My Son, the Druggist

by Marvin Kaye

OI VEY! Was Marty Gold ever up to his mezuzah in Jewish Mother, Yiddishe guilt ... and murder. Yes, Ida Gold's own son, the druggist, had refilled Mrs. Beatrice Fenimore's prescription for Darvon just the day she had died from a severe reaction to sterazolidin. A deadly little allergy that, as her apothecary, Marty Gold was only too well aware of. And when her will is read, and Marty Gold is named as one of the chief beneficiaries, the possibility of a professional error quickly takes back seat to a murder charge. Until Marty Gold is felled by a somewhat more common anaphylaxis ... a slight sensitivity to bullets! A funny, often touching portrayal of a good-hearted amateur sleuth.

Genres: Mystery

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Marvin Nathan Kaye was an American mystery, fantasy, science fiction, horror author, anthologist, and editor. He was also a magician and theater actor. Kaye was a World Fantasy Award winner and served as co-publisher and editor of Weird Tales Magazine.

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this so much more than I did. It's light on mystery, heavy on angst, but that wasn't the main downfall; I just felt like Kaye couldn't decide whether his primary audience was Jewish or not. Lots of references and words that were not easily understood by someone without a working knowledge of Yiddish, but then a lot of questioning and criticism of religion and faith. I felt like the book kept me at arm's length, which was a shame because some of the characterizations were very well done and the main character was likable and relatable.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful read about Marty Gold. A Jewish Pharmacist would starts as a suspect and then solves the murder mystery. Book shares pharmacy lore with the lot of an unmarried Jewish adult son.