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A Mrs. Kaplan Mystery #1
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death
Move over, Miss Marple—Mark Reutlinger’s charming cozy debut introduces readers to the unforgettable amateur sleuth Rose Kaplan and her loyal sidekick, Ida.
Everyone knows that Rose Kaplan makes the best matzoh ball soup around—she’s a regular matzoh ball maven—so it’s no surprise at the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors when, once again, Mrs. K wins the honor of preparing the beloved dish for the Home’s seder on the first night of Passover.
But when Bertha Finkelstein is discovered facedown in her bowl of soup, her death puts a bit of a pall on the rest of the seder. And things go really meshugge when it comes out that Bertha choked on a diamond earring earlier stolen from resident Daisy Goldfarb. Suddenly Mrs. K is the prime suspect in the police investigation of both theft and murder. Oy vey—it’s a recipe for disaster, unless Rose and her dear friend Ida can summon up the chutzpah to face down the police and solve the mystery themselves.
Advance praise for Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death
“Is there kosher food in jail? These two heroines have gotten themselves in quite a pickle! Well, it’s a matzoh ball mess, really. Too deliciously funny!”—Rita Mae Brown, bestselling author of Nine Lives to Die
Everyone knows that Rose Kaplan makes the best matzoh ball soup around—she’s a regular matzoh ball maven—so it’s no surprise at the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors when, once again, Mrs. K wins the honor of preparing the beloved dish for the Home’s seder on the first night of Passover.
But when Bertha Finkelstein is discovered facedown in her bowl of soup, her death puts a bit of a pall on the rest of the seder. And things go really meshugge when it comes out that Bertha choked on a diamond earring earlier stolen from resident Daisy Goldfarb. Suddenly Mrs. K is the prime suspect in the police investigation of both theft and murder. Oy vey—it’s a recipe for disaster, unless Rose and her dear friend Ida can summon up the chutzpah to face down the police and solve the mystery themselves.
Advance praise for Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death
“Is there kosher food in jail? These two heroines have gotten themselves in quite a pickle! Well, it’s a matzoh ball mess, really. Too deliciously funny!”—Rita Mae Brown, bestselling author of Nine Lives to Die
188 pages, ebook
First published November 18, 2014
46 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
Mark Reutlinger
12 books209 followersMark Reutlinger is the author of the "Mrs. Kaplan" cozy mystery series, the award-winning caper crime story "Murder with Strings Attached," and the romantic suspense thriller "To Seduce a President." He is a professor of law emeritus at Seattle University. Born in San Francisco, Mark graduated from UC Berkeley and now lives with his wife, Analee, in University Place, Washington.
When not reading or at his computer writing, Mark enjoys tennis, biking, playing the clarinet, sports cars, and various arts and crafts. He wishes he had more time for it all.
When not reading or at his computer writing, Mark enjoys tennis, biking, playing the clarinet, sports cars, and various arts and crafts. He wishes he had more time for it all.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
July 9, 2021
"Mrs. Kaplan cares to be the best at one thing and that is matzoh balls...She is a real matzoh ball maven." It was the first night of Pesach [Passover] and Mrs. Kaplan had the honor of preparing matzoh ball soup for the one hundred residents of the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors. "A polite slurping of soup...quite a bit of much louder slurping...Mrs. Finkelstein has fallen [face down] into her soup." Bertha Finkelstein, a quiet soul, had choked on a diamond earring, an earring that had been reported stolen by Daisy Goldfarb, a fancy-schmancy resident. "It seemed like it was Mrs. K, not just poor Bertha, who was in the soup."
A visit from the police confirmed the theory that Rose Kaplan was the prime suspect. Did she commit theft, followed by murder? According to the police, "...whoever caused that earring to end up in Mrs. Finkelstein's soup or in the dumpling in her soup...is probably the person who took Mrs. Goldfarb's earrings." Rose Kaplan considered Sherlock Holmes to be her hero. She had read and reread many of his adventures. Rose teamed up with her best friend, Ida Berkowitz, who assumed the role of Mrs. K's "Watson". Ida narrated the mystery as it unfolded. They must unmask the culprit. After all, Kosher food might not be served in jail!
First things first. Rose must create a list of what is known "for certain" with a second list containing "the possibilities". "When you have eliminated the impossible, you should look very closely at the not so likely." They had their work cut out for them. Rose summoned her inner "Sherlock" and, assisted by Ida, hit the floor running. [Ok, perhaps not quite at full speed] Some of their tactics were above board, some were not. How much trouble could a pair of septuagenarians possibly cause? Told using a plethora of Yiddish expressions and a bissel [a little] humor, Rose and Ida would try to outsmart the police and solve this cozy mystery themselves.
"Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death (A Mrs. Kaplan Mystery #1) by Mark Reutlinger is a delightful, witty, fun-filled mystery set in a senior living facility. Having spent my childhood absorbing New York City's melting pot of cultures, I thoroughly enjoyed the infusion of Yiddish expressions spoken by a cast of mostly realistic characters. On the darker side, some of the senior living residents described growing up in shtetls where "mounted police and soldiers would ride through the village, breaking windows, setting fires...[Bertha Finkelstein] survived the Holocaust but not Mrs. K's chicken soup." Ultimately, how will the mystery play out? Mrs. K's and Ida's sleuthing skills will again be tested in "A Pain in the Tuchis", the second book of a two book series. I absolutely loved this light, fun read and highly recommend it.
Thank you Black Opal Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A visit from the police confirmed the theory that Rose Kaplan was the prime suspect. Did she commit theft, followed by murder? According to the police, "...whoever caused that earring to end up in Mrs. Finkelstein's soup or in the dumpling in her soup...is probably the person who took Mrs. Goldfarb's earrings." Rose Kaplan considered Sherlock Holmes to be her hero. She had read and reread many of his adventures. Rose teamed up with her best friend, Ida Berkowitz, who assumed the role of Mrs. K's "Watson". Ida narrated the mystery as it unfolded. They must unmask the culprit. After all, Kosher food might not be served in jail!
First things first. Rose must create a list of what is known "for certain" with a second list containing "the possibilities". "When you have eliminated the impossible, you should look very closely at the not so likely." They had their work cut out for them. Rose summoned her inner "Sherlock" and, assisted by Ida, hit the floor running. [Ok, perhaps not quite at full speed] Some of their tactics were above board, some were not. How much trouble could a pair of septuagenarians possibly cause? Told using a plethora of Yiddish expressions and a bissel [a little] humor, Rose and Ida would try to outsmart the police and solve this cozy mystery themselves.
"Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death (A Mrs. Kaplan Mystery #1) by Mark Reutlinger is a delightful, witty, fun-filled mystery set in a senior living facility. Having spent my childhood absorbing New York City's melting pot of cultures, I thoroughly enjoyed the infusion of Yiddish expressions spoken by a cast of mostly realistic characters. On the darker side, some of the senior living residents described growing up in shtetls where "mounted police and soldiers would ride through the village, breaking windows, setting fires...[Bertha Finkelstein] survived the Holocaust but not Mrs. K's chicken soup." Ultimately, how will the mystery play out? Mrs. K's and Ida's sleuthing skills will again be tested in "A Pain in the Tuchis", the second book of a two book series. I absolutely loved this light, fun read and highly recommend it.
