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Line Up
This #1 bestselling author in Israel makes his American debut with this superbly plotted, uncompromising crime thriller, set in Tel Aviv, involving mistaken identity, organized crime, a disgraced detective looking for redemption, a tireless young reporter, and an innocent man with a not-so-innocent past who is on the lam
A brutal rape in a quiet Tel Aviv neighborhood has the police baffled. Detective Eli Nahum is eager to wrap up the high-profile case and sees an easy conviction when the victim's angry father delivers a likely suspect.
But Ziv Nevo isn't a rapist. He's a hired hand for a notorious mafia boss, and he's not going to tell the cops why he was really near the crime scene. When the case is thrown out on a procedural technicality, Nahum is fired, Nevo goes free, and the mob smells a rat.
Then another rape occurs. Certain its Nevo, the cops are determined to see him to prison-unless the mob sends him to the grave first. On the run with his wife in the desert, an innocent man has one chance to survive-a disgraced former detective named Nahum who's determined to find the truth at any cost.
A brutal rape in a quiet Tel Aviv neighborhood has the police baffled. Detective Eli Nahum is eager to wrap up the high-profile case and sees an easy conviction when the victim's angry father delivers a likely suspect.
But Ziv Nevo isn't a rapist. He's a hired hand for a notorious mafia boss, and he's not going to tell the cops why he was really near the crime scene. When the case is thrown out on a procedural technicality, Nahum is fired, Nevo goes free, and the mob smells a rat.
Then another rape occurs. Certain its Nevo, the cops are determined to see him to prison-unless the mob sends him to the grave first. On the run with his wife in the desert, an innocent man has one chance to survive-a disgraced former detective named Nahum who's determined to find the truth at any cost.
306 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
37 people are currently reading
511 people want to read
About the author
Liad Shoham
36 books23 followersLiad Shoham (Hebrew: ליעד שהם) is an Israeli writer and lawyer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
November 3, 2014
While walking home one evening, Adi Regev is attacked and raped. After her parents found her and made her come forward, her father set up camp outside her apartment intent on catching the man responsible. Ziv Nevo was kind of in the wrong place at the wrong time. But even though he's not the man who raped Adi, he was up to something when he was caught in her neighborhood. Inspector Eli Nachum is under pressure to close the case quickly. He's certain that they have their man but when Adi recants her statement, he's not sure what to do next.
This is the first of Liad Shoham's novels to be translated into English, readers, and I certainly hope it's not the last! LINEUP reads at literal breakneck speed. I've read some quick books - and a lot of one sitting books - but this is the first I've read in a while that progressed quite this quickly. I read about 70 pages while hubs watched Colbert!
LINEUP raises some interesting questions. First, the nosy neighbor who witnesses the whole thing. At what point do you step in? Sure, she's willing to report a guy who doesn't pick up after his dog, but all in all the reader can't totally fault a retiree living on her own who's scared to come forward. But of course what comes later could have been completely avoided if she had. (Slippery slope!)
Second, Adi goes along with both her father and Nachum at first. It's understandable that she so desperately wants to put the whole thing behind her but she makes a pretty grave mistake. Her father's motivations are seemingly pure - he just wants to take care of his daughter, but at the expense of someone else? And Nachum, while he's sure that Ziv is guilty, knows that they don't have the evidence to keep him. Nachum is so convinced, though, that he's willing to risk everything just to close the case with a conviction.
And that's all in the first third of the book!
I loved the alternating viewpoints. I thought Shoham excelled at creating a cast of very different characters with very clearly unique viewpoints throughout the story. Too often I've seen authors try their hand at multiples like this only to result in the same voice out of a handful of people. Definitely not the case here. Adi, her father, Nachum, Ziv, and Amit (the reporter I haven't mentioned until now) each clearly stand out against one another.
Since this is translated from Hebrew, I have to give a little space to Sara Kitai. Her translation here is flawless. It's been ages since I've read a book translated quite this well (no hang ups, no odd phrasing). Lineup reads smooth and easy thanks to her work.
All in all, LINEUP is a pretty excellent thriller on all levels. Shoham's research and personal knowledge plays a huge role as well, giving the reader a really fantastic look at how the system works in Israel.
This is the first of Liad Shoham's novels to be translated into English, readers, and I certainly hope it's not the last! LINEUP reads at literal breakneck speed. I've read some quick books - and a lot of one sitting books - but this is the first I've read in a while that progressed quite this quickly. I read about 70 pages while hubs watched Colbert!
LINEUP raises some interesting questions. First, the nosy neighbor who witnesses the whole thing. At what point do you step in? Sure, she's willing to report a guy who doesn't pick up after his dog, but all in all the reader can't totally fault a retiree living on her own who's scared to come forward. But of course what comes later could have been completely avoided if she had. (Slippery slope!)
Second, Adi goes along with both her father and Nachum at first. It's understandable that she so desperately wants to put the whole thing behind her but she makes a pretty grave mistake. Her father's motivations are seemingly pure - he just wants to take care of his daughter, but at the expense of someone else? And Nachum, while he's sure that Ziv is guilty, knows that they don't have the evidence to keep him. Nachum is so convinced, though, that he's willing to risk everything just to close the case with a conviction.
And that's all in the first third of the book!
I loved the alternating viewpoints. I thought Shoham excelled at creating a cast of very different characters with very clearly unique viewpoints throughout the story. Too often I've seen authors try their hand at multiples like this only to result in the same voice out of a handful of people. Definitely not the case here. Adi, her father, Nachum, Ziv, and Amit (the reporter I haven't mentioned until now) each clearly stand out against one another.
Since this is translated from Hebrew, I have to give a little space to Sara Kitai. Her translation here is flawless. It's been ages since I've read a book translated quite this well (no hang ups, no odd phrasing). Lineup reads smooth and easy thanks to her work.
All in all, LINEUP is a pretty excellent thriller on all levels. Shoham's research and personal knowledge plays a huge role as well, giving the reader a really fantastic look at how the system works in Israel.
March 15, 2020
A crime thriller(?) set in Israel. Full of 2D characters, hackneyed plot and who cares what happens scenes. Maybe the virus alerts have affected my mood but I couldn't say this was one to recommend.
August 28, 2013
I read a lot of crime fiction from other countries, and having lived throughout the Middle East, including Tel Aviv for a year, I was excited to read this Israeli bestseller. It opens with the rape of a young single woman and shows the trauma this causes her and her parents. Inspector Eli Nachum is assigned the case, and in his eagerness to bring closure for the family, makes an error in judgement that allows the prime suspect off on a technicality and results in his suspension. As he struggles to come to grips with his error, he teams up with a bullied newspaper reporter to try and uncover the truth. Meanwhile, freed suspect has to try to untangle himself from the crime gang that's got their hooks in him.
