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17. Serpent’s Tooth (Decker/Lazarus series, book 10) - Faye Kellerman

Official author site: 🔗 https://fayekellerman.net/book/serpents-tooth/
More info at: 🔗 https://www.tlbranson.com/faye-kellerman-books-in-order/
And at: 🔗 https://newbookrecommendation.com/summary-of-serpents-tooth-by-faye-kellerman-a-detailed-synopsis/

I really enjoyed this one! I didn't go as fast as with some, but it was a good story for sure. A bit of a different setup of finding out who the bad folk(s) was/were, but not in a bad way.

I browsed the web again, copied bits about the book, and AI helped me to put it all together.

Here is a spoiler-free dive into the plot and character dynamics of Serpent's Tooth, which is the tenth book in Faye Kellerman's long-running Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series!

The Setup: A Nightmare in L.A.
The story kicks off with a terrifying and chaotic inciting incident. It's a busy, fashionable night at a trendy Los Angeles restaurant called Estelle’s. Suddenly, a disgruntled former employee named Harlan Manz walks in with an automatic weapon and opens fire. In just minutes, thirteen people are killed and dozens more are wounded before Manz seemingly turns the gun on himself.
At first glance, it looks like an open-and-shut case of a tragic, senseless workplace rampage.

The Twist: Nothing is as it Seems
LAPD Lieutenant Peter Decker and his team are brought in to handle the horrifying aftermath. But as Decker starts looking at the forensics and piecing together the timeline, the "lone wolf" theory falls apart. The bullets came from multiple directions, meaning Manz couldn't have acted alone.
Decker realizes this wasn't just a random act of rage; it was a highly orchestrated, calculated hit masked as a mass shooting. The question then becomes: who was the actual target, and who was just collateral damage?

The Suspect and the Standoff
The investigation quickly zeroes in on a wealthy couple who were killed in the crossfire. Their deaths leave a massive, multi-million dollar estate to their daughter, Jeanine Garrison. Jeanine is a beautiful, manipulative socialite who loves power.
When Decker starts putting the heat on her, Jeanine doesn't just lawyer up—她 goes on the offensive. To derail the investigation, she slaps Decker with a bogus sexual harassment lawsuit, effectively forcing the police brass to pull him away from her. The stakes get even higher when Jeanine's brother (who was supposed to share the inheritance) is suddenly found dead of a drug overdose, leaving her with everything. Decker has to figure out how to catch a killer he isn't even allowed to go near.

Character Building (No Spoilers)
Kellerman is known for weaving intense personal drama into her police procedurals, and Serpent's Tooth pushes several of the main characters into new territory:

Peter Decker: The sheer carnage of the restaurant shooting triggers severe PTSD flashbacks to his time serving in Vietnam. It adds a heavy, psychological weight to his investigation as he tries to maintain his composure while dealing with department politics and a cunning suspect.

Cindy Decker: Peter’s adult daughter from his first marriage makes a major life choice in this book. Inspired by the events unfolding around her, she decides she wants to become a cop. This absolutely terrifies and appalls Peter, but her new ambitions end up playing a surprisingly useful role in the case.

Rina Lazarus: Peter’s Orthodox Jewish wife continues to be his moral anchor and sounding board. In this installment, she is largely navigating the tricky, sometimes tense, family dynamics between their Orthodox household and Peter's adoptive Baptist family. As always, her sharp mind ends up helping Peter connect a crucial final piece of the puzzle.

It's a really intense, multi-layered mystery that blends a gritty procedural with deep family dynamics!

Serpent’s Tooth was generally well-received, maintaining Faye Kellerman's streak as a powerhouse in the mystery genre. Since it was the tenth book in the series, it benefited from a loyal established fanbase while earning praise for trying something slightly different.

The Critical Verdict
Critics generally appreciated the book's shift toward a broader "mass-casualty" procedural rather than the more intimate, domestic mysteries the series was previously known for.
The New York Times: Legendary critic Marilyn Stasio praised the book for deviating from Kellerman's usual formula. She noted that by putting Decker in charge of a massive crime scene at a trendy eatery, Kellerman gave him a "rare chance to do some solid police work" with a broader scope.

Publishers Weekly: They called it a "page-turner" and a "standout entry." The review highlighted the "intricate plot" and "credible, multi-dimensional characters," particularly how Kellerman layered crisis upon crisis.

Kirkus Reviews: While they described it as "midlevel Kellerman," they still called the detective work "nail-biting." They specifically enjoyed the battle of wits between the Decker family and the "oh-so-charming" suspect, Jeanine Garrison.

The Public Response
For the general public, the book was a commercial success, cementing the Decker/Lazarus duo as one of the most beloved "mystery couples" in fiction.

Bestseller Status: The book quickly hit the New York Times Bestseller list, which was a testament to the series' peak popularity in the late 1990s.

Fan Sentiment: Readers on platforms like Goodreads (where it holds a solid 4.0/5 average) often cite the restaurant shooting as one of the most gripping openings in the entire series. Fans particularly enjoyed seeing Cindy Decker take a more active role and begin her own journey toward a law enforcement career.

The "Gritty" Factor: Some readers found this installment darker and more violent than previous books, which for some added a welcome "gritty peak" to the series, while others felt it was quite a heavy psychological load for Decker.

Overall, it’s remembered as a strong, pivotal entry that moved the family's story forward while delivering a high-stakes, "ripped from the headlines" style mystery.

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16. Prayers for the Dead (Decker/Lazarus series, book 9) - Faye Kellerman

Official author site: 🔗 https://fayekellerman.net/book/prayers-for-the-dead/
More info at: 🔗 https://www.tlbranson.com/faye-kellerman-books-in-order/
And at: 🔗 https://newbookrecommendation.com/summary-of-prayers-for-the-dead-by-faye-kellerman-a-detailed-synopsis/

For some reason, this book was a lot "easier" for me to read, and I enjoyed the storyline more than I did with the previous book. 😊 I really wanted to keep reading this one... 😊

I used the internet to find more info about the book, some of it from the links I shared here, and I asked AI to make another coherent synopsis for me with the info I found:

Prayers for the Dead is the ninth installment in Faye Kellerman’s long-running Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series, originally published in 1996. It's a gripping, complex police procedural that really tests the boundaries between Decker's professional duties and his personal life.

