Preview
  • Friday the Rabbi Slept Late

  • A Rabbi Small Mystery, Book 1
  • By: Harry Kemelman
  • Narrated by: George Guidall
  • Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (895 ratings)

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Friday the Rabbi Slept Late

By: Harry Kemelman
Narrated by: George Guidall
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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
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What listeners say about Friday the Rabbi Slept Late

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
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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” 😊

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

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.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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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 !

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Rather good

The main character was very smart and likable, though unassuming. The action took some time to unfold, but overly the slow pace had its charm and corresponded with the setting from mid XXth century.
The the police inspector was also a fine character who aimed for justice and wasn’t satisfied with the easiest answer. Moreover, he felt secure enough to listen and solve the case in cooperation with an outsider.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable and a good look back at history

Firstly, the narration is great. The reader does a good job of making each character distinct without seeming stereotypical. The story, itself, is pretty good, if uncomfortable at times (it isn’t shy in its portrayal of antisemitism), but really stands as an artifact of the time. Some of the descriptions of women wouldn’t pass muster today, and shouldn’t, but the writing embodies the ethos of the time. The twist was unexpected, but the author left clues that could have led someone smarter than I am (the Rabbi, for instance) to the conclusion. I’ll listen to another!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great literacy

The story is intriguing. The narrator does an amazing job!
The writer is a brilliant storyteller! Will definitely download the whole series of the Rabbi.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful light mystery series

What made the experience of listening to Friday the Rabbi Slept Late the most enjoyable?

I first read these books in the 80s and enjoyed them. I'm enjoying listening to the stories once more. I primarily listen while I'm doing household chores and such and I am transported back to Massachusetts and thoroughly engrossed in the stories.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoy that this is a mystery without a lot of gore and no horror. I can enjoy the mystery aspect without being upset by some psychological trigger like you can get from some writers. And I enjoy the look into Judaism that is woven into the stories as well.

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

George Guidall did a fantastic job of narrating this book series. He's enjoyable to listen to and performs the Jewish accents very authentically

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Oh I'd absolutely listen in one sitting if I had the time to do so. It's not hard to just be carried away by the story and take it all in.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Kind of Like a Jewish Father Brown

Like Chesterton’s immortal creation, Rabbi Small uses the mental training and discipline inherent to his faith to solve a murder in which he himself is a prime suspect. As one who rarely tries to solve mystery stories (because when I do I'm always wrong) I found this solution particularly satisfying. Under our rabbi's detached, analytic mind many disparate details click into place, laying the basis for a relationship of mutual respect between him and the local chief of police, which bodes well for future enterprises.

Along the way, we also learn much about conservative Judaism (circa 1964), from the duties of a rabbi and the organization of a synagogue to the study of the Talmud. As intelligent and learned as Rabbi Small is, however, he gets one thing wrong: there's nothing "magical" -- a word that implies either deceptive entertainment or the occult -- about the consecration of the Host. As usual, George Guidall is superb.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Twists and turns and a small town

I really enjoyed this book. While the book is not a timeless classic it does offer a thrill of figuring out people and their quirks.

Comparisons between religions and the duties of rabbis vs priests vs ministers was interesting. At the end I was just thrilled with Rabbi Small's suggestion of a lock. He's a wise rabbi and I will try the next book in the series.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic

Beautifully written, beautifully performed. And quite a good introduction to Jewish culture and community—and even to the Talmud!

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