Status Updates From Friday the Rabbi Slept Late...

Surprise ending! I overlooked the clues and chased the red herrings, as I always do in my Perry Mason mysteries.

Second guessing my suspect Mel Bronstein... he and Elspeth just met that night. Surely the killer was the impregnator, eliminating the revoltin' development in their illicit relationship. Joe Serafino's too obvious. Suspecting Celia because she had a firm handshake? C'mon, Lanigan. Maybe that's to show why they need the Rabbi's help in solving this puzzler.

Finally...! On page 54 the murder is committed. On page 57 Lanigan shows up on Rabbi Small's doorstep in what proved the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Maybe too much congregational drama? At times the mystery feels like it's intruding on a story about an embattled rabbi in a ritzy New England temple cum social club.

Awful to say it, but I wish Harry would kill off Elspeth soon because I'm really sympathizing with her character and wishing she weren't the inevitable victim. Obviously, Joe Serafino is NOT the impregnator contemplating homicide. And it's not art-photo aficionado Stanley. Two obvious red herrings. My guess--even before the murder--is that the killer is... MEL BRONSTEIN. He won't join the synagogue and is a player.