THE DAY THE RABBI RESIGNED (Harry Kemelman)

I'm not really sure how Rabbi David Small is the main sleuth in this mystery, which was my impression of his role before reading this entry in Kemelman's popular series. The rabbi's role seems to be that of advisor and friend rather than of taking an active part in solving the crimes. Despite the fact that it was not what I expected, I did enjoy this novel.  I did find it difficult keeping track of the many characters, but perhaps someone who has read others in the series would not have that problem.

This story centers around Cyrus Merton, a wealthy, self-made man and devout Catholic who has been  guardian to his plain, socially inept niece, Margaret, for a few years, since the deaths of her parents, Cyrus's half-brother James and his Puerto Rican wife, Theresa.  Margaret has spent her formative years in a Catholic boarding school, but when she professes to have a vocation and decides to join the convent, Cyrus and his widowed sister Agnes quickly ship her home and proceed to look for a suitable husband.  Handsome, success-oriented Victor Joyce fits the bill quite well aside from his extracurricular activities with the opposite sex.  Victor is a literature professor at Windermere Christian College, where Cyrus is a powerful member of the Board.  Victor is thirty-two years old and anxious to be granted tenure.  He starts courting Margaret with the encouragement of Cyrus, who would, of course, would want Margaret's husband to enjoy a successful and lucrative career.  One night, several months after the unhappy union of Victor and Margaret commenced, Victor, who had been drinking heavily, was found dead after crashing his car into a tree on a remote road.  The question is, did the accident actually kill Victor, or did foul play come into the picture?  A missing watch is the clue that leads Chief Lanigan and his friend, Rabbi Small, to question the idea of accidental death.  If it is murder, who did it and what was their motive?

I'm not sure that I would read more Rabbi Small mysteries, but I wouldn't discourage anyone else from doing it!  Rabbi Small is an appealing man, one that I wouldn't mind sitting down and chatting with for a while.  This series is a bit dated, more than 20 years old, but that adds to the atmosphere.  Take a look and see if this would appeal to you!