In The Missing File by D. A. Mishani, we are taken into the
heart of Tel Aviv, where for police Detective Avraham Avraham, there is little
crime. For him when crimes happen, the simplest answer always seems to be the
right one. When he becomes embroiled in the case of a missing school boy, he is
sure the case will work itself out. He is so sure the boy is fine; he doesn’t
even initially file a report. For him, Ofer will simply show up after staying
with friends or some other likely sequence.
Yet when he does not show up, Avraham is bewildered. He is
not prepared for the circumstances that seem to come to light as the days drag
on. As the leads begin to come in, he is stunned at the complexity of answers
that seem to be evolving. When the young man’ neighbor and tutor tries to help
with answers, he finds himself a suspect as well. Yet as the neighbor weaves
his own bizarre story, Avraham finds himself with an even different scenario than
he could have imagined. Can he find the missing boy alive, or is it already too
late? Has he made an error of judgment that will come back to haunt him for
year to come?
Avraham is an interesting and eclectic personality. Steady
and sure, he finds passion in finding the mistakes in the crimes solved by the
best detectives in fiction novels. Each time he succeeds in finding the
mistake, he begins to believe his own hype. Crime just does not happen in his
city. He is so upset at the way things are going, he finds himself too easily
distracted. Things are not going as he planned. Deciding to move forward with
his own vacation, even as the disappearance is still being investigated, he
finally begins to understand himself.
Ofer, the boy who disappears, seems like a wonderful lad.
His neighbor certainly found him to be quite smart. Being a schoolteacher, his neighbor
Zeev was a likely tutor when Ofer was struggling. Where Ofer was charming, Zeev
is a bit strange. He doesn’t understand the red herrings he has littered
through the investigation, and by the time he realizes his error, it is too
late.
If you enjoy mysteries, you will find this an interesting
work. The viewpoint of the detective is interesting, and makes him very
likable. The crime set in such a place, gives us another view of the area, one
rich in history. Avraham is an interesting person and makes you care about what
is happening.
This would be a great book for a book club or reading group.
This is a work of contrasts, one to keep the conversation going for some time.
The suspense will keep you reading as Avraham finds the answers to the mystery
of the missing boy, as well as to his own sense of self.
Rating 3/5
In The Wrath of Angels by John Connolly, we follow Charlie Parker, a man who has been involved in such happenings for some time. No one is sure of his own pedigree, and the question remains—is he also one with a taint on his soul? He does not believe it; he believes that he is on the side of right. Hunting down the monsters as they work at annihilating those that oppose them, he has seen many things. Often in the middle of both sides he is regularly challenged at his stance. Darkness descends in all directions, and those who oppose are on a list. This list is sought after by both sides, one for death, the other for knowledge. The Collector walks as well, ready to finish the job of stealing souls and moving them on. When Charlie finds his own name on the list, he knows the Collector is on his own trail.
