2023/2 Discussion of D. A. Mishani's The Missing File

[Jan]

Here's the spot to discuss Mishani's The Missing File -- the book we found for the winning genre, which was 'crime fiction preferably Israeli.'

What would you like to tell us about it? What's your takeaway?
Okay to talk about it now; just hold back on "what happened" until others have a chance to read it.

[Maida]

I accidentally discovered a series on Peacock tv - “The Calling” which is based upon “The Missing File”. The protagonist has the same name but he is a detective in New York rather than Tel Aviv. I just watched the first episode and thought it very good.

[LA]

This will be the first book I will read with the group--but I'll be on vacation next week (somewhere warm and sunny!) so I probably will not be chatting until I get back. I look forward to it! -Laurie

[Stacey B]

Maida wrote: "I accidentally discovered a series on Peacock tv - “The Calling” which is based upon “The Missing File”. The protagonist has the same name but he is a detective in New York rather than Tel Aviv. I ..."

Maida,
I had no idea. Read the book, so now I have to watch this.
I'm guessing by your comment, you read the book already or just liked the series?
Have you read any of the others?

[Stacey B]

LA wrote: "This will be the first book I will read with the group--but I'll be on vacation next week (somewhere warm and sunny!) so I probably will not be chatting until I get back. I look forward to it! -Laurie"

LA,
Books will stay, but warmth and sun are temporary.
Enjoy your vacation and have fun.

[Shelley]

I was excited by this choice as I am always on the hunt for a multi-volume mystery series and one set in Israel would be a bonus.
Sad to say, I was disappointed. I didn't find the characters who will be recurring, engaging enough to want to spend more time with them. I won't be specific as I know most people probably haven't read it yet.

[Stacey B]

Shelley wrote: "I was excited by this choice as I am always on the hunt for a multi-volume mystery series and one set in Israel would be a bonus.
Sad to say, I was disappointed. I didn't find the characters who wi..."

Hi Shelley,
I'm sorry .
I think we feel as you do, in that looking forward to reading a book only to be disappointed with it- is a let down . There were three books in that "series" to choose from. There was a reason, (which of course I can't remember) as to why we felt this book would be the better choice at that time.
I think.. we stayed away from the other two because of a sensitivity factor. Jan may remember our reasoning.

[Shelley]

this was volume one so it made sense to start with it as it introduced the characters and gave background. I don't want to daunt anyone else's enjoyment so kept my comments to a minimum.

[Cobwebs-in-Space-Ice]

Synchronistically I own a copy (I'm sure I purchased due to setting) and I am starting immediately, so I will be able to "chime in." I do hope I enjoy it more than did Stacy; the blurb makes it sound exquisite.

[Stacey B]

Cobwebby Eldritch Reading Reindeer wrote: "Synchronistically I own a copy (I'm sure I purchased due to setting) and I am starting immediately, so I will be able to "chime in." I do hope I enjoy it more than did Stacy; the blurb makes it sou..."

Hi Cobwebby,
Might you have confused me with Shelley?
I did enjoyed this book and have read all of them.
My response above was referring to that feeling of disappointment (above) in books we look forward to reading let us down.
I assume but maybe shouldn't, that often happens.
And sometimes it's the books we pick up by accident, or ones we grab just to have a book, turn out to be wonderful.

[Cobwebs-in-Space-Ice]

Oh I am sorry! In one eye and info twists before it reaches my fingers typing!
I'm quite intrigued, though already I want to shake sense into our detective and shout, "Listen up! Don't brush this aside!"

[Stacey B]

Cobwebby Eldritch Reading Reindeer wrote: "Oh I am sorry! In one eye and info twists before it reaches my fingers typing!
I'm quite intrigued, though already I want to shake sense into our detective and shout, "Listen up! Don't brush this a..."

Hi.
Ha, don't be sorry- it happens. I have done it plenty of times.
Give our detective a little time. :)

[Jan]

Taste in books, or simply reaction to a book, can be mysterious! Apparently this one isn't Shelley's cup of tea.

What bothers me in my other (offline) book club is when the people who don't care for a book try to prove the book is unworthy in order to justify their reaction -- a conversation-ender! Thank you for not doing that, Shelley. It happens, though. Very human.

