Missing

דקלה שושקוביץ #3

by Adiva Geffen

They’re back…
Internationally best-selling suspense master Adiva Geffen in going to launch you on a whirlwind adventure with Israel's mostly hotly pursued private detectives. And this time the good guys might not win.

How far will they go?
After finding and securing Daria, a young runaway, Sammy and Dikla are left slack-jawed upon discovering her dead body. Local police determine the case to be an open-and-shut suicide, but a far more sinister plot is about to be uncovered.

Drama, Pain & Passion…
Follow these never-say-die investigators down the rabbit-hole of heaven-sent cults and con-artists as they attempt to reveal the truth once and for all, while juggling raw, heated relationships and heart-pounding drama. Real-life, down-to-earth dialogue will put you in the front row seat of a story that will make the bath water go cold around you.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction

371 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Adiva Geffen is a prolific writer and playwright. She lectures and leads many writing workshops, and she's a board member of the Israeli writers Association. Adiva has published 21 books, including children's stories, reference books and, most famously, suspense novels; most of which were best-sellers. In fact, Adiva is widely regarded as the best suspense writer in Israel. Her plays have appeared on major stages in Israel.

Drawing from rich life experience and pure imaginative force, Adiva Geffen creates compelling characters and captivating scenarios in which suspense, humor, passion and joy are woven into an almost addicting emotional thrill-ride. Her latest duo, detectives Sami and Dikla, have become staples in Israel's literary community.

Geffen began her career as a special-ed teacher. After leaving the education field, she served as the spokesperson for the Habima National Theater for more than a decade. She founded and subsequently led the Israeli Theater Award for 10 years.

Born in Haifa and the mother of three sons, Geffen now lives in Tel Aviv, Israel, with her partner Aharon Meidan.

Her latest book "Klara's Boys" is set to be published in 2017.

Reviews

[Siv30 · Rating 3 out of 5]

ושוב סמי ג' ודיקלה ששוקוביץ יוצאות לחקירה בעקבות אירוע התאבדות שקשור לדיקלה שושקוביץ. כמו כל החקירות שלהן, שקראתי עד כה העלילה מתחילה בדיקלה שושקוביץ ואליה מצטרפת סמי ג' וגם קופר.

הדמות של סמי ג' הפעם הגזימה, והיא פשוט מסייעת לחטיפה ומתנהגת בצורה מאוד תמוהה ודי מפגרת, גם עבור ספר מתח.

דיקלה היא דיקלה, העלילה היא אותה גברת בשינוי אדרת, אדיבה גפן ממצה את השטיקים והטריקים שבהם השתמשה בספרים הקודמים וזה ספר מתח די בינוני שמעביר את הזמן.

אחרי שקראתי כמעט את כל ספרי דיקלה וסמי, אני סובלת מאובר דוז של דיקלה שושקוביץ וסמי ג' ועלילותיהן המופרכות. אני שמחה שסיימתי את כל הספרים שבסידרה הזו.

שני כוכבים וחצי. שלוש לשם העיגול.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: From what I can tell, this book may have had a title change. Because both Goodreads and Amazon have reviews of Missing, but the title on the book now is The Girl Behind the Secrets, but the Kindle app logged it as this book on Goodreads. Anyway, on with the review…

I found the book held my interest, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. Part of it may be cultural: the setting was foreign to me, and… I think I felt lost sometimes. There are also a couple of small details that make me wonder how well this book was edited. Not many, but enough to tug on that concern in the back of my mind.

[Kaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a fast paced interesting thriller.. i loved almost everything. it was dark. it was fun.. it keept me on the edge of my seat.. it was amazing.. the writing was dark and well written. i am glad i got to review it

[Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Missing by Adiva Geffen was quite an interesting suspenseful mystery novel. It was a multifaceted novel that had many many layers. The best part of this novel was the development of characters. Geffen thoroughly delved into the psyche of each character. I greatly appreciated this it helped to push the story along and helped distinguished each character as well.

While the plot of Missing was well established, the beginning of the novel was a little slow. We start off with the murder of a young girl and then go back in time for how it happened. The premise is great but the delivery was lacking. The story for me did not really keep my attention until after chapter twenty-two. But once it took off it really took off.

As the reader, I really connected with Dikla and Sammy. Those women had total spunk and although they are a little rough around the edges, Geffen really makes you believe or start to believe in their cause. The conspiracy theory and cult-like atmosphere surrounding this mystery lead a sense of urgency to find out what happens to Daria and others like her.

Overall, this novel had great potential and despite the slow start, it was a real good read. If you are looking for a true mystery novel with a little action and snarky comebacks, Missing will fall right in line with you. While there is a small amount of romance in this novel it mainly falls in the mystery/thriller genre.

[Majanka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...

In Missing, Sammy and Dikla are two private detectives in Israel. After finding and securing a young runaway named Daria, they’re shocked upon discovering Daria’s dead body. Local police determine the case is a suicide, but neither Sammy nor Dikla is convinced. Revealing the truth won’t be easy though, and they’ll have to put themselves in harm’s way and take a lot of risks for the truth to be unveiled.

