What do you think?
Rate this book
Adam Lapid Mysteries #2
The Dead Sister
The police don't want to catch the killer. So he'll have to.
Tel Aviv, 1949 - A young Arab woman lies murdered in the city morgue and no one seems to care. The newspapers won't report it. The police won't investigate. No one is trying to solve the case.
Except one man.
Private detective Adam Lapid is the only one investigating the murder. And he won’t rest until the killer is off the streets.
Adam’s investigation soon plunges him into a sordid underworld of crime and depravity. An underworld that hides a ruthless killer with a twisted mind.
To catch the murderer, Adam must use all his skills. And if he's not careful, he'll be the one who ends up dead next.
Tel Aviv, 1949 - A young Arab woman lies murdered in the city morgue and no one seems to care. The newspapers won't report it. The police won't investigate. No one is trying to solve the case.
Except one man.
Private detective Adam Lapid is the only one investigating the murder. And he won’t rest until the killer is off the streets.
Adam’s investigation soon plunges him into a sordid underworld of crime and depravity. An underworld that hides a ruthless killer with a twisted mind.
To catch the murderer, Adam must use all his skills. And if he's not careful, he'll be the one who ends up dead next.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2016
915 people are currently reading
456 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Dunsky
20Ìýbooks193ÌýfollowersJonathan Dunsky is the author of eight crime novels, seven of which -- Ten Years Gone, The Dead Sister, The Auschwitz Violinist, A Debt of Death, A Deadly Act, The Auschwitz Detective, and A Death in Jerusalem -- are mysteries taking place in the early days of the State of Israel and featuring private investigator Adam Lapid, a holocaust survivor and former soldier and Nazi hunter. He has also published a standalone thriller called The Payback Girl and a number of short stories in various genres.
Born in Israel, he served for four years in the Israeli Army. After his military service he worked as a team leader in various high-tech firms, ran his own Search Engine Optimization business, and lectured in the faculty of Business Management in Tel Aviv University. He holds a degree in computer sciences and business. He's lived for several years in Europe and currently resides in Israel with his wife and two sons.
You can contact him at
Born in Israel, he served for four years in the Israeli Army. After his military service he worked as a team leader in various high-tech firms, ran his own Search Engine Optimization business, and lectured in the faculty of Business Management in Tel Aviv University. He holds a degree in computer sciences and business. He's lived for several years in Europe and currently resides in Israel with his wife and two sons.
You can contact him at
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
February 12, 2023
The Dead Sister by Jonathan Dunsky was the second book in the Adam Lapid mystery series. It was equally as good as the first book in this series if not better. At the beginning of The Dead Sister, Adam Lapid was in his favorite place in Tel Aviv. He was sitting by himself in Greta’s cafe playing chess against himself when the door jingled and in walked a young Arab man. The Arab man walked directly over to Adam’s table and took a seat opposite Adam. He was looking to hire Adam to find his sister’s murderer. Although murder investigations were usually conducted by the police, the Arab man explained to Adam that the police had all but closed down the case. His sister had been viciously murdered and found in Tel Aviv. The Arab man explained that his sister had fallen in love with a Christian man and when their father and her older brothers forbade her to marry him, she ran away. He hadn’t seen her in months. His sister’s lover had been killed and the Arab man believed his older brothers had killed him. The Arab man wanted Adam to do what the police were refusing to do. He wanted Adam to find out who had killed his sister. Although this man and Adam fought against each other not so long ago in The War of Independence, Adam decided to take the case. Before the Arab left, he suggested that Adam make a particular move on the chessboard which proved to be quite strategic and he gave him a gift of the best tobacco Adam had ever smoked. Although Adam accepted this case, he was confident that the older brothers had killed the sister. Would his instincts prove to be correct? Where would his investigation take him so he could uncover evidence? Why had the police dropped their investigation before it barely started? Adam Lapid would not stop until he discovered who the murderer had been and why this young woman was killed so brutally.
I am so glad that I discovered the Adam Lapid Mysteries. The Dead Sister was well written and fast paced. There were several twists and turns that kept me guessing. As Adam’s own personal history and reoccurring nightmares were revealed it was impossible not to like him and root for him. I can’t wait to read the third book in this series now. I highly recommend this book.
I am so glad that I discovered the Adam Lapid Mysteries. The Dead Sister was well written and fast paced. There were several twists and turns that kept me guessing. As Adam’s own personal history and reoccurring nightmares were revealed it was impossible not to like him and root for him. I can’t wait to read the third book in this series now. I highly recommend this book.
April 8, 2018
Stunning
This is what a five star book should be like.
I have read and enjoyed hundreds of books on my Kindle devices and apps. I am a fast reader, and average more than a book a day, even though some days I am too busy to read anything and occasionally I read a book that is long enough or meaty enough that it takes more than a day, especially some nonfiction.
I occasionally mark a review as five stars just because it is noticeably better than the reviews that I mark as four stars. Most reviews I mark as four stars because I enjoyed the book or I learned something new from the book and in addition the author did something particularly well. Maybe a mystery plot kept me guessing until the last chapter, but was still completely logical once you took a second look at the situation. Maybe I even reread the book, knowing how the book ended, and marveled at the skill with which the author showed the clues in detail but still obscured the outcome until the last chapter. But the settings were mundane and unimaginative and most of the minor characters were one dimensional stereotypes. Four stars.
