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Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife #6
Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Choir: A Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife Mystery
Agatha Award-nominated Sharon Kahn serves up a fresh batch of Chanukah chutzpah -- and murder -- on the rails, as the Temple Rita Choir travels through the Canadian Rockies in this laugh-out-loud kosher cozy.
Trouble is brewing in Temple Rita. First, the choir's upcoming excursion to Banff and Lake Louise is in serious jeopardy when sagging latke sales don't raise enough money for the scenic train trip. Resident busybody Essie Sue thinks that hiring Bitsy, an aging peroxide-blond tart of a party planner, can help solve their problems. Ruby, our widowed heroine, disagrees, and all Bitsy manages to do is spend more money the temple doesn't have on a pathetic Chanukah concert.
To make matters worse, Temple Rita's star soprano, Serena Salit, collapses right before her number. She's rushed to the hospital but later dies of heart failure. Ruby steps in quickly to support Serena's good friend Rose, a move that gets her right where she wants to be -- in the path of the gossip -- when Rose discovers some disturbing entries in Serena's electronic diary. In a file titled "Spiritual," Rose discovers secrets her friend never told her: that she was having an affair with the smarmy choir leader Andre and was involved in a neo-Kabbalistic cult. But what led her to write in her last entry, "They're frightening me"? And did "they" kill her?
Despite everything, Essie Sue insists the choir take their trip "in Serena's honor," and the whole Temple Rita group, minus the traumatized Rose, complies. While aboard the train, Ruby's suspicions of murder are confirmed by a call from her policeman boyfriend -- he tells her that poison, not heart failure, caused Serena's death.
Ruby considers everyone in the Temple Rita Choir a suspect -- from the tenor Andre to Serena's ex, the baritone -- but not even she could imagine that her trip through the Rockies would end with a body thrown from the train and a ride on the ski lift from hell. From latkes and lovers to lunatics and Lake Louise, Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Choir has everything it needs to be a great, quirky addition to this sidesplitting series.
Trouble is brewing in Temple Rita. First, the choir's upcoming excursion to Banff and Lake Louise is in serious jeopardy when sagging latke sales don't raise enough money for the scenic train trip. Resident busybody Essie Sue thinks that hiring Bitsy, an aging peroxide-blond tart of a party planner, can help solve their problems. Ruby, our widowed heroine, disagrees, and all Bitsy manages to do is spend more money the temple doesn't have on a pathetic Chanukah concert.
To make matters worse, Temple Rita's star soprano, Serena Salit, collapses right before her number. She's rushed to the hospital but later dies of heart failure. Ruby steps in quickly to support Serena's good friend Rose, a move that gets her right where she wants to be -- in the path of the gossip -- when Rose discovers some disturbing entries in Serena's electronic diary. In a file titled "Spiritual," Rose discovers secrets her friend never told her: that she was having an affair with the smarmy choir leader Andre and was involved in a neo-Kabbalistic cult. But what led her to write in her last entry, "They're frightening me"? And did "they" kill her?
Despite everything, Essie Sue insists the choir take their trip "in Serena's honor," and the whole Temple Rita group, minus the traumatized Rose, complies. While aboard the train, Ruby's suspicions of murder are confirmed by a call from her policeman boyfriend -- he tells her that poison, not heart failure, caused Serena's death.
Ruby considers everyone in the Temple Rita Choir a suspect -- from the tenor Andre to Serena's ex, the baritone -- but not even she could imagine that her trip through the Rockies would end with a body thrown from the train and a ride on the ski lift from hell. From latkes and lovers to lunatics and Lake Louise, Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Choir has everything it needs to be a great, quirky addition to this sidesplitting series.
258 pages, Hardcover
First published September 26, 2006
68 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Kahn
16 books26 followersSharon Kahn has worked as arbitrator and attorney, and is a graduate of Vassar College and the University of Arizona Law School. The mother of three, she lives in Austin, Texas.
Sharon spent thirty-one years as a rabbi’s wife, inspiring the creation of Agatha nominated Fax Me A Bagel (Scribner) -- an Alternate Selection of the Book of the Month Club, with Ruby the Rabbi’s Wife doing the sleuthing. Her second mystery novel, Never Nosh A Matzo Ball, was followed by Don't Cry for Me, Hot Pastrami, Hold the Cream Cheese Kill the Lox, Which Big Giver Stole the Chopped Liver, and Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Choir.
Books in the series have been published as hardcover, Kindle and Nookbooks, e-books, Thorndike large print hardcover, paperback, and Audible.com editions.
Sharon spent thirty-one years as a rabbi’s wife, inspiring the creation of Agatha nominated Fax Me A Bagel (Scribner) -- an Alternate Selection of the Book of the Month Club, with Ruby the Rabbi’s Wife doing the sleuthing. Her second mystery novel, Never Nosh A Matzo Ball, was followed by Don't Cry for Me, Hot Pastrami, Hold the Cream Cheese Kill the Lox, Which Big Giver Stole the Chopped Liver, and Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Choir.
Books in the series have been published as hardcover, Kindle and Nookbooks, e-books, Thorndike large print hardcover, paperback, and Audible.com editions.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 6, 2019
Honestly I can see why the series stops here. Ruby is so completely disinterested in all the aspects of the temple. Every thing Essie Sue does, Ruby goes along with not out of support for either a friend or for the temple. She's there to be a martyr. She's there to kvetch and nothing more. If she happens to solve a murder, so be it. Usually the amateur sleuth is more emotionally involved in the events of the murder.
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January 30, 2009
This is okay to read. Not great, not terrible. Just kinda blah though. It's needs more umph in the mystery department. Ruby wasn't really trying to solve the murders this time. She was avoiding Essie Sue the whole time and taking pictures. Kevin is the stupidest rabbi I've ever heard of. All we do is follow Ruby and watch as she stumbles over the murderer. And that's at the end.
June 7, 2024
I checked this book out from the library because the title caught my attention. It was displayed on an endcap, because it fit the topic/genre for the month (I can't remember what that was). I also liked the cover, which featured giant latkes, topped with sour cream, and a train with a skull face on the front of it, driving through a tunnel in one of the latkes.
Some of you may know what a latke is . . . I had no clue before I read this. But I'm not Jewish, either. So there's that.
This would definitely qualify as a "cozy mystery," which is not my normal wheelhouse. I liked it enough to give it three stars, but feel as though I won't read any other "Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife" mysteries. Ruby was find, I liked her, okay. However, I think I have encountered the single most annoying person I have ever read in a book in the character of Essie Sue. Wow. Ms. Kahn has definitely written a hum-dinger in Essie Sue!
Not being familiar with Jewish culture, there were parts of the book that simply didn't resonate with me. This doesn't make it bad, of course. I'm just ignorant of such things.
In this particular story, it begins right at Chanukah season, and the Temple Rita choir is planning a trip to Canada, and are trying to sell latkes to raise funds for the trip. At their fund-raising banquet, though, Serena Salit collapses and, later at the hospital, dies, allegedly from a heart attack. But this is a murder mystery, right, so we all know that's not what happened. Ruby doesn't find this out until they are in Canada on their trip.
One thing that happens in the book is a scenic train ride through parts of Canada, which sounds utterly delightful! But, of course, since nothing can ever go smoothly in a murder mystery, another death happens on the train ride.
Things get more tense toward the end of the book, and if I were just rating the last third to fourth of the book, it probably would have gotten four stars.
I would, however, recommend this for people who love cozy mysteries. It was an enjoyable read.
I almost forgot . . . there is also a recipe for latkes at the end.
Some of you may know what a latke is . . . I had no clue before I read this. But I'm not Jewish, either. So there's that.
This would definitely qualify as a "cozy mystery," which is not my normal wheelhouse. I liked it enough to give it three stars, but feel as though I won't read any other "Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife" mysteries. Ruby was find, I liked her, okay. However, I think I have encountered the single most annoying person I have ever read in a book in the character of Essie Sue. Wow. Ms. Kahn has definitely written a hum-dinger in Essie Sue!
Not being familiar with Jewish culture, there were parts of the book that simply didn't resonate with me. This doesn't make it bad, of course. I'm just ignorant of such things.
In this particular story, it begins right at Chanukah season, and the Temple Rita choir is planning a trip to Canada, and are trying to sell latkes to raise funds for the trip. At their fund-raising banquet, though, Serena Salit collapses and, later at the hospital, dies, allegedly from a heart attack. But this is a murder mystery, right, so we all know that's not what happened. Ruby doesn't find this out until they are in Canada on their trip.
One thing that happens in the book is a scenic train ride through parts of Canada, which sounds utterly delightful! But, of course, since nothing can ever go smoothly in a murder mystery, another death happens on the train ride.
Things get more tense toward the end of the book, and if I were just rating the last third to fourth of the book, it probably would have gotten four stars.
I would, however, recommend this for people who love cozy mysteries. It was an enjoyable read.
I almost forgot . . . there is also a recipe for latkes at the end.
May 20, 2022
Join Ruby, the widow of Eternal's late rabbi (poor Temple Eternal didn't get a winner, with the replacement - Kevin is not my idea of a "spiritual leader" of any faith...) as she tries to figure out why one of the town's residents turns up DEADER than an doornail, while the whole congregation (well, as many as Essie Sue could wangle into the event center at the Temple) is watching and listening...then, on to the train ride across Western Canada, where the view from the train is beautiful, but deadly. Fun little mystery, in a cute cozy series - pity there are only 6 of them.
December 1, 2019
I had read another in the series, "Fax Me a Bagel" some years back. This was as pleasant and a good "palate cleanser." A good audiobook and length while traveling Thanksgiving week. Readers who enjoy a humorous look at synagogue communities, rabbis, Jewish or Christian congregations will be rewarded.
October 22, 2024
This Jewish congregation based mystery is one of a series of fun "cozies." The plot and characters are engaging in their sweetness and quirkiness. The puzzle is merely ok, engaging, but not necessarily gripping. The plot follows a typical mystery pattern, with jeopardy for the protagonist (whom the reader comes to like) climaxing to the ending. Enjoyable and positive
December 9, 2019
This is the last book in a series of 6. I have enjoyed them. They are a light easy read. I just wish there was at least one more so I would know if Ruby ended up with Paul, Ed or the new guy, Gus?...
May 17, 2018
Yet another festive read! Ruby sees something awry, or does she? And is there love in her life? I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.
October 15, 2019
Essie Sue is seriously plucking on my nerves!!!
January 7, 2020
A cozy mystery without mystery, and certainly without coziness
My Full Review
My Full Review
May 28, 2024
Good, funny, and had an unexpected twist. Might have to find the first one.
July 16, 2015
#6 in the Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife series.
Ruby is attending a temple choir concert when one of the soloists collapses and dies on stage. Her friend Rose and the singer's sister determine that she had been poisoned. Against policeman boyfriend Paul's wishes, Ruby embarks on a choir train trip through the Canadian Rockies. She thinks she can find clues to Serena's death; Paul thinks she will be in danger.
Ruby is attending a temple choir concert when one of the soloists collapses and dies on stage. Her friend Rose and the singer's sister determine that she had been poisoned. Against policeman boyfriend Paul's wishes, Ruby embarks on a choir train trip through the Canadian Rockies. She thinks she can find clues to Serena's death; Paul thinks she will be in danger.
June 28, 2008
HAHAHA! I liked this book!! It was funny and suspenseful at the same time. The setting is a small town in Texas, and a train in Canada. The heroine is a Jewish widow. She has a dog named Oy Veh, and a cat named Chutzpah. How can you not like that? I was really shocked at the revelation of the murderer -- it was not at all who I expected.
June 9, 2011
Once you get past the first 75 pages, it becomes a real page turner with a real twist for an ending. The Temple Rita choir goes to Canda for program and along the way more dead bodies and a real twist.
March 20, 2010
Really fun series. Very light quick read
September 3, 2010
I found this more of a romance than a mystery, so it was false advertising. Plus, I found several of the characters extremely annoying.
July 5, 2011
Another tidy mystery that worked well as a road-trip audio book.
November 5, 2012
The whole series is very entertaining...a great quick read.
April 29, 2015
Fun book!
January 26, 2016
Bit of s fluff, but thoroughly enjoyable.
April 17, 2008
oy that essie sue!! good ending
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews