Friday the Rabbi Slept Late

A Rabbi Small Mystery, Book 1

By: Harry Kemelman

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Young and unassuming Rabbi David Small sorts through puzzling pieces of mysteries with logic straight from the Talmud. In Friday the Rabbi Slept Late, a shocking discovery on the temple grounds threatens to ruin both the diligent rabbi and the entire Jewish community at Barnard’s Crossing. Unaware that his congregation is grumbling about his rumpled appearance and absent-minded manner, Rabbi Small spends long hours poring over scholarly books. But he is forced to face his congregants’ discontent when the police discover a young woman’s body outside the temple - and her handbag in his car. Suddenly Rabbi Small must study motives and uncover the killer, or lose more than his followers. Best-selling author Harry Kemelman fills his shrewdly plotted mysteries with likeable and cunning characters who could be your next door neighbors. Personally approved for this unabridged recording by the author’s estate, veteran narrator George Guidall expertly brings the harried rabbi and his mutinous congregation to life.

©1964 Harry Kemelman (P)1997 Recorded Books

nice lightweight mystery, old but new to me

This is a nice, lightweight mystery that is a little dated (written in 1964), but not in any way that detracts from the story or the writing. I had heard about the series of the rabbi sleuth many years ago, and it was nice to actually enjoy it now -- with one of my favourite narrators George Guidall, who did a wonderful job. The protagonist is only rabbi in a small New England town, and the mystery of the murdered woman is tied in with conflicts among the synagogue board members, office politics, and town gossip among the Jewish and non-Jewish residents. That helps it all ring true, with believable characters (for the mid-sixties suburbs).

Like a police procedural. Dated but enjoyable.

I enjoyed this story, told from the point of view of the Rabbi. Written in the early 1960's, it certainly is dated, and if you demand action, you are likely to be disappointed. The writing is artful, and the teasing out of the story is skillfully done. The relationship between Police Chief Lanigan and Rabbi Small is used to elaborate on the beliefs and values of Conservative Judaism and contrast them with Catholicism and mainstream Protestant beliefs. It's amazing that this series proved so popular.

Splendid!

A marvelous whodunit with a unique cultural twist. To listen to it is to love it.

Good sleuthing lessons

law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, family-dynamics, friendship, Jewish, Jewish-law, prejudice, small-town, amateur-sleuth*****

Came back to read the first in series because I wanted to know how the Rabbi got to be friends with the police chief. This one comes near the end of Rabbi Small's firs and possibly last year in the town. There is contention within the politics of the congregation and things get muddier when a young woman is killed and Rabbi Small seems to be implicated. Great story with lessons for all sleuths.
George Guidell is the calm narrator with a wry sense of humor.

Voices & accents are terrific!!

The characters are all timeless and the plot line has several interesting side concerns that makes this a first book in a series a fun beginning!

Do yourself a favor listen to this great series

George Guidall breaths life to an old favorite series. His interpretation of each character is spot on, I enjoy his early work he really was a great narrator . Besides being a good mystery there also is some insight into Judaism. If you have not experienced any of this series you are missing good listens

A Very Intriguing Book

What a delightful read! I not only enjoyed the story but the narration was exceptional. I an not Jewish so I learned quite alot about the traditions and practices of a faith very different from my own and that was a gift as well.

I loved this story and this narration

Sadly I was not born Jewish but I have been studying Judaism for many years with the intention of converting when I am certain I will be a worthy member of a priestly people. I of course can’t speak to the realism of the portrayal of this fictional community but I can say that I had a Rabbi who reminds me of Rabbi small in his convictions, his love of Talmud and study, his deep intelligence and kindness, and his unyielding desire to emphasize the beauty and separateness of Judaism at the same time he tried to develop a diverse and inclusive congregation. The murder mystery is the least interesting part of the story. I hope you enjoy the characters and their relationships and their integrity as much as I did. I wish this could become a series on Hulu or Amazon. “Barnard Crossing” or “The Rabbi Small Mysteries” 😊

Dated but good detective work.

I read this entire series years ago when they were new. So I expected them to be dated, and I was not surprised. So I approached them as I would Old-Time radio and accepted the premises as they were presented. It was wonderful hearing the rabbi explain the Talmudic approach , and it was wonderful, listening to George Guidall do the narration. He made it come to life it was enjoyable I will probably listen to the whole series again.

although nearly 60 years old, this book holds up

I loved the way the mystery develops, and all the interesting philosophy and religion discussed and worked into the story, by main characters, as it unfolds, and Rabbi applying Talmudic principles to criminal investigations. Very original !