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rsutton06's review against another edition
4.0
I found the mystery plot of the novel to be a fun read. I also enjoy how the author included short lessons in the basic tenants of Judaism throughout. I would read the other books in the series.
betseyboo's review against another edition
4.0
If I was a character in this novel I would have been described as “one of those corn-fed girls with thick ankles and thighs,” but other than that, I did enjoy this book. Would I read another one in the series? I think so! I liked the setting and the unique characters.
boris3141's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
I actually really enjoyed this cozy mystery! Never even knew it was a book, let alone a series, until this month. Friday the Rabbi Slept Late kind of gave me Agatha Christie vibes. Mostly because the whole mystery was from everyone's POV. Of course, the main suspect is the Rabbi himself but he did a wonderful job helping the police and everyone else come to the right conclusion.
Now I'm not Jewish but my cousin did marry someone who is. That being said, I still know next to nothing about Judaism so I was really intrigued to see how things were going to go down in this book. The one thing that really upset me was the whole swastika on the door. Mostly because, I could see that happening even today. The world is filled with cruelty and racism - which just makes me heart so sad.
In the end, I'm intrigued enough to dive into the next book of this series!
Now I'm not Jewish but my cousin did marry someone who is. That being said, I still know next to nothing about Judaism so I was really intrigued to see how things were going to go down in this book. The one thing that really upset me was the whole swastika on the door. Mostly because, I could see that happening even today. The world is filled with cruelty and racism - which just makes me heart so sad.
In the end, I'm intrigued enough to dive into the next book of this series!
j_lange's review against another edition
4.0
It's a weird comfort read for me. My mom and I listened to this as a book on tape on a car trip when I was maybe 12 or 13. I like the characters and the world building. It doesn't have the twists that readers want now- but this is the short, cozy, read I needed now.
peggy_lavinder's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this audiobook. Raised in a house full of books with free range, in a large Catholic family. I stumbled on this series and by checking with my sister, find my Mom loved this series. I’m so enjoying it. Learning so much and feeling very connected to my Mom. I can see why she loved them. They are so sweet, sneakily deep and entertaining.
It kills me seeing people knocking this book for being “dated” with a copyright of 1965. C’mon people, do you think you just came into existence from magic?
It kills me seeing people knocking this book for being “dated” with a copyright of 1965. C’mon people, do you think you just came into existence from magic?
shieldbearer's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I quite enjoyed this! I have had the Rabbi Small books on my TBR for a while, so it felt good to get the first one knocked out!
The book is dated, yes. The book was absolutely written in the 1960s, and it shows in the language around women in particular. But for a cozy mystery, this book has a surprising amount of heart, and I was very interested in the things it had to say about religion and obligation. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series.
The book is dated, yes. The book was absolutely written in the 1960s, and it shows in the language around women in particular. But for a cozy mystery, this book has a surprising amount of heart, and I was very interested in the things it had to say about religion and obligation. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series.
schmee_again's review against another edition
4.0
Surprisingly fun little read. Very much like an Agatha Christie pulp mystery. Perfect for the couch in front of a fire at the cottage. Thanks to the proprietor at Stage Books in Stratford Ontario who pulled it out of a box under a shelf of books and recommended it.
rose_writes's review
4.0
A truly entertaining read!
The first few chapters were rather slow but it was worth the patience. I look forward to diving into the rest of the series!
The first few chapters were rather slow but it was worth the patience. I look forward to diving into the rest of the series!
aaronsandford's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this, enough that I read the whole thing one Saturday afternoon. The writing is charming, and the relationship between the Jewish rabbi and the Catholic chief of police, as well as the relationships of the leadership in the local Jewish temple, makes a platform for some very interesting explorations of faith, culture, and ways of thinking without getting too deep. The characters were almost universally compelling. I thought the answer to the mystery was perhaps a bit obvious (I figured out the solution somewhere between 50 and 75 percent of the way through the novel), and then the solution is quickly figured out and presented right at the end in a bit of an anticlimax. But the characters, relationships, conversations, and prose quality make up for the less-than-baffling whodunit, and I plan to read the sequels.