Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus Books
By Faye Kellerman
Book review by Jaye
Copyright © 2005 by Jaye
If it were not for the relationship between Peter and Rina, these books
would be straightforward police procedurals. Peter is a homicide
detective in Los Angeles. He was born Jewish but raised Baptist by his
adoptive parents. Rina Lazarus is an Orthodox Jewish widow Peter meets
in the line of the rape investigation, falls in love with, and eventually
marries. So there's this wonderful story about Peter learning about his
Jewish heritage, and about this exploration helping him in his
investigations. At various times the rest of his family gets involved in
the investigations, or complicates them. In the early books, there's a
wonderful relationship between Peter the Orthodox rabbi, but by the third or
fourth book, this story line is dropped. I really wish they had kept
this particular story line up, but I have a feeling the publisher decided that
too much of the public thought it slowed things down. Still, Peter is
developing an identity particle he never had any idea that he lacked, and it
is great seeing him grow.
In the latest books, his daughter Cindy gets into the act, too.
She went to university in the middle books, and now she's back in Los Angeles,
where she's a rookie cop. Her dad wanted her to be anything but a
cop, so there's friction -- but he's also so proud of her he can't see
straight.
Read these books to find out how exploring a heritage and blending a
family makes for a complete identity and enhances a person's ability to
do his job. Then apply it to yourself.
Blessings on you, and on your house.
- Ritual Bath
- Sacred and Profane
- Milk and Honey
- Day of Atonement
- False Prophet
- Grievous Sin
- Sanctuary
- Justice
- Prayers for the Dead
- Serpent's Tooth
- Jupiter's Bones
- Stalker
- The Forgotten
- Stone Kiss
- Street Dreams
