Antenna Books
358 pages
October 25, 2011
$3.99 ebook  $12.95 Trade Paper
ISBN-13: 978-0989960007
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Overview  ꟾ  Reviews

Reviews for For Whom The Shofar Blows

"Wonderful stuff! I love great mysteries, dark humor, and exotic worlds - exotic as in 'It's all a mystery to me.' I'm Italian and an atheist: what I know of the Jewish faith is what my Jewish friends care to share with me. I do know that tattoo's are a big no no: hence we know just from the title that Rabbi Ben is painting outside the lines, not necessarily a bad place to start. This is one of those deft, wonderful rides where I don't know whether to grin or shake my head in disbelief at just how wonderfully the characters and plot are interwoven. I'm a huge, huge fan of Michael Chabon's "The Yiddish Policeman's Union", which is a masterpiece. This is way up there: I'm not sure how devout Marvin Wolf and his writing partner are, but a small segment of the Hassidic community will probably want to ex-communicate them - if that's part of the faith - and the rest should wildly embrace a clear distinct voice that renders up the quirks and foibles which make for great writing and great characters. There are missing millions, a short redheaded rabbi with a penchant for Tae Kwon Do, horny divorcees at every turn, and enough personal quirks to keep Woody Allen in movie ideas for a decade. As an outsider, all I can say is bravo. I hope he writes a ton of them."
James Dalessandro, author. 5 Star Amazon Review

"There is a lot to love in this book. I love books that plop you into another world. It doesn't have to be Middle Earth or the 14th century. In this case, the other world is the city I live in (Los Angeles) but a setting I've never explored: Jewish communities and traditions. This book is rich in detail, but fast-paced and to the point in its plot. I love that no lose ends are left hanging at the end, yet mysteries in Rabbi Ben's past are still to be revealed. Love the characters, too, though there's one I wanted to slap (you'll figure out who quickly, I'm sure). The seemingly ordinary folks who come to the Temple Beit Joseph in Burbank have secrets, sure, but who could possibly be living a sneaky, illegal life, driven to theft or even murder? Could it be the hot divorcee? The slightly hysterical professor? The sexually-ambiguous seaman on leave? The Hassadic thug? (never thought I'd put those two words together) Since another love of mine is Los Angeles history, this book entertained me with its anecdotes--all true--about my city. A cache of weapons and law books found in the basement of a high-rise, the complicated ownership of Hillside and other cemeteries, the vegan restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley--all real, and all adding to the story. I heartily recommend this book and will be one of the first to buy the next Rabbi Ben mystery."
V. Kalambakal, 5 Star Amazon Review

"More, please! Its been two years since I've read this book and I've patiently (not!) been waiting for additional books in this series. I'm very glad to hear that they will be forthcoming. Thanks and kudos to the author for having me check amazon once every month or so for more on the Rabbi Ben series."
Wandawildchild, Amazon 5 Star Review

"The character of Rabbi Ben is multi-layered and extremely unusual. Besides being a sympathetic person, his unusual job and skill set make him a refreshing change from most mystery protagonists. The plotting is sure and difficult to predict. The author also does a good job in explaining rituals and customs."
Susie, Amazon 5 Star Review

"The writer knows what he is describing. His character is flawed and intriguing. The story kept me involved from its first line. Read this book! I strongly recommend this book. Most readers will find the characters intriguing, interesting and hard to forget. The Rabbi is confronted with challenges to his beliefs and his sardonic wit will resonate with the reader. Wolf has done it again! He is a powerful story teller and always provides his readers with writing that is compelling and gripping from page one. Read this book!"
Ralph's mother, Amazon 5 Star Review

NOTE: Check out the coming attractions for 2017! Rabbi Ben Mystery #2, A Scribe Dies in Brooklyn, and Rabbi Ben Mystery #3, A Tale of Two Rabbis