Both Sammy and Dikla are likeable characters, although Dikla was my favorite. The book offers a fair share of unexpected twists and turns, and the mystery isn’t cut and clear from the get-go; readers are left guessing for a good while as to what is going on.

The book reads like watching a TV show, like following the characters on NCSI or Criminal Minds, or something along those lines. The action is non-stop, the pacing relentlessly fast, and you get sucked in before you even finish the first chapter.

Recommended to fans of mysteries and thrillers.

[Isis Ray-sisco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Missing by Adiva Geffen is an interesting read. There is a lot more to it than meets the eyes. Sammy and Dikla are hired to find Daria a girl that is missing. They are told she has run away or been kidnapped. When they find her they think there case is over but it's just the beginning. There are twists and turns within the plot that kept me turning the pages. Some of it was a little predictable while other parts were not. I have not previously read this author but would pick up another book in the future if she writes more. I think others will enjoy it too. I would recommend it to those who enjoy crime thrillers.

[Johana Nadler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder through Cult Deception

This is a book everyone should read. It shows the actual crime of brainwashing of innocent young people who are at the border of adulthood and experience all the doubts and fear of the unknown. It is a perfect mirror image of Scientology and their subtle and sneaky ways of manipulating unsuspecting victims by convincing them to donate all their world goods and breaking all ties with their family and friends by describing the latter as enemies of the future.
Adiva Geffen created a fast paced murder story that you cannot put down till you finish reading it.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time for this author with the mystery part drawing me in. The ones who are on the case are Sammy and Dikla. It escalates into something else which has them working twice as hard. They have to uncover the truth with that cover being harder than most. In the midst of that romance tries its way too. I think the part of mistake on my side is this is alittle more than I usually read anymore with sometimes I thought the tone did not fit the seriousness. Overall it is a thriller with anyone wanting a good suspense they would get this.

[Laurie Hanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page I found myself sucked into this fast-paced, baffling thriller involving a religious cult in Israel. The subject matter intrigued me, but I especially enjoyed the story because I previously lived in Israel and am married to an Israeli. Being immersed in this Israeli mystery was great fun for me. The English is so perfect and filled with Americanisms, it’s hard to believe this is a translation from Hebrew.

[Barbara Tsipouras · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this novel from Israel was quite interesting and the first chapter took me in immediately, but where things got dangerous for Dikla and Sammy I couldn't feel it. The humourous writing and the incredible love story did nothing to built up the much needed tension. Suicides causes by esoteric cults are a too dark issue for this light-hearted style.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked the character base in this story. At times it's a little hard to follow due to the location, but that didn't make the thrills any less intense. A slow pot to boil, this story has stuck with me for over a day while I thought about what to write. Really fast-paced, in your face suspense, and just when you think you have it figured out, nope, throw another twist in.

[Jackson Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because the plot kept me turning the pages and the characters grew and changed as the writer gave you more background and insight into why he is a "cunning man" and what that truely means. I cared about the characters and want to know more. If you liked Harry Dresden this will be your cup of tea. Recommended.

[Ruthanne Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book once I got into it. The beginning was a little ragged. The theme, cults, is timely & honestly presented. The reader can identify with all the characters, love some hate some, but the author really tries to present both sides of the cult issue. Cannot find other books by this author but when I do I will read them.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not exactly a “crime thriller”

Not exactly as advertised, although there was crime and there were thrills. But there was also plenty of humor and lots of interesting characters, and it takes place in Israel, so there’s also atmosphere. Adiva Geffen has done a fine job with all the elements. More, please!

[Aliene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure what was more impressive to me about this book: a different environment (it was my first book in Israel), that the main character was a woman or the story itself. Read it, I really think you’ll love it 😉

[Moshe · Rating 5 out of 5]

הפעם הספר עוסק בעוד נושא מעיק
אך, חשוב שדנים עליו (אני לא
אציין כדי שלא אספיילר), אולי
בדרך זו ניתן להציל נפשות מסכנות
שעתידות להיקלע לסיטואציה דומה.

ספר מעניין, מותח ומלא מיסתורין
וכמובן, סוף מוצלח כמו בהוליווד.
זהו מצב רגיל אצל דקלה שושקוביץ
וסמי ג'.

[The Endless Unread · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing suspenseful read

[Mary Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never really warmed to any of the characters in this book. It was also a little predictable. The upside???? I finished it, which I sometimes do not do. They go back on the To Read list.

[Barb Soulliere · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm Sorry I read your book it was very interesting and it kept me on my toes. Keep up the good work. thanks for the book.

[Adriane Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a interesting book. Cults, mind control, suspense, danger and murder. This book seemed to go in a lotof different directions at the same time. Not my thing but very intriguing.

[Brenda M. Sager-Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok

Had a hard time really trying to get into this story. I read it all the way through but still had a hard time following the story.