The Plot
The story kicks off with the gruesome murder of Dr. Azor Moses Sparks, a brilliant and highly respected heart transplant surgeon, who is found slashed and shot in an alley behind an upscale restaurant. On paper, Dr. Sparks was a model citizen: a medical pioneer on the verge of a breakthrough anti-rejection drug, a pillar of his fundamentalist church, and a devoted family man with a wife and six children.

However, as LAPD Lieutenant Peter Decker begins digging into the doctor's life, that pristine image quickly shatters. Decker realizes that Sparks was a man of intense contradictions and hidden secrets. He discovers that the supposedly harmonious Sparks family is actually deeply fractured, and that the good doctor had some highly unusual hobbies, including associating with a gang of outlaw bikers. With a massive trust fund on the line, fierce professional jealousies at the hospital, and deep-seated familial resentments, Decker finds himself wading through a very long list of people who might have wanted the surgeon dead.

How the Series Evolves
Without giving away the twists of this or previous books, Prayers for the Dead marks a significant evolution in the Decker/Lazarus dynamic in a few key ways:

• Blurring the Lines: While Decker’s cases always impact his home life to some degree, this book brings the investigation uncomfortably close to home. It turns out that one of Dr. Sparks's sons—who rebelled against his father's fundamentalist views to become a Catholic priest—has a pre-existing connection and shares secrets with Decker’s wife, Rina Lazarus. This dynamic tests Decker's objectivity and introduces a new layer of tension into his marriage.

• Expanding Religious Themes: A hallmark of the entire series is its exploration of Decker's transition into Orthodox Judaism alongside Rina. This book broadens that thematic scope significantly by contrasting their faith with other religious dynamics—specifically Protestant fundamentalism and Catholicism. It explores how deeply held beliefs, or the rejection of them, can either unite a family or entirely destroy it.

• Psychological Depth: This entry is often noted for leaning heavily into the psychological torment of its characters. It forces Decker to navigate not just the physical evidence of a brutal murder, but the messy, emotional fallout of family politics, medical ethics, and religious zealotry.

Prayers for the Dead was generally met with high praise from critics and remains a solid favorite among long-time fans of the series. Because it was published in 1996, it caught Faye Kellerman at a point where she was hitting a very confident stride in her "detective/domestic" storytelling balance.

Critical Reception
Critics were particularly impressed with Kellerman's ability to weave complex religious and ethical questions into a standard police procedural.
• The Los Angeles Times Book Review called it "first-rate" and "an unusually well-written detective story."
• The Baltimore Sun went as far as to say that "no one working in the crime genre is better," highlighting the grit and realism of her writing.
• Publishers Weekly and Booklist praised the "deft and oh-so-subtle exploration of family dynamics," noting that the book was a "winner all round" for its mix of fast-paced thriller elements and the warmth of the Decker/Lazarus family life.
• It was frequently cited for its verisimilitude—the sense that the "cop talk" and the medical details were grounded in reality rather than just being genre tropes.

Fan Reception
Among the fanbase, the book holds a strong reputation (averaging around 4.02/5 on Goodreads).
• What Fans Loved: Many readers consider this one of the most "emotionally resonant" entries in the series. Fans often point to the interaction between Peter and Rina in this book as a highlight, as it forces them to navigate a conflict of interest that feels very real and high-stakes for their relationship.
• The Religious Layers: Readers who enjoy the series for its portrayal of Orthodox Judaism appreciated how this book expanded that world to include Catholic and Protestant fundamentalist perspectives, creating a "dimensionality to religious beliefs" that felt respectful but challenging.
• Common Criticisms: Some modern readers find the book a bit "dated" (specifically in its 1990s technology and certain social references). A few fans have also mentioned that the cast of characters in the Sparks family is quite large, which can occasionally make the middle section of the book feel dense or slow-moving.

Overall, it is viewed as a "must-read" for anyone following the Decker/Lazarus journey because of the way it deepens the history of the characters while delivering a genuinely shocking mystery.

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15. Justice (Decker/Lazarus series, book 8) - Faye Kellerman

Official author site: 🔗 https://fayekellerman.net/book/justice/
More info at: 🔗 https://www.tlbranson.com/faye-kellerman-books-in-order/
And at: 🔗 https://newbookrecommendation.com/summary-of-justice-by-faye-kellerman-a-detailed-synopsis/

The first book I finished in March, Justice, by Faye Kellerman. This book was very good, with some unexpected turns! But, it somehow didn't "grip" me as much as the previous books had done. I was more distracted, I turned my attention to my puzzle again for a while. But, now I have finished the book, and I made a little start on the next one, "Prayers for the Dead".

Of course, I went through the mighty Duck again, and I used AI to put all I had found together again. Here some info, without any spoilers, about the 8th book of the Decker/Lazarus series:

If you’ve been following Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus through the first seven books, you know their lives are a unique blend of gritty LAPD detective work and the quiet, structured world of Orthodox Judaism. By this eighth installment, Justice, Faye Kellerman really starts to lean into the "growing pains" of their domestic life while throwing a particularly nasty case at Decker.

Here is the lowdown on what makes this one a standout in the series:

The Vibe: High School Noir
While many of the previous books dealt with crimes within the Jewish community or Decker’s own past, Justice takes us into the affluent, often hedonistic world of Los Angeles private schools. It feels a bit like a dark, 90s teen thriller. Think "rich kids with too much time and not enough supervision."

The Hook (No Spoilers!)
The story kicks off after a glamorous high school prom. But the party ends abruptly when a popular, beautiful teenage girl is found brutally murdered.
The Suspects: Decker quickly zeros in on a group of "golden boys"—brilliant, wealthy students who seem to think they’re untouchable.
The Conflict: These kids have high-priced lawyers and powerful parents, making Decker’s job a political minefield. He has to figure out if these teens are just arrogant or actually capable of something sociopathic.

Where Peter and Rina Are Now
By this point in the series, their marriage is solid, but the world around them is changing:
The Family Dynamic: Rina is, as always, the moral compass and the person who keeps Decker grounded when the darkness of his job starts to get to him.
The Contrast: A major theme in this book is the contrast between the values-heavy, disciplined upbringing of the Decker/Lazarus household and the permissive, "anything goes" environment of the wealthy suspects. It makes for some great internal monologue from Decker as he worries about his own kids growing up in L.A.

