Zaddik

A former detective investigates a deadly diamond heist among New York's Hassidic community in this "big, bright and successfully old-fashioned" thriller ( Publishers Weekly ). Dov Taylor is an ex-cop. He's also an ex-husband, ex-drinker, and ex-observant Jew. The way he sees it, he doesn't have much to offer anybody. So he's surprised when he gets a summons from a rabbi in Brooklyn: A Hassidic man has been murdered during the theft of a priceless diamond, and the rabbi believe Dov is the man to solve the crime. Why Dov? Generations ago, his ancestor was a famous Polish mystic—a zaddik —revered for his ability to discern the truth. Perhaps some of that wisdom would whisper down the decades and help Dov see what others cannot. Despite his skepticism, Dov soon finds himself heading deep into Manhattan's Diamond District, the feuding of rival Hassidic clans, and a family connection to the missing diamond that reaches back to Napoleonic Poland. Dov Taylor, an unhappy former cop, is summoned by a local rabbi to help solve a murder in the Hassidic community. Why Dov? Some hundred-odd years ago, his ancestor was a famous Polish mystic, and the rabbi believes this ancestry might help Dov see what others cannot. This is a very unusual job for Dov, but it's not like he has a lot going on in his life. This extraordinary, deeply unusual mystery was shortlisted for the Edgar in 1994