The excellently-translated story is told from a few different angles (Nachum, the reporter, some lawyers, and the suspect primarily), and if this shades-of-grey, multiple-perspective narrative, and the themes remind you of The Wire, they should. The author has spoken about that show's influence on his work, and it permeates the story, right down to the police politics and namechecking of Comstat. In many ways, the story could be set in any large city -- there's not too much that mark it as specifically Israeli. I suppose one aspect that's germane to the plot is that some of the connections among characters are rooted in their shared Army service. Another is the proximity and primacy of family in the lives of the characters.
The book's a page-turner, but by the end I was left largely unsatisfied. Many of the characters felt rather generic, and many of the subplots (for example, a will-they, won't-they romance between a prosecutor and defense lawyer) felt recycled. But easily the biggest sin is that the plotting relies on several outlandish coincidences in order to work, and that's something that I can't stand. And if you're the kind of person who likes to suss out who the killer is, at a certain point about two-thirds of the way through, it becomes readily apparent who it is, simply because they're the last significant character who hasn't been checked out (plus, there's a pretty obvious clue about them early on). A much more interesting recent Israeli police procedural is D.A. Mishani's The Missing File and I've heard that the Jerusalem-set Avram Cohen series from the 1990s is worthwhile (starting with Crimes of the City). I also highly recommend the film Ajami for an unvarnished look at the criminal side of contemporary Israel.
The excellently-translated story is told from a few different angles (Nachum, the reporter, some lawyers, and the suspect primarily), and if this shades-of-grey, multiple-perspective narrative, and the themes remind you of The Wire, they should. The author has spoken about that show's influence on his work, and it permeates the story, right down to the police politics and namechecking of Comstat. In many ways, the story could be set in any large city -- there's not too much that mark it as specifically Israeli. I suppose one aspect that's germane to the plot is that some of the connections among characters are rooted in their shared Army service. Another is the proximity and primacy of family in the lives of the characters.
The book's a page-turner, but by the end I was left largely unsatisfied. Many of the characters felt rather generic, and many of the subplots (for example, a will-they, won't-they romance between a prosecutor and defense lawyer) felt recycled. But easily the biggest sin is that the plotting relies on several outlandish coincidences in order to work, and that's something that I can't stand. And if you're the kind of person who likes to suss out who the killer is, at a certain point about two-thirds of the way through, it becomes readily apparent who it is, simply because they're the last significant character who hasn't been checked out (plus, there's a pretty obvious clue about them early on). A much more interesting recent Israeli police procedural is D.A. Mishani's The Missing File and I've heard that the Jerusalem-set Avram Cohen series from the 1990s is worthwhile (starting with Crimes of the City). I also highly recommend the film Ajami for an unvarnished look at the criminal side of contemporary Israel.
September 20, 2013
3.5/5
I'm a huge mystery fan - it's definitely my favourite genre. I also enjoy discovering mystery authors from other countries - Scandinavia, Britain, Germany, France - but Liad Shoham is the first Israeli author for me. Shoham is considered to be "Israel’s leading crime writer." Lineup is the first of his books to be translated into English.
Adi Regev is walking home to her apartment in Tel Aviv one night when she brutally attacked and raped. When the police turn up no witnesses or leads, her father Yaron takes it upon himself to stake out her street, to both protect her and perhaps catch the criminal. When Ziv Nevo is caught skulking around the neighbourhood, he is sure he is the rapist. Yaron takes his findings to Inspector Eli Nachum. Nachum, under pressure to close the case, goes against his own better judgement and pushes the case through. But it's a costly error.....Ziv is not the rapist - he works for the mob. What was he doing in the street? Now the mob thinks Ziv is a rat, the rapist is still loose and Nachum, well Nachum has messed up big time.
"He'd been hoping his success with this case would finally prove to everyone that he knew what he was doing, that he wasn't ready to be put out to pasture."
Lineup is told from three points of view - that of Nachum, Ziv and an reporter named Amit. I was torn on Nachum - on the one hand I wanted to like him - he's older, worked hard to get where he is and seems to care about his work. But the choices he made and even his plan to rectify things didn't put me on his side. Surprisingly, the character I did like the most was Ziv, despite his criminal activity. Amit again was another difficult call. Intially I thought he was being taken advantage of, but I ended up putting him in the same camp as Nachum.
Now having said all that, you don't to like the characters to to enjoy the story. Shoham's premise is a good one, inventive and different. I was quite curious as to how it would all play out. I did find that I had figured out whodunit before the reveal though. There were some coincidences and omissions that make the path to the solution that much easier. Still, I found Lineup kept me engaged and turning pages until the end.
Lineup was an interesting read - I enjoyed the legal and procedural details. Shoham is an attorney himself and his insider knowledge gave the book that added ring of realism. I enjoyed a setting that was new to this reader and a look at Israeli life.
Lineup was translated from Hebrew by Sara Kitai. She did an excellent job - there were no wooden words or awkward phrasing.
I'm a huge mystery fan - it's definitely my favourite genre. I also enjoy discovering mystery authors from other countries - Scandinavia, Britain, Germany, France - but Liad Shoham is the first Israeli author for me. Shoham is considered to be "Israel’s leading crime writer." Lineup is the first of his books to be translated into English.
Adi Regev is walking home to her apartment in Tel Aviv one night when she brutally attacked and raped. When the police turn up no witnesses or leads, her father Yaron takes it upon himself to stake out her street, to both protect her and perhaps catch the criminal. When Ziv Nevo is caught skulking around the neighbourhood, he is sure he is the rapist. Yaron takes his findings to Inspector Eli Nachum. Nachum, under pressure to close the case, goes against his own better judgement and pushes the case through. But it's a costly error.....Ziv is not the rapist - he works for the mob. What was he doing in the street? Now the mob thinks Ziv is a rat, the rapist is still loose and Nachum, well Nachum has messed up big time.
"He'd been hoping his success with this case would finally prove to everyone that he knew what he was doing, that he wasn't ready to be put out to pasture."
Lineup is told from three points of view - that of Nachum, Ziv and an reporter named Amit. I was torn on Nachum - on the one hand I wanted to like him - he's older, worked hard to get where he is and seems to care about his work. But the choices he made and even his plan to rectify things didn't put me on his side. Surprisingly, the character I did like the most was Ziv, despite his criminal activity. Amit again was another difficult call. Intially I thought he was being taken advantage of, but I ended up putting him in the same camp as Nachum.
