S. T. Haymon

S. T. Haymon (1918–1995, born in Norwich, England) was the pen name of British author Sylvia Haymon, best known for her acclaimed police procedural series featuring Detective Inspector Ben Jurnet (eight novels published between 1980 and 1996).The Ben Jurnet Character:

Background: Ben Jurnet is a detective inspector with the Angleby CID (a fictionalized version of Haymon’s birthplace, Norwich). Ben Jurnet is not ethnically Jewish by birth but identifies with Judaism through both suspected ancestry and a formal process of conversion. His connection to Judaism is defined by several key factors:

Suspected Ancestry: Jurnet was raised as a Unitarian in Norfolk, England, but he believes he may be of Jewish descent. This is reinforced by the historical significance of his name in his home city; in real-world history, Jurnet of Norwich was one of the wealthiest and most prominent Jews in 12th-century England.

Formal Conversion: Throughout the series, Jurnet is in the “slow process” of formally converting to Judaism. His religious journey is a central theme in his character development, often influencing his worldview and his approach to investigations.

Personal Motivation: His conversion is primarily motivated by his deep love for his fiancée, Miriam, who is Jewish.

Thematic Significance: His dual identity—feeling Jewish yet not being recognized as such by traditional standards—often places him in an “outsider” position, which Haymon uses to explore themes of faith, ritual, and belonging. [Google/AI]

Haymon, S.T. [Ben Jurnet #1] (Death and the Pregnant Virgin [hc, St. Martin’s Press, 1980]) 978-0312185923 [pb, Bantam, 1984] 978-0553237030

Haymon, S.T. [Ben Jurnet #2] (Ritual Murder [hc, St. Martin’s Press, 1982]) 978-0312684785 [pb, Bantam, 1991] 978-052342175

Haymon, S.T. [Ben Jurnet #3] (Stately Homicide [hc, St. Martin’s Press, 1984]) 978-0312757083 [pb, Popular Library, 1985] 978-0445201613

Haymon, S.T. [Ben Jurnet #4] (Death of a God [hc, St. Martin’s Press, 1987]) 978-0312001193 [pb, Random House UK, 1988] 978-0099583707

Haymon, S.T. [Ben Jurnet #5] (A Very Particular Murder [hc, St. Martin’s Press, 1989]) 978-0312029982 [pb, Random House UK, 1992] 978-0099716006

Haymon, S.T. [Ben Jurnet #6] (Death of a Warrior Queen [hc, St. Martin’s Press, 1989]) 978-0312069506

Haymon, S.T. [Ben Jurnet #7] (A Beautiful Death [hc, St. Martin’s Press, 1994]) 978-0312104207 [pb, Bello, 2012] 978-1447225195

Haymon, S.T. [Ben Jurnet #8] (Death of a Hero [hc, St. Martin’s Press, 1996]) 978-0312145828