleagues and officials are inspired, as are the conflicts which are inherent when working as part of a team.What is refreshing is that Avraham made mistakes and takes time to acknowledge those mistakes. Although this book is readable it failed to fully engage me and the author missed a great opportunity of providing the reader with a real taste of Israel. What I did find confounding was the side trip. I really could not work out what, if anything, this had to do with the plot.The plot was slow and ploddy, much like the detective, with some twists and turns and the final reveal was a surprise. Due to the two points of view many things are repeated which was unnecessary, tedious and did not help the novel’s development. I found both protagonists unlikeable and unreliable. Although the plot is cleaver it did feel as though it became secondary to the development of the characters. The book never really picked up any speed; rather the book seemed to drag and I found myself struggling to remain invested. Overall I was disappointed with this potentially intriguing novel.Full Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley for an honest review.
    • 3/5
      First Line: Across the desk from him sat a mother. Another mother. A teenage boy has disappeared from a sleepy suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel, yet when the boy's worried mother goes to the police station and asks Detective Avraham for help, he tells the woman to wait until the morning. It's been one of those days for Avraham, and this woman is the third one to talk to him about her child. When faced with her emotional appeal, Avraham can only ask her, "Do you know why there are no detective novels in Hebrew?" In reply to her puzzlement, he goes on to say, "Because we don't have crimes like that. We don't have serial killers; we don't have kidnappings; and there aren't many rapists out there attacking women on the streets."Mrs. Sharabi takes her fear and worry home with her, just as she's been told. But when morning comes and young Ofer Sharabi still isn't home, Avraham must begin an investigation into his disappearance-- an investigation where clues are few and far between. It's not long before the police detective wishes he hadn't been quite so glib with the frantic mother-- and he wonders just what part helpful schoolteacher Ze'ev Avni has to play in what's happened. Most of your enjoyment of this book is going to hinge on your opinion of the main character, Avraham Avraham (no, that's not a typo). I found it almost impossible to like or even to respect him. He suffers from low self-esteem, is lonely and insecure. He doesn't even have confidence in his own abilities, resenting being overshadowed by others in the department who know how to "play the game." The only real pleasure he seems to have in life is to pick holes in the detective novels he reads and the cop shows he watches. More than once, I found myself wondering when he was going to stop whining and start investigating. One of the other characters in the book does a lot more investigating than the detective, and I really began to think that Avraham was right in worrying about his job security. My pleasure in this book came from the setting of the Tel Aviv suburbs, the longer passages where the reader could begin to get inside the heads of Avraham and Ze'ev Avni, and my gradual realization that the missing boy was very different from the way he was originally portrayed.I'm glad I read The Missing File, but I would have to think long and hard before I spent any more time with Detective Avraham. I found him way too annoying, but your mileage could certainly vary.
    • 4/5
      I liked this tortured, sensitive (sort of dorky) Israeli police detective. I hope more of Mishani's work is translated into English.
    • 3/5
      Detective Avraham Avraham agrees to see a woman who is afraid that her 16 year old son, Ofer, has run away. He left home for school in the morning and has not come home by evening. He's a regular sort kid, not too popular, no real friends. Avi tells her to wait another day but by the next afternoon, he still hasn't returned.A parallel story concerns Ofer's downstairs neighbor who wants to be a writer and uses Ofer's disappearance as a source of writing inspiration. He provides false information to the police as a source of his story.The Missing File is an average mystery. The writing is OK. The characters are OK. The storyline is OK.
    • 4/5
      Police detective Avi Avraham has to investigate the disappearance of a teenage boy, Ofer Sharabi. The Sharabi’s neighbor, Ze’ev Avni is a writer, and creepily interested in this case, interfering in strange ways. As Avi ventures into the search for Ofer, NOTHING is as it seems!The Missing File by D. A. Mishani was awesome. I don’t usually pick up mysteries, but I received this book from TLC Book Tours and was hooked immediately. The story is told from alternating perspectives, with every other chapter being told from the police detective’s point of view or from the POV of Ze’ev (the creepy neighbor).And when I say NOTHING is as it seems, it’s so true. When I thought I figured it out, there was another twist. There were honestly twists until almost the last page!My only complaint was the title. The Missing File? At one point, the police detective takes the file home with him. But that’s it. It’s more about a missing person. This book was translated into English from Hebrew, so maybe there is a double meaning that doesn’t translate properly, but don’t be deceived by the title. This book has nothing to do with a search for a missing file.The Missing File is the first part in a series of books and I would read more in a heartbeat. However, you can read The Missing File and still feel like you have read a complete story, because basically, you have.I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.What’s your favorite mystery novel that you enjoy?Thanks for reading,Rebecca @ Love at First Book