If I enjoy a book but nothing more than just a quick enjoyable read, then three stars.
By comparison, this is unmistakably a five star book. The story is riveting from beginning to end. Even the minor characters are vivid and unique. There history and geography are accurate and relevant to the story.
Another reviewer complained that the author talks too much about food. No! For people who have often been hungry and who still struggle to find adequate food, even a cheese sandwich is memorable. And so the author shows us what gets the narrator's attention. In addition, the attention to food and to his games against himself of lightening chess are both deliberate strategies to keep the darkness inside at bay for a little while when he is awake. Although the term PostTraumatic Stress Disorder was over a decade away from being popularized, the narrator's nightly nightmares show how hard he struggles with the traumas. So in his waking hours he finds whatever relief he can by immersing himself in the present, trusting neither an unbearable past nor an uncertain future.
Not just a gripping mystery, but a glimpse into the heart of darkness, and a tribute to the ability of a human spirit to triumph over evil that was designed to destroy the human spirit as well as to kill by torture.
This is what a five star book should be like.
I have read and enjoyed hundreds of books on my Kindle devices and apps. I am a fast reader, and average more than a book a day, even though some days I am too busy to read anything and occasionally I read a book that is long enough or meaty enough that it takes more than a day, especially some nonfiction.
I occasionally mark a review as five stars just because it is noticeably better than the reviews that I mark as four stars. Most reviews I mark as four stars because I enjoyed the book or I learned something new from the book and in addition the author did something particularly well. Maybe a mystery plot kept me guessing until the last chapter, but was still completely logical once you took a second look at the situation. Maybe I even reread the book, knowing how the book ended, and marveled at the skill with which the author showed the clues in detail but still obscured the outcome until the last chapter. But the settings were mundane and unimaginative and most of the minor characters were one dimensional stereotypes. Four stars.
If I enjoy a book but nothing more than just a quick enjoyable read, then three stars.
By comparison, this is unmistakably a five star book. The story is riveting from beginning to end. Even the minor characters are vivid and unique. There history and geography are accurate and relevant to the story.
Another reviewer complained that the author talks too much about food. No! For people who have often been hungry and who still struggle to find adequate food, even a cheese sandwich is memorable. And so the author shows us what gets the narrator's attention. In addition, the attention to food and to his games against himself of lightening chess are both deliberate strategies to keep the darkness inside at bay for a little while when he is awake. Although the term PostTraumatic Stress Disorder was over a decade away from being popularized, the narrator's nightly nightmares show how hard he struggles with the traumas. So in his waking hours he finds whatever relief he can by immersing himself in the present, trusting neither an unbearable past nor an uncertain future.
Not just a gripping mystery, but a glimpse into the heart of darkness, and a tribute to the ability of a human spirit to triumph over evil that was designed to destroy the human spirit as well as to kill by torture.
July 15, 2024
Adam Lapid is a former police detective holocaust survivor from Hungary who immigrated to Israel after WWII, fought with the Israeli army, and now works as a private investigator. He's hired by Ahmed to find who killed his sister. In book 1 featuring Adam Lapid, Ten Years Missing, I loved learning about post WWII Israel - the setting was very well done. This one lacks some of the setting (maybe assumes readers read book 1?), and it's a much simpler, straightforward case. I've been into historical mysteries the last few years, and this is a stand out. Despite my more lukewarm reception to book 2 compared to book 1, I'll still read more of this series.
May 13, 2024
Lapid is asked to investigate the murder of an Arab woman after the police stifle the investigation. Initial signs point to the brothers of the dead woman, who has disgraced her family in multiple ways. But there are some unexplained gaps in this assumption and Adam is able to track down the truth, including some vigilante justice. 3.5 stars
January 4, 2024
Fast paced thriller with Adam Lapid hired by an Arab man to find who killed his sister. The investigating officer has been ordered to do nothing as the victim’s father is an influential sheikh who is pro-Israeli. It’s suspected the client’s two older brothers and career criminals killed the sister in an honor killing. Adam digs and gets into the sordid underbelly of Tel Aviv. He finds out the killer and comes up with an imaginative plan to bring him to justice.
June 1, 2017
Good Reading
Very well written and quite engrossing. You totally forgot that this was an historical mystery. Liked the protagonist as well. He seemed as real as someone you might know today if it weren't for his history. Am looking forward to the next book and hopefully more to come.
Very well written and quite engrossing. You totally forgot that this was an historical mystery. Liked the protagonist as well. He seemed as real as someone you might know today if it weren't for his history. Am looking forward to the next book and hopefully more to come.
October 8, 2022
Rounded to 4.5 stars.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CONTENT WARNING: murder, violence, blood, Holocaust imagery, gore, description of an anti-Jewish riot (pogrom), mention of rape, mention of sexual abuse, gun violence
I really enjoyed reading book 1 in this series, so when the author offered to provide me with a copy of the second book, I jumped at the chance. This one was also quite heavy in tone, but it focused on a much different area. While the first book focused on people who were directly affected by the Holocaust, this book delved right into Jewish and Arab tensions immediately after the Israeli War of Independence, a difficult time for the new country. The story is also well-researched and full of details about post-Independence Israel.
Adam is approached by Ahmed, an Arab man who wants him to investigate the murder of his sister. Although the police had been notified, no progress appears to have been made, and Ahmed doesn’t know where to turn to get the answers he wants. While tensions run high between Arab and Israeli people on both sides, cooperation isn’t guaranteed. There seems to be strong divisions in society, with little interaction between the two groups, but it spoke to a lot about Adam’s character that he was open to working with Ahmed. As someone who has both been on the receiving end of extreme prejudice and fought in a war against the Arabs, he could easily have turned away. But his sense of justice pushes him to take on the case and give it his all, even when it places him in danger.
However, the case turns out to be a lot more convoluted than he expected. In addition, it stirs up even more of Adam’s trauma. We delve more into Adam’s feelings about his family and his wife, all of whom were murdered at Auschwitz, and how he copes with his losses. More accurately, since there weren’t any mental health services available or even a name for his trauma, his coping skills are extremely limited, although he does manage to develop some close relationships with others. I loved seeing his bonds with the few people in his circle, and while he keeps them at arm’s length a lot of the time, he is still very protective of them, which makes perfect sense. One person shows up in this story, and they push him to open up more about his own experiences and work to break down his barriers and get more vulnerable with them, even as they get more vulnerable with him. It felt like a turning point for him.
This is another fast paced story with a lot of twists and turns. There were plot twists that I definitely didn’t see coming, and although I was trying to figure out who was behind the murder, I definitely didn’t anticipate what was actually going on until it was all spelled out for me. Dunsky has a talent for weaving clues into a riveting storyline and hitting readers with a surprising reveal towards the end, then wrapping everything else up perfectly, while leaving us ready for the next book.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CONTENT WARNING: murder, violence, blood, Holocaust imagery, gore, description of an anti-Jewish riot (pogrom), mention of rape, mention of sexual abuse, gun violence
I really enjoyed reading book 1 in this series, so when the author offered to provide me with a copy of the second book, I jumped at the chance. This one was also quite heavy in tone, but it focused on a much different area. While the first book focused on people who were directly affected by the Holocaust, this book delved right into Jewish and Arab tensions immediately after the Israeli War of Independence, a difficult time for the new country. The story is also well-researched and full of details about post-Independence Israel.
Adam is approached by Ahmed, an Arab man who wants him to investigate the murder of his sister. Although the police had been notified, no progress appears to have been made, and Ahmed doesn’t know where to turn to get the answers he wants. While tensions run high between Arab and Israeli people on both sides, cooperation isn’t guaranteed. There seems to be strong divisions in society, with little interaction between the two groups, but it spoke to a lot about Adam’s character that he was open to working with Ahmed. As someone who has both been on the receiving end of extreme prejudice and fought in a war against the Arabs, he could easily have turned away. But his sense of justice pushes him to take on the case and give it his all, even when it places him in danger.
However, the case turns out to be a lot more convoluted than he expected. In addition, it stirs up even more of Adam’s trauma. We delve more into Adam’s feelings about his family and his wife, all of whom were murdered at Auschwitz, and how he copes with his losses. More accurately, since there weren’t any mental health services available or even a name for his trauma, his coping skills are extremely limited, although he does manage to develop some close relationships with others. I loved seeing his bonds with the few people in his circle, and while he keeps them at arm’s length a lot of the time, he is still very protective of them, which makes perfect sense. One person shows up in this story, and they push him to open up more about his own experiences and work to break down his barriers and get more vulnerable with them, even as they get more vulnerable with him. It felt like a turning point for him.
This is another fast paced story with a lot of twists and turns. There were plot twists that I definitely didn’t see coming, and although I was trying to figure out who was behind the murder, I definitely didn’t anticipate what was actually going on until it was all spelled out for me. Dunsky has a talent for weaving clues into a riveting storyline and hitting readers with a surprising reveal towards the end, then wrapping everything else up perfectly, while leaving us ready for the next book.
August 7, 2018
“I knew he was an Arab the moment I saw him.� With these words, Jonathan Dunsky opens The Dead Sister, the second in a series of mysteries featuring Adam Lapid. They are pregnant with meaning, given that the story takes place in Tel Aviv in October 1949.
On May 14, 1948, Israel had declared independence. The next day, five Arab nations declared war on Israel, vowing to fight with and on behalf of Palestinian Arabs in order to erase the Jewish state. A U.N.-sponsored armistice ended the war on March 10, 1949.
In the aftermath of the war, approximately 700,000 Palestinian Arabs were displaced from their homes, an event they memorialize to this day as the Nakba(“Disaster�). A slightly larger group of Jews were expelled from their ancestral homes in the Middle East, most of them settling in Israel. Tensions continued to run high between Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews, many of whom had literally fought one another just months earlier.
