Three - by D a Mishani (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

An abandoned woman searching for love, a deeply religious immigrant caretaker, a disillusioned researcher trapped in her marriage. Three women whose lives seem as far apart as possible, united by a common secret.

When Orna meets Gil on an online dating site, their lackluster affair seems like nothing more than a way to stave off the pain of her recent divorce. But soon it becomes clear that Gil may not be exactly who he claims to be. And Orna's own lies may be weaving an unexpected trap for her.

Set against the turbulent backdrop of the gritty Holon neighborhood in Tel Aviv, this enigmatic and intelligent novel is in fact an intricate puzzle. Mishani's first standalone book explores Israel's forgotten margins, unearthing complicated layers, conflicts, and prejudices. At turns shocking, deceptive, and subversive, Three is a slow burning psychological thriller from one of Israel's most beloved writers.

Review Quotes

"[A] thoughtful puzzle mystery, [...] To be sure, there are scenes of genuine terror. [...] But there are also surprising plot twists and smart character insights, not to mention some terrific Tel Aviv street scenes."--Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review

★ "A mesmerizing psychological thriller whose violence comes to feel inevitable, but that also sparks hope for retribution."--ForeWord Reviews (Starred Review)

"Mishani displays a superior gift for psychological suspense in this taut and twisty standalone."--Publishers Weekly

"Fans of crime fiction likely will read this novel purely for entertainment, but readers new to the genre might consider it a cautionary tale. For whether Mishani meant it to or not, this disturbing, gripping novel will serve for many as an admonition of sorts."--The Winnipeg Free Press

"The twist around which this book is constructed affects not just the content of the novel and its plot but disrupts the whole genre."--Yedioth Ahronot

"A sophisticated literary 'apparatus'[...] Three is written like a Shakespearean play [...] It will be remembered as a work that heralded a new-wave in Israeli fiction just as My Michael by Amos Oz once did." --Haaretz Book Review

"A subtly narrated, moving novel."--Sylvia Staude, Frankfurter Rundschau

"An exciting crime story with well-developed characters, several climactic scenes related to individual women, and a more-than satisfying conclusion."--Mary Whipple, Seeing the World Through Books

About the Author

D.A. Mishani is the author of an award-winning detective series, featuring police inspector Avraham Avraham. The novels, which have been translated into more than 15 languages, have won the Martin Beck Award, the Grand Prix du Meilleur Polar des Lecteurs des Points, and the Bernstein Award. Three is his first standalone novel. He lives with his wife and two children in Tel Aviv and teaches at Tel Aviv University.