Now having said all that, you don't to like the characters to to enjoy the story. Shoham's premise is a good one, inventive and different. I was quite curious as to how it would all play out. I did find that I had figured out whodunit before the reveal though. There were some coincidences and omissions that make the path to the solution that much easier. Still, I found Lineup kept me engaged and turning pages until the end.
Lineup was an interesting read - I enjoyed the legal and procedural details. Shoham is an attorney himself and his insider knowledge gave the book that added ring of realism. I enjoyed a setting that was new to this reader and a look at Israeli life.
Lineup was translated from Hebrew by Sara Kitai. She did an excellent job - there were no wooden words or awkward phrasing.
April 18, 2014
This novel is the first to be published in the US by Liad Shohan, an Israeli attorney and the author of five best-selling novels in his native country, apparently considered “the Israeli John Grisham.” I was immediately intrigued by the setting, and by the protagonists, for the book presents wonderful character studies of three men: Amit Giladi, a would-be investigative journalist who’d been covering crime and education for the local Tel Aviv paper for 7-1/2 months; Police Inspector Eli Nachum; and Ziv Nevo, a man who in the last eighteen months had lost his job and his wife.
A brutal rape in a quiet Tel Aviv neighborhood leads to the arrest of Nevo by Inspector Eli Nachum and Giladi is sent by his editor, in the most urgent terms, to cover the story and get a scoop for the paper. There is no evidence, forensic or otherwise, and the girl couldn’t see the face of her attacker, but Nachum is led to Nevo when the victim’s father, who had been haunting the street where the daughter lived in the firm belief that the attacker would be back looking for another victim, sees him on the same street, acting suspiciously, a stalker, and becomes convinced that he is the one they are seeking; he soon convinces Nachum as well. The problem arises when that certainty leads to a fatally contaminated lineup: The father had followed and taken photos of Nevo after spotting him on the scene, and shown his daughter the photos, and Nachum knows this. Nevo, guilty of something totally unrelated to the rape, shows clear signs of having done something about which he is keeping silent, and does not divulge what he was doing on that street that night. With the best of intentions and determined to prevent another young woman from suffering the same fate, Nachum sees to it that the man is convicted of the crime, determined to “do whatever it took to put the rapist behind bars.”
The tale is well written (despite the fact that the first half felt as it needed some judicious editing). It is a compelling plot, and the characters are ones that this reader came to care about. I will be certain to watch for the next book from this author, and the book is recommended.
A brutal rape in a quiet Tel Aviv neighborhood leads to the arrest of Nevo by Inspector Eli Nachum and Giladi is sent by his editor, in the most urgent terms, to cover the story and get a scoop for the paper. There is no evidence, forensic or otherwise, and the girl couldn’t see the face of her attacker, but Nachum is led to Nevo when the victim’s father, who had been haunting the street where the daughter lived in the firm belief that the attacker would be back looking for another victim, sees him on the same street, acting suspiciously, a stalker, and becomes convinced that he is the one they are seeking; he soon convinces Nachum as well. The problem arises when that certainty leads to a fatally contaminated lineup: The father had followed and taken photos of Nevo after spotting him on the scene, and shown his daughter the photos, and Nachum knows this. Nevo, guilty of something totally unrelated to the rape, shows clear signs of having done something about which he is keeping silent, and does not divulge what he was doing on that street that night. With the best of intentions and determined to prevent another young woman from suffering the same fate, Nachum sees to it that the man is convicted of the crime, determined to “do whatever it took to put the rapist behind bars.”
The tale is well written (despite the fact that the first half felt as it needed some judicious editing). It is a compelling plot, and the characters are ones that this reader came to care about. I will be certain to watch for the next book from this author, and the book is recommended.
July 19, 2017
ספר מתח מעולה. העלילה לא צפויה, והסוף ממש מוצלח. הספר הכי טוב של ליעד שהם שקראתי עד כה.
August 16, 2013
Lineup by the Israeli author Liad Shoham is a great mystery and thriller. It had me on the edge of my seat and it held my attention throughout. I didn't want to put it down.
The premise of this book is that a grunt named Ziv Nevo is falsely accused of raping a woman. He is found on the street where the rape took place but he is there for other suspicious reasons, ones that involve criminal activities that he doesn't want to talk about. The detective who arrests and accuses Nevo, Nachum, gets in big trouble because the arrest is not done by the book. He gets put on suspension but he continues to investigate the case. He will not stop until he finds the rapist and puts him away.
This is not only a police procedural but a look at the culture of Israel. It is also a thriller as it involves the criminal activities of the underworld. It has many twists and turns and the plot is complex and worthy of a very good mystery.
I applaud the translator, Sara Kitai, for making the book a smooth and enjoyable read. I hope that more of Shoham's books get translated into English. I, for one, would read them all.
The premise of this book is that a grunt named Ziv Nevo is falsely accused of raping a woman. He is found on the street where the rape took place but he is there for other suspicious reasons, ones that involve criminal activities that he doesn't want to talk about. The detective who arrests and accuses Nevo, Nachum, gets in big trouble because the arrest is not done by the book. He gets put on suspension but he continues to investigate the case. He will not stop until he finds the rapist and puts him away.
This is not only a police procedural but a look at the culture of Israel. It is also a thriller as it involves the criminal activities of the underworld. It has many twists and turns and the plot is complex and worthy of a very good mystery.
I applaud the translator, Sara Kitai, for making the book a smooth and enjoyable read. I hope that more of Shoham's books get translated into English. I, for one, would read them all.
September 22, 2016
מאוד נהנתי מהספר הזה של ליעד שוהם. לא פסגת המותחנים, אך עדין קצבי עם עלילה ראליסטית ומדאיגה שיש בה יותר משמץ אמת על התנהלות המשטרה והפרקליטות.
הפריע לי הסוף שלו, שנראה מצוץ מהאצבע ויש בו גם משהו לא אמין בבחירת הדמות של האנס, אבל עדין יתר הפרטים והעלילה, ההסתבכות של זיו נבו, ההסתבכות של החוקר הראשי בתיק, הטיוח של המשטרה והסדר הפשרה נראים אמיתיים עד זרא ודאגה.
אין ספק שליעד שוהם מכיר את הסצנה. אני חושבת שיותר אהבתי את אם המושבות שלו שהיה בעיניי יותר אמין מ��חינת תפירת הסיום.
הפריע לי הסוף שלו, שנראה מצוץ מהאצבע ויש בו גם משהו לא אמין בבחירת הדמות של האנס, אבל עדין יתר הפרטים והעלילה, ההסתבכות של זיו נבו, ההסתבכות של החוקר הראשי בתיק, הטיוח של המשטרה והסדר הפשרה נראים אמיתיים עד זרא ודאגה.