Why It’s a Great Read
It’s classic Kellerman. You get the procedural "whodunnit" satisfyingly mixed with the "slice of life" details of their religious observances and family meals. It’s a bit grittier than some of the earlier books, and the psychological cat-and-mouse game between Decker and the privileged teens is genuinely tense.

The reception for Justice was a bit of a "pivot point" for the series. While critics generally praised it, long-time fans had mixed feelings about some of the creative risks Faye Kellerman took in this eighth outing.

Here is how the public and critics broke it down:

What the Critics Said
The professionals generally gave it a thumbs-up, but they definitely noticed a shift in the "recipe":
More Procedural, Less Domestic: Publishers Weekly noted that this book would likely "increase her constituency" (bring in new readers) because it focused more on the gritty police work and less on the specific details of Jewish law and lore that dominated earlier books.
High-Stakes Drama: Kirkus Reviews called it "highly effective melodrama" and "fleet-footed," praising the tension even if they felt the coincidences were a bit "outrageous" at times.
The "Darker" Tone: Critics appreciated the psychological depth, especially in the depiction of the teenage antagonist, who many felt was one of Kellerman’s most charismatic and chilling villains to date.

What the Fans Said
If you look at fan hubs like Goodreads or Audible, the book maintains a solid 4 out of 5 stars, but the reviews show it’s a "love it or hate it" entry for die-hard series fans:

The "Pro" Fan View
Fast-Paced: Many readers loved that it felt more like a "thriller" and less like a "family drama."
New Perspectives: A large chunk of the book is told from a new character's POV (Terry), which fans found refreshing and emotional.
The Ending: The "surprising" and somewhat open ending sparked a lot of debate and kept people talking.

The "Con" Fan View
Missing the Family: Some fans were bummed that Marge (Decker’s partner) was on vacation and Rina was less central than usual.
Explicit Content: Some readers were caught off guard by the more explicit sexual content and "cruder" language compared to the earlier, more "wholesome" books.
"Hot Mess" Plot: A vocal minority felt the plot was a bit cluttered with too many subplots and "cliché" teen drama.

The Verdict
Overall, the public viewed Justice as the book where Kellerman "grew up" a bit—stepping away from the cozy, domestic feel of the first few novels and moving toward the darker, high-octane thrillers that would define her later work. It’s widely considered one of the most unique books in the series because it focuses so heavily on characters outside the Decker household.

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14. Sanctuary (Decker/Lazarus series, book 7) - Faye Kellerman

Official author site: 🔗 https://fayekellerman.net/book/sanctuary/
More info at: 🔗 https://www.tlbranson.com/faye-kellerman-books-in-order/
And at: 🔗 https://newbookrecommendation.com/summary-of-sanctuary-by-faye-kellerman-a-detailed-synopsis/

Another book in this series done. They are really well written books, and I find myself going back whenever I can, as I want to know more about story. The story is a different one, taking place partially in Israel. Which shows some of the (then current) issues there, as Faye Kellerman has described things to help with her story...

I used the mighty Duck again to find info on the book (some info coming from the links I mentioned). AI helped me to make it into a better piece.

By the time Faye Kellerman released "Sanctuary" in 1994, the Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series had already established itself as a powerhouse in the mystery genre. If you’ve been following the first six books, you know this isn't just a "whodunit" series—it’s a deep dive into the evolving relationship between a hard-nosed LAPD detective and a devout Orthodox Jewish woman.

The Premise
In this seventh installment, the stakes shift from the typical gritty streets of Los Angeles to a much more personal and international stage. The story kicks off when an old friend of Rina’s from Israel, Honey Klein, disappears along with her husband and children.

What makes "Sanctuary" stand out is how it pulls Decker out of his comfort zone. While the previous books—like The Ritual Bath or Day of Atonement—focused heavily on the friction and fusion of Decker’s job with Rina’s religious community, this one expands the scope. Decker finds himself traveling to Israel to track down the missing family, leading him into a web involving Diamond dealers, ancient grudges, and the complexities of Israeli life.

Why It’s a Fan Favorite
The Travelogue Element: Unlike the localized settings of the earlier books, the vivid descriptions of Israel provide a fresh backdrop that tests Decker’s investigative skills in a foreign land.

Character Growth: We see Peter and Rina navigating their marriage and Peter’s continued journey into his Jewish identity. It’s less about "will they/won't they" (which defined the early books) and more about "how do we handle this together?"

The Mystery: Kellerman leans into a more "global thriller" vibe here. It’s fast-paced, but she never loses the domestic heart that makes the series so readable.

Where it Fits in the Series
If you’ve read the first six, you’ll appreciate how "Sanctuary" feels like a payoff for the character development built up since book one. If you’re jumping in here, Kellerman provides enough context that you won't be lost, but you'll definitely miss the nuance of why Decker is so protective of the life he’s built with Rina.

It’s a turning point for the series, proving that Decker and Lazarus can handle mysteries that go far beyond the borders of California.

Sanctuary (1994) is often cited as the "bridge" book of the Decker/Lazarus series. While the first six books established the foundation of their relationship and Peter’s conversion to Judaism, this seventh entry takes those elements and tests them against a much larger, more dangerous backdrop.

Here’s how it pushed the series forward:

1. Story Building: From Local to Global
Up until this point, the series was primarily a "domestic procedural." You had the grit of the LAPD clashing with the insulated world of the Orthodox Jewish community in California.

The Pivot: Sanctuary breaks that mold by sending Peter Decker to Israel. By moving the setting, Kellerman expanded the series' DNA from a standard detective mystery into an international thriller.

The Stakes: It introduced themes of historical trauma, the illegal diamond trade, and the complexities of Israeli-Arab relations. This proved the series could handle heavy political and global themes without losing its soul.

2. Character Building: Testing the Foundations
This book is a massive milestone for Peter and Rina as a couple. By book seven, the "honeymoon phase" of their marriage is settling into a partnership of equals.
Peter Decker: We see him truly grappling with his identity. In the previous books, he was a student of Judaism; in Sanctuary, he is a Jewish man in the Jewish homeland, yet he feels like an outsider. His struggle to navigate Israeli culture while using his LAPD instincts shows a more vulnerable, yet seasoned, side of his character.
Rina Lazarus: Rina steps out of her role as just a "consultant" or "love interest." Her personal history is the catalyst for the plot. The story delves into her past friendships and her deep, emotional connection to Israel, giving her more agency than in some of the earlier, L.A.-centric books.