So when Ahmed Jamalka asks Adam Lapid to solve the mystery of his sister’s murder, it’s not a foregone conclusion that Lapid will take the case. They had fought on opposite sides of the recent war, after all. But the case has languished in the hands of Tel Aviv police, who think the woman’s death is an honor killing. But larger forces are at work, and Lapid’s sense of justice drives him to follow the clues wherever they lead, whatever forces they offend.
And in the end, we discover, as Solzhenitsyn so famously put it: “The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart—and through all human hearts.� Arab andIsraeli.
Book Reviewed
Jonathan Dunsky, The Dead Sister: An Adam Lapid Mystery(Charleston, NC: CreateSpace, 2016).
P.S. If you found my review helpful, .
On May 14, 1948, Israel had declared independence. The next day, five Arab nations declared war on Israel, vowing to fight with and on behalf of Palestinian Arabs in order to erase the Jewish state. A U.N.-sponsored armistice ended the war on March 10, 1949.
In the aftermath of the war, approximately 700,000 Palestinian Arabs were displaced from their homes, an event they memorialize to this day as the Nakba(“Disaster�). A slightly larger group of Jews were expelled from their ancestral homes in the Middle East, most of them settling in Israel. Tensions continued to run high between Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews, many of whom had literally fought one another just months earlier.
So when Ahmed Jamalka asks Adam Lapid to solve the mystery of his sister’s murder, it’s not a foregone conclusion that Lapid will take the case. They had fought on opposite sides of the recent war, after all. But the case has languished in the hands of Tel Aviv police, who think the woman’s death is an honor killing. But larger forces are at work, and Lapid’s sense of justice drives him to follow the clues wherever they lead, whatever forces they offend.
And in the end, we discover, as Solzhenitsyn so famously put it: “The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart—and through all human hearts.� Arab andIsraeli.
Book Reviewed
Jonathan Dunsky, The Dead Sister: An Adam Lapid Mystery(Charleston, NC: CreateSpace, 2016).
P.S. If you found my review helpful, .
June 4, 2017
The Dead Sister is a very well-written crime thriller set in 1940's Israel. We're introduced to protagonist Adam Lapid, a private investigator who lost his entire family at Auschwitz during World War 2. When the brother of dead prostitute Maryam Jamalka hires Adam to investigate her murder, Adam finds himself caught up in the seedy underworld of racketeering.
Whilst I can't fault Jonathan Dunsky's excellent writing, I thought the pacing was somewhat slow and lacked a little in excitement. Character development was faultless and the description of Adam's personal losses at Auschwitz were particularly haunting, raw and heartbreaking. We should never forget that the horrors of the Holocaust were real. How does one come back from losing everything that ever mattered? Our protagonist finds himself in that situation and the author handles it with the utmost credibility.
Thanks to author Jonathan Dunsky for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Whilst I can't fault Jonathan Dunsky's excellent writing, I thought the pacing was somewhat slow and lacked a little in excitement. Character development was faultless and the description of Adam's personal losses at Auschwitz were particularly haunting, raw and heartbreaking. We should never forget that the horrors of the Holocaust were real. How does one come back from losing everything that ever mattered? Our protagonist finds himself in that situation and the author handles it with the utmost credibility.
Thanks to author Jonathan Dunsky for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2022
This is only my second novel by Jonathan Dunsky that I've read, but I can't wait to catch up with the rest of them!
Adam Lapid is approached by a man who wants him to investigate his sister's death; a young arab woman's body is lying in the morgue and the police are not investigating. Why? Well, that's what Adam needs to find out. The man knows Adam is his only hope to find the truth.
This is the second series I'm currently reading set in the post-war period of 1949. I can't say I ever really understood the smaller details of the relationship between Jews and Arabs, but I'm learning - and I do enjoy fiction which teaches me something! Lapid hasn't had an easy life, but he is a man of strong morals and in him the author has created an admirable strength. I never manage to work out the solution until it's on the page in front of me - there is such a lot of detail to take in - and this is another satisfying read. I never fail to be surprised by what some humans will do to others and I always feel that there is a good amount of truth buried in the pages. Again, I'm sure the author carries out a whopping amount of research, and it shows. Absolutely gripping from beginning to end, anything less than a full house of stars would be a travesty for such a well written novel. Definitely recommended!
Adam Lapid is approached by a man who wants him to investigate his sister's death; a young arab woman's body is lying in the morgue and the police are not investigating. Why? Well, that's what Adam needs to find out. The man knows Adam is his only hope to find the truth.
This is the second series I'm currently reading set in the post-war period of 1949. I can't say I ever really understood the smaller details of the relationship between Jews and Arabs, but I'm learning - and I do enjoy fiction which teaches me something! Lapid hasn't had an easy life, but he is a man of strong morals and in him the author has created an admirable strength. I never manage to work out the solution until it's on the page in front of me - there is such a lot of detail to take in - and this is another satisfying read. I never fail to be surprised by what some humans will do to others and I always feel that there is a good amount of truth buried in the pages. Again, I'm sure the author carries out a whopping amount of research, and it shows. Absolutely gripping from beginning to end, anything less than a full house of stars would be a travesty for such a well written novel. Definitely recommended!
November 1, 2018
A mystery that takes place in late 1940's Israel. Adam Lepid is a private investigator who survived the German camps - even though his family did not. He migrated to Israel and fought in the Israel - Arab war , Now he is a private investigator. In this novel, Ahmed comes to Adam to have him find who murdered his sister, Maryam
Adam searches for the murderer and learns some very unpleasant secrets. Adam handles these secrets in his own unique way - a way born from his experiences
Adam searches for the murderer and learns some very unpleasant secrets. Adam handles these secrets in his own unique way - a way born from his experiences
February 8, 2024
Another excellent book! Now onto the third one!
February 9, 2024
The pattern is set: no evolution for Adam Lapid, hardboiled detective in post independence Israel. But it is an interesting time and place!
October 20, 2021
As gripping as a y Lynda Is Plate no el
This book grips the reader from the first paragraph,just some other great detective novelist . I really do love the main characters
This book grips the reader from the first paragraph,just some other great detective novelist . I really do love the main characters
February 15, 2021
Adam Lapid was used to killing people. He had been a police detective in Hungary before the arrival of the Nazis in the 1940s. He lost his work but, more important, his wife and two young daughters were gassed when they arrived at Auschwitz. He lived out the remainder of WWII in Auschwitz. Afterwards, he remained in Germany, killing people who were responsible for the deaths of millions of Jews.
Near the end of the decade, he moved to Israel. While he could have become part of the police department there, he did not that kind of life again. He decided move to Tel Aviv and use his skills and become a private investigator.
It was in that capacity that he was contacted by Ahmed Jamalka, an Arab man. His beautiful sister was estranged from her family because she had fallen in love with a Christian man. She had disappeared and her body had just washed up. Her face had been savagely mutilated. He said the police considered it an honor killing and were unwilling to look for the killer. He was very angry and wanted to kill the perpetrator. Adam said he would turn the evidence he collected over to the police department for trial and would not accept the case until the brother promised that he would not use the information to kill the person.
Not long after Adam began his investigation, he ran into strong opposition from the Israeli Police Department. Part of the problem was that the Jamalka clan fought against the Jews during the war and afterwards while the Arab countries were trying to destroy the new state of Israel. Only when they realized that Israel was going to win and remain did they become allies.
He then found out that Maryam had been arrested and jailed three weeks before her death for solicitation.
In his search for the truth, Adam learns a lot about the Israeli police department, the division and attitudes between and about Arabs and Jews, and prostitution. He also begins to learn more about himself.
Tidbit: After Cain killed his brother Abel, he received a mark on his forehead. Not only did it alert others to his deed, “It was also so Cain would be reminded of it whenever he saw his reflection in a pool of water, whenever he rubbed or scratched his forehead.�
THE DEAD SISTER is the second book in Jonathan Dunsky’s Adam Lapid series. He does an excellent job recapturing life in Israel in 1949 (e.g., lots of cigarettes) and building his characters and situations. There are several twists and the ending is unexpected. Definitely a winner.
Near the end of the decade, he moved to Israel. While he could have become part of the police department there, he did not that kind of life again. He decided move to Tel Aviv and use his skills and become a private investigator.
It was in that capacity that he was contacted by Ahmed Jamalka, an Arab man. His beautiful sister was estranged from her family because she had fallen in love with a Christian man. She had disappeared and her body had just washed up. Her face had been savagely mutilated. He said the police considered it an honor killing and were unwilling to look for the killer. He was very angry and wanted to kill the perpetrator. Adam said he would turn the evidence he collected over to the police department for trial and would not accept the case until the brother promised that he would not use the information to kill the person.
Not long after Adam began his investigation, he ran into strong opposition from the Israeli Police Department. Part of the problem was that the Jamalka clan fought against the Jews during the war and afterwards while the Arab countries were trying to destroy the new state of Israel. Only when they realized that Israel was going to win and remain did they become allies.
He then found out that Maryam had been arrested and jailed three weeks before her death for solicitation.
In his search for the truth, Adam learns a lot about the Israeli police department, the division and attitudes between and about Arabs and Jews, and prostitution. He also begins to learn more about himself.
Tidbit: After Cain killed his brother Abel, he received a mark on his forehead. Not only did it alert others to his deed, “It was also so Cain would be reminded of it whenever he saw his reflection in a pool of water, whenever he rubbed or scratched his forehead.�
THE DEAD SISTER is the second book in Jonathan Dunsky’s Adam Lapid series. He does an excellent job recapturing life in Israel in 1949 (e.g., lots of cigarettes) and building his characters and situations. There are several twists and the ending is unexpected. Definitely a winner.
April 8, 2024
3.5 Stars-I have to say, I really like this series. This is the third installment of the Adam Lapid mystery/detective series I’ve read now, and they were all quality works of fiction. With detective/mystery stories, most important is the main character. The detective must be likable. Those who worship Sherlock Holmes do so because they love his personality. The same is true for Philip Marlow or any other protagonist in the detective genre. In the case of Adam Lapid, I just like the guy. These novels are set in the 40s, both before, during and after the Holocaust. Adam and his family was sent to Auschwitz where he was the only surviving member of his family. His experiences in Auschwitz are chronicled in the third novel, which I read before this one. Anyhow, Adam is now a private detective working in Tel Aviv, and I just love how the author brings to life this period of time in history. I’ve learned so much, and I appreciate that.
