A Possibility of Violence: A Novel
Detective Avraham “Avi” Avraham returns from an idyllic stay in Brussels with the knowledge that Marianka, a Brussels police officer, will immigrate to Israel to be with him. But a suitcase containing a “fake” bomb found outside a day-care center greets him on his return and makes manifest Avi’s fixation with his last case (The Missing File, 2013). He learns that Ilana, his superior and “rabbi,” wrote a report detailing Ari’s mishandling of the last case, and he is confronted by a prime suspect who is even more emotionally knackered than he is. The owner of the day-care center quickly convinces Avi that she is a liar and possibly a child abuser. Even worse, Marianka isn’t answering her phone, and Ilana, who expresses doubts about Avi’s approach to the new investigation, tells him she will be undergoing treatment for cancer. It’s all nearly too much for self-doubting Avi. The book’s narrative structure may try the patience of some readers, but Avi is a fascinating character, and international-crime fans will enjoy the glimpses of life in Israel. --Thomas Gaughan