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Torah Group Mysteries #1
The Missing Hand
A stolen heirloom reveals long-buried sins among a peaceful Midwestern Jewish community in this mystery from the author of Poisoned Passover.
While running the Crestfall, Illinois, Torah study group can be rewarding, it isn’t especially eventful, until a valuable heirloom is stolen from one of the group’s members. Known as a yad—the Hebrew word for hand—it is used to keep one’s place while reading the Torah. And this particular yad happens to be encrusted with a fortune’s worth of jewels. Now the mayor’s wife, Julia Donnelly, finds herself volunteering to help find the item.
With no experience in crime detection beyond what she’s seen on TV, Julia and the Torah group leader Rabbi Fine attempt to solve the mystery and address the misery it is causing. But they soon find that the heirloom they seek holds a mystery of its own—one that reaches back to the Second World War—about the enigmatic man who brought this priceless yad to America in the first place.
While running the Crestfall, Illinois, Torah study group can be rewarding, it isn’t especially eventful, until a valuable heirloom is stolen from one of the group’s members. Known as a yad—the Hebrew word for hand—it is used to keep one’s place while reading the Torah. And this particular yad happens to be encrusted with a fortune’s worth of jewels. Now the mayor’s wife, Julia Donnelly, finds herself volunteering to help find the item.
With no experience in crime detection beyond what she’s seen on TV, Julia and the Torah group leader Rabbi Fine attempt to solve the mystery and address the misery it is causing. But they soon find that the heirloom they seek holds a mystery of its own—one that reaches back to the Second World War—about the enigmatic man who brought this priceless yad to America in the first place.
- GenresFiction
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 26, 2023
8 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 23, 2021
In Susan Van Dusen’s new cozy mystery, The Missing Hand, Julia, the least observant Jewish woman in Crestfall, USA, reluctantly joins a Torah study meeting to humor her best friend. There, she meets an eclectic group of characters. One of the women brings with her a valuable antique she'd recently inherited from her grandfather, an immigrant from the old country. The Rabbi explains the bejeweled wand with a hand-shaped pointer at one end is the instrument one uses to keep one's place when reading from the Torah. A week later, the yad disappears. Before she can say Oy Vey, Julia is hosting Torah group in her home and helping Rabbi Fine solve the mystery of the missing yad. The story is fast paced, intriguing, and great fun owing to Julia’s quick wit. But the characters are the real stars, charming, flawed, and genuine. The story may be framed in Jewish practices, but the message of atonement, forgiveness, and redemption are universal. I look forward to Van Dusen’s next book. I hope it’s a sequel!
June 26, 2021
Whether you don’t know much about contemporary Judaism, are an ardent follower, or somewhere in between, readers will learn that people take desperate risks when they must, theft is never simple, and family is family, no matter where they are on the family tree. Julia wants to explore her roots more deeply, and joins a study group at her synagogue, led by the younger and single Rabbi Fine. The women of the group come from all backgrounds, are of all ages and opinions and walks of life. Rabbi Fine has his work cut out for him, dealing with the best and nosiest Torah group. Sometimes they even study when they’re not sharing recipes and secrets. When a group member’s heirloom yod, or helpful hand for holding open scriptures while reading, goes missing, you know it’s never about the pilfered item that’s the real mystery. Join Julia and friends as they dig deep into the past to learn more about the hearts of mankind, and something about themselves as well.
Susan Van Dusen’s delightful adventure, the first of a series, connecting past and present underscores the value of family ties and of sisterhood that goes beyond blood. Unraveling a mystery is only a layer of this faith journey for these courageous and entertaining Torah group members.
Susan Van Dusen’s delightful adventure, the first of a series, connecting past and present underscores the value of family ties and of sisterhood that goes beyond blood. Unraveling a mystery is only a layer of this faith journey for these courageous and entertaining Torah group members.
August 15, 2021
The Missing Hand by Susan Van Dusen is a cozy mystery published in 2021.
