Book review: A possibility of Violence by D A Mishani. A tense novel set in Tel Aviv, written with an appealing touch of Scandi style

This is the second novel featuring Inspector Avraham, who has just returned from Brussels after a long break.  He’s restless and keen to be back at work despite the echoes of failure from his last case.

 

 

A fake bomb is found in an old suitcase near a nursery and a suspect is caught running away from the scene.  The suspect has a good alibi so Avraham casts his net wider finding that Chaim Sara, one of the parents at the nursery recently argued with the nursery owner, because he thought his son was being bullied.  The story switches between Avraham and Sara’s points of view and the suspicion in the reader’s mind about Jenny, Sara’s absent wife are soon confirmed.

 

Whilst Avraham’s investigation proves that Sara had no involvement in the fake bomb, Avraham is absolutely convinced that Sara is responsible for harming Jenny and Sara’s two young sons are also in danger.  Shortly afterwards, the nursery owner is brutally assaulted so Avraham juggles the fake bomb case with decisions about what action to take about Sara and his plans to leave Israel with his two sons.  His superior says that no action I required as there is no evidence against Sara and that Avraham is chasing ghosts from his last case.  A real dilemma for Avraham who is convinced there is more than just a possibility of violence.

It’s interesting that Henning Mankell has commented positively about Mishani’s writing.  There’s a lot here that reminds me of early Mankell, particularly the way that important clues come in single sentences that you can miss if you’re reading too quickly and seeing the deeply personal inner thoughts of key characters, but only oblique clues about other people or important events in the past.  Avraham is also an interesting character, struggling with his personal life and recent professional failure, trying to be objective about the current case to avoid a new tragedy.

So, to sum up – a serious novel - no cosy or comic elements here, and to me it has a touch of Scandi style in the writing.  Definitely worth a try.

Romancrimeblogger