Blues in the Night

As far as mysteries go, it's not heart-stopping, but Krich is a very sensitive writer who often gets to the heart of the soul. Jews will kvell over the often hilarious lines from Molly and other Jewish denizens of LA. My favorite: Molly, undressed, gets a knock on the door from the young Rabbi Zack...he asks "can I come in?" Molly: "I'm in my underwear". Zack: "I guess that's a no." I'd like to see more of Zack, Molly, and Bubbie G than court ramblings and descriptions of everyone's facial feature...unless, Molly's, of course :)

BLUES IN THE NIGHT is the first entry in a new series by Rochelle Krich. The protagonist, Molly Blume, writes true-crime books and works as a free-lance reporter who collects data from the LAPD for local newspapers to use for their "neighborhood crime" sections. As the book opens, she comes across a police report that warrants special attention: an unidentified woman, wearing a nightgown, was the victim of a hit-and-run accident. As Molly says, "It was the nightgown that hooked me."Molly wants to know why a woman would have been out on Laurel Canyon, in the middle of the night, in a nightgown. Luckily she has a friend in the LAPD, Detective Andy Connors, but Connors can't tell her much this time, because the police don't know much. That doesn't stop Molly, though, any more than Connors' importuning does. Molly's inquisitive nature can't let this drop, even when it becomes apparent that her investigating is putting her in danger.Molly is a likeable, believable character. In fact, all the characters in BLUES are believable and fully drawn. Molly and her family are Modern Orthodox Jews and Krich weaves that seamlessly into the story; there's nothing gimmicky about it, nor are the explanations of their religious practices didactic.Krich's skill isn't limited to fully-developed characters. Her deft touch makes Los Angeles and its environs come alive. Her plotting is exquisite. Calling BLUES IN THE NIGHT a page turner may not do it justice, because so often books described that way are plot-driven to the exclusion of everything else. But this is a page-turner in the best possible sense; it's a hard book to put down because the reader is soon as obsessed as Molly with unraveling the backstory on the woman in the nightgown.Besides, who could resist a book by an author with the sense of humor to have this Molly quoting that other Molly's soliloquy from Ulysses?

Rochelle Krich has created a new series protagonist and this first book in that series is a delight! Molly Blume has everything I seek in a character; she's serious about her work, but has a great sense of humor, is resourceful, and seemingly at the top of her form in her profession. What's more, she interacts with a coterie of compelling characters, and they bring out the best in her. The story begins when Molly, the crime writer for an L.A. newspaper, learns that a woman in a nightgown is a hit-and-run accident victim. Drawn to learn what brought the woman out to the dark road, Molly goes to her bedside. The woman, Lenore, whispers the names of three people. Molly and the reader are hooked! Delving into the case with Molly is only part of the draw. The contrast between Lenore's bleak history and Molly's own loving Orthodox Jewish family life is part of the attraction of this book. Unlike Jessie Drake, Rochelle Krich's other serial protagonist, Molly is not grappling with her religious identity. Her spiritual life glows with a steady light that illuminates the world around her. I found myself yearning for a fragment of the inner peace and sense of continuity that Molly's family life gives her. I needed to remind myself that Molly is a fictional character, so realistically were some scenes and interior monologues drawn. Krich has a splendid way of building suspense and propelling the plot to its conclusion, in this case a most surprising yet seamlessly fitting one. I thoroughly enjoyed Blues in the Night, and, while I miss Jessie Drake, I hope to see much more of Molly Blume in the future.

The writing is confident, poised, intelligent and crisp, punctuated with humor, wit and Yiddish bon mots. The plot, with its serpentine twists and turns, is a page-turner. Molly Blume is an extremely likable heroine you can easily cozy up to and she will most likely join the pantheon of the female detectives we know and love so well like Kinsey Milhone and Stephanie Plum. Particularly commendable is Krich's realistic rendering and respectful portraiture of the modern orthodox Jewish world. Kudos to Krich for navigating the tricky divide between loyalty to her craft and integrity to her community, a delicate balancing act she pulls off exceptionally well.All around, a terrific read!

She is a woman blessed with great parents and good friends. Her faith in the Jewish Modern Orthodox religion sustains her and perhaps that is why Molly Blume is a true crime writer and a columnist for Crime Sheets for the local independent papers. One police report catches her interest concerning Lenore Saunders who was out in the middle of the night miles from her house wearing only a nightgown.Molly is so curious that she visits Lenore in the hospital where she blurts out three names to her: Robbie, the ex-husband, Max, the two month old son she killed while in a post partum depression and Nina, her best friend. Further investigating leads Mollie to learn that Lenore was visiting Robbie because she was afraid and wanted to spend the night. She also called Molly telling her she was afraid before she hung up and visited Robbie. Molly is convinced that Lenore was murdered in her hospital room and she wants to find out who did it, not realizing that by her actions she is putting herself in danger.BLUES IN THE NIGHT is an excellent novel that gives readers a glimpse into the customs and culture of the orthodox Jew. The mystery is well crafted and exciting but the protagonist is the star of this work. She is strong-minded yet flexible and willing to help a person in trouble. Although she wants to write a book about Lenore, her main goal is to see justice done.Harriet Klausner