At a Seder, the traditional Jewish Passover meal, one guest goes to the door to symbolically let in the prophet Elijah. When Iris Grodnik does this, she never returns.
The Passover Murder is the seventh in a series of clever holiday-themed mystery novels that feature ex-nun, Christine Bennet. In this mystery, Mrs. Bennett is invited to share the Passover Seder with her friend and neighbor Mel and Mel's family. The head of the family is Abe Grodnik, Mel's eighty-plus year old grandfather. He and Christine strike up a fast and firm friendship.
Iris Grodnik's Murder
At the Seder, Christine learns of Mr. Grodnik's sister, Iris' disappearance and subsequent murder during the Seder sixteen years before. It seems that she went to open the door for the prophet Elijah,a part of the traditional Seder comemmoration, and never returned to the table. Two days later her beaten body was found in the oil fields on the north end of Manhattan.
Secrets and Solutions
Abe Grodnik is not well. He tells Christine that he hopes to live to see the spring blossoms, his favorite time of year. His daughter, Mel's mother, asks Christine if she will look into Iris' death so that the old man may die with the peace of knowing what happened to his sister. As Christine digs into the woman's life and those of her friends and family, more than one secret is revealed. But which secrets are relevant, if any, to the murder and which should be left buried?
The Passover Murder, like most of Ms. Harris' holiday series, is an enjoyable, quick read with a well-developed plot and likeable characters. It's also a memorable tribute to the strength and endurance of family. Well worth picking up.
About Lee Harris
Lee Harris is the author of a series of murder mysteries, featuring Christine Bennett and revolving around holidays. The first in this series, The Good Friday Murder, was nominated for an Edgar Award. The most recent of these is the 2007 Cinco de Mayo Murder. Ms. Harris also writes the Manhattan Mystery series.
Other Recommended Cozy Murder Mysteries
- Dark Tort by Diane Mott Davidson
- The Chick and the Dead by Casey Daniels
- Murder Most Frothy by Cleo Coyle
- A Catered Valentine's Day Murder by Isis Crawford
