Harry Kemelman books

Harry Kemelman books in order. Browse the complete list of all 13 books by Harry Kemelman, including The Rabbi Small Mysteries series.

Short Story Collections

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Nine Mile Walk 1967 Buy

The Rabbi Small Mysteries Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Friday the Rabbi Slept Late 1964 Buy
Saturday the Rabbi Went Hungry 1966 Buy
Sunday the Rabbi Stayed Home 1969 Buy
Monday the Rabbi Took Off 1972 Buy
Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red 1973 Buy
Wednesday the Rabbi Got Wet 1976 Buy
Thursday the Rabbi Walked Out 1978 Buy
Conversations with Rabbi Small 1981 Buy
Someday the Rabbi Will Leave 1985 Buy
One Fine Day the Rabbi Bought a Cross 1987 Buy
The Day the Rabbi Resigned 1992 Buy
That Day the Rabbi Left Town 1996 Buy

Harry Kemelman was an American mystery writer best known for The Rabbi Small Mysteries, a series of twelve novels published between 1964 and 1996. The series features Rabbi David Small, a Conservative rabbi in the fictional Massachusetts town of Barnard’s Crossing, who applies Talmudic reasoning to solve murders.

Kemelman’s debut, Friday the Rabbi Slept Late, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1965 and became a bestseller. Each subsequent book in the series is titled with a different day of the week, a pattern he maintained through the first seven novels before shifting to other title formats. Beyond the series, Kemelman published The Nine Mile Walk, a collection of short stories featuring Professor Nicky Welt, another character who relies on logical deduction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Harry Kemelman written?

Harry Kemelman has written thirteen books across two series.

What was Harry Kemelman's first book?

Harry Kemelman’s first book is Friday the Rabbi Slept Late, published in 1964.

What makes the Rabbi Small mysteries unique?

The Rabbi Small series stands out for blending mystery fiction with Jewish culture, Talmudic logic, and interfaith dialogue. Rabbi Small solves crimes using the same analytical reasoning he applies to religious texts, giving the series a distinctive intellectual flavor.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive commissions for purchases made through links on this site.

Privacy Policy