Hangman by Faye Kellerman

The latest in Decker/Lazarus series - well, the 20th...#21 will be out in January - is Hangman.  I've read them all and as usual, a solid, enjoyable "read".  (I put "read" in quotes because I actually listened to this on CD in my car rather than actually flipping pages).  Anyway - here's the premise:

Fifteen years ago, high school senior Chris Whitman went to jail for murdering his girlfriend, Cheryl Diggs. He confessed, becuase he wanted to save another classmate, Terry McLaughlin, from having to testify at his trial. When the truth came out, Chris was released from prison, married Terry--pregnant with his child--and changed his last name to Donatti. He also became a professional killer.  Peter Decker was the detective on the case, and over the years, he and Terry kept in touch. Now Terry is in L.A. and asking for a favor. The favor soon becomes complicated when Terry goes missing and Donatti disappears, leaving their fourteen-year-old son, Gabe, with no one to turn to except Decker and his wife, Rina Lazarus.  This mystery shares center stage with the murder mystery of Adirana Blanc, a nurse at a nearby hospital.  Mayhem and mulling ensue. 

I liked this book...it was fairly solid, however, I wonder if I would have liked it more had I read it.  The CD was okay but I felt like the guy reading it just didn't capture the relationship between Peter and Rina as well as the other major characters in the books.  Anyway - read it...read the series...start at the beginning (The Ritual Bath) you won't be sorry!

Blindman's Bluff by Faye Kellerman

Ah, another mystery series. This one featuring the recurring characters of LAPD Lt. Peter Decker and his wife Rina Lazarus. In this crime-solving novel, Peter is investigating the slaughter of billionaire Guy Kaffey, his wife and two employees (not to mention the near-slaughter of their son Gil) on their 70-acre ranch. The evidence leads the investigating task force to believe the crime was commit by someone on the inside but certain guards are missing and the fact that many of them are rehabilitated gang members, well, you can imagine the number of suspects with fingers pointed in their direction. While this is going on, Rina is on jury duty and gets inadvertently roped into the investigation by a blind man with keen ears. It's quite the pickle.

I love Faye Kellerman and once again she didn't disappoint. One of her "methods" she has her characters use in solving a crime is the basic back-and-forth discussion of possibilities. The investigators throw out all types of scenarios while looking at evidence and sometimes these ideas turn out nothing but sometimes they lead the characters into places of promise. Kellerman never leaves any of the ideas hanging. She is always able to wrap the details up and leave the reader satisfied at the end. It's always "edge-of-your seat" reading. Another great book...an easy and quick read.

Note to author (if you know Faye Kellerman's series at all, you'll know what I'm talking about): Please write your next "Decker/Lazarus" novel with more of Cindy (his daughter) in it. She's such a good addition to the series and I'd like to see more of her character.

Capital Crimes by Faye Kellerman and Jonathan Kellerman

Currently I am reading Capital Crimes a novel by the husband and wife writers Faye and Jonathan Kellerman. This was a gift, given to me by Charlie and it is a great read so far. Hopefully, I have gotten back into the reading habit. One help is that I have a new "reading spot" in my house. With my living room newly furnished, I have a comfortable, non-distractable place to relax and enjoy.

Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman

I'm now on to the latest Decker/Lazarus novel by Faye Kellerman. This series is one of my favorite. Peter Decker is an LAPD lieutenant and Rina Lazarus is his wife who just happens to be Jewish (he converted when they got together). This is the 17th in the series and I'm never disappointed with the twists and turn that send the reader through the investigation. This one is a 15-year old cold murder case. The victim is a beloved guidance counselor at a local high school. He was found murdered execution style and found in the trunk of his Mercedes. The case comes back into light when Genoa Greeves, a wealthy computer mogul with fond memories of the victim as a counselor, offers the LAPD a seven-figure charitable donation to reopen the case. I started this last night and didn't want to put it down to go to sleep. I'm sure it'll be a quick, delicious read. I'll let you know.

Update:  Well, I finished The Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman. I really liked this book but had a couple of beefs about it. First of all, a preface: the main characters are LAPD homicide officers, always working to solve a case. Now, the way that Kellerman has this occur throughout her novels - aside from unearthing your typical evidence and through typical police investigation - is by having the characters run through scenarios. My beef is that this particular novel seemed overrun with said scenarios. There were so many "well maybe this happened" and "what ifs" that I often became confused and felt as though I was running circles (you know, not going anywhere). Regardless, the novel was entertaining and all in all a good "who done it" but not my favorite Lazarus/Decker novel.

The Burnt House by Faye Kellerman

I am now reading Faye Kellerman's most recent book, The Burnt House. I have read the first chapter only but after reading Book of the Dead, it was a relief to pick this book up and be engrossed immediately. This is Kellerman's 16th novel staring Peter Decker and his wife Rina Lazarus. He's a cop, she is a Jewish (orthodox) stay-at-home mom. Her role is trying to keep her second marriage to a man also married to his job together and on steady ground. He is a man trying to maintain order in a disorderly city - L.A. - while trying to be a good father, Jew (converted) and partner/friend. I look forward to losing myself in it. I don't doubt that it will be a great read.

Update:  So I finished reading The Burnt House by Faye Kellerman and as usual, she didn't disappoint. She always writes a well-thought out book with a good plot and suspenseful story all the while, refraining from succumbing to the expected tidy endings. Her characters are "real" people with real lives. Characters that don't always do and say the right things. She has great dialogue and includes the "mundane" conversations between her recurring characters that make them seem like people you know or at least would want to know. A definite recommendation.