אין ספק שליעד שוהם מכיר את הסצנה. אני חושבת שיותר אהבתי את אם המושבות שלו שהיה בעיניי יותר אמין מ��חינת תפירת הסיום.
March 19, 2018
I purchased this book used although I never read or heard of Liad, but found out after that this is the 1st book he wrote that was translated into English for sale in North America.
The translation into English was excellent and no need to reread anything to figure out what was going on.
Based on this book I have ordered another book by Liad.
This book for me was a one day read as its just 306 pages and a page turner at that.
The translation into English was excellent and no need to reread anything to figure out what was going on.
Based on this book I have ordered another book by Liad.
This book for me was a one day read as its just 306 pages and a page turner at that.
August 24, 2022
קריאה חוזרת *מסתבר*
ואני מתה על ליעד שהם אז פשוט אהבתי הכל
ואני מתה על ליעד שהם אז פשוט אהבתי הכל
November 4, 2013
This is the first time I am reading a novel that takes place in Israel. I have always been told to stay away from books from Israeli author's because of the translation.
Either, they never head of this author before, Liad Shoham, or we were told wrong. Because Line Up, is terrific. It gets you at the first sentence and grabs you, and it doesn't let you go.
I don't know much what comes out of Israel. But, what I do know it is used to be there was limited books translated to English. But, now it seems that there are more authors able to be translated and read by English speaking language.
I am very happy I read this book. There is many twists and turns, and holds your attention.
It starts in Tel Aviv, Israel,with the noisy neighbor watching out in the wee hours of the morning making sure that he picks up after his dog.
Sara Glazer, notices a struggle, she realizes it is more sinister, it is a rape. But, she keeps her mouth closed. Can she identify the man? Who knows.
But, what we do know is Adi Regav has been raped brutally. After the rape she and her family will never be the same. Adi, is a single, independent woman. She is terrified every day, wondering what is lurking outside her window. Her father,Yaron sits and waits outside of her apartment building, waiting there to protect his daughter.
One night, while he is sitting out in his car, while he's daughter is in her apartment. Yaron notices something strange. A man is following a woman. He thinks to himself definitely, this is the same man that raped my daughter. He bring him to justice. But, not everything seems as it should.
The man picked up is, Ziv. He works for a mafia mob boss. But, he is mistakenly picked up, and accused of a different crime. At first that is what Ziv thinks. But, then realizes they are accusing him of something else.
He is not going to tell the police what really went down. He is released on a technicality. The mafia is looking for him. But, luckily Ziv is one step ahead of them. This is when it gets exciting.
That is all I am going to reveal. Because if I reveal too much more I will ruin it for you.
This is not my type of book. I usually read literary fiction, or historical fiction. But, when TLC book tours asked me if I was interested, I jumped at the chance.
For years I wanted to read something from my "tribe". But,there wasn't anything that took my fancy. I am so glad, that TLC Book Tours contacted me.
I was in the need of a fun book. I have not found any good books to read lately. But, this one hits the spot if you are in the mood of a fun, beach read.
One thing, I have noticed not putting the author down. The writing is not flowery, or pretty. It is simple writing, like you were reading a newspaper. The author doesn't trick you. He gets to the point. This book doesn't make you think, and question. Just read it for what it is.
Either, they never head of this author before, Liad Shoham, or we were told wrong. Because Line Up, is terrific. It gets you at the first sentence and grabs you, and it doesn't let you go.
I don't know much what comes out of Israel. But, what I do know it is used to be there was limited books translated to English. But, now it seems that there are more authors able to be translated and read by English speaking language.
I am very happy I read this book. There is many twists and turns, and holds your attention.
It starts in Tel Aviv, Israel,with the noisy neighbor watching out in the wee hours of the morning making sure that he picks up after his dog.
Sara Glazer, notices a struggle, she realizes it is more sinister, it is a rape. But, she keeps her mouth closed. Can she identify the man? Who knows.
But, what we do know is Adi Regav has been raped brutally. After the rape she and her family will never be the same. Adi, is a single, independent woman. She is terrified every day, wondering what is lurking outside her window. Her father,Yaron sits and waits outside of her apartment building, waiting there to protect his daughter.
One night, while he is sitting out in his car, while he's daughter is in her apartment. Yaron notices something strange. A man is following a woman. He thinks to himself definitely, this is the same man that raped my daughter. He bring him to justice. But, not everything seems as it should.
The man picked up is, Ziv. He works for a mafia mob boss. But, he is mistakenly picked up, and accused of a different crime. At first that is what Ziv thinks. But, then realizes they are accusing him of something else.
He is not going to tell the police what really went down. He is released on a technicality. The mafia is looking for him. But, luckily Ziv is one step ahead of them. This is when it gets exciting.
That is all I am going to reveal. Because if I reveal too much more I will ruin it for you.
This is not my type of book. I usually read literary fiction, or historical fiction. But, when TLC book tours asked me if I was interested, I jumped at the chance.
For years I wanted to read something from my "tribe". But,there wasn't anything that took my fancy. I am so glad, that TLC Book Tours contacted me.
I was in the need of a fun book. I have not found any good books to read lately. But, this one hits the spot if you are in the mood of a fun, beach read.
One thing, I have noticed not putting the author down. The writing is not flowery, or pretty. It is simple writing, like you were reading a newspaper. The author doesn't trick you. He gets to the point. This book doesn't make you think, and question. Just read it for what it is.
June 23, 2021
CW: yes. Like, SUPER uncomfy throughout. Moderately graphic rape scene, violence against women, "fake" rape/assault/harassment accusations.
Actual rating: 1.5 stars
I have a bad habit of not reading the back cover synopsis of books. I know it sounds like I'm joking, but hear me out. I read a ton of classics or have go-to, no regrets authors. When I learn about a new book, I usually will hear about it online or from a friend and get interested. If I buy the book, I'll probably check the synopsis again and then it will sit on my shelves long enough for me to forget the particulars and then go in blind with only the barest idea of what's happening.
Which is usually fine, because I enjoy my own taste in books!
It's less fine when I randomly pick up books from my parents' bookshelves and read them.
I actually think the premise of this book would have made a great thriller, but it's ruined by having the, basically, throw away crime being a rape. Literally any other premise crime and I'm down, but not for this.
Despite it being a crime that directly targets women, there are only three important female characters in this book who are never on page together. I found the main male characters' backstories to be uninteresting and unsympathetic.
Also, if one more male author/script writer gives the line "my life didn't matter until I had children!" to a woman, I will S C R E A M .
