Which Big Giver Stole The Chopped Liver? A Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife Mystery [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Sharon Kahn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 9, 2004

Essie Sue Margolis is at it again. This time, she's organizing the reunion from hell for the Big Givers to Temple Rita in Eternal, Texas. Cheap but elegant is Essie Sue's motto, with an emphasis on "cheap." To save money, Essie Sue has made her own piece de resistance - a chopped liver mold in the shape of Texas. Imagine her shock when the mold disappears from the hors d'oeuvres table and is replaced by a body on ice.

Available only in Core 7.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Agatha-nominee Kahn's fifth wacky "kosher kozy" (after 2002's Hold the Cream Cheese, Kill the Lox) to feature Ruby, the rabbi's widow with chutzpah, Essie Sue Margolis, the terror of Temple Rita, decides it's time for a reunion fund-raiser to renovate the temple after learning that their small town of Eternal, Tex., has grown by 50 people. (Never mind that none of the 50 is Jewish.) At the opening celebratory event, an unknown man is found dead, keeled over in a platter of ice where once rested Essie Sue's chopped liver mold in the shape of the state of Texas. Aided by overly attentive police lieutenant Paul Lundy, Ruby investigates the crime while also dealing with the present man in her life, a sleeping disorder and a new pet, a feisty kitten. While the solution becomes obvious early on and the antics of Temple Rita's Rabbi Kevin strain credibility, Ruby's sense of humor and apt observations on life more than compensate. Readers will laugh their way from the opening fake sushi roll to the final recipe for chopped liver with tofu.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

As her late husband the rabbi would surely have wanted, Ruby Rothman continues to smooth ruffled feathers among the congregants of Temple Rita--and solve the odd mysteries that seem to follow the flock. This time, a platter of chopped liver (molded into the shape of the state of Texas!) has disappeared from the buffet table at the Temple Rita reunion, and a dead body has taken its place. Intrepid Ruby must sort things out, aided (or driven to distraction) by her usual cast mates: the temple's well-meaning if wimpy rabbi; Lieutenant Paul Lundy, who has more than mystery on his mind when he looks at Ruby; and bossy, tactless Essie Sue Margolis, up to her eyeballs in trouble this time as her husband's fingerprints are all over the murder weapon. This series continues to get its punch from Ruby's down-to-earth attitude and from the interactions of the secondary characters, who, for all their quirky outrageousness, play a crucial part in Ruby's life. Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 343 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; 1 edition (December 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786270241
• ISBN-13: 978-0786270248
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,792,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, Entertaining and A Life Friend of Ruby Rothman, September 21, 2010

By 

Suzanne Fyhrie Parrott "Unruly Guides eBook P... (Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Which Big Giver Stole the Chopped Liver? (Kindle Edition)

This was one of my many library book reads. Thoroughly enjoyable, funny and a light, murder mystery.

When Essie Sue's Texas-shaped chopped liver is replaced by an unknown dead man, Ruby Rothman is soon on the trail of the killer. Roped into the reunion committee by Essie Sue, Ruby enlists the help of long-time friend Lieutenant Paul Lundy to help with the crime. More help unexpectedly and reluctantly arrives in the form of Rabbi Kevin Kapstein, the nervous and less than confident rabbi of Template Rita. As they close in on the killer, Ruby finds her and Kevin's lives in mortal danger. A delightful mix of suspense and humor Which Big Giver Stole the Chopped Liver? (Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife Mysteries) provides insights into small town congregational life in Eternity, Texas.

The characters are extremely realistic pulling you into the story. Though I found the clues too apparent (I solved the crime early), the story is thoroughly engaging and enjoyable. I can't help liking Ruby ~ her spunk and humor more than once had me laughing; I felt compassion for Kevin and his struggle to be his congregations' leader without fearing Essie Sue retribution; and I felt frustrated with Essie Sues' compulsive, manipulative, yet well-meaning nature.

Which Big Giver Stole the Chopped Liver? is a first rate novel and to my delight one book in a series. I am thrilled at the prospect of getting further acquainted with Ruby and the residents of Eternity.

Having never read or heard of Sharon Kahn, I am delighted to recommend "Which Big Giver Stole the Chopped Liver?" as an excellent read. The novel has suspense, of course - it's a murder mystery. But it has humor which will evoke audible chuckles. If Ruby Rothman were a real person, I would be thrilled to have her as a friend.

Recommendation to the Publisher / Author: Lower the price for the Kindle Version to below $9.99, K?

5.0 out of 5 stars Reader and Book are in tune for fun and murder, June 25, 2010

By 

drkhimxz (Freehold, NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Which Big Giver Stole the Chopped Liver (Audio Cassette)

Until glancing at one of the Amazon reviews a moment ago, I had no idea that this was one of a series. If the others were as good as this (on audio), the series as a whole would certainly be a recommendation. (Were it available.) At any rate, this one, as read, features complementary voice and text which add up to an enjoyable listening experience.(Did not read the book.) At first, I feared the voice would be too ethnic for the story, then, that the story would be too saccharine to be swallowed, but, fears were soon allayed, and the all too life-like characters were interwoven with a somewhat unusual murder, to satisfy the need for mystery and the need for engaging, nasty, and just plain ordinary characters. The plot is simple, one of the two Big Wheels, in he Temple association, the one who leads through her energy, arranges for a reunion, among whose major features, in her mind, is to be her special recipe, beats all, chicken liver map of Texas. Of course, this plays a vital role in the mystery which is created by its unveiling at the Big Dinner. Heavily involved in the mind of our heroine, now the widow of the previous rabbi and friend to the new one, is the other Big Wheel, the one who owes his power to his wealth.

There is wit and warmth here, accents one can understand (none Texan), love interest ( our heroine has a steady fellow and another who wouldn't mind taking his place) and a good text for the reader to work from. I would recommend it to those preferring not to agonize through the blood and guts of most of our leading mystery writers ( at least, who prefer a change of pace,now and again).

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome !, February 5, 2010

By 

Laura M. Lemay "Mystery Lover" (Sterling Heights MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Which Big Giver Stole the Chopped Liver? (Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife Mysteries) (Paperback)

This book - like all of the others in the Ruby the Rabbi's wife series was great. I love the humor that is sprinkled generously throughout the book, and the plot was fabulous! I hope that more books will follow.