Thank you Black Opal Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2014
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death. Mrs. Kaplan and THE MATZOH BALL ... OF DEATH. HOW could I not want to read this?!?! Really?!
Now, take a second. Scroll to the top and look at the cover. Specifically: the bowl of soup. See that one matzoh ball? Yeeeeeah. See? Hooked. HAD to read.
Rose Kaplan lives at the Julius & Rebecca Cohen home for Jewish Seniors. It's almost Passover and, as usual, they have a competition to find out who has the best matzoh ball soup - and that person gets to be the person who makes the soup for everyone to eat at their seder. When Bertha is found dead facedown in a bowl of Rose's amazing soup, she's the one they look at as the main suspect. Her, and her best friend, Ida, can't let that happen, so they decide to investigate the murder themselves.
Rose and Ida are awesome. I can't say they're "typical" Jewish "old ladies" because I've only actually met two, but they are EXACTLY like the two that I have met. They have all the yiddish words that crack me up and they are just awesome. I love them - VERY well done - and the additional characters in the story are a lot of fun too.
One of the great things about the story is that there are a few side things going on, which make Rose and Ida that much more real.
Another great thing about the story is where they live. First there's Shady Pines and NOW there's the Julius & Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors. This place is great and there are a lot of really great people living here, and a lot of interesting things happening.
I liked this book so much, I handed it to my mother (who is a picker-aparter) and told HERE to read it :)
Mr Reutlinger, I do have one request - that you share Mrs. Kaplan's totally awesome matzoh ball soup recipe. I may not be Jewish, but that stuff is delicious - and it's great when you're sick. I could use a good recipe :)
Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Now, take a second. Scroll to the top and look at the cover. Specifically: the bowl of soup. See that one matzoh ball? Yeeeeeah. See? Hooked. HAD to read.
Rose Kaplan lives at the Julius & Rebecca Cohen home for Jewish Seniors. It's almost Passover and, as usual, they have a competition to find out who has the best matzoh ball soup - and that person gets to be the person who makes the soup for everyone to eat at their seder. When Bertha is found dead facedown in a bowl of Rose's amazing soup, she's the one they look at as the main suspect. Her, and her best friend, Ida, can't let that happen, so they decide to investigate the murder themselves.
Rose and Ida are awesome. I can't say they're "typical" Jewish "old ladies" because I've only actually met two, but they are EXACTLY like the two that I have met. They have all the yiddish words that crack me up and they are just awesome. I love them - VERY well done - and the additional characters in the story are a lot of fun too.
One of the great things about the story is that there are a few side things going on, which make Rose and Ida that much more real.
Another great thing about the story is where they live. First there's Shady Pines and NOW there's the Julius & Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors. This place is great and there are a lot of really great people living here, and a lot of interesting things happening.
I liked this book so much, I handed it to my mother (who is a picker-aparter) and told HERE to read it :)
Mr Reutlinger, I do have one request - that you share Mrs. Kaplan's totally awesome matzoh ball soup recipe. I may not be Jewish, but that stuff is delicious - and it's great when you're sick. I could use a good recipe :)
Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
September 11, 2015
A new cozy mystery series I think I'm going to love!
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death by Mark Reutlinger is a 2014 Alibi publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This first book in an all new cozy mystery series features Rose Kaplan and her very good friend, Ida, two senior citizens residing at the Julius and Rebecca Cohen home for Jewish Seniors.
Rose makes the best Matzoh ball soup in the world, so after winning a contest, she is allowed to make her infamous soup for seder, the first night of Passover.
But, things go horribly awry when someone falls face first into the soup and is pronounced dead at the scene. Rose is relieved beyond measure to learn her cooking hadn't killed anyone, but it would seem she is still a person of interest, because what did kill the poor woman was found in Rose's soup. So, the question is how did it get there if Rose didn't put it there?
So before Rose winds up in jail for crime she didn't commit, she and Ida must determine what really happened.
I do believe I have found a new cozy series to follow. Told from Ida's first person perspective, these ladies had me in stitches. Seniors they may be, but they are sharp, alert and observant. The home is a boiling pot of gossip and secrets so it will take a some unconventional methods for Rose and Ida to solve the case.
I was fascinated by the vernacular and intonations and expressions used, with authentic Yiddish language included in some of the dialogue, adding another level of enjoyment to the story for me.
The dialogue was snappy and sparked with wit and humor, the characters were well drawn and developed, the pacing was steady, and the character driven plot kept me engaged, and puzzling over the red herrings, but mainly I was just entertained by this story and actually laughed out loud a few times.
There were some moments where things got a little too far fetched, but with a cozy mystery I think a little elbow room is required at times, especially when writing about senior amateur sleuths, who are limited to what they can plausible accomplish while living in an assisted living home.
Rose cleverly outsmarted the detectives on the case, which caused some embarrassment for them, but also garnered Rose a little respect too. I've got the next book queued up and ready to read and can't wait to see what happens next.
Overall, this well written mystery was a very satisfying read and I had a lot of fun with it. I think this series is going to be a keeper.
4 stars.
October 16, 2020
Rose Kaplan makes the best matzoh ball soup and has just won a contest to prove it. So, the local seniors home ask her to make her famous soup for this year’s seder. Rose agrees and makes her best batch but when Bertha Finkelstein is found face-down in the soup, it’s a recipe for murder. Rose finds herself as #1 suspect on the police’s radar. To clear her name and the reputation of her soup, she teams up with her friend, Ida, to solve Bertha’s murder. Can Rose uncover the murderer before she becomes a permanent resident behind bars?
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death is a fun cozy mystery complete with a cast of eccentric characters. The characters are very Jewish with plenty of delicious humor to put a smile on any reader’s face. The plot moves at a nice slow pace. I did find myself solving the murder very early in the mystery. This was unexpected but the more I thought about it, the more it reminded me of a certain detective in a rumpled trench coat. The antics of Rose and Ida had me clutching my sides as I laughed out loud. A hilarious cozy I enjoyed. Fans of Rita Mae Brown and Peter Falk mysteries will love this book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death is a fun cozy mystery complete with a cast of eccentric characters. The characters are very Jewish with plenty of delicious humor to put a smile on any reader’s face. The plot moves at a nice slow pace. I did find myself solving the murder very early in the mystery. This was unexpected but the more I thought about it, the more it reminded me of a certain detective in a rumpled trench coat. The antics of Rose and Ida had me clutching my sides as I laughed out loud. A hilarious cozy I enjoyed. Fans of Rita Mae Brown and Peter Falk mysteries will love this book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
April 22, 2024
This is a fun cozy mystery that takes place during Passover.
The main characters are seniors Ida Berkowitz and her best friend Rose Kaplan. They live at the Home for Jewish Seniors.
I really liked the Jewish rep. And I loved seeing these two fun old ladies try to solve mysteries. Perfect read for this time of year.
The main characters are seniors Ida Berkowitz and her best friend Rose Kaplan. They live at the Home for Jewish Seniors.
I really liked the Jewish rep. And I loved seeing these two fun old ladies try to solve mysteries. Perfect read for this time of year.
September 5, 2015
It’s Passover at the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors and everyone is at the seder meal on the first night. Rose Kaplan, “Mrs. K”, is given the great honor of making the matzoh ball soup. It’s going to be a great evening for everyone, but then tragedy strikes.
One of the residents, Bertha Finkelstein, sits alone at her table and suddenly is found with her face in the soup. She’s also not breathing and very much dead. It’s discovered that Bertha choked on a diamond earring that had been stolen from another resident. Mrs. K becomes the prime suspect as the police figure the earring must have been in the matzoh ball soup, which means not only did Mrs. K kill Bertha but she stole the valuable earring.
Mrs. K is more than a little insulted by these charges. With the help of her dear friend Ida Berkowitz and some professional thieves, they vow to catch the real killer. Of course they run into a few obstacles along the way – investigating murders is new to them.
The two senior sleuths remind me of Thelma and Louise or maybe even Lucy and Ethel or a combination of both. Mrs. K and Ida get themselves in the craziest situations and they don’t even realize they are doing it. They are sweet, funny and very clever. I’ve now become a huge fan of this new-to-me author.
To say this book is charming and delightful is putting it mildly. This was a pure joy for me to read. The narration is done by Ida. Authentic Yiddish words are sprinkled throughout the book. The setting, the characters, the storyline…all of it mixed together for a fast-paced mystery that keeps you thinking and smiling at the same time with a great twist at the end. I can’t say enough good things about this book. My one regret is that I didn’t read this one sooner.
Great job and there’s another one to be released soon! I’m looking forward to reading it!
FTC Disclosure: NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
One of the residents, Bertha Finkelstein, sits alone at her table and suddenly is found with her face in the soup. She’s also not breathing and very much dead. It’s discovered that Bertha choked on a diamond earring that had been stolen from another resident. Mrs. K becomes the prime suspect as the police figure the earring must have been in the matzoh ball soup, which means not only did Mrs. K kill Bertha but she stole the valuable earring.
Mrs. K is more than a little insulted by these charges. With the help of her dear friend Ida Berkowitz and some professional thieves, they vow to catch the real killer. Of course they run into a few obstacles along the way – investigating murders is new to them.
The two senior sleuths remind me of Thelma and Louise or maybe even Lucy and Ethel or a combination of both. Mrs. K and Ida get themselves in the craziest situations and they don’t even realize they are doing it. They are sweet, funny and very clever. I’ve now become a huge fan of this new-to-me author.
To say this book is charming and delightful is putting it mildly. This was a pure joy for me to read. The narration is done by Ida. Authentic Yiddish words are sprinkled throughout the book. The setting, the characters, the storyline…all of it mixed together for a fast-paced mystery that keeps you thinking and smiling at the same time with a great twist at the end. I can’t say enough good things about this book. My one regret is that I didn’t read this one sooner.
Great job and there’s another one to be released soon! I’m looking forward to reading it!
FTC Disclosure: NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 8, 2014
Bell, Book & Candle | Mrs Kaplan Review
Such a cute little mystery this one was. I loved how it had a 'Game of Clue' and the Thin Man kind of storytelling and vibe going on. The writing was impeccable and the pacing was right on the money. Never once did I feel bored or that the story was dragging its feet at all. The best part that made me chuckle the entire book was the fact the two old women were the sleuths that unraveled the mystery, much to Pupik's chagrin.
"So Bertha had survived the Holocaust but not MRS. K's chicken soup!"
I can only imagine my grandma and her friend snooping about like they're Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. It's adorable but laughable in a good way-- that's not to say that senior citizens can't be detectives, but rather it's the first time I've read a book in which they were. I adore Mrs. Kaplan -- she's my kind of woman. Her bravery and sharp wit was endearing, and her 'never take no for an answer' mentality. I especially loved that her and Ida are close knit friends who don't keep each other in the dark. I should probably mention that Ida is the POV character. My only wish is that Ida be a little more assertive when in presence of others. It seems like she's more of an introvert while Mrs. Kaplan is an extrovert.
I truly liked this story and how the reader is immediately immersed into the mystery, since it starts off with a death. The side mission these two did seemed out of left field for me, but perhaps it served as a foreshadow for another character (you'll know what I mean once you read the book); or perhaps its purpose is lost on me completely. Nevertheless I enjoyed reading the Jewish (Yiddish?) words and their meanings. To be honest it reminded me of The Nanny with Fran Drescher.
Good book. Good mystery. Good humor. All around its a solid 'A' to me and definitely worth a read. By the way, I did not see that twist coming at the end.
Such a cute little mystery this one was. I loved how it had a 'Game of Clue' and the Thin Man kind of storytelling and vibe going on. The writing was impeccable and the pacing was right on the money. Never once did I feel bored or that the story was dragging its feet at all. The best part that made me chuckle the entire book was the fact the two old women were the sleuths that unraveled the mystery, much to Pupik's chagrin.
"So Bertha had survived the Holocaust but not MRS. K's chicken soup!"
I can only imagine my grandma and her friend snooping about like they're Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. It's adorable but laughable in a good way-- that's not to say that senior citizens can't be detectives, but rather it's the first time I've read a book in which they were. I adore Mrs. Kaplan -- she's my kind of woman. Her bravery and sharp wit was endearing, and her 'never take no for an answer' mentality. I especially loved that her and Ida are close knit friends who don't keep each other in the dark. I should probably mention that Ida is the POV character. My only wish is that Ida be a little more assertive when in presence of others. It seems like she's more of an introvert while Mrs. Kaplan is an extrovert.
I truly liked this story and how the reader is immediately immersed into the mystery, since it starts off with a death. The side mission these two did seemed out of left field for me, but perhaps it served as a foreshadow for another character (you'll know what I mean once you read the book); or perhaps its purpose is lost on me completely. Nevertheless I enjoyed reading the Jewish (Yiddish?) words and their meanings. To be honest it reminded me of The Nanny with Fran Drescher.
Good book. Good mystery. Good humor. All around its a solid 'A' to me and definitely worth a read. By the way, I did not see that twist coming at the end.
February 22, 2015
Just for once I want a book with an an awesome title to actually be awesome...this one was just a mess.
First: the narrator. Ida uses a terribly stilted grammar that just isn't realistic for somebody who while not a native-speaker has lived in the US for over 50 years. She also reminds me of my more annoying relatives. The noisy ones who despise everything modern (i.e. post 1960...), feel superior about it and go on constant 'In my days everything was easier and so much better'. She spends a page talking about the fact that nowadays you can buy magazines for every hobby there is. Apparently the rising number of magazine titles is indirectly proportional to her life-quality because I can't imagine another reason why anybody would be that upset about this. No it's not cute, just really, really annoying.
The case...I am tempted to put that into quotation marks because every cozy should be really ashamed of presenting such a ridiculous and shallow story as case. In fact it was solved about 60% in the book...and by that I mean Mrs. Kaplan has most of the necessary information that is needed to solve the case but she won't share it with Ida or the reader. Because...because she doesn't want to share it. This was the point where I loudly yelled 'Oh for fucks sake' at my Kindle because I couldn't believe it. That's just so incredibly lazy writing I can't believe that this is actually done outside very bad fanfiction...(but then 50SOG got published as well...)
The final 40% continue like that. Mrs. Kaplan collects some more information by the power of incredibly plot-convenience (or am I the only person in this world who doesn't have a friend who has a friend who is a burglar that owes them a favour?) but but doesn't share them till the last chapter because fuck The 10 Rules of Detective Fiction. You dear book are definitely not a detective story, you are just a horrible, horrible book...pages with words on it.
Oh there's also some side-characters that made several 70s sitcoms call and say 'Wow, and we though we only had flat and stereotypical characters' but I am to exhausted to yell about those.
ARC provided by NetGalley
First: the narrator. Ida uses a terribly stilted grammar that just isn't realistic for somebody who while not a native-speaker has lived in the US for over 50 years. She also reminds me of my more annoying relatives. The noisy ones who despise everything modern (i.e. post 1960...), feel superior about it and go on constant 'In my days everything was easier and so much better'. She spends a page talking about the fact that nowadays you can buy magazines for every hobby there is. Apparently the rising number of magazine titles is indirectly proportional to her life-quality because I can't imagine another reason why anybody would be that upset about this. No it's not cute, just really, really annoying.
The case...I am tempted to put that into quotation marks because every cozy should be really ashamed of presenting such a ridiculous and shallow story as case. In fact it was solved about 60% in the book...and by that I mean Mrs. Kaplan has most of the necessary information that is needed to solve the case but she won't share it with Ida or the reader. Because...because she doesn't want to share it. This was the point where I loudly yelled 'Oh for fucks sake' at my Kindle because I couldn't believe it. That's just so incredibly lazy writing I can't believe that this is actually done outside very bad fanfiction...(but then 50SOG got published as well...)
The final 40% continue like that. Mrs. Kaplan collects some more information by the power of incredibly plot-convenience (or am I the only person in this world who doesn't have a friend who has a friend who is a burglar that owes them a favour?) but but doesn't share them till the last chapter because fuck The 10 Rules of Detective Fiction. You dear book are definitely not a detective story, you are just a horrible, horrible book...pages with words on it.
Oh there's also some side-characters that made several 70s sitcoms call and say 'Wow, and we though we only had flat and stereotypical characters' but I am to exhausted to yell about those.
ARC provided by NetGalley
October 18, 2014
Welcome to the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors! Residents Rose Kaplan and Ida Berkowitz have a mystery to solve when Bertha Finkelstein dies while eating Rose's matzoh ball soup. To clear her name, Rose has to find out what happened to Berth. How did Daisy Goldfarb's diamond earring get into Bertha's throat?
Luckily, Rose is a devoted fan of Sherlock Holmes and Ida is there to be her Jewish Dr. Watson. Ida is the narrator of the story which is filled with Yiddish expressions–each translated on first apprearance–and the sentence structure of someone who learned English as a second language.
This was an excellent and funny cozy mystery. Ida's desire to help her friend mixed with her reluctance to do anything dangerous added to the fun. Ida's colorful asides were also amusing. And wasn't it lucky that Ida's niece Sara just happened to be friends with a cat burglar?
Along the way, the two intrepid detectives also managed to save one of the resident's daughters from a real fershtinkiner who was courting her. With the help of one of the resident's sons who is a police officer, Rose gets the unsuitable suitor's criminal record and uses it to convince his mother to cut off his support. The mother, a former cleaner at the home, had retired after winning a substantial amount in the lottery.
This was a fun story for fans of cozy mysteries.
Luckily, Rose is a devoted fan of Sherlock Holmes and Ida is there to be her Jewish Dr. Watson. Ida is the narrator of the story which is filled with Yiddish expressions–each translated on first apprearance–and the sentence structure of someone who learned English as a second language.
This was an excellent and funny cozy mystery. Ida's desire to help her friend mixed with her reluctance to do anything dangerous added to the fun. Ida's colorful asides were also amusing. And wasn't it lucky that Ida's niece Sara just happened to be friends with a cat burglar?
Along the way, the two intrepid detectives also managed to save one of the resident's daughters from a real fershtinkiner who was courting her. With the help of one of the resident's sons who is a police officer, Rose gets the unsuitable suitor's criminal record and uses it to convince his mother to cut off his support. The mother, a former cleaner at the home, had retired after winning a substantial amount in the lottery.
This was a fun story for fans of cozy mysteries.
November 18, 2014
This a funny cozy mystery without sex and violence. The characters are developed and catch interest. The is told by the protagonist sideline and is well written. We are at a Jewish Senior Home. The residents celebrate the Seder with Metzoh soup. The soup was made by Rose Kaplan; she was alone in the kitchen when was made. Bertha Finkelstien falls into her soup and is dead. It was found that she checked on a diamond earrings belonging Daisy Goldfarb. The earrings were report stolen. The building administrator and the police feel that only Mrs Kaplan could have stolen the earrings and dropped one in soup. Mrs Kaplan and her pal most prove Mrs Kaplan is innocent before she is arrested. How they do it is very different and funny and you won't to stopped reading until they are proven correct. I recommend this book.
Fall Disclosure: I received a free copy from AlIbi through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are mine.
Fall Disclosure: I received a free copy from AlIbi through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are mine.
November 19, 2015
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Rose Kaplan knows her matzoh balls and when she is accused of adding something extra to her soup to kill another resident at the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors she appalled. Together with her friend Ida they decide to solve the case themselves.
Ida tells the story of Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death. Her tale includes details about Jewish holidays and tradition plus is peppered with plenty of Yiddish words. I knew some but thankfully the author includes translation.
The mystery is fun and full of humor and drama. Rose and Ida go to great lengths to find the guilty parties and take much delight explaining to the police officers their findings and how the police missed obvious clues.
The Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors is quite a place with a variety of interesting residents. A great setting for a whole slew of mysteries.
Rose Kaplan knows her matzoh balls and when she is accused of adding something extra to her soup to kill another resident at the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors she appalled. Together with her friend Ida they decide to solve the case themselves.
Ida tells the story of Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death. Her tale includes details about Jewish holidays and tradition plus is peppered with plenty of Yiddish words. I knew some but thankfully the author includes translation.
The mystery is fun and full of humor and drama. Rose and Ida go to great lengths to find the guilty parties and take much delight explaining to the police officers their findings and how the police missed obvious clues.
The Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors is quite a place with a variety of interesting residents. A great setting for a whole slew of mysteries.
August 27, 2014
This is a simple book about a death in an assisted living facility for older Jews. Mrs. Kaplan, a lover of mystery stories, is accused of murdering one of the residents, Bertha Finklestein . Bertha was died with food in her throat as well as a missing earring. Mrs. Kaplan had made matzoh ball soup for the seder and Bertha had died eating it.
Mrs. Kaplan and her friend Ida set out to clear Mrs. K's name and also solve the mystery of Bertha's death.
The book is filled with Yiddish expressions used by older Jewish people. So this book might appeal to a Jewish population. However the story is so mundane that it should have ended well before it did.
Mrs. Kaplan and her friend Ida set out to clear Mrs. K's name and also solve the mystery of Bertha's death.
The book is filled with Yiddish expressions used by older Jewish people. So this book might appeal to a Jewish population. However the story is so mundane that it should have ended well before it did.
September 28, 2014
"Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death" by Mark Reutlinger was every bit as good as I had hoped it would be. The quirky title and cover promised an entertaining and very enjoyable murder mystery with fun characters and a amusing setting. There were many laugh out loud moments, a lot of smirks and many happy moments for this reader. Very well done.
I received a copy of the book via netgalley for an unbiased review.
I received a copy of the book via netgalley for an unbiased review.
April 22, 2015
Humorous, light-hearted--which sounds odd concerning the fact that deals with a mysterious death in a nursing home. The characters remind me of old Jewish women that lived in the nursing home when my grandmother was there, and the dialogue, peppered with Yiddish, sounds like my great aunts' talking.
October 14, 2017
A delightful little mystery!
Written in a lovely cadence with lots of yiddish sprinkled throughout, this series starter kept me entertained from beginning to end. The titular Mrs. K. is a clever and thoughtful woman who much admires Sherlock Holmes - and enlists the narrator, Ida, to fill the accompanying role of Watson.
As the two deftly weave their way through their list of possible suspects, we get a glimpse of life at their retirement home. Quiet, it is not! The supporting characters offer lots of humorous tidbits and an extra challenge or two. These added crises help shore up the impression that our two ladies are sensible, caring, and well-able to navigate life's pitfalls. They're also very likeable, which leaves them well-positioned to ferret out details from their fellow residents.
All told, this light read allows its heroines to shine while also proving that age is of no consequence when one has a sharp mind and a tenacious nature.
Written in a lovely cadence with lots of yiddish sprinkled throughout, this series starter kept me entertained from beginning to end. The titular Mrs. K. is a clever and thoughtful woman who much admires Sherlock Holmes - and enlists the narrator, Ida, to fill the accompanying role of Watson.
As the two deftly weave their way through their list of possible suspects, we get a glimpse of life at their retirement home. Quiet, it is not! The supporting characters offer lots of humorous tidbits and an extra challenge or two. These added crises help shore up the impression that our two ladies are sensible, caring, and well-able to navigate life's pitfalls. They're also very likeable, which leaves them well-positioned to ferret out details from their fellow residents.
All told, this light read allows its heroines to shine while also proving that age is of no consequence when one has a sharp mind and a tenacious nature.
February 22, 2023
I received a free copy from NetGalley. Seniors in a home and one drops dead at Passover dinner. While their antics were sometime humorous and the Yiddish entertaining, it relies a lot on stereotypes for the characters and progresses kind of slowly.
November 20, 2014
Mark Reutlinger in his new book, “Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death” Book One in the Mrs. Kaplan series published by Alibi introduces us to Mrs. Kaplan.
From the back cover: Move over, Miss Marple—Mark Reutlinger’s charming cozy debut introduces readers to the unforgettable amateur sleuth Rose Kaplan and her loyal sidekick, Ida.
Everyone knows that Rose Kaplan makes the best matzoh ball soup around—she’s a regular matzoh ball maven—so it’s no surprise at the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors when, once again, Mrs. K wins the honor of preparing the beloved dish for the Home’s seder on the first night of Passover.
But when Bertha Finkelstein is discovered facedown in her bowl of soup, her death puts a bit of a pall on the rest of the seder. And things go really meshugge when it comes out that Bertha choked on a diamond earring earlier stolen from resident Daisy Goldfarb. Suddenly Mrs. K is the prime suspect in the police investigation of both theft and murder. Oy vey—it’s a recipe for disaster, unless Rose and her dear friend Ida can summon up the chutzpah to face down the police and solve the mystery themselves.
What do you do when one of the residents of the retirement home dies while eating the matzoh ball soup that you made and, somehow, the police think you did it? well sure if the police will not investigate this case properly then you will have to do it and clear your name and soup as well. Welcome Rose Kaplan who goes to show that getting older doesn’t mean we are done. Rose and her friend, Ida, are out to prove what is really going on and they are a joy to hang out with. There is a lot going on in this retirement home that you would never think goes on. Mrs. Kaplan is just great fun. “Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death” is loaded with twists and turns and red herrings that will leave you guessing all the while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. Mr. Reutlinger has provided us with a clever heroine inside a fairly exciting book and I am so looking forward to more of her adventures.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from TLC Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: Move over, Miss Marple—Mark Reutlinger’s charming cozy debut introduces readers to the unforgettable amateur sleuth Rose Kaplan and her loyal sidekick, Ida.
Everyone knows that Rose Kaplan makes the best matzoh ball soup around—she’s a regular matzoh ball maven—so it’s no surprise at the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors when, once again, Mrs. K wins the honor of preparing the beloved dish for the Home’s seder on the first night of Passover.
But when Bertha Finkelstein is discovered facedown in her bowl of soup, her death puts a bit of a pall on the rest of the seder. And things go really meshugge when it comes out that Bertha choked on a diamond earring earlier stolen from resident Daisy Goldfarb. Suddenly Mrs. K is the prime suspect in the police investigation of both theft and murder. Oy vey—it’s a recipe for disaster, unless Rose and her dear friend Ida can summon up the chutzpah to face down the police and solve the mystery themselves.
What do you do when one of the residents of the retirement home dies while eating the matzoh ball soup that you made and, somehow, the police think you did it? well sure if the police will not investigate this case properly then you will have to do it and clear your name and soup as well. Welcome Rose Kaplan who goes to show that getting older doesn’t mean we are done. Rose and her friend, Ida, are out to prove what is really going on and they are a joy to hang out with. There is a lot going on in this retirement home that you would never think goes on. Mrs. Kaplan is just great fun. “Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death” is loaded with twists and turns and red herrings that will leave you guessing all the while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. Mr. Reutlinger has provided us with a clever heroine inside a fairly exciting book and I am so looking forward to more of her adventures.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from TLC Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
December 12, 2014
Originally posted on Smitten by Books Blog
3.5 Stars
For fans of: Mary Daheim
It’s an honor for Rose Kaplan to be chosen to make the matzoh ball soup for her retirement home’s Passover seder, but when fellow resident Bertha Finkelstein keels over mid-bowl, Rose starts to wish the honor had been bestowed upon somebody else. Everyone initially assumes Bertha was felled by a heart attack, but as it turns out, she actually choked to death on a diamond earring belonging to – and reported stolen by – Daisy Goldfarb. Because Rose prepared the soup while alone in the kitchen, the police now suspect her of both the theft and Bertha’s murder. Can Rose and her best friend Ida Berkowitz solve the crime before Rose has to serve hard time?