In this story, Adam is hired by the brother of a murdered Arab woman to find her killer. The novel itself is rather short, but the story is complete in every way and seems longer than it is. Adam is a good guy, but he has no tolerance for evil and injustice, and as a former Nazi hunter, clearly he doesn’t hesitate to use force and violence when he feels it serves the greater good. THIS is what I love most about this character. He has been through and seen the worst of humanity. He has no illusions about the world he inhabits. He knows life is fleeting and temporary, and that evil will reign if good men and women turn a blind eye to justice, and Adam does not turn a blind eye to anything.
I will continue reading the novels in this series in the hopes that they continue. I highly recommend the Adam Lapid series to all those who enjoy a great character and an interesting mystery.
In this story, Adam is hired by the brother of a murdered Arab woman to find her killer. The novel itself is rather short, but the story is complete in every way and seems longer than it is. Adam is a good guy, but he has no tolerance for evil and injustice, and as a former Nazi hunter, clearly he doesn’t hesitate to use force and violence when he feels it serves the greater good. THIS is what I love most about this character. He has been through and seen the worst of humanity. He has no illusions about the world he inhabits. He knows life is fleeting and temporary, and that evil will reign if good men and women turn a blind eye to justice, and Adam does not turn a blind eye to anything.
I will continue reading the novels in this series in the hopes that they continue. I highly recommend the Adam Lapid series to all those who enjoy a great character and an interesting mystery.
July 30, 2024
The Dead Sister is Book 2 in the Adam Lapid Mystery Series.
I've fallen in love with the series which takes place in Israel in the early days after the War of Independence. Adam Lapid was an Hungarian Police Detective before being rounded up with his family and sent to Nazi Death Camps after the German invasion of Hungary (circa 1944). Lapid's wife and children perished in the camps. Lapid survived and after the Allied liberation of the camps he made his way to Palestine, where he fought and was a decorated hero of the Israeli War of Independence. After the war, he no longer had an appetite for the Police, and instead became a private detective where he cold employ his own methods for solving cases, without restrictive police procedure.
In this case, Lapid is approached by an Arab man who is seeking justice for the murder of his sister. His sister left the family for a man who made false promises and later became her pimp. He asked Lapid to find and kill the man who did the deed. Lapid said he would not, but agreed to search for the murderer. This despite the fact that it was generally believed by the police that her other brothers murdered her to save face and preserve the family honor.
Lapid solves the case and "assists" some baddies in meeting their makers, delivering the actual murderer into the hands of his client, with his usual panache and twist, tying up loose ends for the police by delivering a few criminals along the way.
I find the series satisfying and I enjoy the character of Lapid as well as the ambiance of the historical period in Israel (1949).
I've fallen in love with the series which takes place in Israel in the early days after the War of Independence. Adam Lapid was an Hungarian Police Detective before being rounded up with his family and sent to Nazi Death Camps after the German invasion of Hungary (circa 1944). Lapid's wife and children perished in the camps. Lapid survived and after the Allied liberation of the camps he made his way to Palestine, where he fought and was a decorated hero of the Israeli War of Independence. After the war, he no longer had an appetite for the Police, and instead became a private detective where he cold employ his own methods for solving cases, without restrictive police procedure.
In this case, Lapid is approached by an Arab man who is seeking justice for the murder of his sister. His sister left the family for a man who made false promises and later became her pimp. He asked Lapid to find and kill the man who did the deed. Lapid said he would not, but agreed to search for the murderer. This despite the fact that it was generally believed by the police that her other brothers murdered her to save face and preserve the family honor.
Lapid solves the case and "assists" some baddies in meeting their makers, delivering the actual murderer into the hands of his client, with his usual panache and twist, tying up loose ends for the police by delivering a few criminals along the way.
I find the series satisfying and I enjoy the character of Lapid as well as the ambiance of the historical period in Israel (1949).
May 6, 2019
Excellent
The second book in the Adam Lapid series of crime thriller books by this writer. I downloaded it immediately after finishing the first and have become a fan of this Detective and the books set in the era of the early days of the State of Israel just a few short years after the end of the second World War and with the holocaust and the loss of his entire family very much a part of who Adam is and how he feels about death, loss and retribution in his work as a Private Investigator, his own experiences colouring the way he thinks about justice. "I was not averse to killing murderers, especially not the murderers of women." I like the way Mr. Dunsky writes , and I feel his first person protagonist has a lot more depth than many crime main characters do. He doesn't step away from challenges and the cases are different and unusual. "I was pursuing a case the police higher-ups wanted dead and buried and forgotten and I was in possession of a police report I had no business reading .". So: great stuff. Enjoyed it enormously. Not quite as gripping as the first book in the series (for me) but still really good and I will definitely be buying the third book as I find the writing and main character engaging.
