Friday the Rabbi Slept Late

Friday the Rabbi Slept Late: An Unusual Murder Puzzle with a New Kind of Detective Hero

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