Irv Segal

Irv Segal (est. birth – 1956?, in Detroit, MI) Lived ultra-Orthodox lifestyle in his younger years and ultimately abandoned it. Long career in computer programming, before turning to full-time writing, with his Jake Cooper series – 3 volumes so far. Protagonist Jake Cooper is a former Ultra-Orthodox scholar of Jewish Talmudic law turned amateur sleuth.  He delves into crime and corruption hidden within Chicago’s Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, exploring themes of hidden sin, abuse of power, and the tension between religious tradition and secular law. In Secrets of the Rabbi’s Mafia (2023).he takes on and exposes a criminal ultra-Orthodox rabbi. His fiction is heavily inspired by his personal experiences living within and eventually leaving the Ultra-Orthodox community, including a traumatic divorce and custody battle that mirrored events in his first novel. Main themes:

Corruption within Religious Authority: A central theme across the series is the abuse of power by individuals in positions of religious authority. The novels highlight how some leaders use their religious standing to conceal crimes, control followers, and justify evil behavior.

The Divide Between Tradition and Modernity: The character of Jake Cooper embodies the conflict between the strict, insulated Ultra-Orthodox world and a more modern, secular life. The stories explore the guilt, mental constraints, and challenges faced by those who seek a less restrictive life, highlighting the clash between religious law and secular law.

The “Jewish Mafia”: The series explores the surprising notion of an organized crime element operating within a tight-knit Jewish community. The author makes a point to clarify this is not a reflection of the entire community, but rather a “bad apples” scenario, emphasizing that corruption can exist in any insulated group.

Family and Personal Dilemmas: At its core, the series is also about personal relationships and moral choices. Jake’s motivations are often driven by a desire to protect loved ones, forcing him to make difficult decisions that put him in physical and emotional peril. [Google/AI]

Segal, Irv, (Secrets of the Rabbi’s Mafia: A Jake Cooper Novel [My Identifiers, 2023]) [hc] 978-1959802075 [pb] 978-1959802068

Segal, Irv, (Fatal Flaw in the Tenth Commandment: Nobody Outfoxes Jake Cooper [independently published, 2024]) [hc] 979-8336586244 [pb] 979-8336580075

Segal, Irv, (Murder of a Kosher Pig: Thriller Murder Mystery about an Amateur Legal Sleuth Who Investigates Crimes in an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Community in Chicago [Jake Cooper #3, Independently published, 2025]) [hc] 979-8288192180 [pb] 979-8288190735