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Friday the Rabbi Slept Late

A Rabbi Small Mystery, Book 1

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Friday the Rabbi Slept Late

By: Harry Kemelman
Narrated by: George Guidall
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About this listen

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.

©1964 Harry Kemelman (P)1997 Recorded Books Mystery

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All stars
Most relevant
This book was a pleasure to listen to. Lovely cosy mystery with a surprising amateur sleuth at its heart - a Rabbi. Has everything you’d expect from a cosy mystery + explorations of Jewish faith, culture, and politics. Beautiful narration by George Guidall.

Great cosy mystery with a Jewish twist

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I read this book based on a book club recommendation. I'm really glad that I did. As a Christian, I thought that I knew a little bit about Judaism, I was wrong. Essentially, I knew nothing.

Having listened to this novel, I'm intrigued enough now to listen to the rest of the series. It feeds into my love of mystery and religion, the characters are endearing and the ritual interesting. The story itself, held its own and is no better or worse than any Agatha Christie tale.

Interesting and Educational

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Rabbi David Small is a young man who has the mind of a Jesuit! He has solid ethical values, but lives in a small American town with a newly growing Jewish population where the founders of the temple are powerful, politically and financially aware, and rivals.
Kemelman explains Conservative Judaism very well ( as far as I can tell ) as a system of ethical living, akin to Buddhism, without much reference to the Almighty, and his version of Catholic theology isn't exactly kosher!
This is the USA before 9/11, almost before Vietnam, still parochial, self-congratulatory, class-ridden and money-mad.
It's comforting listening, so last century. I read some of this series aeons ago, from the library, and now enjoy going to sleep with the voice of another USA (the road films, etc) and the wee setbacks of small business and parish pump pride.

Another, more innocent age.

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Although a murder mystery lies at the heart of this story, don't think that the Rabbi is some sort of super sleuth, Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot type character. He is not that type at all. He is slow moving and deliberate and more or less uses theology as a process of elimination to solves issues in his community. Sounds weird? Just give it a go, you'll see what I mean. Also the murder is not the central theme at the heart of this story, for me it was about the Rabbi and his Marmite relationship with those who frequent the Temple and how as the story unfolds his standing in the community changes.

In terms of the narration, very enjoyable and leisurely paced. The narrator, has a pleasent voice and uses a good range of accents and tones in order to differentiate between the characters. Apparantly he is the premier narrator of audio narrations. I can see why.

I do intend to follow up the Rabbi's progress, in the next installment in the series, Saturday, the Rabbi...

Abbie

An Easy Listen

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Loved this book. It was from the plus catalog so not too much riding on it, but I was hooked amid all the twists and turns and did not see the end coming. Also learned a lot about Judaism which I didn’t know (but thought I did!) Looking forward to the best one. Highly recommended if you like an intelligent and thoughtful detective story.

Very enjoyable and informative.

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