Actual rating: 1.5 stars
I have a bad habit of not reading the back cover synopsis of books. I know it sounds like I'm joking, but hear me out. I read a ton of classics or have go-to, no regrets authors. When I learn about a new book, I usually will hear about it online or from a friend and get interested. If I buy the book, I'll probably check the synopsis again and then it will sit on my shelves long enough for me to forget the particulars and then go in blind with only the barest idea of what's happening.
Which is usually fine, because I enjoy my own taste in books!
It's less fine when I randomly pick up books from my parents' bookshelves and read them.
I actually think the premise of this book would have made a great thriller, but it's ruined by having the, basically, throw away crime being a rape. Literally any other premise crime and I'm down, but not for this.
Despite it being a crime that directly targets women, there are only three important female characters in this book who are never on page together. I found the main male characters' backstories to be uninteresting and unsympathetic.
Also, if one more male author/script writer gives the line "my life didn't matter until I had children!" to a woman, I will S C R E A M .
August 18, 2019
Review from Asia Thrills - https://asiathrills.com/lineup-by-lia...
If you are wanting to read some exciting Israeli crime fiction, this gripping book would surely make a great start.
Inspector Eli Nachum is charged with investigating a violent rape that has left the victim deeply traumatized. He is under considerable pressure to find the offender, even though virtually no evidence remains by the time he begins his enquiries.
However, the victim’s father has set off on his own investigation, and quickly hones in on a suspicious character, Ziv Nevo. The police bring this man in for questioning.
Eventually Nevo admits to the crime, but there is something dubious about his confession. Does he really mean it? Why does the victim keep changing her mind about whether she believes this man to have been the rapist? It doesn’t help that the detective has botched the case, and is now suspended from duty.
One of the beauties of this book is that Shoham tells his story through his many characters. So we go deep into the minds and actions of Nevo, the alleged rapist, as well as of the detective, the victim, the victim’s father, Nevo’s wife, a local journalist, a prosecutor and more.
It makes for a rich and absorbing book, fast-paced but character-driven. I wish more thrillers could be like this.
If you are wanting to read some exciting Israeli crime fiction, this gripping book would surely make a great start.
Inspector Eli Nachum is charged with investigating a violent rape that has left the victim deeply traumatized. He is under considerable pressure to find the offender, even though virtually no evidence remains by the time he begins his enquiries.
However, the victim’s father has set off on his own investigation, and quickly hones in on a suspicious character, Ziv Nevo. The police bring this man in for questioning.
Eventually Nevo admits to the crime, but there is something dubious about his confession. Does he really mean it? Why does the victim keep changing her mind about whether she believes this man to have been the rapist? It doesn’t help that the detective has botched the case, and is now suspended from duty.
One of the beauties of this book is that Shoham tells his story through his many characters. So we go deep into the minds and actions of Nevo, the alleged rapist, as well as of the detective, the victim, the victim’s father, Nevo’s wife, a local journalist, a prosecutor and more.
It makes for a rich and absorbing book, fast-paced but character-driven. I wish more thrillers could be like this.
May 26, 2018
A girl is assaulted and raped in a good Tel Aviv neighbourhood and at first she doesn't want to tell police. Her father forces her to report the crime, resulting in not much evidence since time has passed. The girl's father watches over her apartment every night and a few nights after the rape, notices a suspicious person. He follows this man home and reports him to the police. The father tells his daughter he has found the rapist and when the police bring him in, a faulty line up is performed even though the father has polluted his daughter's mind to think this is her rapist.
The man brought in is Ziv Nevo and is definitely guilty of something. Detective Eli Nahum is desperate to make the rape charge stick. Everyone does the absolute worst thing they possibly could, resulting in a massive mistake with rather tragic consequences.
The book starts off strong, though there are a few characters that all have similar last names making things a tad confusing. However it fizzles out by about 2/3rd the way through. The characters weren't enough to grab you and by the end of the book I didn't really care who the real rapist was.
The man brought in is Ziv Nevo and is definitely guilty of something. Detective Eli Nahum is desperate to make the rape charge stick. Everyone does the absolute worst thing they possibly could, resulting in a massive mistake with rather tragic consequences.
The book starts off strong, though there are a few characters that all have similar last names making things a tad confusing. However it fizzles out by about 2/3rd the way through. The characters weren't enough to grab you and by the end of the book I didn't really care who the real rapist was.
October 25, 2019
This is the third book in my quest to read one detective story set in each country I visit on my 80-day, 8-country wandering—while I was in the country.
Liad Shoham is, according to his bio, the most popular crime novelist in Israel. It isn’t the grab-you-from-the-first-page kind of novel, but the book has it’s strong points. It has a plot that wraps around on itself and does so without asking the reader to suspend his disbelief more than once or twice. The ending is satisfactory.
All in all, if you’re going to Israel, read it. Otherwise, you have better choices.
Liad Shoham is, according to his bio, the most popular crime novelist in Israel. It isn’t the grab-you-from-the-first-page kind of novel, but the book has it’s strong points. It has a plot that wraps around on itself and does so without asking the reader to suspend his disbelief more than once or twice. The ending is satisfactory.
All in all, if you’re going to Israel, read it. Otherwise, you have better choices.
March 6, 2019
Solid pick on a randomly selected book. Two plots that ultimately converge. The setting is in Tel Aviv- wish the author would’ve expounded a lot more this point- initially involves a rape, then enter the mafia and you’re off and running. I will say that I didn’t find Ziv a very sympathetic character though-out. He pretty much put things in motion himself by making a terrible choice and compounding it several times over.
May 16, 2017
This was a great read. Lots of interesting characters, a great interlinking story, and also managed a few surprises along the way. It's a great suspense/crime story. Very well written but I will admit I did have a little trouble keeping up with all the characters as most of their names were unfamiliar to me (the author is Israeli). Plan to read more from this author.
August 2, 2018
I always wonder, with books that have been translated into English from their original language, if I would have enjoyed the writing better if I were able to read it in its native tongue.
July 23, 2019
ספר בנאלי. לא היה בו משהו מיוחד שריגש אותי.
March 2, 2025
Excellent translation. Easy reading and engrossing with good twists and turns with a happy ending.
March 22, 2017
Not to bad. But I did struggle to get into it. Kind of disjointed in places.
December 27, 2021
An experienced detective allows a fraudulent Lineup to go forward in the interest of keeping a rapist off the streets of north Tel Aviv. Of course that blows up and soon the police and lawyers are scrambling for cover from the shrapnel the press and public are throwing at them. They aren’t the only ones trying to cover up their actions. Lineup is a story about cops and justice, mobsters and the many shades of grey humanity comes in. Lineup is a fast paced thriller told from various perspectives. It is a quick read that kept me interested from start to finish.
