On a trip to the Holy Land, Rabbi Small is drawn into a deadly conflict between religious extremists in the New York Times-bestselling series. Retired millionaire Barney Berkowitz, from the small Massachusetts town of Barnard’s Crossing, invites Rabbi David Small to come to Israel and bar mitzvah him, as Berkowitz never went through the ceremony in his youth. On what should be a joyous … should be a joyous occasion–and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Holy Land–the rabbi discovers danger lurking in every corner and a conspiracy that threatens to destroy the state of Israel.
An innocent American has been murdered and when the sleuthing rabbi begins his investigation, he finds the death may have been part of an international conspiracy fueled by religious radicals and an arms-smuggling scheme. Anyone, from a liberal Jewish-American professor to a young religious fundamentalist, could be a suspect–and the rabbi must rely on his Talmudic logic and daring chutzpah to untangle the mystery and prevent an even more deadly attack.
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I think I have read every book by this author. Fast reading…entertaining…
I loved the whole series! Difficult to find in hardcover. Grateful to find in eBook. Very well written.
Dated. Not well-developed mystery/plot. Solved by a sudden, poorly explained revelation of the protagonist (the rabbi). I loved these books when they first came out many years ago. Not any more.
I have been reading the “Rabbi” mysteries for ages – I love him and his quiet way of interpreting people, that leads to solving murders!
I learn about a rabbi’s life.
Learned a lot about the Holy Land.
An old favorite!
Not as good as most of the books in the series. Rabbi Small seems to have difficulty engaging with characters in the Holy Land. Perhaps he should stay home.
I’ve read the whole series more than once, some several timesI love revisiting the Rabbi, his wife and the contentious members of his synagogue. These books are some of the best character studies I’ve ever read, comparable to those found in Agatha Christie’s wonderful mysteries.
Fun
I love all the Rabbi Small books.They are fun and keep your interest. There is always a mystery and the Rabbi always solves it in unexpected and original ways. I have learned a lot of interesting facts about Judaism, through the eyes of Rabbi Small. He is not considered very like-able, but for some reason I always root for him, and he comes through.
A very different cast of characters and plot and fun to read all the way through.
I read all the Kemelman “rabbi” books when I was younger 50 years ago. I keep saying I am going to read them again. They are excellent and I reccommend them
I like all the Rabbi books. I just recently reread this one and enjoyed it.
One of the best religious series over the past 70 years. Absolutely charming and inspirational.
Good book
Dull and formulaic
I have enjoyed Harry Kemelman’s books and this is as good as the others. Rabbi Small through his training as a Rabbi is good at using is training to solve murders.
I like all the Rabbi Small mysteries.
A Rabbi as a detective? Works!!