Murder at the Minyan: A New Kosher Mystery Murder at the Minyan, a cozy mystery by Shulamit E. Kustanowitz, has been published by Infinity Publishing of West Conshohocken, PA., just in time for Jewish Book Month and Chanukah.
Murder at the Minyan has no sex or profanity, very little violence, and it ends well. Theres some humor, and the cast of characters is likely to seem familiar to any shul-goer. Of course, there is a murder. One congregant finds a most dastardly solution to inadequate shul attendance that interferes with his need to say Kaddish. But theres a lot more to the story than the murder. The book could be called a novel about mitzvot. Throughout its 210 pages, the rabbi protagonist, Avi London, helps members of his congregation face life cycle crises and focus on traditional Jewish values. An early reviewer said that the author is following in the tradition of Kemelman and Telushkin. As the story moves to its inevitable climax, it touches on societal and cultural challenges that observant and caring Jews are facing today across denominational lines. Some of the topics discussed are Shabbat observance, kashrut, Jewish education, tefilah, tzedakah, marriage, conversion, Brit Milah, honoring parents, visiting the sick, burying the dead and the treasure of Jewish unity. Murder at the Minyan is on the AJL list of new items for adult readers that are available for review before the next due date, January 5, 2007. It was submitted to Suzanne Smailes as an advance review copy during the summer. Title: Murder at the Minyan Author: Shulamit E. Kustanowitz Publisher: Infinity Publishing Issue Month: September 2006 Category: Cozy Mystery ISBN: 0-7414-3382-6 Binding: 210 pages, 5.5 x 8.5 Trade Paperback Retail Price: $13.95 For more information, contact Infinity Publishing at www.buybooksontheweb.com, or visit www.MurderAtTheMinyan.com for news, reviews, the complete Prologue, and a free discussion guide for reading groups. Al Kustanowitz Murmin Books www.murminbooks.com Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