If you’re on the hunt for a fun, mild-mannered mystery full of larger-than-life characters and more Yiddish expressions than you can shake a schtick’l at, look no further than Mark Reutlinger’s Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death. This book is a pretty quick read, but that’s actually to Reutlinger’s credit; while clever, the mystery isn’t complex enough to warrant a higher page count (as it is, Rose and Ida have plenty of spare time to meddle in others’ affairs), and though I find Ida’s wildly tangential Jewish-grandmother-telling-you-a-story narration charming, I could see how it would wear on you after 200 pages or so.
Jewish stereotypes abound, but all told, Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death is an entertaining little diversion. The book’s got a brisk pace, a wry sense of humor, and manages to work in a wealth of information about Jewish customs and traditions without feeling like a textbook or a lecture, and Reutlinger gets bonus points for creativity. A high-concept thriller it’s not, but it’s also not your typical traditional mystery; if you’re looking to change things up a bit this holiday season, you could certainly do worse than Mark Reutlinger’s Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death.
Reviewed by Kat
3.5 Stars
For fans of: Mary Daheim
It’s an honor for Rose Kaplan to be chosen to make the matzoh ball soup for her retirement home’s Passover seder, but when fellow resident Bertha Finkelstein keels over mid-bowl, Rose starts to wish the honor had been bestowed upon somebody else. Everyone initially assumes Bertha was felled by a heart attack, but as it turns out, she actually choked to death on a diamond earring belonging to – and reported stolen by – Daisy Goldfarb. Because Rose prepared the soup while alone in the kitchen, the police now suspect her of both the theft and Bertha’s murder. Can Rose and her best friend Ida Berkowitz solve the crime before Rose has to serve hard time?
If you’re on the hunt for a fun, mild-mannered mystery full of larger-than-life characters and more Yiddish expressions than you can shake a schtick’l at, look no further than Mark Reutlinger’s Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death. This book is a pretty quick read, but that’s actually to Reutlinger’s credit; while clever, the mystery isn’t complex enough to warrant a higher page count (as it is, Rose and Ida have plenty of spare time to meddle in others’ affairs), and though I find Ida’s wildly tangential Jewish-grandmother-telling-you-a-story narration charming, I could see how it would wear on you after 200 pages or so.
Jewish stereotypes abound, but all told, Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death is an entertaining little diversion. The book’s got a brisk pace, a wry sense of humor, and manages to work in a wealth of information about Jewish customs and traditions without feeling like a textbook or a lecture, and Reutlinger gets bonus points for creativity. A high-concept thriller it’s not, but it’s also not your typical traditional mystery; if you’re looking to change things up a bit this holiday season, you could certainly do worse than Mark Reutlinger’s Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death.
Reviewed by Kat
December 5, 2014
Spending a pleasant afternoon with a quiet little mystery is never a bad thing and Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death fills the bill quite nicely. Our two senior sleuths, Rose Kaplan and Ida Berkowitz, are intelligent women who are not just going to sit there and let the world go by so doing their own snooping comes naturally when Mrs. K is accused of being a thief and a killer.
I enjoyed these two ladies but the supporting cast is less well developed and I didn’t feel the same attachment to any of those characters. In particular, the two police detectives are mere shadow figures and certainly don’t behave as detectives normally would. I also felt that far too much emphasis was placed on the players being Jewish and being residents of the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors. We’re told over and over again where these folks live when that is really not necessary since nearly all the action takes place there and the very, very liberal use of Yiddish quickly became annoying. I get it, they’re Jewish and this is a Jewish senior home but, except for the soup and the seder at which it’s served, this could easily have been any nondescript community. Judaism really isn’t a factor.
The mystery itself is a puzzle, as it should be, and I didn’t guess the solution ahead of time but one aspect of the ladies’ investigation made no sense as a certain item would not have been returned to the victim’s room after her death. No matter, though, as I did spend an enjoyable afternoon with Rose and Ida and, with a little work by the author, a second adventure could be worth waiting for.
I enjoyed these two ladies but the supporting cast is less well developed and I didn’t feel the same attachment to any of those characters. In particular, the two police detectives are mere shadow figures and certainly don’t behave as detectives normally would. I also felt that far too much emphasis was placed on the players being Jewish and being residents of the Julius and Rebecca Cohen Home for Jewish Seniors. We’re told over and over again where these folks live when that is really not necessary since nearly all the action takes place there and the very, very liberal use of Yiddish quickly became annoying. I get it, they’re Jewish and this is a Jewish senior home but, except for the soup and the seder at which it’s served, this could easily have been any nondescript community. Judaism really isn’t a factor.
The mystery itself is a puzzle, as it should be, and I didn’t guess the solution ahead of time but one aspect of the ladies’ investigation made no sense as a certain item would not have been returned to the victim’s room after her death. No matter, though, as I did spend an enjoyable afternoon with Rose and Ida and, with a little work by the author, a second adventure could be worth waiting for.
December 3, 2014
4 STARS
I enjoyed the book. I had no idea what Matzoh ball soup was. I thought the Jewish traditions was explained very well from someone who really knows not a lot about it. The story is good, I was kept in the dark about who the guilty parties were. It is a clean cozy.
I enjoyed the humor Of the story. One scene as the 70+ Rose breaking into a room through climbing in a window and the room was not empty and what happens you will have to read about it.
The setting for the book is a Jewish Senior home. It is a seder and they have Matzoh ball soup and a big contest to see who makes the best and that person makes it for the whole home. Rose won and makes it all by herself in the kitchen right before the dinner. Someone dies by choking on a diamond earring from eating the soup.
Rose Kaplan becomes the major suspect. So Rose and her friend Ida decide to find the thief or murder and clear Rose before she gets arrested.
Rose and Ida are in their 70's. Ida is telling the story about what happened. Ida compares herself to Watson and Rose to Sherlock.
It has some Jewish words I was not to familiar with in the story. Others they explained.
I never was able to stay into the story as much as I would like but I had a lot of interruptions and that could be the reason I did not connect to the characters as much as I would like.
I would read another book by Mark Reutlinger in the future.
I was given this ebook to read from Net Galley and Alibi and I agreed in exchange to give honest review of it.
October 19, 2014
When I am “Little-Old-Lady” kind of old, I want to be like Mrs. Kaplan. Only not Jewish, although I did know most of the Yiddish involved. Ida and her friend, Mrs. Kaplan live in a Jewish retirement home where pride of place goes to the resident who can make the most awesome matzo ball. A ball so fluffy it falls apart in the soup is no good, nor is one that sinks like a rock and weighs like a football in the stomach. These are important things, recipe secrets are guarded, and the kitchen is closed while the soup is being made. Mrs. Kaplan has won the honor of making the matzo ball soup for Passover again. This year, however, things go very wrong and a friend winds up face down in the soup. (No Soup For You!) Since she made the soup, fingers point to Mrs. Kaplan.