The second book in the Adam Lapid series of crime thriller books by this writer. I downloaded it immediately after finishing the first and have become a fan of this Detective and the books set in the era of the early days of the State of Israel just a few short years after the end of the second World War and with the holocaust and the loss of his entire family very much a part of who Adam is and how he feels about death, loss and retribution in his work as a Private Investigator, his own experiences colouring the way he thinks about justice. "I was not averse to killing murderers, especially not the murderers of women." I like the way Mr. Dunsky writes , and I feel his first person protagonist has a lot more depth than many crime main characters do. He doesn't step away from challenges and the cases are different and unusual. "I was pursuing a case the police higher-ups wanted dead and buried and forgotten and I was in possession of a police report I had no business reading .". So: great stuff. Enjoyed it enormously. Not quite as gripping as the first book in the series (for me) but still really good and I will definitely be buying the third book as I find the writing and main character engaging.
July 25, 2020
it was a mistake to read this book immediately after the first book in the series as there was too much repetition in characterization, plot and events. As these books are free standing a certain amount of repetition is necessary to orient the reader who hasn't read the others.
But i wanted an engaging book that i could read in an environment with lots of distractions and interruptions (eg a beach book) and it fit the bill.
I enjoyed the setting as the modern Tel Aviv locations are known to me and it was interesting to see them through the eyes of a 1949 immigrant. Of course the memories of his lost family at Auschwitz defines his world view, as did fighting in the war of independence.
Something that detracted from the book and suffered from the similarity in both books was the description of the startling beautiful women who of course were victimized, by murder or sexual abuse. That felt quite dated to me as a plot device.
But i wanted an engaging book that i could read in an environment with lots of distractions and interruptions (eg a beach book) and it fit the bill.
I enjoyed the setting as the modern Tel Aviv locations are known to me and it was interesting to see them through the eyes of a 1949 immigrant. Of course the memories of his lost family at Auschwitz defines his world view, as did fighting in the war of independence.
Something that detracted from the book and suffered from the similarity in both books was the description of the startling beautiful women who of course were victimized, by murder or sexual abuse. That felt quite dated to me as a plot device.
August 1, 2024
I read this one after the prequel but before #1. Enough backstory was given that it wasn't a problem to skip number one, but #1 does give more details about Adam's experiences fighting for Israel's independence.
As I mentioned in my review of #1, it is an interesting place and time to read about - Tel Aviv just after Israel became an independent country. This mystery focused on the seedy underbelly of society, whereas the mystery in #1 focused around pre-independence activists and seemingly respectful society.
I liked this installment better than #1, because Adam seemed steadier and more principled. It is written in the first person, and I've read too many other books where the detective's internal monologue did not read well (probably why Sherlock Holmes and so many other detectives have side-kicks). But in this author's hands, it worked well.
I plan on reading the whole series, but unfortunately the library doesn't have them all.
As I mentioned in my review of #1, it is an interesting place and time to read about - Tel Aviv just after Israel became an independent country. This mystery focused on the seedy underbelly of society, whereas the mystery in #1 focused around pre-independence activists and seemingly respectful society.
I liked this installment better than #1, because Adam seemed steadier and more principled. It is written in the first person, and I've read too many other books where the detective's internal monologue did not read well (probably why Sherlock Holmes and so many other detectives have side-kicks). But in this author's hands, it worked well.
I plan on reading the whole series, but unfortunately the library doesn't have them all.
April 17, 2023
I really enjoyed the first Adam Lapid novel , and started this one with high hopes. I would say that, while I still liked it, the story was far less compelling this time around. It just wasn't much of a mystery by comparison.
Adam himself is still fascinating...a great, great character. I just hope that provides him with a worthy mystery to solve.
Recommended for fans of Jewish-themed mysteries.
Adam himself is still fascinating...a great, great character. I just hope that provides him with a worthy mystery to solve.
Recommended for fans of Jewish-themed mysteries.
January 20, 2024
3.5 stars
The Dead Sister was the second Adam Lapid mystery I have read. This time Adam is hired by an Arab man to find out who killed his sister. For some reason, the police won't investigate the crime so Adam decides to do it for them and seek justice for the girl. Soon he finds himself embroiled in the sex trade and uncovers police corruption.
While I enjoyed The Dead Sister, I don't think it was quite as good as the first novel in the series. I felt the author often included unnecessary detail and I didn't think the plot moved as quickly as it did in book one.
However, I haven't been put off the series. I like Adam as a protagonist and feel sorry for the way he is haunted by the past and his experiences during the Holocaust, so I am off to find the next instalment.
The Dead Sister was the second Adam Lapid mystery I have read. This time Adam is hired by an Arab man to find out who killed his sister. For some reason, the police won't investigate the crime so Adam decides to do it for them and seek justice for the girl. Soon he finds himself embroiled in the sex trade and uncovers police corruption.
While I enjoyed The Dead Sister, I don't think it was quite as good as the first novel in the series. I felt the author often included unnecessary detail and I didn't think the plot moved as quickly as it did in book one.
