The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon
Richard Zimler

Murder mystery set among the Jewish community of Lisbon at the time they were being forced into exile. Good for the pop history of the Jews of Lisbon, but sub-par as a murder mystery. The scene of a community being torn apart and murdered because of antisemitism is well done, but the plot trudges along, and the characters with whom I should be interested (manuscript illuminators, kabbalists, basically my kind of people) are not very well drawn. If you like In the Name of the Rose type books you’re going to be tempted by this one when you see it in the store. I say skip it.

Not recommended.