Tag: #Mystery

“The Jewish Sherlock Holmes” investigates a deadly disruption on a college campus in this New York Times bestseller (The Detroit News).

Edgar Award–Winning Author

Once again, Rabbi Small finds himself looking for solace outside the confines of the contentious world of his synagogue in Barnard’s Crossing, Massachusetts. When a member of his congregation expresses that she does not want him to officiate her wedding, Rabbi Small has had enough. He seeks escape by dabbling in academia with a part-time teaching gig at a local college. But his fantasy of a tranquil life in an ivory tower is about to come tumbling down.

A bombing at the school kills one of the rabbi’s coworkers, and Small finds himself caught between adversarial students and feuding faculty members. As he investigates possible suspects with the same logic and measured caution that make him a brilliant religious leader, Rabbi Small finds that everyone has a motive—and an alibi—and it’s up to him to uncover the truth.

“When Rabbi Small finally pins down the killer, the reader’s only regret is that its all over.” —Associated Press

“First rate.” —The New Yorker

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Very fine.” —The New York Times
 
“The Jewish Sherlock Holmes is not only as brilliant and perceptive as his British counterpart, but in time very likely will surpass him in exciting adventures.” —TheDetroit News
 
“A first-rate mystery.” —The New Yorker on Friday the Rabbi Slept Late
 
“Vintage Kemelman—clean prose, quiet wit, absorbing characters, and revealing conversations, with David’s discourses on Judaism as fascinating as ever.” —Publishers Weekly on That Day the Rabbi Left Town

From the Inside Flap

Small takes a break from the Barnard’s Crossing’s pulpit to teach a course on Jewish thought at a small community college. But he soon discovers all is not idyllic behind the ivy-colored walls. When a bomb goes off in the dean’s office, the peaceful campus mood is shattered and everyone — from professors and students to the indefatigable rabbi himself — is suspected . . . of murder.

A bomb plot draws Rabbi Small into international intrigue while he’s vacationing in the Holy Land in this New York Times–bestselling novel.

Edgar Award–Winning Author

David Small has spent six years as the rabbi of Barnard’s Crossing, Massachusetts, and every year his job has been in crisis. In desperate need of time away, he embarks on a three-month trip to Israel. He expects a relaxing, soul-nourishing stay, but wherever Rabbi Small goes, murder follows.

A bombing disrupts his vacation and the rabbi finds himself thrust into a world of terrorism and political discord in the divided city of Jerusalem. He teams up with an Orthodox Israeli cop to hunt down the terrorists before they can attack again. Dispensing Jewish wisdom as he employs his astute detective skills, Rabbi Small might be the only one who can crack this explosive case.

“Salty, smart, shrewdly funny, well-plotted and fast-moving . . . Will take the blue out of Monday.” —The Detroit News

“A fascination and delight from beginning to end.” —Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Salty, smart, shrewdly funny, well-plotted and fast-moving . . . Will take the blue out of Monday.” —The Detroit News
 
“A fascination and delight from beginning to end.” —Library Journal
 
“Ingenious . . . Highly recommended.” —The New York Times on Thursday the Rabbi Walked Out
 
“A first-rate mystery.” —The New Yorker on Friday the Rabbi Slept Late
 
“Vintage Kemelman—clean prose, quiet wit, absorbing characters, and revealing conversations, with David’s discourses on Judaism as fascinating as ever.” —Publishers Weekly on That Day the Rabbi Left Town

As Passover approaches, Rabbi Small contends with infighting, backstabbing, and an actual murder in this New York Times bestseller.

Edgar Award–Winning Author

As Rabbi David Small’s five-year contract winds down at the synagogue in Barnard’s Crossing, Massachusetts, some members of the congregation are plotting to remove him; others are whispering about starting a new temple of their own across the street. When the rabbi gets an invitation to perform Passover services at a local university, he’s eager to get away from the bickering and spend a few days on campus. But instead of peace and enlightenment, he finds a murder wrapped up in drug deals and racial tensions.

From tuned-out hippies to political zealots, the college is full of potential suspects. Once again it’s up to the rabbi to draw on his deductive skills to solve the case—and avoid getting sucked into the bitter culture war—before the killer strikes again.

“Detective work at its most telling . . . The puzzle is a good one . . . but the best part of this and any Small tale is the wondrous warmth and assurance of the portrayal of Jews and Judaism.” —The New York Times Book Review

“The Rabbi’s best adventure yet.” —Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Detective work at its most telling . . . The puzzle is a good one . . . but the best part of this and any Small tale is the wondrous warmth and assurance of the portrayal of Jews and Judaism.” —The New York Times Book Review
 
“The Rabbi’s best adventure yet.” —Library Journal
 
“Ingenious . . . Highly recommended.” —The New York Times on Thursday the Rabbi Walked Out
 
“A first-rate mystery.” —The New Yorker on Friday the Rabbi Slept Late
 
“Vintage Kemelman—clean prose, quiet wit, absorbing characters, and revealing conversations, with David’s discourses on Judaism as fascinating as ever.” —Publishers Weekly on That Day the Rabbi Left Town

First in the New York Times–bestselling series and winner of the Edgar Award: A new rabbi in a small New England town investigates the murder of a nanny.
David Small is the new rabbi in the small Massachusetts town of Barnard’s Crossing. Although he’d rather spend his days engaged in Torah study and theological debate, the daily chores of synagogue life are all-consuming—that is, until the day a nanny’s body is found on the rain-soaked asphalt of the temple’s parking lot.
 
When the young woman’s purse is discovered in Rabbi Small’s car, he will have to use his scholarly skills and Talmudic wisdom—and collaborate with the Irish-Catholic police chief—to exonerate himself and find the real killer.
Blending this unorthodox sleuth’s quick intellect with thrilling action, Friday the Rabbi Slept Late is the exciting first installment of the beloved bestselling mystery series that offers a Jewish twist on the clerical mystery, a delightful discovery for fans of Father Brown and Father Dowling or readers of Faye Kellerman’s suspense novels set in the Orthodox community.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A master of detectival disputation . . . The most important debut of a detective in recent years.” —The New York Times
 
“A first-rate mystery.” —The New Yorker
 
“America’s finest living creator of the good old detective story!” —Chicago Tribune
 
“An excellent storyteller . . . Here is detective work at its best.” —The Detroit News
 
“Ingenious . . . Highly recommended.” —The New York Times on Thursday the Rabbi Walked Out
 
“Vintage Kemelman—clean prose, quiet wit, absorbing characters, and revealing conversations, with David’s discourses on Judaism as fascinating as ever.” —Publishers Weekly on That Day the Rabbi Left Town

From the Publisher

When I was a young boy, the first real mystery I ever read was FRIDAY THE RABBI SLEPT LATE. I loved reading about a rabbi solving crimes. When I went to temple while studying for my Bar Mitzvah, during the rabbi’s sermons I’d try to imagine him catching the myriad murderers in Barnard’s Crossing; somehow, he just wasn’t quite Rabbi David Small. And it was more than just the Jewish protagonist that drew me to the writing of Harry Kemelman; it was the spirit with which he told the story. When I came to Ballantine, I was so happy to be able to work on these terrific books. Unfortunately, Mr. Kemelman passed away shortly after THAT DAY THE RABBI LEFT TOWN was published. There may be no more new Rabbi David Small mysteries coming, but that won’t prevent me from revisiting an old friend, time and time again.

Mark Rifkin, Managing Editorial