What would the alternative be? Try and figure out what people one respects and cares for see in the book?
Not to change your reaction and not to treat it as the "wrong" reaction, but to see if there's anything to learn from it anyway, maybe?

Been thinking about this a while. 🤔

[LA]

Won't go into plot details, but my only problem with this book is similar to a couple books I've read by another Israeli author, and I'm wondering if it's a translation issue. Although we do learn about the main characters, I feel like there's a semi-opaque wall, or aquarium glass. I feel more distance and aloofness than in most Anglo books. It's not a point of view issue. It might be a difference between Israeli/European vs US writing style. It's a little more literary (but I don't the same issue with more literary American novels.) Wondering if anyone else notices or feels that, or has a better explanation. --Laurie

[Jan]

LA wrote: "Won't go into plot details, but my only problem with this book is similar to a couple books I've read by another Israeli author, and I'm wondering if it's a translation issue. Although we do learn ..."

Thanks for your input, Laurie!
As I haven't read it, will await others' reactions to your comment with interest.

[Stacey B]

LA wrote: "Won't go into plot details, but my only problem with this book is similar to a couple books I've read by another Israeli author, and I'm wondering if it's a translation issue. Although we do learn ..."

Hi. LA,
I read this in 2015. I don't think anything stood out, but I really should peruse it again. That way, I could also try and guess which
author is similar.

[Cobwebs-in-Space-Ice]

I don't think I've read other Israeli (Mystery) authors, but sort of to the point: I've read US and British authors a lot since childhood (including Cornwellian, Welsh, Scottish, Irish), and some Canadian, also Scandinavian. I do think there is some sense of the different nationalities in the writing [again, may be due to translation]. But where I distinctly notice a difference is in Japanese mysteries [which I adore]; I'm almost reminded of the sense of Victorian British "novels of manners." Even in murder mysteries or Horror, Japanese writers seem so delicate and mannered, rather as if we're all enjoying a Tea Party together, with its ritualized motions. Almost as if author and reader are walking on tiptoe.

In The Missing File,
(view spoiler)[ after nearly a quarter of the novel, I am still puzzling why the Inspector/Hero is so restrained. Why so slow to take action? Why so diffident? Ze'ev is also. (hide spoiler)]

[Stacey B]

Cobwebby Eldritch Reading Reindeer wrote: "I don't think I've read other Israeli (Mystery) authors, but sort of to the point: I've read US and British authors a lot since childhood (including Cornwellian, Welsh, Scottish, Irish), and some C..."

I have to say that I agree with the style of many of the Japanese
Mystery/Thriller authors. I think your description is accurate.
Like walking on eggshells.

[Shelley]

for further research on the theory of specific cultures influencing the way mysteries are structured I recommend the Jonathan Dunsky Israel novel series. Ten Years Gone is novel one.
but certainly reviewers and readers refer to genres; eg :Scandinavian mysteries" "classic British mysteries"etc. realistic characters have to reflect their environment so it makes sense.

[Stacey B]

Shelley wrote: "for further research on the theory of specific cultures influencing the way mysteries are structured I recommend the Jonathan Dunsky Israel novel series. Ten Years Gone is novel one.
but certainly ..."

One of my favorites!!

[Shelley]

I liked them all but especially the last one which was a prequel and set in Auschwitz which usually I would avoid. But it filled in so much of the back story of a challenging protagonist. I hope more are on the way.

[Stacey B]

Shelley wrote: "I liked them all but especially the last one which was a prequel and set in Auschwitz which usually I would avoid. But it filled in so much of the back story of a challenging protagonist. I hope mo..."

I believe Jonathan Dunsky is in the middle of writing his next book which will be #8.
If my memory is correct, wasn't his last book "A Death in Jerusalem" and "The Auschwitz Detective" was the book before?
Could be just the order in which you read them. But I remember you commenting that you were saving one of them for an upcoming trip.
??

[Stacey B]

Stacey B wrote: "Shelley wrote: "I liked them all but especially the last one which was a prequel and set in Auschwitz which usually I would avoid. But it filled in so much of the back story of a challenging protag..."

Yes, it was a prequel.

[Shelley]

you are correct, Death in Jerusalem came after the Auschwitz Detective. 7 books in the series so far.
for reasons that are personally challenging I am not able to go on any trips for the foreseeable future. I can however read at home so finish that book please Jonathan! I think I learned about this series from this site?