3. Reception: Fans vs. Critics
The reception was generally very positive, though it marked a shift in who was reading the books.
Critics: Many praised Kellerman’s "vivid and authoritative" depiction of Israel. The Publishers Weekly and Kirkus reviews at the time noted that the shift in scenery breathed new life into the procedural format, calling it one of her most ambitious works.
Fans: Long-time readers loved the deeper dive into Rina’s background. However, a small subset of fans who preferred the "gritty L.A. streets" vibe found the international plot a bit of a departure. Ultimately, it’s now considered a fan-favorite because it’s the book where the "Decker/Lazarus Universe" truly feels like it has no boundaries.

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13. Grievous Sin (Decker/Lazarus series, book 6) - Faye Kellerman

Official author site: 🔗 https://fayekellerman.net/book/grievous-sin/
More info at: 🔗 https://www.tlbranson.com/faye-kellerman-books-in-order/
And at: 🔗 https://newbookrecommendation.com/summary-of-grievous-sin-by-faye-kellerman-a-detailed-synopsis/

This book felt a little different to me than the previous few, but not in a bad way. It was gripping and a real page turner (for me, at least).

I ducked 🦆 some info again, partially from the sites I linked here, and AI helped me to make all the copied bits into a better synopsis, and all that.

Grievous Sin (1993) is the sixth installment in Faye Kellerman's acclaimed Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series. It’s a pivotal entry because it balances a high-stakes medical mystery with significant developments in the protagonists' personal lives.

The Premise
The story kicks off in the aftermath of a joyous event for Peter and Rina. While Rina is recovering at a high-end birth center/hospital, a newborn baby is kidnapped from the nursery. To make matters more complicated, the primary suspect is a nurse who has seemingly vanished into thin air.

Because the crime hits so close to home—and because Peter is already on-site—he is thrust into an investigation that involves high-society medical professionals, hidden pasts, and the desperate clock of finding a missing infant.

The Core Characters
• Peter Decker: A veteran LAPD detective. In this book, we see him juggling his professional "hard-nosed cop" persona with his role as a protective husband and father. His dual identity (his Southern Baptist upbringing vs. his conversion to Judaism) continues to be a rich source of internal dialogue.
• Rina Lazarus: Rina remains the moral and spiritual compass of the series. While she is physically sidelined for part of the book due to her recovery, her insights into human nature and her deep ties to the Orthodox Jewish community often provide Peter with the perspective he needs to solve the "why" behind a crime.
• The Ensemble: You’ll see familiar faces from the LAPD squad, including detectives like Marge Dunn, who help ground the story in the gritty reality of 1990s Los Angeles police work.
Why This Book Stands Out
What makes Grievous Sin a fan favorite is the interplay between the domestic and the dangerous. Unlike the previous books (like The Ritual Bath or Day of Atonement), which often focused on crimes within or directly impacting the Jewish community, this story bridges the gap. It takes the "domestic thriller" vibe—the vulnerability of a hospital and a new baby—and pairs it with a complex "whodunit" that explores the lengths people will go to for family and legacy.

Series Context (The First 5 Books)
By this point in the series, you’ve watched Peter and Rina’s relationship evolve from a tentative, cross-cultural attraction into a solid, religiously observant marriage.
• The Foundation: You’ve seen them navigate the culture shocks of Los Angeles and New York.
• The Growth: Peter has moved from being an outsider looking in on Rina’s world to fully embracing the lifestyle, though he still struggles with the "rules" of his new faith versus the "rules" of the street.

Grievous Sin was generally well-received, particularly by long-time fans of the series, though it faced some specific critiques regarding its pacing. Overall, it solidified Faye Kellerman’s reputation as a master of the "domestic procedural."

Professional Critical Reception
Professional critics were largely positive, focusing on Kellerman’s ability to weave personal stakes into a gritty crime narrative:
• The Baltimore Sun famously praised her during this period, stating that "No one working in the crime genre is better."
• Kirkus Reviews noted that the family scenes were a highlight, particularly the development of Peter’s daughter, Cindy, whom they compared to a modern Nancy Drew. However, they did offer a "mixed" note, suggesting that the plotting occasionally veered into melodrama, which could undercut the realism of the police work.
• Booklist and other trade publications praised the "crackling" police dialogue and the unique way the story handled the intersection of Orthodox Jewish life and secular law enforcement.

Public and Fan Reception
Among the general public and series enthusiasts, the book holds a strong rating (averaging around 4/5 stars on platforms like Goodreads). Fans typically celebrate it for:
• Emotional Resonance: Readers felt deeply invested in the kidnapping because it happened while Rina herself was in a vulnerable state.
• Character Progression: It is often cited as a favorite for those who enjoy the "family" aspect of the series, as it marks a major milestone for the Decker-Lazarus household.

The "Slow Burn" Critique
One of the most common critiques from both fans and critics was the pacing of the first act. Because the book spends a significant amount of time detailing the birth and Rina’s medical recovery before the inciting incident (the kidnapping) occurs, some felt the "mystery" took too long to get started. As seen in the narrative arc diagram above, most mysteries have a sharp "inciting incident" very early on; Grievous Sin stretches the exposition further than a typical thriller to build up the emotional stakes.

Comparison to Previous Books
Most readers found this a "step up" in terms of emotional complexity compared to False Prophet (Book 5), though some purists missed the more insular, community-focused mysteries of the very first book, The Ritual Bath.

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12. False Prophet (Decker/Lazarus series, book 5) - Faye Kellerman

Official author site: 🔗 https://fayekellerman.net/book/false-prophet/
More info at: 🔗 https://www.tlbranson.com/faye-kellerman-books-in-order/
And at: 🔗 https://newbookrecommendation.com/summary-of-false-prophet-by-faye-kellerman-a-detailed-synopsis/

Another book that I quickly read through, with a surprising plot twist in the end. The mighty Duck, and some AI, have helped me to gather more info on the book and edit it to an informative piece.

