FRIDAY THE RABBI SLEPT LATE

Rabbi David Small, the new leader of Barnard's Crossing's Jewish community, can't even enjoy his Sabbath without things getting stirred up in a most unorthodox manner. It seems a young nanny is found strangled less than a hundred yards from the Temple's parking lot, and all the evidence points to the Rabbi . . .

SATURDAY THE RABBI WENT HUNGRY

Saturday brings Yom Kippur to Barnard's Crossing and Rabbi Small is preparing as usual. But his prayers and fasting are interrupted when a member of his congregation is found dead in his car. The police call it accidental. The insurance company calls it suicide. Only Rabbi Small's pregnant wife, Miriam, thinks it's murder. Now it's up to him to prove her right . . . .

SUNDAY THE RABBI STAYED HOME

On Sunday, Rabbi David Small uncovers a Passover plot than undeniably raises more than Four Questions - threatening to ruin not only his holiday seder but his role as leader of Bernard's Crossing's Jewish community. But there's no time to appeal to a Higher Source when one of his temple board members, a businessman, is rumored to be pushing drugs and all the facts point to a group of teenagers as accessories - to murder.

MONDAY THE RABBI TOOK OFF

Monday takes Rabbi David Small on a private exodus to Israel for a much needed rest. But as usual, trouble follows the Rabbi. While his congregation at home is busy plotting his dismissal, the Rabbi is up against the Wall - in an international incident involving a young American student, Israeli intelligence, and a group of Arab terrorists with murder on their minds . . .

TUESDAY THE RABBI SAW RED

Rabbi David Small takes a break from the Barnard's Crossing's pulpit to teach a course on Jewish thought at a small community college. But he soon discovers all is not idyllic behind the ivy-colored walls. When a bomb goes off in the dean's office, the peaceful campus mood is shattered and everyone - from professors and students to the indefatigable rabbi himself - is suspected . . . of murder.

WEDNESDAY THE RABBI GOT WET

A member of Rabbi Small's congregation dies a mysterious death during the worst hurricane Barnard's Crossing has seen in years. When the suspect turns out to be a troubled but likable young man, Rabbi Small comes to his aid - drenching himself in a decidedly non-kosher mystery involving prescription drugs, real estate shenanigans, and possibly, pre-meditated murder . . .

THURSDAY THE RABBI WALKED OUT

If the murder victim had not been a notorious anti-Semite, Rabbi Small might never have become involved. When several members of his congregation became suspects, Rabbi Small was forced to match wits with the killer.

CONVERSATIONS WITH RABBI SMALL

The girl appeared, unannounced, at his cabin door, wanting to know if the Rabbi would convert her to Judaism. It was vital to her forthcoming marriage, she said. And so began Rabbi Small's investigation into the magic, the mysticism, the truths and the fables of the world's oldest religion.

SOMEDAY THE RABBI WILL LEAVE

Rabbi Small faces political corruption, definitely non-kosher, brewed with a dash of dirty campaign tricks, blackmail, and a possible murder. And if that's not bad enough, the newly appointed president of the temple has decided to replace the rabbi before his daughter's wedding . . .

ONE FINE DAY THE RABBI BOUGHT A CROSS

On a pleasure trip to the Holy Land, Rabbi David Small looks in on the troubled son of friends. Young Jordan Goodman has embraced the extreme ideals of a controversial fundamentalist Jewish group. Now his newfound beliefs lead him to perform an act of dubious heroism that results in a murder charge. Can Rabbi Small show him the error of his ways . . . and save him from the murder rap?

THE DAY THE RABBI RESIGNED

Rabbi Small, bored with his clerical duties, is enlisted by Police Chief Hugh Lanigan to set his scholar's mind to a drunk-driving accident that looks like murder. Victor Joyce, a local college professor infamous both for his ambition and extracurricular activities, had been drinking heavily the night of the crash. But a witness who passed by the wreck insists that the victim was not dead, just unconscious. Rabbi Small learns that quite a number of "innocent" citizens drove down the seldom-used road on that rainy night. Any one of them could have had it in for the not-so-revered professor . . .

THE DAY THE RABBI LEFT TOWN

Having resigned as rabbi of Barnard's Crossing Temple, Rabbi David Small is delighted to accept the newly created post of Professor of Judaic Studies at Windermere College in Boston. When an elderly English professor disappears during a snowy Thanksgiving weekend, no one expects him to turn up dead. Heart attack? Rabbi Small thinks not.

THE NINE MILE WALK

The following collection features the Nicky Welt stories, including The Nine Mile Walk that is considered to be a classic of arm chair detection.