[Maggie]

I rarely stop reading a book before the end, but I gave up on this one after about 100 pages. The protagonist detective, depressed and apparently friendless, spends far more time on his inner life than he does on investigating the mystery of the missing teenage boy, never mind actually solving it. I don't know which was less interesting, his inner life or what might have happened to the boy. And don't get me started on the weird neighbor who may or may not have any useful evidence, but the story follows him anyway.

[Cobwebs-in-Space-Ice]

I finished it, but unfortunately I am not inspired to continue. The settings are intriguing, but the feckless detective and the teacher/neighbor are in no way appealing. My big problem with this novel is (view spoiler)[the horrible denouement, which, if it wasn't bad enough, is elaborated and twisted into an even worse, sickening, scenario! Soured my stomach and tremendously upset me. (hide spoiler)]

I shall eagerly look for the series recommended above; but no more of this series. (Re: Jonathan Dunsky)

[LA]

I want to start commenting on the book soon, but now I'm even more excited to read Dunsky! I downloaded the e-book from my library! I had it on a TBR list, maybe because I saw it here before.

I share some of the issues discussed above, and the discussion has also helped clarify my own issues with the style.

How do you hide spoilers? I'd like to be able to do that if we're going to get into the last half of the book.

[Jan]

Ten Years Gone is on our bookshelf for July 2020. There are actually two threads to discuss it, Early Thoughts on Jonathan Dunsky's Ten Years Gone - POLL WINNER, and Final conclusions for Jonathan Dunsky's Ten Years Gone - POLL WINNER, if anybody would like to comment further.

You all are making me curious about whether The Missing File would strike me different! If I'm remembering correctly, it's in the library, so I should check it out (literally & figuratively!)....

[Jonathan]

Shelley wrote: "you are correct, Death in Jerusalem came after the Auschwitz Detective. 7 books in the series so far.
for reasons that are personally challenging I am not able to go on any trips for the foreseeabl..."

Hi Shelley,

I am working on book #8. It's going slowly, I'm afraid, because I'm also producing audiobooks for the entire series, and these take a lot of my time.

In the meantime, have you read The Unlucky Woman, the Adam Lapid short story?

Thank you for reading my work.

Jonathan

[Jan]

Well, all the copies are checked out and I'm 4th in the queue. (̶◉͛‿◉̶)

[Jonathan]

LA wrote: "I want to start commenting on the book soon, but now I'm even more excited to read Dunsky! I downloaded the e-book from my library! I had it on a TBR list, maybe because I saw it here before.

I sh..."

To hide spoilers you need to start the spoiler section with this tag < spoiler > and end it with < /spoiler > (just remove the spaces between the word spoiler and the brackets).

[Jan]

Jonathan wrote: ".... To hide spoilers you need to start the spoiler section with this tag < spoiler > and end it with < /spoiler > (just remove the spaces between the word spoiler and the brackets).."

Jonathan, this comment is fine! 😊
I know your ears were burning because they were talking about you as an author, but please restrict your comments about your work to the author threads where you've posted in the past. Thanks so much!

[Jonathan]

Jan wrote: "Jonathan wrote: ".... To hide spoilers you need to start the spoiler section with this tag and end it with (just remove the spaces between the word spoiler and the brackets).."

Jonathan, this co..."

Very well. I edited the comment.

[Jan]

Jonathan wrote: "... Very well. I edited the comment.

Thanks, Jonathan. If you'll read the relevant section of Latest group news from the home page, you'll see the reasoning.

[Cobwebs-in-Space-Ice]

Synchronistically I came upon Ten Years Gone on Hoopla! So I'll be reading it soon.

[Jonathan]

Jan wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "... Very well. I edited the comment.

Thanks, Jonathan. If you'll read the relevant section of Latest group news from the home page, you'll see the reasoning."

Thank you, Jan.

[LA]

Thanks to Jonathan for the HTML. I remember using it on discussion boards many years ago, but did not use the spoiler tag.

I sympathize with Maggie and Cobwebby here, I did not find the characters particularly sympathetic or engaging. There was a little redemption/ interest in the protagonist at the end, probably not enough to get me to continue the series.