However, I haven't been put off the series. I like Adam as a protagonist and feel sorry for the way he is haunted by the past and his experiences during the Holocaust, so I am off to find the next instalment.
April 7, 2020
I downloaded this book as soon as I had finished reading Ten Years Gone. I have already ordered book number 3, The Auschwitz Violinist. I have only recently found sufficient spare time in my life to even consider reading a fiction book. My other half cannot believe that after six days I am about to start my third ‘Adam Lapid� book. For me, the author Jonathan Dunsky, has brought the character completely to life. He has captured the strengths and weaknesses of a private investigator who is haunted by the tragic loss of his entire family at Auschwitz. To some readers, Adam Lapid’s moral compass may leave something to be desired. However, we given a captivating insight to what drives this man to solve a murder. I honestly could not put the book down. Another very well deserved five stars.
November 24, 2020
Justice for All
The police investigation of the brutal murder of a young Arab woman is stonewalled. This frustrates the good officers who are being prevented from doing there job and drive's the woman's brother into hiringbP.I. Adam Lapid. As Lapid investigates. He soon becomes the target of both cops and criminals. But it makes him more determined to get to the truth.
This is a good book. Lapid is an interesting character still grappling with the loss of his family at Germany's death camps. The historical detail of Israel in its infancy adds atmosphere and color. The characters are well drawn and it is engrossing.
The police investigation of the brutal murder of a young Arab woman is stonewalled. This frustrates the good officers who are being prevented from doing there job and drive's the woman's brother into hiringbP.I. Adam Lapid. As Lapid investigates. He soon becomes the target of both cops and criminals. But it makes him more determined to get to the truth.
This is a good book. Lapid is an interesting character still grappling with the loss of his family at Germany's death camps. The historical detail of Israel in its infancy adds atmosphere and color. The characters are well drawn and it is engrossing.
August 29, 2021
Okay...it is official. I am addicted to Adam Lapid mysteries now! This was my 2nd in the series and I can't wait to start the 3rd.
I enjoy the historical tidbits from Israel's post-independence days in 1949. The human element makes these books different from your typical mystery books. Adam is not a dashing and innocent Archie Goodwin or a blameless and pure Miss Marple. He clearly suffers from PTSD following his trauma at Auschwitz, and those experiences sometimes drive him to commit actions that you don't typically see from the sleuths in other series.
I enjoy the historical tidbits from Israel's post-independence days in 1949. The human element makes these books different from your typical mystery books. Adam is not a dashing and innocent Archie Goodwin or a blameless and pure Miss Marple. He clearly suffers from PTSD following his trauma at Auschwitz, and those experiences sometimes drive him to commit actions that you don't typically see from the sleuths in other series.
October 18, 2024
This fast-paced, action-packed hard-boiled detective novel is set in Israel in 1949. Lapid is hired to solve the murder of a young Arab woman not too long after the end of Israel's war of independence. This provides for some interesting drama. Lapid is a classic hard-boiled detective. He has strict code and sense of justice; though it is not always aligned with the conventional sense of morality and justice. Though there are strong forces lined up against him, Lapid won't back down from seeing that justice is done. Highly recommended!
July 24, 2018
another great one...Adam is relatable. ironically, empathetic in hs isolation and anomie. truthful writing....in that laws are enacted to protect the powerful...whether the group be clerical, oligarchical or just a majority. my only addendum has always been that history is written by the victors...truth to an extent..a veneer if you will. yes i intend to read the other books. i am like that with a worthwhile author. thanks
August 25, 2018
The muddle of conflict between Arab and Jew gets explored in this intriguing mystery. How do Ashkenazi Jews rank compared with Mizrahi Jews. Can Arabs pass for Mizrahi Jews. Does it really matter whether the victim is a Jew or an Arab?
In 1949 , in Israel, all of these conflicts were rampant, and we are seeing laws passed in Israel today that change the power structure based upon religion.
Dunsky weaves a fine mystery about a murder that weighs all of these factors.
In 1949 , in Israel, all of these conflicts were rampant, and we are seeing laws passed in Israel today that change the power structure based upon religion.
Dunsky weaves a fine mystery about a murder that weighs all of these factors.
May 10, 2021
This is the second book I have read in this series. The story is, once again, great. The characters are well drawn, flawed, haunted and nuanced. Stories remind me of the P Kerr - Bernie Gunther- series and the books of G Pelecanos. Flawed men who favor their own justice when the system fails. I will be reading more of J Dunsky's books and bet that if you give them a read you will do likewise.
July 15, 2021
Spellbinding!
This was my fourth Adam Lapid mystery. I stumbled onto the first one, and went on from there. Adam is a character of great depth and dimension. He is a fascinating man. The mystery in each book is always a complex puzzle . Each story is intriguing, the setting, the rich details, it all comes to life. I read and feel the heat and the grit.
The writing of each book, masterful!
This was my fourth Adam Lapid mystery. I stumbled onto the first one, and went on from there. Adam is a character of great depth and dimension. He is a fascinating man. The mystery in each book is always a complex puzzle . Each story is intriguing, the setting, the rich details, it all comes to life. I read and feel the heat and the grit.
The writing of each book, masterful!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.