June 1, 2021
This book was OK. I liked it less as it progressed and the pace slowed down. I found the plot overly convoluted. As the book wrapped up, it was easy to predict the solution to the mystery.
August 23, 2013
Posted First on Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Line Up' by Liad Shoham
Crime is universal, and the subterfuge used to hide from the consequences of ones actions remains purposeful and often unique. Once in a while, well-meaning families looking for ways to rebuild their own sense of safety can obscure the actual villain.
In Line Up by Liad Shoham, we are taken into the streets of Tel Aviv where a brutal rape has occurred. The detective in Charge, Eli Nahum, is ready to move forward, hoping to wrap up a case that could prove to be very high profile. When the father of the victim brings him a suspect, he feels as though the case will move forward with ease.
Ziv Nevo seems to be the most likely suspect. He is near the scene and refuses to give a reason. Yet he knows he is not the rapist. He works for a notorious crime boss, and is now himself in danger, as he struggles to find a way to convince his boss he will not give him up for his own freedom.
When the rush to judgment causes the case to be thrown out, Eli Nahum loses his job, and Ziv is now on the run for his life. Released from jail he must take his family and hide. When another rape occurs, the police are eager to find him. Knowing he escaped judgment for his first crime, they are eager to make him pay for this second brutal rape.
Hiding from both the Mafia and the police with nowhere to turn, Ziv realizes his only choice is to find Eli Nahum and convince him of his innocence. He must do this without giving up the real reason for his presence in the area where the rape occurred. Can he get Nahum, by all accounts to be a great detective, to believe him? Will he be able to stay ahead of the mob connections as he tries to prove his innocence and save his family?
Shoham takes us into the heart of Tel Aviv with descriptions of locales and events that take you there. While the crime is brutal, he gives us the long reaching effect that can occur when things go wrong in an investigation. The lives of the victims family has changed, the hopes and dreams of a police detective are crushed and a man finds his family in danger. To juggle all this and tell a fascinating story, with an outcome that seems unexpected, Liad Shoham has shown a great insight into the fallout of a crime that ensnares more than just the usual suspects.
IF you enjoy mysteries and danger this is a great book for your library. A strong choice for a reading group, they will find a great deal of information for discussion. The description of a county we often only read about takes you there, giving you a view of a place often shrouded in mystery. This only adds to the interest and allure of the novel.
Crime is universal, and the subterfuge used to hide from the consequences of ones actions remains purposeful and often unique. Once in a while, well-meaning families looking for ways to rebuild their own sense of safety can obscure the actual villain.
In Line Up by Liad Shoham, we are taken into the streets of Tel Aviv where a brutal rape has occurred. The detective in Charge, Eli Nahum, is ready to move forward, hoping to wrap up a case that could prove to be very high profile. When the father of the victim brings him a suspect, he feels as though the case will move forward with ease.
Ziv Nevo seems to be the most likely suspect. He is near the scene and refuses to give a reason. Yet he knows he is not the rapist. He works for a notorious crime boss, and is now himself in danger, as he struggles to find a way to convince his boss he will not give him up for his own freedom.
When the rush to judgment causes the case to be thrown out, Eli Nahum loses his job, and Ziv is now on the run for his life. Released from jail he must take his family and hide. When another rape occurs, the police are eager to find him. Knowing he escaped judgment for his first crime, they are eager to make him pay for this second brutal rape.
Hiding from both the Mafia and the police with nowhere to turn, Ziv realizes his only choice is to find Eli Nahum and convince him of his innocence. He must do this without giving up the real reason for his presence in the area where the rape occurred. Can he get Nahum, by all accounts to be a great detective, to believe him? Will he be able to stay ahead of the mob connections as he tries to prove his innocence and save his family?
Shoham takes us into the heart of Tel Aviv with descriptions of locales and events that take you there. While the crime is brutal, he gives us the long reaching effect that can occur when things go wrong in an investigation. The lives of the victims family has changed, the hopes and dreams of a police detective are crushed and a man finds his family in danger. To juggle all this and tell a fascinating story, with an outcome that seems unexpected, Liad Shoham has shown a great insight into the fallout of a crime that ensnares more than just the usual suspects.
IF you enjoy mysteries and danger this is a great book for your library. A strong choice for a reading group, they will find a great deal of information for discussion. The description of a county we often only read about takes you there, giving you a view of a place often shrouded in mystery. This only adds to the interest and allure of the novel.
July 30, 2016
This is a perfect summer read: a crime novel with a fast-moving plot and a satisfying resolution. Just as with The Missing File, this was a free sample which I received while I was teaching the History of Mystery course; it also is written in Israel and takes place in Tel Aviv. As with The Missing File, the setting really didn't affect my understanding of the book, though names could be confusing, making it hard to tell which characters were male and female. Tel Aviv society seems very similar to American, and though I'm no expert, it seems as though their legal systems are very similar.
The main character, Ziv, is falsely accused of a brutal rape. Of course, he'd been up to no good when he is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, and finds himself unable to explain himself for fear of getting in trouble with some fearsome bad guys. The narrative view shifts constantly among a host of characters . Though this does make it a little confusing at times (I almost wanted a chart of characters), it shows a web of conflicting interests: innocent victims both of the crime and the man accused; an older policeman who needs to prove the worth of his ethical, old fashioned style in the face of media interaction and demands; lawyers on both sides who are overworked and understaffed; judges and police officials who have quotas to meet and a media which demands instant resolution to each problem; mob officials who have their own political agenda; and a young news reporter looking for a break.
The initial catalyst is the father of the rape victim; convinced that he has found the perpetrator, he preps her for the lineup with a picture he has taken. This is in violation of procedure, something he didn't know, and poses a problem for the investigator. Thus you have people like Ziv who make mistakes which have deadly consequences, and the personnel involved in justice who each do something which is not quite right but feel hamstrung and unwilling to confess their own mishandling of the situation. The plot uses the very familiar device of the seasoned investigator who is thorough but not tech and media savvy in conflict with a younger, more careless and superficial generation . It sums up a tension seen in many modern crime stories and underscores the problem brought on by the public's constant need to know.
The main character, Ziv, is falsely accused of a brutal rape. Of course, he'd been up to no good when he is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, and finds himself unable to explain himself for fear of getting in trouble with some fearsome bad guys. The narrative view shifts constantly among a host of characters . Though this does make it a little confusing at times (I almost wanted a chart of characters), it shows a web of conflicting interests: innocent victims both of the crime and the man accused; an older policeman who needs to prove the worth of his ethical, old fashioned style in the face of media interaction and demands; lawyers on both sides who are overworked and understaffed; judges and police officials who have quotas to meet and a media which demands instant resolution to each problem; mob officials who have their own political agenda; and a young news reporter looking for a break.