I felt like Ze'ev (view spoiler)[ had a Raskolnikov vibe, which was not a bad red herring, but odd. (hide spoiler)]

I suspect some Israeli authors follow a European literary model. There is more "telling" than "showing," certainly compared to modern American fiction. I think that's part of why it feels slow and remote to us. For sure we expect a foreign novel to reflect the local environment and culture, but this "distance" and moodiness is so alien to what most of us know of modern Israeli culture! It feels weird. --Laurie

[Stacey B]

LA wrote: "Thanks to Jonathan for the HTML. I remember using it on discussion boards many years ago, but did not use the spoiler tag.

I sympathize with Maggie and Cobwebby here, I did not find the character..."

I have to say LA that your description using "distance"
is what was missing. It is most definitely not the culture we know.
While I'm in the minority, the book didn't disappoint me as I gave it 3 * Could be that I read two out of the authors three which made me a little more familiar.

[LA]

Stacey B: I'd be comfortable giving it a 3* (average). I would not give it a 4 or 5, which these days seems practically mandatory!

[Cobwebs-in-Space-Ice]

Because we read The Missing File, I just read Ten Years Gone, which I found both fascinating and educational and I definitely recommend. That Series i do intend to continue.

[Stacey B]

Cobwebby Eldritch Reading Reindeer wrote: "Because we read The Missing File, I just read Ten Years Gone, which I found both fascinating and educational and I definitely recommend. That Series i do intend to c..."

Nice choice Cobwebby. That one is the first book in his series.
Curious if you found a difference in the writing style and character portrayal between the two?

[LA]

I am about halfway through Ten Years Gone and it's almost unputdownable (which is saying a lot for me these last years.) If it's okay to compare/ contrast here I'd say yes, huge difference in style and characterization. Main character in TYG is immediately sympathetic. He is characterized by his decisions and actions (as well as the thought processes involved.) There is more sense of immediacy and motivation. Really well done. Missing File MC I feel like he is wandering around thinking a lot, it's hard to feel the MC has a sense of urgency in the investigation...or maybe I'm already starting to forget.

[Jan]

A lot of people on this discussion have been critical of The Missing File.

I haven't read it yet.
There are such things as bad books. That said, you'll find we often disagree about what they are! ☺️

It's true that people from another culture can be opaque to us. So, maybe characters from another culture, too?

If this is a bad or a mediocre book, then why am I having to wait in a library queue while all five copies are checked out? Maybe because of the show? But, then, how come there is a show?

So...maybe the book is mediocre, or the characters too opaque.
On the other hand, maybe this book is more character-driven than plot-driven.

A lot of readers react to character-driven as excessively wordy -- repetitive -- long-winded etc.

I am super into character. Love Daniel Deronda. Deep into To the End of the Land right now.

Maybe what is striking some readers as excess verbiage will totally grab me.

I'll soon find out!

Meanwhile, thank goodness for mysteries. Even thrillers. Even romance. "Gateway" books!

[LA]

I did not perceive this book as particularly character driven. (Also it's genre fiction- mystery- plot driven almost by definition- supposedly.) True enough I do prefer plot driven. But I loved To the End of the Land.
I enjoyed Deronda on video but never read it.

[Jan]

LA wrote: "I did not perceive this book as particularly character driven. (Also it's genre fiction- mystery- plot driven almost by definition- supposedly.) True enough I do prefer plot driven. But I loved To ..."

None of us are purists in this regard, I guess.

I have liked the "cross-over" mysteries, like ... oh, man, can't think of the name right now ... but not so much the "regular" mysteries. I'll come back and post the name of that series when my brain decides to spit it out! 😁

But, somebody did get inspired by the novel to do a show!
I'm curious. Will see how it strikes me!

[Stacey B]

LA wrote: "Stacey B: I'd be comfortable giving it a 3* (average). I would not give it a 4 or 5, which these days seems practically mandatory!"

3* or .. average is fair game. Going by the GR's model, a 3* is "I liked it." I would hope that none of us would rate books at 4 or 5 stars if they truly didn't warrant it. Sure it's subjective but excluding influencers or paid reviewers if that's the case, it does a disservice to the reader who only read for pleasure if they go by reviews. Similar to Amazon :)
Well, lets see how the next poll goes. Hopefully better :)
We appreciate the discussions, keep them coming.

[Jan]

...The series I couldn't think of was Maisie Dobbs, by Jacqueline Winspear. Nothing to do with Judaism, although, actually, was getting up to the time of WWII when I stopped reading it. The author had the character do something, well, out of character, in the service of the plot, and I decided it was time to stop. I read about 12 of them, though. Used to listen during my commute. The main character was born right at the end of the 1800s and lied about her age to serve as a nurse in the Great War. I loved the backstory and the beginning of social mobility in England. And called herself a psychologist and, I guess, a detective. No license or degree needed for nursing or psychology in those days!

I went and looked at the Goodreads stats for The Missing File. The 1st book was rated by almost 1500 readers. I think that may be b/c of the show. Rating average: 3.43 stars -- 12% were 5 stars, 35% were 4 stars, 37%-3 stars, 10%-2 stars, and 3% were 1 star. The Missing File came out in 2011. Not sure when translated, though. Forgot to look. Then the 2nd book was rated by 519 readers--down to about 1/3 of the 1st book. 3.65 stars was average rating. 3rd book rated by 377 readers; 4th in the series came out 1 year ago and hasn't been translated into English.

Btw, I'm the one that pushed Stacey to choose the 1st of the series because it was the only one in my public library. 😏

The author would have to be concerned about the dropping readership. That said, we're not here as a tribunal to lower anybody's readership! The membership had some things to say when one of our authors was perceived as coming down on another author, and I bet if I feel some discomfort with the negativity on this thread, that I'm not the only one. After all, there's that 12% and the 35% for the general Goodreads readership. Opinions, while individual, can sometimes be contagious.

What to do? If a rabbi or prof was leading the discussion, opinions might be stifled out of deferring to their authority, and that wouldn't necessarily be so great either.

While some of you weren't fully pleased with this book, I don't pick up that it's a bad book from which you feel called to warn people away.

What did you get out of this book?
What more did you wish to get out of it?
What did it leave you craving?
Did you learn anything new from this book?
Even if you weren't totally satisfied, what did you enjoy?

[Kerry]

I read this one six years ago and was engaged enough to read the other two books in the series in 2018, gave them all 4 stars. I also read his Three.
My comment from back then: 'I enjoyed this, it's more cerebral than action packed.'
Of interest is that Mishani is also a literature scholar, specializing in the history of detective fiction. There's a comment he makes in an interview: 'But in Israel, the protagonists have always been 'the soldier' or 'the spy.' Traditionally members of the police in Israel were Sephardic Jews. They often came from lower classes. It was — I think maybe it's changing now — but it was very difficult to conceive of a police officer as a hero." ...when I started The Missing File, I told myself that instead of a detective who frames people, I want a detective who acquits people — who sees people as innocent, not as guilty. This is, in fact, Avraham's problem. He believes everyone is innocent. '
I'm reminded now of the 1971 Israeli film 'The Policeman' by Kishon.

Will be looking out for Jonathan's books.
I'm also a fan of Daniel Deronda and To the End of the Land.

[Jan]

Kerry wrote: "I read this one six years ago and was engaged enough to read the other two books in the series in 2018, gave them all 4 stars. I also read his Three.
My comment from back then: 'I e..."

Thanks, Kerry. Very helpful! I wasn't aware of those class differences and of the likelihood that a policeman would be Sephardic, so I'm glad to know that for when my book comes through at the library. Also thanks for the heads-up on the "cerebral" aspect.

Lacking knowledge of this background could throw off an American reader I guess. Thanks for the input on the author.

If I had to be the subject of a police investigation, I'd certainly appreciate being thought innocent!

I wonder if anyone else has seen "The Policeman?"

[LA]

Yes, Kerry's comment makes a lot of sense. I don't think I knew that police are disproportionately Sephardim/ Mizrahim but it fits, especially since it's set in Holon (rather than, say, North Tel Aviv.) And a great insight as to why policemen were not the good guys.

By the way, has anyone seen The Good Policeman / Hashoter Hatov on Netfix? It's also a bit of cultural dislocation- humor doesn't always translate, but it's fun. They do talk a bit about Mizrahi culture. (Just the opening makes me laugh.)

I have not seen The Policeman, though.