Book Release: The Disappearing Dowry: An Ezra Melamed Mystery By Libi Astaire
Zahav Press 5809 16th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11204 Contact: Allison Fried Marketed and distributed by Targum Press Direct [email protected] www.zahavpress.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE What happens when Sherlock Holmes meets a Jewish Jane Austen? A brand-new genre of fiction is born...the Jewish historical mystery. Jerusalem, Israel (May 2009) Combining the intrigue of a fast-paced tale of suspense, the captivating charm of Regency England, and a delightful splash of authentic Jewish flavor, acclaimed author and journalist Libi Astaire and Zahav Press break into the world of historical fiction in their latest release, The Disappearing Dowry: An Ezra Melamed Mystery. The story opens in the summer of 1810, as the respectable Lyon family blissfully prepares for the upcoming marriage of their eldest daughter. Suddenly, disaster strikes: family patriarch Mr. Samuel Lyon, a member of Londons Jewish elite, loses his entire fortune, and his daughters dowry is stolen. Enter Mr. Ezra Melamed, a wealthy widower and benefactor of the Jewish community. Armed with a key, a button, and a few cryptic words from a Chassidic rabbi, he goes beyond Londons fashionable streets to search for clues in some of the darkest places. But as the search progresses, the questions become all the more puzzling. Will Mr. Melamed be able to restore the disappearing dowry to its rightful owner before the family faces total ruin? Rich with historical detail, this first-of-its-kind novel vividly brings to life the pomp and propriety of upper-class Jewish life in Regency London with an entertaining slew of unforgettable characters. Readers will be enchanted by the sweetness of demure bride-to-be Hannah Lyons, charmed by the vivaciousness of her precocious sister Rebecca, and amused by the long-winded chatter of their fretful mother, Mrs. Lyon. Theyll meet the taciturn but benevolent Mr. Melamed, the witty but worried Mr. Lyon, and the hilarious but heartbreaking London street urchins little Olivers with Jewish hearts. For the first time ever, in The Disappearing Dowry, the distinctive, Austen-like prose thats been beloved for centuries is masterfully mixed with an original plot of unmistakable Jewish character. A most novel of novels, it paves the way for a whole new genre of historical mysteries. 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