The initial catalyst is the father of the rape victim; convinced that he has found the perpetrator, he preps her for the lineup with a picture he has taken. This is in violation of procedure, something he didn't know, and poses a problem for the investigator. Thus you have people like Ziv who make mistakes which have deadly consequences, and the personnel involved in justice who each do something which is not quite right but feel hamstrung and unwilling to confess their own mishandling of the situation. The plot uses the very familiar device of the seasoned investigator who is thorough but not tech and media savvy in conflict with a younger, more careless and superficial generation . It sums up a tension seen in many modern crime stories and underscores the problem brought on by the public's constant need to know.
September 24, 2013
Lineup by Liad Shoham is the American debut of the Israeli author. Shoham is a practicing attorney and has written five bestsellers in Israel.
A quiet Tel-Aviv street is rocked by a brutal rape which leaves the police baffled since no eyewitnesses, clues or suspects exist. The victim’s father refuses to admit defeat and starts his own investigation when he notices a man acting strangely in the vicinity of his daughter’s apartment.
The man, Ziv Nevo, seems to be guilty by circumstantial evidence and it seems that everyone wants him to pay a price for the crime he didn’t commit. His mafia bosses, his co-workers, even the police are all doing their best to keep Ziv in jail.
Lineup by Liad Shoham is a fast and absorbing police procedural. The story is told, mainly, from the view point of three people: Nachum, an old school cop, Ziv the condemned criminal and Amit, a reporter.
If I had to pinpoint a protagonist it would be Nachum and he makes a very engaging character. Nachum is a career policeman who has seen the force change over the course of decades and struggles with his own morals on a daily basis. He longs for simpler days when a cop didn’t have to worry about cold statistics and the media; the days when police officers weren’t busy fudging numbers and concentrated more on getting hard evidence against hardened criminals.
The “bad guy”, Ziv, is written as a man who has fallen off the beaten path and is plagued by both bad decisions and bad luck. Mr. Shoham has fun with his characters, a tough prosecutor who knows how to haggle with the defense, a mob boss and his soldiers and a newspaper editor who is a cub journalist’s worst nightmare.
Lineup is a satisfying read, an enjoyable detective story with interesting characters. This is a solid book and I’m looking forward to read more of Mr. Shoham’s work.
Disclaimer: I got this book for free.
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
A quiet Tel-Aviv street is rocked by a brutal rape which leaves the police baffled since no eyewitnesses, clues or suspects exist. The victim’s father refuses to admit defeat and starts his own investigation when he notices a man acting strangely in the vicinity of his daughter’s apartment.
The man, Ziv Nevo, seems to be guilty by circumstantial evidence and it seems that everyone wants him to pay a price for the crime he didn’t commit. His mafia bosses, his co-workers, even the police are all doing their best to keep Ziv in jail.
Lineup by Liad Shoham is a fast and absorbing police procedural. The story is told, mainly, from the view point of three people: Nachum, an old school cop, Ziv the condemned criminal and Amit, a reporter.
If I had to pinpoint a protagonist it would be Nachum and he makes a very engaging character. Nachum is a career policeman who has seen the force change over the course of decades and struggles with his own morals on a daily basis. He longs for simpler days when a cop didn’t have to worry about cold statistics and the media; the days when police officers weren’t busy fudging numbers and concentrated more on getting hard evidence against hardened criminals.
The “bad guy”, Ziv, is written as a man who has fallen off the beaten path and is plagued by both bad decisions and bad luck. Mr. Shoham has fun with his characters, a tough prosecutor who knows how to haggle with the defense, a mob boss and his soldiers and a newspaper editor who is a cub journalist’s worst nightmare.
Lineup is a satisfying read, an enjoyable detective story with interesting characters. This is a solid book and I’m looking forward to read more of Mr. Shoham’s work.
Disclaimer: I got this book for free.
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
September 16, 2013
When Trish from TLC Book Tours suggested this book to me, I was quick to accept. I noted that the author is Israeli and the book takes place in Israel and I expected a story involving Israeli politics and intrigue. I found instead a crime novel that took place in Israel. Other than the names of the characters, the story really could have taken place anywhere.
“A brutal rape in a quiet Tel Aviv neighborhood has the police baffled. There are no witnesses, suspects, or clues, until the victim’s father steps in and finds overwhelming evidence pointing to Ziv Nevo. Veteran detective Eli Nahum questions Nevo, but can’t get anything out of him. That’s because Nevo has a secret. He works for the mafia, and telling the truth about why he was near the crime scene could get him killed. Lineup focuses on these two men, detective and suspect, as they both end up betraying what they value most, fighting for their lives, and struggling make amends for their mistakes in this gritty, fast-paced, complex novel of suspense.”
This book is straightforward, entertaining, and easy to read. You may worry that having been translated from Hebrew it would be harder to understand, but it was not. There aren’t a lot of extraneous details blocking the way of the story either. The story itself is relatively easy to follow, though I did find myself mixing up some of the characters at times. The group of characters and how they are all connected is my favorite part of the story – interconnected characters is one of my favorite plot devices.
The mystery of who committed the crime becomes clear towards the end of the book and a minor character from the beginning is important in the end. I enjoyed reading this and I hope more of Liad Shoham’s books are translated to English. On a side note, my husband has been reading this book as well and he seems to really like it!
“A brutal rape in a quiet Tel Aviv neighborhood has the police baffled. There are no witnesses, suspects, or clues, until the victim’s father steps in and finds overwhelming evidence pointing to Ziv Nevo. Veteran detective Eli Nahum questions Nevo, but can’t get anything out of him. That’s because Nevo has a secret. He works for the mafia, and telling the truth about why he was near the crime scene could get him killed. Lineup focuses on these two men, detective and suspect, as they both end up betraying what they value most, fighting for their lives, and struggling make amends for their mistakes in this gritty, fast-paced, complex novel of suspense.”
This book is straightforward, entertaining, and easy to read. You may worry that having been translated from Hebrew it would be harder to understand, but it was not. There aren’t a lot of extraneous details blocking the way of the story either. The story itself is relatively easy to follow, though I did find myself mixing up some of the characters at times. The group of characters and how they are all connected is my favorite part of the story – interconnected characters is one of my favorite plot devices.
The mystery of who committed the crime becomes clear towards the end of the book and a minor character from the beginning is important in the end. I enjoyed reading this and I hope more of Liad Shoham’s books are translated to English. On a side note, my husband has been reading this book as well and he seems to really like it!
October 1, 2013
A brutal rape occurs in the northern part of Tel Aviv. The young woman who is raped is a reluctant reporter, but her parents convince her to notify the police about what has occurred. Detective Eli Nahum is assigned to the case and is determined to find the rapist.
