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Identity in Detective Fiction
The New York detective decides to leave the big city after his wife’s
death and takes a job in a small town in the Rocky Mountains where he
goes to work as the investigator (Inspector Dave) for the Public De
fender’s Office. The real story is about the interplay between him and
his mother who is the one solving the mysteries. It would not hurt the
series if “Mom” got a name and her character was more developed, but
there is a certain sweetness about the books that qualifies these as one
o f the few “Cozys” on the list
Af-fir-ma-tion
n.
Something affirmed; positive declaration; assertion.
In this context, the Jewish characters in the following novels are proud
o f their Jewish identity, and some aspect of Judaism serves to advance the
plot.
C
hafets
, Z
ev
.
-
Inherit the Mob.
New York: Random House, 1991.
Chafets,
oiJerusalemReport
and Likud fame provides us with some
real goodies when he introduces us to Jewish mafiosos, with a journal
ist (William Gordon) who solves the mystery while in the middle o f a
family mess.
K
aminsky
, S
tuart
.
-
When the Dark Man Calls.
New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1983.
-
Lieberman’s Folly.
New York: Ivy Books, 1991.
-
Lieberman's Choice.
New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1992.
-
Lieberman's Day.
New York: Henry Holt, 1994.
-
Lieberman's Thief.
New York: Henry Holt, 1996.
Certainly one of my favorites . . . Kaminsky gives us a real Jewish
cop from Chicago (Abe Lieberman) whose wife becomes the president
o f the Conservative shul in their neighborhood. He first appears as a
minor figure in the 1983 story, but is already the wise and unassuming
policeman. Kaminsky is one of the better writers of this genre (also
creating two other mystery series [non-Jewish]). whose characters
come across as believable and sympathetic.
K
ellerman
, F
aye
.
-
The Ritual Bath.
New York: Arbor, 1986.
-
Sacred and Profane.
New York: Arbor, 1987.
-
Milk andHoney.
New York: Morrow, 1990.
-
The Day ofAtonement.
New York: Morrow, 1991.
-
False Prophet.
New York: Morrow, 1992.
-
Grievous Sin.
New York: Morrow, 1993