If you’ve been following the journey of Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, you know that their world is usually a delicate balance between gritty LAPD crime scenes and the quiet, traditional life they’re building together. In False Prophet (the fifth installment of the series), that balance gets tested by a case that feels uncomfortably personal.

Here is the lowdown on the plot without giving away any of the big reveals!

If you’ve been following the journey of Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, you know that their world is usually a delicate balance between gritty LAPD crime scenes and the quiet, traditional life they’re building together. In False Prophet (the fifth installment of the series), that balance gets tested by a case that feels uncomfortably personal.
Here is the lowdown on the plot without giving away any of the big reveals!

The Setup
The story kicks off when Lilah Brecht, a high-profile, powerhouse owner of an exclusive health spa in a wealthy canyon, is brutally attacked and raped. It’s a horrific crime, but the case gets complicated fast. Lilah isn’t exactly "warm and fuzzy"—she’s a hard-edged, manipulative woman with a long list of people who might want to see her suffer.

The Decker/Lazarus Dynamic
As Peter takes the lead on the investigation, he’s still navigating his relatively new life as a practicing Jew. This book continues to weave in the domestic life he shares with Rina, showing how their relationship has matured since the events of the first four books. Rina remains his moral compass and sounding board, providing that "outside perspective" when the darkness of the job starts to cloud Peter’s judgment.

The Conflict
What makes this case a nightmare for Decker is the suspects. The primary focus falls on Lilah’s own family—specifically her sons. One of them is a charismatic, fringe-dwelling "prophet" who leads a group of devoted followers.

This sets up a fascinating clash between:
The Law: Decker’s need for evidence and justice.
Family: The twisted loyalty (and hatred) within the Romig clan.
Faith: The contrast between Rina and Peter’s sincere religious path and the manipulative, "false" spirituality of the cult leader.

Why It’s a Page-Turner
Unlike some of the previous books that focused on the streets of LA, this one feels more like a "closed-door" mystery. It’s a psychological deep dive into a very dysfunctional, very wealthy family. You get all the classic Kellerman hallmarks: authentic police procedural details, deep respect for Jewish culture, and a mystery that keeps you guessing about who is truly the victim and who is the villain.

A quick heads-up: If you’re sensitive to themes of sexual assault, this one is a bit more graphic in its description of the crime's aftermath than some of the earlier books.

False Prophet generally received a warm reception, though it’s often noted as a bit of a "pivot point" for the series. Critics and fans alike noticed a shift in tone from the previous four books.

Here is how it was viewed across the board:

What the Critics Said
The professional reviews were a bit of a mixed bag, which is common for a long-running series hitting its fifth installment.

The Praise: Library Journal was a big fan, calling it a "masterful effort" and a "great escape." They particularly liked how Kellerman handled the post-Rodney King era of Los Angeles, giving the police work a very realistic, grounded feel. New York Newsday also chimed in, calling it "absolutely absorbing."

The Critique: On the flip side, Kirkus Reviews—known for being notoriously tough—was less impressed. They felt the plot was a bit "histrionic" (overly dramatic) and that the writing leaned into "B-movie" territory. They missed the heavy focus on Jewish culture that was the hallmark of the earlier books, noting that the "Judaica takes a backseat" to the family drama in this one.

What the Public Thought
Among regular readers and longtime fans, the book holds a solid reputation (usually sitting around a 4/5 star rating on sites like Goodreads and Amazon).

The "Page-Turner" Factor: Most readers agreed it’s a fast-paced mystery. People loved the "closed-room" feel of the spa setting and the sheer messiness of the Brecht family.

The Domestic Appeal: Fans of the series generally loved seeing Peter and Rina’s relationship progress (especially with a baby on the way). For many, the "soap opera" elements of their lives are just as important as the actual crimes.

The Ending: If there was one common complaint from the public, it was the ending. Some readers felt it wrapped up a little too abruptly or didn't provide the "justice" they were hoping for, given how much they grew to dislike the villains.

The General Consensus
Most people saw False Prophet as Kellerman broadening her horizons. While the first four books focused heavily on the clash between Peter’s world and Rina’s religious community, this book proved the series could also handle a "traditional" Hollywood noir-style mystery. It’s often cited as one of the darker entries in the early series because of the family dynamics involved.

#Reading #Books #FayeKellerman #DeckerLazarusSeries

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11. Day of Atonement (Decker/Lazarus series, book 4) - Faye Kellerman

Official author site: 🔗 https://fayekellerman.net/book/day-of-atonement/
More info at: 🔗 https://www.tlbranson.com/faye-kellerman-books-in-order/
And at: 🔗 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/104094.Day_of_Atonement

Another book that I just had to keep reading... It was quite something, if you're into these kinds of books, that is...

I did the same as I did with the previous books, and I will share what I found through the mighty Duck 🦆, compiled with the help of Gemini.

Day of Atonement isn't your average "detective walks into a crime scene" procedural. It’s the fourth book in the Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series, and this time, the stakes are deeply personal because the "crime" happens right in the middle of what was supposed to be a peaceful honeymoon.

The Setup
Peter Decker (the tough LAPD detective) and Rina Lazarus (his brilliant, Orthodox Jewish partner) head to Brooklyn to spend the High Holy Days with Rina’s family. Peter is still adjusting to his newly discovered Jewish roots and the strict traditions of an ultra-Orthodox community. He’s looking for spiritual peace, but—because it's a Faye Kellerman novel—he finds a nightmare instead.

The Mystery
In the tight-knit, insular world of the Hasidic community, a young boy named Noam suddenly vanishes. Because this world is so private and wary of outsiders, the local police are hitting walls. Decker, being an outsider who "speaks the language" (both literally and culturally), steps in to bridge the gap.

Why It’s Compelling
• Fish Out of Water: Watching a hardened L.A. cop navigate the rigid, ancient customs of Brooklyn's religious enclaves adds a layer of tension you don't get in a standard thriller.
• The Clock is Ticking: The search for Noam takes them from the synagogues of New York to some pretty dark corners of the city.
• Relationship Goals: You get to see Peter and Rina’s dynamic evolve as they face a crisis that tests their faith and their brand-new marriage.

It’s a "domestic" thriller with a very high-stakes, atmospheric twist. If you like stories where the setting is just as much of a character as the detective, this is a great one to dive into.

