Thursday the Rabbi Walked Out (Rabbi Small Mysteries)

Rating:
Summary: Good Mystery, but Easily Solved
Review: I like the Rabbi Small mysteries, because they are classic who-dun-it stories, and often give an insight into Jewish law and temple politics. If there is a problem with them, it is that Kemelman tends to beat people over the head with clues, and sometimes the police work is less than stellar. This mystery is one of those cases.

The real problem is that a serious examination of the crime scene shows the police theory was all wet. The facts were that the victim was shot dead-on, and a clock (providing the "time of death") was also shot. The altered timepiece is a classic of detective fiction, but since it has been so widely used, the clue was obvious. Also weak was the evidence which got the killer. Surely somebody who wiped the clock clean of fingerprints would also have wiped the key used to alter the clock in the first place. However, the motive is where everything falls down. The new (unsigned) will the victim's lawyer drew up acknowledged he had a blood son. Once that fact was out, there was no way the killer could inherit the victim's money.

The Rabbi's conclusions were good, but a good CSI would have had half the case solved.

Rating:
Summary: A kosher mistery
Review: If you like Rabbis Small misteries do not miss this one. The story is as usual: Rabbi Small's job in danger (he is going to be fired), and he is involved to a murder case. All good if ends good.

Rating:
Summary: Another Kosher Mistery
Review: If you like the Rabbi Small stories you will enjoy this one as well. It is not so good as the "Classic" Friday the rabbi slept late" but it is brilliant as well. Rabbi Small finds himself in troulbe (as usual): in a middle of a murder case and his job is in danger too. naturally he solves the problems with his clear logic, so you can count on the next stories.

Rating:
Summary: Another Kosher Mistery
Review: If you like the Rabbi Small stories you will enjoy this one as well. It is not so good as the "Classic" Friday the rabbi slept late" but it is brilliant as well. Rabbi Small finds himself in troulbe (as usual): in a middle of a murder case and his job is in danger too. naturally he solves the problems with his clear logic, so you can count on the next stories.

Rating:
Summary: Rabbi Small Counts his Days!
Review: There's no rabbi more famous in fiction that David Small! In this tres kosher series of the rabbi-as-detective, author Harry Kemelman has created one of the most interesting characters of this genre. In "Thursday the Rabbi Walked Out," Small becomes involved in another murder story--this time the victim is a notorious anti-Semite, and a number of his congregation are now suspects (they seem to be for good reason!). It is up to Small to match wits--and skill--with the actual murderer. ([e-mail])

Certainly any of the "day" novels of Kemelman are a treat (the first was "Friday the Rabbi Slept Late") and on this particular "day" (Thursday) readers will not be disappointed. Kemelman's style is fast-paced and his detective revelations are logical, solid, and do not insult the reader. Clearly, he takes the time and patience to weave his tales--and they are worth the wait!

Rating:
Summary: Rabbi Small Counts his Days!
Review: There's no rabbi more famous in fiction that David Small! In this tres kosher series of the rabbi-as-detective, author Harry Kemelman has created one of the most interesting characters of this genre. In "Thursday the Rabbi Walked Out," Small becomes involved in another murder story--this time the victim is a notorious anti-Semite, and a number of his congregation are now suspects (they seem to be for good reason!). It is up to Small to match wits--and skill--with the actual murderer. ([e-mail])

Certainly any of the "day" novels of Kemelman are a treat (the first was "Friday the Rabbi Slept Late") and on this particular "day" (Thursday) readers will not be disappointed. Kemelman's style is fast-paced and his detective revelations are logical, solid, and do not insult the reader. Clearly, he takes the time and patience to weave his tales--and they are worth the wait!