Whether you’re drawn to spy novels, historical espionage or psychological thrillers, these new and recent Jewish novels are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Alongside the latest installment in Daniel Silva’s bestselling Gabriel Allon series, you’ll find stories rooted in distinctly Jewish settings, history and culture—from Israeli spy networks and Holocaust-era detectives to mysteries at a Jewish summer camp. There’s even a work of nonfiction for mystery fans: a thoughtful exploration of Columbo. These books are filled with unforgettable characters, danger, deception and secrets—and just when you think you know what’s happening, another plot twist is right around the corner.

The Last Time We Saw Her
By Jaclyn Goldis (Atria/Emily Bestler Books)

Set against the stunning backdrop of Portugal’s Azores, this twist-filled thriller begins when campers from Jewish Camp Zahav arrive on São Miguel for an adventure trip and one girl vanishes. A decade later, the group reunites with her family for a memorial at a historic island synagogue and the filming of a documentary, uncovering long-buried secrets.

Read our review here.

Purchase the book here.

The Fire Agent
By David Baerwald (Spiegel & Grau)

Inspired by the life of the author’s grandfather, this historical novel unfolds like a thriller. It follows Ernst Baerwald, a linguist and musician turned spy, as he embarks on dangerous missions across Germany, Italy and Japan in the early 1900s. His journey takes him through a world of espionage, political upheaval and the rise of fascism.

Purchase the book here.

The Jewish Policeman (Adam Lapin Mysteries #9)
By Jonathan Dunsky (Lion Cub Publishing)

World War II has ended, but in the latest Adam Lapid mystery, his personal quest for justice is only beginning. It’s 1945, Adam, a former police detective, has survived Auschwitz and is now living in a displaced persons camp for Holocaust survivors. He dreams of making the Nazis pay for their crimes, however his mission is derailed when another crime hits closer to home .

Purchase the book here.

Ransom (Gabriel Allon #26)
By Daniel Silva (Harper)

New York Times Bestselling author Daniel Silva returns with another installment in the Gabriel Allon series. Alice Winter is one of Britain’s most famed socialites, but when she disappears during a girl’s weekend in Cambridge, her husband, real estate baron Edward Knight turns to Gabriel to find her. But as the art restorer and former Israeli agent investigates, he uncovers a web of deception.

Purchase the book here.

Adventures of Max Spitzkopf: The Yiddish Sherlock Holmes
By Jonas Kreppel and translated by Mikhl Yashinsky (White Goat Press)

Meet Max Spitzkopf: private eye, undefeated enemy of villains and passionate defender of the Jewish people. No matter how hopeless or dangerous the case is, he’s on it and assures justice will be served. A unique twist to the classic genre, this collection of all 15 Spitzkopf mysteries is also a great callback to Jewish life during the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Purchase the book here.

Behind the Trigger
By Yariv Inbar and translated by Dalit Shmueli (Genera Ventures)

Unfolding in the world of Israeli espionage, this psychological spy thriller follows Irit, a Mossad field agent balancing her dangerous work with family life, and Noor, the wife of a Syrian missile engineer. When their lives unexpectedly intersect during a mission, long-buried secrets and personal trauma threaten to change everything.

Purchase the book here.

Nonfiction

Watching the Detective
By Deborah Shapiro (B Side Editions)

Part memoir, part cultural criticism, Deborah Shapiro’s book details her experience of becoming engrossed in rewatching Columbo, finding unexpected comfort and meaning in the classic detective series. Blending personal reflection with sharp cultural analysis, it explores memory, family, nostalgia and the enduring appeal of the iconic detective portrayed by Jewish actor Peter Falk.

Purchase the book here.

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Courtney Shapiro is the Assistant Digital Editor for Hadassah Magazine. She has written for Woman’s World, First for Women and Best Life. Follow her on Instagram for book recommendations, reviews and more.