Westreich, Melvyn [Lincoln/Lachler #1], (Murder in the Kollel [pb, Laurel Publishing, 2017] 978- 0692883570 [The series begins with the suspicious death of a rabbi in East Lansing, Michigan, which is staged to look like a suicide by hanging. Simon Lincoln is asked by his head rabbi to investigate the “impossible” locked-door death. He teams up with Dafna, whose late husband was a member of the same study center (Kollel). Together, they uncover anomalies in the case while dodging attempts on their lives.]
United States · Fiction author
Melvyn Westreich
Melvyn Westreich (born 1944 in Hampton Court, England and raised in New York City). He became a plastic surgeon and served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the Vietnam War. He immigrated to Israel in 1978 where he became a prominent specialist in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Following his retirement, he embarked on a new career as author of Jewish-themed mysteries and romance novels. His 3-volume Lincoln/Lachler Mystery series is a collection of “Frum” (Orthodox Jewish) cozy mysteries. The series follows the investigations of an unlikely sleuthing duo: Shimon (Simon) Lincoln, a muscular former Detroit police detective turned Yeshiva student, and Dafna Lachler, a widowed computer genius. The books are characterized by a blend of serious mystery and Jewish humor, often incorporating Yiddish and exploring the nuances of living within the rules of ultra-Orthodox Judaism while facing mortal danger. The relationship between the two protagonists evolves from professional partners to a burgeoning romance over the course of the trilogy.
Westreich, Melvyn [Lincoln/Lachler #2], (The Kosher Butcher [pb, Laurel Publishing, 2020] 978-1734700404 [In this second installment, Simon (now Dafna’s fiancé) continues to balance his Yeshiva studies with his detective instincts. The story features well-developed red herrings and explores more of the couple’s relationship as they investigate a new murder case.]
Westreich, Melvyn [Lincoln/Lachler #3], (The Murders of Zion [pb, Laurel Publishing, 2025] 978- 1734700428 [The third book finds Simon and Dafna on their honeymoon in the Holy Land, which is interrupted by a fatal automobile accident. Believing the crash was no accident, the couple discovers a conspiracy involving the Israeli police and potentially the Minister of Defense. They receive cryptic assistance from Rabbi Kalmonowitz and his “hints from the heavens” to solve the mystery and stay alive.] [Google/AI]
Westreich, Melvyn, [According to Their Deeds: A Frum Romance [pb, Laurel Publishing, 2022] 978-1734700411 [It is never going to work. Ayelet Weinberg defends the charedi doctrine of strictly separating women and men, while Steve Lincoln believes in radical feminism. They are thrown together when they attend their grief counseling program at the Detroit Jewish Center. Unexpected things happen … they always do … and their ‘oil and water’ relationship, slowly transforms. Steve helps Ayelet overcome her grief and teaches her to utilize her amazing baking skills to start a business. Ayelet helps Steve see the beauty of Torah law. Rabbi Kalmonowitz is back once again giving his insights into death and dying [kind of a downer … but that is part of life] and assists the evolution of this frum romance. A humorous look into Orthodox Judaism and a heartwarming frum love story.] [Amazon]
Unlike strictly Haredi-authored fiction, which often follows rigid communal modesty and lifestyle guidelines, Westreich’s work includes romance and dating as central themes. It features female protagonists (Dafna Lachler) in prominent professional and investigative roles, which is avoided in the most conservative Haredi literature. And it uses humor and satire that bridges the gap between secular and religious worlds, making it a “crossover” style of writing. In summary, his work is “Frum-friendly” and celebrates Jewish life, but it is written with a general audience in mind, inviting readers of all backgrounds to enjoy the mystery and cultural nuance. [Google/AI]