The victim's father watches outside her apartment, and is rewarded with finding a man skulking around the area at night. He takes a picture and follows him home, sure that he has found his daughter's assailant. After confronting her with the picture and getting a reluctant identification, he calls Nahum and turns in the man, Ziv Nevo.
Nevo was in the area, but not as a rapist. A year ago, he had been fine with a job he enjoyed and a marriage with a small son he adored. But a series of bad decisions had taken away his job, his marriage and his son, and he is left destitute and unable to find work. He reaches out to a former friend in the Army, and finds some work, but soon is wrapped up in the clutches of the Israeli mob. Now Nevo is in fear of his life as both the police and the mob are sure he is someone they need to put away for a long time.
Liad Shoham is one of Israel's leading crime writers, and an attorney. American readers who haven't had a chance to sample Israeli crime writing will be interested to read this novel, his fifth bestseller. The plot is intricate, and the characters are finely drawn. In addition to Nevo and Nahum, there are portraits of a crime reporter looking for a big break, a prosecuting attorney who knows something is wrong although she doesn't know what, the head of the Israeli mob, the editor of the local newspaper, and the other police Nehum works with. All the threads are woven together into a garment sure to please the reader. This book is recommended for mystery readers.
The victim's father watches outside her apartment, and is rewarded with finding a man skulking around the area at night. He takes a picture and follows him home, sure that he has found his daughter's assailant. After confronting her with the picture and getting a reluctant identification, he calls Nahum and turns in the man, Ziv Nevo.
Nevo was in the area, but not as a rapist. A year ago, he had been fine with a job he enjoyed and a marriage with a small son he adored. But a series of bad decisions had taken away his job, his marriage and his son, and he is left destitute and unable to find work. He reaches out to a former friend in the Army, and finds some work, but soon is wrapped up in the clutches of the Israeli mob. Now Nevo is in fear of his life as both the police and the mob are sure he is someone they need to put away for a long time.
Liad Shoham is one of Israel's leading crime writers, and an attorney. American readers who haven't had a chance to sample Israeli crime writing will be interested to read this novel, his fifth bestseller. The plot is intricate, and the characters are finely drawn. In addition to Nevo and Nahum, there are portraits of a crime reporter looking for a big break, a prosecuting attorney who knows something is wrong although she doesn't know what, the head of the Israeli mob, the editor of the local newspaper, and the other police Nehum works with. All the threads are woven together into a garment sure to please the reader. This book is recommended for mystery readers.
December 7, 2015
Every now and then I read a novel that has garnered critical acclaim that just leaves me cold. On occasion this is twinned with the frustration of not being able to see any discernible reason for this. So it was with Lineup, the first novel from this acclaimed Israeli writer to be translated into English.
It’s not that this is a bad novel, far from it. It’s well written, well plotted and will keep you guessing until the end. When one thinks of Israel in thrillers and novels of this type, one automatically thinks of the conflict with the Palestinians. Lineup only very briefly touches on this subject, the plot itself concerning organised crime in Israel. Liad Shoham is to be applauded in this regard, this being an aspect of the Israeli state that few outside the country are aware of. In the past I worked in current affairs television and worked on a number of programmes that looked at transnational crime. I was surprised to learn that Israeli crime networks had been linked to the trade in Ecstasy into the United States, that Israel was a global hub for the trafficking of women and that a number of Israelis had been linked to the grisly trade in organs from South America. So I found the plot of this novel compelling.
Unfortunately however, there was something that stopped me from crossing the Rubicon from merely interested to gripped. I never felt it difficult to put the book down, that urge to just finish the chapter and to hell with what you’re supposed to be doing. Perhaps the characters weren’t fully fleshed out for me? More likely, I felt it just lacked that extra magic something that turns a book from good to excellent. That said I enjoyed the book and would certainly give the author another chance.
It’s not that this is a bad novel, far from it. It’s well written, well plotted and will keep you guessing until the end. When one thinks of Israel in thrillers and novels of this type, one automatically thinks of the conflict with the Palestinians. Lineup only very briefly touches on this subject, the plot itself concerning organised crime in Israel. Liad Shoham is to be applauded in this regard, this being an aspect of the Israeli state that few outside the country are aware of. In the past I worked in current affairs television and worked on a number of programmes that looked at transnational crime. I was surprised to learn that Israeli crime networks had been linked to the trade in Ecstasy into the United States, that Israel was a global hub for the trafficking of women and that a number of Israelis had been linked to the grisly trade in organs from South America. So I found the plot of this novel compelling.
Unfortunately however, there was something that stopped me from crossing the Rubicon from merely interested to gripped. I never felt it difficult to put the book down, that urge to just finish the chapter and to hell with what you’re supposed to be doing. Perhaps the characters weren’t fully fleshed out for me? More likely, I felt it just lacked that extra magic something that turns a book from good to excellent. That said I enjoyed the book and would certainly give the author another chance.
July 9, 2013
Not only can appearances be deceiving, they can ruin a life.
That’s the lesson learned the hard way in this novel, both by a man accused of a brutal rape and by the investigator of the crime.
When the father of the rape victim finds Ziv Nevo prowling around his daughter’s Tel Aviv neighborhood he’s convinced he’s found her attacker. Veteran detective Eli Nahum is equally certain, though his interrogation fails to break Nevo.
Nevo won’t talk because he’s hiding a secret of another kind—one that could get him and/or his family killed.
When the case is tossed on a technicality, Nahum finds himself disgraced and his career on the line. Though freed, Nevo is now on the run and the mobster who hired him sees him as a risk. The detective and the suspect find themselves in a struggle that forces them to make tough choices and sacrifices to make amends for mistakes and survive.
This is the first English translation of a novel by Israel’s leading thriller writer. It’s fast-paced, gritty and complex.
That’s the lesson learned the hard way in this novel, both by a man accused of a brutal rape and by the investigator of the crime.
When the father of the rape victim finds Ziv Nevo prowling around his daughter’s Tel Aviv neighborhood he’s convinced he’s found her attacker. Veteran detective Eli Nahum is equally certain, though his interrogation fails to break Nevo.
Nevo won’t talk because he’s hiding a secret of another kind—one that could get him and/or his family killed.
When the case is tossed on a technicality, Nahum finds himself disgraced and his career on the line. Though freed, Nevo is now on the run and the mobster who hired him sees him as a risk. The detective and the suspect find themselves in a struggle that forces them to make tough choices and sacrifices to make amends for mistakes and survive.
This is the first English translation of a novel by Israel’s leading thriller writer. It’s fast-paced, gritty and complex.
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