Max Spitzkopf, the Yiddish Sherlock Holmes, " heads the famous Viennese detective bureau Blitz . . . He' s bold as a lion and takes the wildest risks." Meet Max Spitzkopf: legendary private eye, undefeated foe of villains, and passionate defender of the Jewish people.

No matter how hopeless or dangerous the case, when " the investigatory profession' s greatest artist" is summoned, justice is assured. Aided by his trusty assistant, Fuchs, super-sleuth Spitzkopf deploys equal parts physical bravery and intellectual ingenuity- not to mention a knack for stealthy disguise- to unpick evil

conspiracies, outwit the canniest of criminals, and restore moral order to the world.

Giving a unique twist to a beloved literary genre, this complete collection of the fifteen Spitzkopf mysteries is also a vibrant testament to Jewish life, in all its variety, during the last years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Reading the tales, with every iota of their linguistic verve and historical charm preserved in Mikhl

Yashinsky' s translation, it' s easy to see why the young Isaac Bashevis Singer thought them " masterpieces."