To understand how Day of Atonement fits into the saga, you have to look at the massive personal transformation Peter Decker undergoes across the first three books. While each book has a self-contained mystery, the Decker/Lazarus series is famous for its long-term character "slow burn."

Here is how the narrative threads from the previous books weave into this one:

1. The Journey to Judaism
In the first book, The Ritual Bath, Decker is a hard-nosed, secular LAPD detective who meets Rina Lazarus while investigating a crime at a mikvah (a ritual bath house). Over the course of the next two books (Sacred and Profane and Milk and Honey), Decker doesn't just fall for Rina; he discovers his own Jewish heritage.
Day of Atonement is the "payoff" for that discovery. He isn't just a tourist in Brooklyn; he is a man trying to embrace a high-pressure, deeply traditional lifestyle that is entirely foreign to his "tough cop" persona in Los Angeles.

2. The Marriage Milestone
The third book, Milk and Honey, dealt heavily with the complexities of their relationship and whether a secular man and an Orthodox woman could actually make a life together. By the time Day of Atonement starts, they are officially a married couple. This book explores the "honeymoon phase" being interrupted by a nightmare, testing whether their new bond can survive a crisis in Rina’s own backyard.

3. The "Outsider" Dynamic
In the previous books, Rina was often the "guide" for Decker in California. In Day of Atonement, the roles shift slightly. They are in New York—Rina’s home turf—but the community is so insular and protective that even Rina feels the pressure of their scrutiny. Decker has to prove himself not just as a husband, but as a man worthy of their trust during a community-wide tragedy.

This book is really the bridge between their "courtship" phase and their "partnership" phase. It sets the tone for how they will work together as a team for the rest of the series.

When Day of Atonement hit the shelves in 1991, it was a bit of a "pivot" point for the series, and it sparked a mix of high praise and some classic critical nitpicking.

Here is the breakdown of how it was received:

The "Must-Read" Verdict (The Positives)
• Commercial Hit: It was a USA Today Bestseller, proving that the "Decker/Lazarus" brand was officially a powerhouse in the mystery world.
• Atmospheric Win: Critics from major outlets like the Los Angeles Times called it "tautly exciting." Readers loved the "fish out of water" aspect of Decker being stuck in a crowded Brooklyn apartment with his new in-laws—it added a layer of domestic realism and humor that most gritty police procedurals lack.
• Character Loyalty: Fans of the series were thrilled to finally see Peter and Rina married. For many, the mystery was secondary to the "soap opera" of their evolving lives and Peter’s deep dive into his biological roots.

The "Tough Critic" Take (The Negatives)
• The "Contrived" Label: Some heavy hitters like Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly were a bit harsher. They felt the plot was a little "wordy" and that the coincidence of Decker finding his biological family in the middle of a kidnapping case was a bit too convenient (or "contrived").
• Pacing Issues: While some found it a page-turner, a segment of the audience felt the first half—which focuses heavily on Jewish law, tradition, and family dynamics—slowed the momentum of the actual crime investigation.

Reader Consensus
Today, the book holds a solid 3.8 to 4.0 rating on sites like Goodreads. The general vibe from the public is that it's a strong, emotional entry in the series. Even if the mystery isn't the most "unpredictable" one Kellerman has ever written, the character work is considered top-tier.

Fun Fact: This book is often cited by fans as the one that truly "fleshed out" Peter Decker's backstory, turning him from a standard tough-guy cop into a much more complex, vulnerable character.

#Reading #Books #FayeKellerman #DeckerLazarusSeries

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#BooksIn2026 #Bookstodon

10. Milk and Honey (Decker/Lazarus series, book 3) - Faye Kellerman

Official author site: 🔗 https://fayekellerman.net/book/milk-and-honey/
More info at: 🔗  https://www.tlbranson.com/faye-kellerman-books-in-order/
And at: 🔗https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk_and_Honey_(Kellerman_novel)

I could not put this book down! I read it so fast, I felt like I was driven by an unseen power... I wanted to do other things as well, but I kept coming back to reading this book.

Again, I DuckDucke--ed info about the book, and asked AI to help me make it into an informative bit about the book, like I did with the previous books this year.

"Milk and Honey" is the third installment in Faye Kellerman’s popular Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series, and it’s a total blend of gritty police procedural and complex family drama.

The story kicks off when Detective Peter Decker finds a toddler wandering around a suburban Los Angeles neighborhood in the middle of the night. The kid is wearing pajamas soaked in blood, but she isn't hurt—meaning someone else definitely is. Decker’s investigation eventually leads him to a gruesome multi-generational crime scene at a local honey farm, and the case gets messy fast.

What Makes It Special
• The Dynamic Duo: If you’re new to the series, the heart of these books is the relationship between Peter (a tough LAPD detective) and Rina (a devout Orthodox Jewish widow). Their romance is evolving here, and Rina often provides the moral compass or unique insight Peter needs to solve cases.
• The Setting: It’s not just a city thriller; it dives into the niche world of California farming and beekeeping, which adds a unique, atmospheric texture to the mystery.
• Themes: It touches on some heavy themes—family loyalty, greed, and the ways the past can come back to haunt the present.

It’s a "page-turner" in the truest sense. You get the procedural satisfaction of watching a detective piece together a puzzle, but with enough heart to make you care about the people involved.

While the first two books—The Ritual Bath and Sacred and Profane—were heavy on the "culture clash" and the initial spark between Peter and Rina, Milk and Honey feels like the series truly finding its footing as a gritty police procedural.

Here’s how it shifts gears from the first two:

1. The Stakes Feel More Personal
In the earlier books, Peter was often the "outsider" looking into Rina’s world. In this one, the mystery is more grounded in Peter’s professional world of the LAPD, but the emotional stakes are higher. Finding a blood-stained toddler at the start of the book hits Peter (and the reader) on a much more visceral level than the mysteries in the previous installments.

2. A More Complex "B-Plot"
If the first book was about discovery and the second was about adjustment, this third book is about commitment. We see Peter and Rina navigating the very real, sometimes difficult hurdles of blending their lives. Peter is still grappling with his Jewish identity and how that fits into his high-stress job, which adds a layer of internal conflict that wasn't as polished in the first two books.

3. A Darker, More Atmospheric Tone
The "Honey" in the title isn't just a sweet metaphor; the beekeeping and farming backdrop creates a sticky, claustrophobic atmosphere. While the first book felt like a closed-door mystery in a religious community, this one feels wider in scope but darker in its exploration of family dysfunction and greed.

4. Better Balance of "Cop" and "Community"
Kellerman strikes a great balance here. You get the hard-boiled detective work (which is sharper than in book one), but it’s still deeply rooted in the themes of faith and family that make this series unique. It’s less of a "romance with a side of mystery" and more of a "heavyweight mystery with a deeply resonant relationship."

Overall, Milk and Honey was very well-received and is often cited by long-time fans as the point where the series "leveled up." It currently holds a strong 3.99/5 rating on Goodreads and a 4.0/5 on Barnes & Noble, suggesting it’s a crowd-pleaser for mystery fans.

Here is a breakdown of the public and critical reception:

1. The "Ellroy" Endorsement
One of the biggest stamps of approval came from legendary crime writer James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential), who called it "Faye Kellerman's best novel to date" and described it as "deeper, richer, and more emotionally complex" than her previous work. This helped cement her reputation not just as a niche "religious mystery" writer, but as a heavyweight in the crime genre.

2. Critics Praised the Realism
• Publishers Weekly praised the book for having an "intricate mystery" and noted that Peter Decker becomes a much more sympathetic and multi-dimensional character here.
• People Magazine highlighted the central couple, calling them "hands down, the most refreshing mystery couple around."
• Booklist enjoyed the "crackling" cop talk and the unique contrast of Decker "alternately cracking skulls and praying over a plate of kosher food."

3. The "Marmite" Factor (The Religion)
While most readers loved the deep dive into Jewish law and culture, this book is where the "religious elements" became a polarizing point for some.
• Fans love it for the educational value and the way faith complicates the characters' lives.
• Detractors sometimes find the "filler" regarding religious rituals to be a bit heavy-handed compared to a standard, fast-paced thriller.

4. Evolution of the Series
Most readers agreed that this book successfully transitioned the series from a "romance with a mystery" (which some felt the first book was) into a "hard-boiled procedural with a heart." The opening scene—a blood-stained toddler in the night—is frequently mentioned in reviews as one of the most haunting and effective hooks in 90s crime fiction.

#Books #Reading #FayeKellerman #DeckerLazarusSeries

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#BooksIn2026 #Bookstodon

9. Sacred and Profane (Decker/Lazarus series, book 2) - Faye Kellerman

Official author site: 🔗 https://fayekellerman.net/book/sacred-and-profane/
More info at: 🔗 https://www.tlbranson.com/faye-kellerman-books-in-order/
And at: 🔗 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/104093.Sacred_and_Profane

It didn't take me too long to finish the second book in the series. I needed to relax a bit, and this book helped me a lot. I DuckDuck-ed some bits and bops and made another book review with info and all, as I have done with the previous books that I read this year.

If you’re a fan of the "opposites attract" trope but find yourself bored with the usual rom-com clichés, let me introduce you to Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus. Faye Kellerman’s Decker/Lazarus series is one of the longest-running and most beloved procedural series out there, and the second book, Sacred and Profane, is where the series really finds its heartbeat.
Here is the lowdown on why this book—and this duo—is worth your time.

The Setup: Worlds Colliding
To understand Sacred and Profane, you have to know how these two met. In the first book, The Ritual Bath, Peter Decker—a tough, slightly cynical LAPD detective—is called to investigate a crime at an Orthodox Jewish enclave. There, he meets Rina Lazarus, a young widow living a deeply traditional, religious life.

By the time we get to Sacred and Profane, the "will-they-won't-they" tension is thick enough to cut with a brisket knife. Peter is a guy who lives in a world of grit, crime, and chaos; Rina lives in a world of ancient laws, modesty, and ritual. The series isn't just a "whodunit"; it’s a "how-do-they-make-this-work?"

The Plot (No Spoilers!)
While vacationing in the mountains, Peter stumbles upon a grisly discovery: the charred remains of two teenagers. The investigation pulls him back into the dark underbelly of Los Angeles, dealing with some pretty heavy themes involving exploitation and the loss of innocence.

What makes this specific book stand out is the contrast:
• The Profane: The investigation. It’s gritty, dark, and reminds you that Decker’s job is often soul-crushing.
• The Sacred: The burgeoning relationship between Peter and Rina. As Peter gets deeper into the case, he finds himself drawn more to Rina’s world—not just to her, but to the sense of peace and order her faith provides.

Why It’s Unique?
Most crime novels have a "lonely wolf" detective who drinks too much scotch and has no home life. Kellerman flips that.
1. Cultural Immersion: You don't just read about a crime; you learn about Jewish law, holiday traditions, and the nuances of the yeshiva (religious school) world. It’s handled with such authenticity that you feel like an insider.
2. Character Growth: Peter isn't just a static character. He starts questioning his own identity and heritage, leading to a journey of self-discovery that spans dozens of books.
3. The Chemistry: The romance is a slow burn. Because of Rina’s religious boundaries (like the laws of tzniut, or modesty), their physical connection is secondary to their intellectual and emotional bond. It makes every look and conversation feel high-stakes.

Should You Read It?
If you like Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch but wish there was more focus on family, faith, and complex relationships, this is your new favorite series. Sacred and Profane does a masterful job of balancing a "ripped-from-the-headlines" crime story with a deeply human story about two people from different planets trying to build a bridge between them.

Fun Fact: Faye Kellerman is married to Jonathan Kellerman, another titan of the mystery genre (the Alex Delaware series). They are basically the royal family of psychological thrillers and procedurals!

When Sacred and Profane hit the shelves in 1987, it had a lot of pressure on it. Its predecessor, The Ritual Bath, had just won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel, and readers were eager to see if Faye Kellerman could maintain that momentum.

Overall, the reception was overwhelmingly positive, and the book is largely credited with cementing the "Decker and Lazarus" duo as icons of the genre. Here is how the audience and critics reacted:

1. Critical Acclaim: "The Most Refreshing Couple"
Critics were immediately taken with the chemistry between Peter and Rina. People Magazine famously called them "hands down, the most refreshing mystery couple around."
• The Chicago Sun-Times praised Kellerman as a "talented writer," noting that the characters were deep and well-drawn.
• Kirkus Reviews described the book as "entertaining" and appreciated the sprawling nature of the story, though it noted the shift toward a darker tone than the first book.