Never ones to sit idly by and allow circumstances to overtake them, these two feisty Grandmas decide to solve the mystery of their friend’s death. They get up to all sorts of antics, and I could clearly hear their voices in my head and visualize their escapades. The book is funny, in tone and premiss and it doesn’t take long to read. If you enjoy light mysteries, this is a good one. And, there is no graphic violence or descriptions. I’d feel entirely comfortable handing this book to one of my older church-lady friends.
An honest review in exchange for an ARC via netgalley.com 10/18/14
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Never ones to sit idly by and allow circumstances to overtake them, these two feisty Grandmas decide to solve the mystery of their friend’s death. They get up to all sorts of antics, and I could clearly hear their voices in my head and visualize their escapades. The book is funny, in tone and premiss and it doesn’t take long to read. If you enjoy light mysteries, this is a good one. And, there is no graphic violence or descriptions. I’d feel entirely comfortable handing this book to one of my older church-lady friends.
An honest review in exchange for an ARC via netgalley.com 10/18/14
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February 8, 2015
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death
Mark Reutlinger
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death by Mark Reutlinger was one of the cuter reads I've had of late. It's a cozy mystery, and takes place in a Jewish retirement home. The Passover seder is underway, and Rose Kaplan has made her famous matzoh ball soup. But things go sour when Bertha Finkelstein, one of the residents, is discovered dead, her face submerged in her bowl of soup. It could be just another death attributed to old age, until they find that she actually choked on an earring that was in one of the balls. To make it even more complicated, the earring was reported stolen from another resident. The death now takes on the appearance of a burglary/murder, and since Rose was the last one to touch the matzoh balls...
This has the feel of an old Jewish women version of Sherlock Holmes and Watson, as Rose and her friend Ida Berkowitz start investigating the murder on their own to find the real culprit. The residents of the home are quite the characters, and that gives Reutlinger a lot of room to play up the humor. The Jewish-ness of the characters come into play heavily, and he has that down perfect. In fact, you can't help but learn a lot of new Yiddish as you read along.
This is a quick read, and very enjoyable. It's worth the time...
Disclosure:
Obtained From: Netgally
Payment: Free
Mark Reutlinger
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death by Mark Reutlinger was one of the cuter reads I've had of late. It's a cozy mystery, and takes place in a Jewish retirement home. The Passover seder is underway, and Rose Kaplan has made her famous matzoh ball soup. But things go sour when Bertha Finkelstein, one of the residents, is discovered dead, her face submerged in her bowl of soup. It could be just another death attributed to old age, until they find that she actually choked on an earring that was in one of the balls. To make it even more complicated, the earring was reported stolen from another resident. The death now takes on the appearance of a burglary/murder, and since Rose was the last one to touch the matzoh balls...
This has the feel of an old Jewish women version of Sherlock Holmes and Watson, as Rose and her friend Ida Berkowitz start investigating the murder on their own to find the real culprit. The residents of the home are quite the characters, and that gives Reutlinger a lot of room to play up the humor. The Jewish-ness of the characters come into play heavily, and he has that down perfect. In fact, you can't help but learn a lot of new Yiddish as you read along.
This is a quick read, and very enjoyable. It's worth the time...
Disclosure:
Obtained From: Netgally
Payment: Free
December 21, 2014
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death was a wonderful cozy mystery that takes place in a retirement community (assisted care facility) for Jewish seniors. The story is told by Ida, Mrs. Kaplan’s sidekick in her misadventures.
Mrs. Kaplan is blamed for the death of another senior who happened to die while eating some of Mrs. Kaplan’s winning Matzoh Ball soup for Seder. Mrs. K. takes to sleuthing to see if she can clear her name as she doesn’t trust the authorities to do a proper job.
Filled with Yiddish terminology, just like you might find when you were speaking with your grandmother whose first language was not English, the author makes these senior citizens feel just like you are talking to slightly forgetful older women and men. Ida and Mrs. K’s antics are quite humorous considering their ages!
I would have enjoyed meeting Mrs. K and Ida because they seemed to have a lot of gumption and I think they would have been very fun ladies to chat with. I liked the character that the author developed for them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery and gave it 4 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the publishers through NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
Mrs. Kaplan is blamed for the death of another senior who happened to die while eating some of Mrs. Kaplan’s winning Matzoh Ball soup for Seder. Mrs. K. takes to sleuthing to see if she can clear her name as she doesn’t trust the authorities to do a proper job.
Filled with Yiddish terminology, just like you might find when you were speaking with your grandmother whose first language was not English, the author makes these senior citizens feel just like you are talking to slightly forgetful older women and men. Ida and Mrs. K’s antics are quite humorous considering their ages!
I would have enjoyed meeting Mrs. K and Ida because they seemed to have a lot of gumption and I think they would have been very fun ladies to chat with. I liked the character that the author developed for them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery and gave it 4 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the publishers through NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
November 8, 2015
This was an interesting take on a cozy mystery, well to me anyway! It is set in a Jewish retirement home and the book is written in first person from the viewpoint of Ida, Mrs Kaplan's friend and co-conspirator in solving the crime.
While reading this book I kept picturing/hearing older Jewish women as I have seen them portrayed in movies and television shows (and I should say New York Jewish women). I try not to stereotype, but if there was any better place to do it than this book, I don't know where that is! There is a lot of Yiddish thrown into the dialogue (as would be expected) which made for interesting reading and making sure to translate it all.
I think the only thing I didn't like was that any time the home was mentioned it was mentioned by the full name. I don't know if that would be something Ida would do because she is more proper or if that was the author, but after the first few times I thought it was a bit overboard.
There is a death but we aren't given really a lot of clues to try and solve the crime along with Mrs. Kaplan and Ida. Was it murder? You don't know until the end when it is all revealed.
I think this could be a good series and I'm reading the second book so will see how that one flows.
While reading this book I kept picturing/hearing older Jewish women as I have seen them portrayed in movies and television shows (and I should say New York Jewish women). I try not to stereotype, but if there was any better place to do it than this book, I don't know where that is! There is a lot of Yiddish thrown into the dialogue (as would be expected) which made for interesting reading and making sure to translate it all.
I think the only thing I didn't like was that any time the home was mentioned it was mentioned by the full name. I don't know if that would be something Ida would do because she is more proper or if that was the author, but after the first few times I thought it was a bit overboard.
There is a death but we aren't given really a lot of clues to try and solve the crime along with Mrs. Kaplan and Ida. Was it murder? You don't know until the end when it is all revealed.
I think this could be a good series and I'm reading the second book so will see how that one flows.
November 22, 2014
As promised - full review on Mrs Kaplan now it's closer to its release date.
I really enjoyed this encounter with Mrs Kaplan and the residents of her old people's home. It was witty, it was fun, I liked the murder mystery. I enjoyed it so much I've just included it in my latest cozy Crime round up on my blog - review below:
Mrs Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death by Mark Reutlinger - I read this in the book marathon on holiday in October, but have waited until now to review it because it is out on the 18th (thank you NetGalley for my super-advance copy!). Rose Kaplan is a resident at an old people's home who suspected of a murder after a fellow resident chokes to death on a Matzoh ball made by Mrs K for the Passover seder. Rose and her best friend Ida decide to investigate who really was responsible. I loved this book when I read it on the beach. It's not challenging reading, it's not reinventing the wheel, but it is a nice way to spend a few hours - it feels like an American cross between Agatha Raisin and Miss Marple. Definitely worth a look.
I really enjoyed this encounter with Mrs Kaplan and the residents of her old people's home. It was witty, it was fun, I liked the murder mystery. I enjoyed it so much I've just included it in my latest cozy Crime round up on my blog - review below:
Mrs Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death by Mark Reutlinger - I read this in the book marathon on holiday in October, but have waited until now to review it because it is out on the 18th (thank you NetGalley for my super-advance copy!). Rose Kaplan is a resident at an old people's home who suspected of a murder after a fellow resident chokes to death on a Matzoh ball made by Mrs K for the Passover seder. Rose and her best friend Ida decide to investigate who really was responsible. I loved this book when I read it on the beach. It's not challenging reading, it's not reinventing the wheel, but it is a nice way to spend a few hours - it feels like an American cross between Agatha Raisin and Miss Marple. Definitely worth a look.
November 30, 2014
I absolutely loved this book. Rose and Ida live in a Jewish Senior Home. When one of the residents ends up dead, Rose is the prime suspect. (It was Rose's soup, Bertha went face down in)
The story is told from Ida'a point of view, and she's really such fun. This was really a different kind of cozy. You'll definitely learn a bit of Yiddish while reading this book. You'll also laugh.
I found that reading this was a bit like Sherlock Holmes meets Jessica Fletcher.
Rose was a spunky character. I love how they went about unearthing how Bertha died and the character's they met along the way, especially the burglar, Flo.
The police never seemed to bother Rose, even though she was their prime suspect. I found it kind of odd, since they were treating her death as a possible homicide and then there was the stolen earring that belonged to another retirement home member.
Like any good cozy there are subplots/mysteries and family dramas going on, that keep the reader interested.
It is a great start to a new cozy mystery series!
The story is told from Ida'a point of view, and she's really such fun. This was really a different kind of cozy. You'll definitely learn a bit of Yiddish while reading this book. You'll also laugh.
I found that reading this was a bit like Sherlock Holmes meets Jessica Fletcher.
Rose was a spunky character. I love how they went about unearthing how Bertha died and the character's they met along the way, especially the burglar, Flo.
The police never seemed to bother Rose, even though she was their prime suspect. I found it kind of odd, since they were treating her death as a possible homicide and then there was the stolen earring that belonged to another retirement home member.
Like any good cozy there are subplots/mysteries and family dramas going on, that keep the reader interested.
It is a great start to a new cozy mystery series!
August 8, 2015
This book was delightful. It reminded me of the books by Sharon Kahn.
In Reutlinger's book the main characters are Rose Kaplan and her friend Ida. They live in a seniors home. Mrs K (Ida always refers to Mrs. Kaplan this way) makes the best matzoh ball soup at the home so she does them each year for the seder. But this year there is some unexpected excitement -- Bertha Finkelstein ends up facedown in her soup. She choked on a diamond earring belonging to Daisy Goldfarb. Now how did this happen? How did the earring (belonging to someone else) end up in her soup? Of course, Mrs. K is the #1 suspect. Now She and Ida join forces to clear Mrs. K of any wrong doing. The messes these two little old ladies get themselves into are hilarious. It is an easy, quick read that puts a smile on your face.
Thank you NetGalley for the digital galley. Publication date on this book is November 18, 2014.
In Reutlinger's book the main characters are Rose Kaplan and her friend Ida. They live in a seniors home. Mrs K (Ida always refers to Mrs. Kaplan this way) makes the best matzoh ball soup at the home so she does them each year for the seder. But this year there is some unexpected excitement -- Bertha Finkelstein ends up facedown in her soup. She choked on a diamond earring belonging to Daisy Goldfarb. Now how did this happen? How did the earring (belonging to someone else) end up in her soup? Of course, Mrs. K is the #1 suspect. Now She and Ida join forces to clear Mrs. K of any wrong doing. The messes these two little old ladies get themselves into are hilarious. It is an easy, quick read that puts a smile on your face.
Thank you NetGalley for the digital galley. Publication date on this book is November 18, 2014.
November 21, 2014
Bubby: I laughed so hard at Rose and Ida and their geriatric adventures that my children were concerned for my sanity. Sissy did not share as much in my enjoyment but I think that's because retirement home living is just around the corner for her and she's in denial.
Sissy: That is SO rude, Bubby. I can hardly believe that you are my bosom sister. It's true that I didn't laugh and snort and roll about the floor like you did when I read Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death but that's simply because I have a smidgen more maturity and decorum than you. I did enjoy the fact that the main characters were senior citizens and I have adopted many of the Yiddish phrases into my everyday language. Read our full review of
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death
Sissy: That is SO rude, Bubby. I can hardly believe that you are my bosom sister. It's true that I didn't laugh and snort and roll about the floor like you did when I read Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death but that's simply because I have a smidgen more maturity and decorum than you. I did enjoy the fact that the main characters were senior citizens and I have adopted many of the Yiddish phrases into my everyday language. Read our full review of
Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death
December 3, 2014
I laughed until there were tears running down my cheeks! These two seniors could put any police department or detective agency to shame! Busybodies for sure and unashamed of it. They do what they have to do with lots and lots of Yiddish words interspersed (but don't worry-the author translates for you!). And in between trying to save Mrs. Kaplan from a murder rap
they can't resist trying to save one of the other seniors daughters from a real nogoodnik!! They do what they have to do--worrying about it the whole way!
I hope more books come out featuring these two seniors--I always enjoy a really good laugh and these two manage just that--just a hint-imagine if you can a senior climbing in a window in a dress with her friend helping!
they can't resist trying to save one of the other seniors daughters from a real nogoodnik!! They do what they have to do--worrying about it the whole way!
I hope more books come out featuring these two seniors--I always enjoy a really good laugh and these two manage just that--just a hint-imagine if you can a senior climbing in a window in a dress with her friend helping!
December 28, 2014
Great Book!
This was a great cozy mystery. Rose makes the bets matzoh ball soup around and it was no surprise when she was chosen to make the soup for the retirement homes dinner for Passover. When Bertha Finkelstein is found face down in a bowl of matzoh ball soup and apparently chocked on a diamond earring that was stolen from another resident it looks like Rose is the only suspect. Rose teams up with her best friend Ida to help solve the mystery. This book will keep you entertained for hours it is full of humor, and mystery.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
This was a great cozy mystery. Rose makes the bets matzoh ball soup around and it was no surprise when she was chosen to make the soup for the retirement homes dinner for Passover. When Bertha Finkelstein is found face down in a bowl of matzoh ball soup and apparently chocked on a diamond earring that was stolen from another resident it looks like Rose is the only suspect. Rose teams up with her best friend Ida to help solve the mystery. This book will keep you entertained for hours it is full of humor, and mystery.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
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