Dusen introduces readers to the Jewish community of Crestfall where a Torah group regularly meets. Julia Donnelly is a new member and Rabbi Fine is the new group leader. Soon Julia's amateur detective skills are sought out. A valuable heirloom of a recently deceased grandfather of two of the members has been stolen and the legal documents must be translated. Rabbi Fine and Julia is an unexpected duo who works together to solve the mystery.
The gem studded artifact begins its journey in Czechoslovakia as Hitler is pushing through Europe at the beginning of World War II. The grandfather escapes to America for safety and to build a new life. For the man and the hand (yad) the journey leaves in their wake many wrongs. This story is of undoing the misdeeds, if that is even possible.
Dusen's cozy mystery is a story of family and friends in close knit community. The tale of intrigue and hurt ways will lead readers through the threads. Dusen's skill with embedding humor into her narrative is a welcome respite.
I highly recommend this cozy read.
Dusen introduces readers to the Jewish community of Crestfall where a Torah group regularly meets. Julia Donnelly is a new member and Rabbi Fine is the new group leader. Soon Julia's amateur detective skills are sought out. A valuable heirloom of a recently deceased grandfather of two of the members has been stolen and the legal documents must be translated. Rabbi Fine and Julia is an unexpected duo who works together to solve the mystery.
The gem studded artifact begins its journey in Czechoslovakia as Hitler is pushing through Europe at the beginning of World War II. The grandfather escapes to America for safety and to build a new life. For the man and the hand (yad) the journey leaves in their wake many wrongs. This story is of undoing the misdeeds, if that is even possible.
Dusen's cozy mystery is a story of family and friends in close knit community. The tale of intrigue and hurt ways will lead readers through the threads. Dusen's skill with embedding humor into her narrative is a welcome respite.
I highly recommend this cozy read.
August 4, 2021
Don’t judge a book by its cover!
The cover is to this book is disappointing. There are some typos in the beginning. Don’t let those things stand in the way of you getting to know Julia Donnelly and Rabbi Fine.
Julia’s life is full of interesting people—her husband is a mayor who runs his town well but is wishy-washy disciplining their children. Her best friend is 4’9” but can make a Navy SEAL squirm. Her license-less 15-year-old son takes her car to drive his friend home so the friend won’t get grounded….
Rabbi Fine is a wise soul, sharing his wisdom—but he also has a few surprises up his sleeve.
The cover is to this book is disappointing. There are some typos in the beginning. Don’t let those things stand in the way of you getting to know Julia Donnelly and Rabbi Fine.
Julia’s life is full of interesting people—her husband is a mayor who runs his town well but is wishy-washy disciplining their children. Her best friend is 4’9” but can make a Navy SEAL squirm. Her license-less 15-year-old son takes her car to drive his friend home so the friend won’t get grounded….
Rabbi Fine is a wise soul, sharing his wisdom—but he also has a few surprises up his sleeve.
August 22, 2021
This is the first book of a series, and introduces the reader to Julia Donnelly and Rabbi Fine.
The mystery involves the disappearance of a “yad,” a special pointer the reader uses when reading directly from a Torah Scroll. The yad was a bequest to one of two sisters by their grandfather...the other sister was bequeathed a ledger book and “papers” all written in Czech.
Quick, fun read, once the reader is able to differentiate the assorted characters. Many typos and omissions that were often very distracting. 3.5 stars
The mystery involves the disappearance of a “yad,” a special pointer the reader uses when reading directly from a Torah Scroll. The yad was a bequest to one of two sisters by their grandfather...the other sister was bequeathed a ledger book and “papers” all written in Czech.
Quick, fun read, once the reader is able to differentiate the assorted characters. Many typos and omissions that were often very distracting. 3.5 stars
September 11, 2021
Susan Van Dusen's debut novel. I was a little put off by all the Yiddish phrases and names, because I don't know what they mean or how to prononuce them. That said, I couldn't stop turning the page. Van Dusen's characters leapt from the page and throttled me with their charm, flaws and authenticity. Not so much a mystery as a study of the human condition. I eagerly await the next installment.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews