Customer Reviews

Not Quite Kosher: An Abe Lieberman Mystery

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From its jarring opening at the scene of a robbery gone bad to the sad, clever twist at the end, Edgar-winner Kaminsky keeps the reader hooked with wry characterizations, dilemma-fed action and a well-organized plot. A man of earthy decency with a face like an old bloodhound and a quiet persistence to match, Chicago detective Abe Lieberman manages to stint neither his family nor his job as he starts his day with the confession of a would-be killer and moves on into the week with two murders to solve and a bar-mitzvah and a roof to pay for while his Irish partner, Bill Hanrahan, defies a Chinese tong leader to marry the woman he loves. Point of view shifts among the very bad day of a jewel thief on the run, Hanrahan, some middle-class punk kids mixed up in murder and Lieberman himself. An insomniac with high cholesterol and a love of good Jewish food, Lieberman maintains his good humored resignation to the things he cannot change while occasionally dispensing his own generous justice.

Kaminsky's deadpan rythmn is reminiscent of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct novels, while his dark humor, morally centered plots, economical, observant prose and dogged, amiable hero set the series apart.

Once again we get involved more with the personal lives of the Rabbi (Abe Lieberman) and Father Murphy (Bill Hanrahan). Abe is busy worrying about his cholesterol (and the diet that Bess has him on) and the cost of the Bar Mitzvah of his grandson Barry. Bill is getting ready to marry Iris even though both her father and the local chinese mafia don (Mr. Woo) would rather they waited.

The series is starting to show Kaminsky's lack of concentration when he finds he has to repeat some stories in every book whether it has to do with Hanrahan's drink and divorce or Abe's daughter's problems with her ex or her children. The books are down to the level of two hour telemovies on Lifetime.

The quality of the stories and the involvements of the mysteries or police procedures are on the level of CSI, which is another series he is working on but without the glamour. He has mentioned mulitple times, in the last two books, how tired Abe is because of his insomnia...but it seems that Kaminsky is writing these books in his sleep. He would be better off letting Abe retire and resurrect the Rostnikov series with Porfiry's son (Josef) and his girlfriend (Elena Timofeyeva).

The series about veteran Chicago cop Abe Lieberman is the least known of the at least four mystery series being written by the prolific and consistent Mr Kaminsky and this is a pity for they are always diverting and at times touch deeper wells than is often the case with the genre .I suspect there is much of the author in the Lieberman figure -Abe is a well wrought character whose job has exposed him to the seamier side of life in general and Chicago in particular but has not eroded his compassion and sympathy for the victims ,who often include his fellow law enforecement professionals .

Here Abe is working on two cases -a robbery of a jewellery store and the death of its proprietor during the hold up ; and the murder of a Arnold Sokol which may well be gang related .These crimes in turn lead on to other deaths

The criminals are accorded almost as much time as the cops and the portrait of the robber Wychovski in particular is a mini-masterpiece of economicallly but crisply drawen characterisation while the ethnic divisions of the city are unfussily and powerfully established

Abe is a family man and time devoted to this aspect of his situation is for me a partial problem as I struggled with some of the Jewish background to the discussions but its a minor problem (others will not see it as such )

Compassionate , humane and a quick read which unlike many such does not insult the intelligence or detarct from its having some sharp points to make
To those new to the series I suggest starting with an earlier title , maybe Lieberman's Choice

Yes, this is a "fast and easy" read, but that is not a negative
comment. Author Kaminsky has the ability to create and project
characters of vastly different sensibilities and backgrounds, and
he always writes stories that move quickly and with ease.
Det. Abe Lieberman is an old-time Chicago cop who has almost
seen too much crime and too many characters, but he is determined to stay on the job and do his best to see that justice
is done. Even when doing justice means doing business with
some felons while pursuing others.
Here, a robbery gone terribly wrong, when a low-level criminal
of marginal ability trips and shoots a cooperating merchant,
leads Lieberman and his Irish partner into a series of false
confessions, low-lifes at each others throats, and sad commentaries on marriage and relationshiips.
We also get to learn a little more about Jewish traditions than
many readers will enjoy, but these heros are likeable people
who do good, and they keep working on their professional duties
while handling personal difficulties.
Although this is a fast and easy read, it is also enjoyable and
fun.

I enjoyed the off-beat writing style as a nice change from my usual authors. Characters were fairly interesting Jewish stereotypes but the story, whilst temporarily entertaining, was eminently forgettable.

I wrote a long review of The Big Silence---most of what was said there is relevant here. The mystery plots are top notch. The characters are rivalled only by R. Hill's Pascoe-Dalzeil charcters, but Kaminsky is less playful, intent on entertaining, but even more concerned that if you want to spend the time you can learn about the details and textures of life that matter (and inevitably illuminate you and your life). Read his novels, particularly, the Russian novels and Lieberman novels and spend some time with an author who is surely the Doestesfeski (sp) of mystery novels--don't be fooled by the ease of reading--in fact slow down and reflect on all the impt themes of life that Kaminsky presents for your consideration. ONly complaint: Abe is just too "sharp," knows too may people, makes too few mistakes---write at least one more Lieberman novel and give him a couple of deep flaws that will blend bumpily, but smoothly with Abe's skilled detective and people problems-- he needs a touch of larceny to penetrate his soul, create conflict and perhaps bring him down a peg or two (ala his partner, his boss Kearney, his daughter). Too good,sometimes grating. Still a GREAT READ. Also, try Midnight Pass (Fonesca novel) for another genre consumeing, genre transforming, genre transcending novel with the imperfect main character we need in our crime fiction.