"Who Stole The Afikomen?," by Elizabeth Zelvin, in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, March/April 2021.
I won't even pretend to be objective about this story by my fellow SleuthSayer. Let me explain why.
The narrator, Andy, is a Catholic and he is about to meet his new fiancee's extended family at their Passover dinner - his first experience at a seder.
I was raised Catholic and have attended many seders with my wife's family and now at our own house. So I know just where Andy is coming from.
The story is hilarious.
Uncle Manny kept saying, "Focus, people, focus. We've got a goal here."
"To get the Jews out of Egypt?" I whispered.
"To get past the rabbis to the gefilte fish," Sharon whispered back.
"Is that the Promised Land?"
"The pot roast is the Promised Land."
"To get the Jews out of Egypt?" I whispered.
"To get past the rabbis to the gefilte fish," Sharon whispered back.
"Is that the Promised Land?"
"The pot roast is the Promised Land."
But this is EQMM so naturally there has to be a crime. The afikomen goes missing, and with it a valuable diamond. And since Andy is a cop if he can't find it he's a putz. But if he accuses a member of the family of theft - oy gevalt!
