Where to Start with D.A. Mishani
For readers new to D.A. Mishani, the best place to begin depends on your preference for series continuity versus standalone suspense. If you want to follow a character's long-term personal and professional growth, start with the first Inspector Avraham Avraham novel, The Missing File (2011). If you prefer a fast-paced, twisting psychological thriller that requires no prior knowledge, the standalone novel Three (2018) is the perfect entry point.
Inspector Avraham Avraham Series in Publication Order
The Inspector Avraham Avraham series (sometimes referred to as the Avi Avraham mysteries) relies heavily on character development, particularly regarding Avraham's mindset, relationships, and standing within the police force. While the mysteries in each book are self-contained, reading them in publication order is highly recommended to appreciate the overarching character arcs.
- The Missing File (2011 / English translation: 2013) — Introduces Inspector Avraham Avraham as he investigates the disappearance of a teenage boy in Holon, Tel Aviv, leading to a haunting exploration of guilt and misdirection.
- A Possibility of Violence (2013 / English translation: 2014) — Avraham deals with a suspected bomb threat near a preschool, confronting community tensions and a complicated web of suspicion.
- The Man Who Wanted to Know Everything (2015 / English translation: 2016) — A complex murder case brings Avraham face-to-face with a crime that echoes his own past investigations and challenges his professional instincts.
- Conviction (Originally published in Hebrew as Emuna, 2021 / English translation: 2022) — In this installment, Avraham investigates two parallel cases involving a newborn left in a hospital bag and the disappearance of a foreign tourist.
Standalone Novels
Mishani has also written standalone fiction that showcases his interest in character-driven psychological tension outside of the procedural format.
- Three (2018 / English translation: 2020) — A highly acclaimed psychological thriller told in three parts, focusing on the lives of three different women (Orna, Emilia, and Ella) in Tel Aviv whose paths cross with a mysterious man named Gil.
- The Penultimate Chance (Originally published in Hebrew as Hizdamnut Lifnei Achrona / German: Nicht, 2026) — Mishani's latest suspense novel, described as a "love thriller," follows a man trying to rebuild his life after the loss of his wife, only to make a critical error that puts his future in jeopardy. The English translation is expected in 2027.
Non-Fiction and Personal Works
- Unheroic War Diary (Originally published in German as Fenster Ohne Aussicht, 2024 / Hebrew, French, and Spanish editions: 2025) — A reflective personal diary addressing the aftermath of the October 7th attacks and the ongoing war in Gaza.
What to Know Before You Start
A Different Kind of Detective
D.A. Mishani wrote the Inspector Avraham Avraham series as a deliberate subversion of Western detective tropes. Avraham is not a superhero; he is an introspective, quiet, and often deeply flawed Mizrahi detective working in Holon, a working-class suburb of Tel Aviv. Mishani avoids sensationalized serial killers, focusing instead on the quiet domestic tragedies and societal tensions of ordinary Israeli life.
Screen Adaptations
Mishani's work has been adapted multiple times for the screen, providing excellent companion viewing for readers:
- Black Tide (Fleuve noir, 2018) — A French feature film adaptation of The Missing File, starring Vincent Cassel and Romain Duris.
- The Missing File (Tik Needar, 2019) — An 8-episode Israeli television series that adapts the plots of both The Missing File and A Possibility of Violence.
- The Calling (2022) — An American television series created by David E. Kelley for Peacock, which adapts The Missing File but relocates the setting to New York City and reimagines Avraham as an NYPD detective.