2. The Fan Verdict: High Stakes and Heavy Hearts
Among fans, the book holds a solid reputation (maintaining around a 3.9/5 star average on platforms like Goodreads).
• The "Bashert" Factor: Readers were particularly invested in the romantic progression. In Jewish tradition, bashert means "destiny" or "soulmate," and fans loved watching Peter navigate the massive hurdles of Rina’s Orthodox world to prove he was her bashert.
• The Gritty Reality: While fans loved the romance, many readers noted that this book is significantly darker than the first. The plot involves violence against teenagers, which some found "soul-crushing" and "intense," though most agreed it served the purpose of highlighting the "Profane" side of the book's title.

3. A Focus on Authenticity
One of the most common pieces of feedback from the audience was appreciation for the cultural depth. Readers who knew nothing about Judaism felt they were learning something new, while Jewish readers often praised Kellerman (who is herself Orthodox) for her authentic, non-preachy portrayal of the community.

4. Minor Critiques
Not every review was glowing. Some "hard-boiled" mystery purists felt the detective work took a backseat to the relationship drama. A few readers mentioned that the mystery itself was a bit "standard" compared to the unique cultural and romantic elements that made the book stand out.

The Bottom Line: Sacred and Profane was received as a "sophomore success." It proved that the series wasn't a one-hit-wonder and that Peter and Rina had enough complexity to carry a long-running saga.

#Reading #Books #FayeKellerman #DeckerLazarusSeries #SacredAndProfane

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8. The Ritual Bath (Decker/Lazarus series, book 1) - Faye Kellerman

Official author site: 🔗 https://fayekellerman.net/
More info at: 🔗 https://www.tlbranson.com/faye-kellerman-books-in-order/

The first book of a series that would run for over 30 years! While on vacation in Kenya, I had gone through all my books. In the hotel's little gift shop, I bought a book by Faye Kellerman. It was one of the Decker/Lazarus series. I was unfamiliar with it, but I did enjoy the book, even though it was not the first one of the series, so I didn't understand it all as well as I could have...

I got the other books, but I never really got around to reading them all. So, now, wanting a bit of a difference from Harry Dresden, I read the first book of this serie: The Ritual Bath.

I DuckDuck-ed some info about the book, like I did with the previous books I read, so I will share that here.

The book The Ritual Bath by Faye Kellerman takes place in 1986, the same year it was published.

The story is set in a remote Orthodox Jewish community (a yeshiva) in the hills of Los Angeles, California. Because the Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series generally follows a "real-time" chronology, the characters age and the world evolves alongside the publication of each subsequent novel.

Key Facts About the Setting
Protagonists: It marks the first meeting of LAPD detective Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus.
Context: The plot centers on a crime committed at a mikvah (a ritual bathhouse), which forces the secular Decker to navigate the insular and highly traditional world of the yeshiva community.
Chronology: By the end of the 27-book series, which concluded in 2022 with The Hunt, over 35 years of the characters' lives have been chronicled since this first installment.

The Setup: A Crime in a Hidden World
The story takes place in the hills of Los Angeles, but not the L.A. you usually see in movies. It’s set inside a secluded, ultra-orthodox Jewish community (a yeshiva).
The peace is shattered when a brutal crime is committed near the mikvah—the ritual bathhouse where women go for spiritual purification. Because the community is so insular and distrustful of outsiders, they are reluctant to involve the police, but the severity of the attack leaves them no choice.

The "Odd Couple" Detectives
The heart of the book is the chemistry between two people who come from completely different universes:
Peter Decker: He is your typical LAPD detective—gruff, cynical, and seemingly strictly secular. He walks into this religious compound like a bull in a china shop. He doesn't understand the rules, the dress codes, or why nobody will look him in the eye.
Rina Lazarus: She is a young, widowed mother who lives within the community and manages the mikvah. She is deeply devout, incredibly smart, and fierce. She becomes Decker’s reluctant guide, translating the customs and helping him navigate the silence of the witnesses.

The Vibe
The tension comes from two places:
The Mystery: Decker has to catch a predator in a place where people would rather keep secrets than talk to a cop.
The Friction: As Decker spends time with Rina, he is fascinated by her serenity and strength. Meanwhile, Rina is surprised to find herself drawn to this outsider. It is a classic "fish out of water" story where the detective has to respect the culture to solve the case.

Bottom Line: It is a solid mystery, but people really read it for the introduction of Decker and Rina, watching them navigate the awkward, intense, and respectful dance of two people from opposite worlds falling for each other.

Here is how The Ritual Bath landed when it came out in 1986:
1. It Was an Immediate Critical Darling
It didn't just slowly find an audience; it made a splash right out of the gate.
Awards: It won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel (a big deal in the mystery world) and was nominated for an Anthony Award.
The "Hook": Critics loved it because it was so different. In the mid-80s, police procedurals were often gritty, cynical, and full of "hard-boiled" loners. Suddenly, here was a book about a sensitive romance, religious theology, and a respectful look at a community (Orthodox Judaism) that mainstream fiction rarely touched.

2. It Created a New "Niche"
Before this book, "religious mystery" wasn't really a mainstream sub-genre. Faye Kellerman is often credited with proving that you could mix theology with thrillers.
Readers were fascinated by the "insider look" at the Yeshiva world. It landed not just as a mystery, but as a way for secular readers to learn about a private culture in a non-textbook way.

3. The Series Factor
The chemistry between Decker and Rina was so strong that people immediately demanded more. It wasn't just a "one-off" hit; it launched a massive franchise.
Fun Fact: Faye Kellerman is married to Jonathan Kellerman (another huge bestselling mystery author, famous for the Alex Delaware series). They became a sort of "power couple" of the mystery world in the late 80s and 90s, which definitely helped keep the books in the public eye.

The Verdict: It was a breakout hit that turned into a 30+ year juggernaut. You are reading the start of what became a New York Times bestselling legacy.

#Reading #FayeKellerman #DeckerLazarusSeries #TheRitualBath #Books