A Possibility of Violence: A Novel

Haunted by the past and his own limitations, Israeli Detective Avraham Avraham must stop a criminal ruthless enough to target children in this evocative and gripping tale of mystery and psychological suspense that is the follow-up to The Missing File, the acclaimed first novel in D. A. Mishani’s literary crime series that was shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger Award.

An explosive device is found in a suitcase near a daycare center in a quiet suburb of Tel Aviv. A few hours later, a threat is received: the suitcase was only the beginning.

Inspector Avraham Avraham, back in Israel after a much-needed vacation, is assigned to the investigation. Tormented by the trauma and failure of his past case, Avraham is determined not to make the same mistakes—especially with innocent lives at stake. He may have a break when one of the suspects, a father of two, appears to have gone on the run. Is he the terrorist behind the threat? Is he trying to escape Avraham’s intense investigation? Or perhaps he’s fleeing a far more terrible crime that no one knows has been committed?

No matter how much Avraham wants to atone for the past, redemption may not be possible—not when he’s entangled in a case more deceptive and abominable than any he’s ever faced.

A fake suitcase bomb discovered in suburban Tel Aviv turns out to be only the first strand in an all-too- real web of deceit and malevolence.

A witness sees a man with a limp abandon a suitcase near a suburban Tel Aviv daycare center. The explosive device it contains turns out to be a dud, but a few hours after the discovery, the daycare receives a phone call: The suitcase is only the beginning.

Although the police are quick to finger a known felon as a suspect, Detective Avraham Avraham is not convinced after he volunteers to conduct the interrogation. So he returns to the quiet streets of this family-friendly neighborhood in his search for answers, treating no one—not the teacher, not the children's parents—above suspicion.

Despite his colleagues' dismissals, Avraham keeps coming back to one man. A father of two, Avraham's person of interest does not seem like the criminal type . . . until he suddenly vanishes, and jagged holes start appearing in his story. Much to Avraham's frustration, each development appears to take him further and further away from the answers he so desperately seeks.

Told from alternating perspectives, A Possibility of Violence is the heart-pounding story of one man on the run with a tenacious and persistent police detective in pursuit.

“The sense of place here is fascinating (Tel Aviv’s suburbs seem both familiar and exotic), and the focus on Avi’s state of mind, which is plumbed continuously, brings psychological depth. Procedural details are intriguing, too, suggesting that policing, at least in Holon, is a more humane enterprise than in the U.S. Armchair-traveler crime aficionados will welcome Mishani’s debut and look forward to Avi’s return.” - Booklist on The Missing File

“THE MISSING FILE is a wonderfully satisfying detective mystery, with a heartbreaking finale. A tense, gripping page-turner that I devoured in two days—it’s hard to believe it’s a debut.” - S.J. Watson, New York Times bestselling author of Before I Go to Sleep on The Missing File

“An outstanding first novel. . . . Mishani puts his expertise in the genre to good use in combining the procedural and the puzzle with artful misdirection.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Missing File

“A compelling debut in a complex case aimed straight at the reader’s heart.” - Kirkus Reviews on The Missing File

“Part of the freshness of Mr. Mishani’s novel comes from its striking locale, [and] part from the way the story is told through alternating points of view (Avraham’s and his chief suspects).” - Wall Street Journal

“In Mishani’s riveting second novel, the formula works, and works well, but before too long the reader realizes that the formula is left far behind…Mishani’s characters are finely wrought…. Highly recommended…. Mishani’s novel is required reading.” - Jewish Week

“Lovely writing drew me in from the first chilling section…the atmosphere is wonderful.” - Suspense Magazine

“… A stellar sequel…Mishani makes good use of his study of the genre to create another psychologically complex case, in the process deepening his lead character.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for The Missing File: “Impressive! . . . Dror Mishani writes with profound originality.” - Henning Mankell, author of the Kurt Wallander series

“[A] solid brainteaser…. satisfying…. a thoughtful character study of a good man deeply troubled by issues of innocence and guilt.” - Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

“Avi is a fascinating character, and international-crime fans will enjoy the glimpses of life in Israel.” - Booklist