Customer Reviews

The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights

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4 star:		(4)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Faye Kellerman's novels of crime and psychological turmoil have earned a permanent spot on my reading shelves, albeit I've noticed a general slide towards a flat, repetitive style in the last few novels. But now she is taking a slightly different turn with this collection of short stories from throughout her career.

Several of her stories feature her most popular characters, those of Peter Decker, and his wife, Rina Lazarus. Others feature historical figures, characters on the edge, and all sorts of human nature. There isn't any sort of linking theme here, just that they are stories by Kellerman, and several either co-written with or inspired by her children or husband. And as usual with short story collections, several are downright creepy, a few are very good, and one or two fall short of the mark.

The Garden of Eden
This one, and the next three, are stories that feature the Deckers, a married, Orthodox Jewish couple that are very real, and good to read about. In this one, Rina and Peter have a problem at home when Rina's indoor gardening starts to get out of hand. Mixed in with this is the death of an elderly friend that has hints of foul-play and a stash of money that is missing. How both problems are resolved is done with Kellerman's deft hand at suspense.

Open House
A dead body turns up in a vacant home, and it's up to Decker and his officers to puzzle out the how and why. It's a sordid little tale of a man who gets caught with his pants down and the girlfriend is getting a little too annoying. While it's a simplistic tale, I was glad to see more of the policemen that Decker gets to work with.

Bull's-eye
This one features Decker's daughter, Cindy, who is a chip off the old block when it comes to solving crimes. This time, the murder is particularly close when one of Cindy's instructors at the police academy is gunned down in front of witnesses. But the question is who and why. Kellerman kept this one from getting too stale by tucking in a twist or two, and it's a good, tight story, perfect for your coffee break.

A Woman of Mystery
This is one of the saddest stories that I've read in a long time. Rina has an encounter with a young, troubled woman without a name or past, and it's a tale that will make all of us wonder how far we should visit the sins of the past onto the future.

The Stalker
For every woman who has been the victim of an abusive relationship, this one is sweet, sweet revenge. While I wouldn't recommend being this drastic, it's certainly soul-satisfying.

Mummy and Jack
Cowritten with her son, Jesse, Kellerman takes on the old Jack the Ripper story, but this time with a twist or two that makes it unique. And actually, it's not too bad.

Bonding
Told in first person, this is a tale to make your blood run cold at a teenage girl who's bored with her life, and decides to make mischief. The body count rises, the sins are unthinkable, and it's one of those stories that makes you wish you didn't read it. Not that it's bad, it's just that horrifying.

Discards
A female private eye takes on a case that looks simple enough -- find a cleaning woman who has vanished over several days, and the employer is concerned. There's always a deeper motive, of course, and this one turns into a question of poverty and morality over a diamond ring.

Tendrils of Love
If this tale doesn't turn you off of internet chat rooms, nothing will. There's all sorts of reasons for a woman to turn up dead in a quiet backwater in Missouri. How it all fits together is the appeal of this one.

Malibu Dog
We all know them. The neighbor with the dog. The monsterous fanged horror of both the canine and human species that has turned your little slice of paradise into an absolute hell. But as with all Kellerman stories this one has a twist.

The Back Page
It's a cute story on an old urban legend, but I found it to be a little too much. Set in a newspaper, it's the story about a reporter who always seems to be first on the spot.

Mr. Barton's Head Case
It's a tale of true love, between a man and his car. This is one of those stories that makes me wish that Kellerman used more humor in her full length novels, as when she does it, she is very good at it indeed. This one was also based on one of the more interesting bits of lore out of the Bible, updated for the modern age.

Holy Water
More humor here about a rabbi who is kidnapped during Purim in a clash of corporate giants. It's a cute tale, and it made me chuckle a bit.

Free Parking
There isn't any crime in this one, just a cozy tale of elderly women and a youngster gathered together for a family ritual of playing Monopoly.

The Luck of the Draw
Kellerman co-wrote this with her daughters for an anthology. It's an ok story, but it's such a painfully 'goody-goody' tale that I had a hard time taking it seriously.

Small Miracles
This one is a recounting of an actual event in Kellerman's life involving her mother and her children. Just a few pages long, it's still a treat.

The Summer of My Womanhood
This one is a story about Kellerman herself, working in the family business. I found it to particularly poignant and wonderful to read. It made wading through all of the other stories worth it to get to this point.

Each story comes with an introduction, where Kellerman talks about what influenced her to write the story, and some of the underlaying themes and ideas. It's a nice touch, and it helps to understand where a writer can get their ideas and topics in both fiction and non-fiction. As a collection showcasing Kellerman's talent, it's not bad, but I would only suggest it to those who are already fans of her work, and it wouldn't make that good of an introduction to her work. For that, I would recommend her earlier Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus novels.

Overall, about four stars. While mystery fans will enjoy it the most, the final stories in the collection are accessable to anyone and are very heartfelt.

Recommended

Faye Kellerman has put together a nice collection of her short stories in this volume, The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights. The title story will give you a good flavor of the rest of the collection, most of which are very good. There's a short piece (Mummy and Jack) written in collaboration with her son that I really didn't care for (in fact, I'm not sure I even understood it), but that is a minor fault. The story "Bored"? Brrrr. These really were engaging stories, and I'll bet they would come across great on CD.

Short story collections are often a hodgepodge of ideas, characters, and storylines. This one was interesting in that Lt. Decker, a character from other novels, also appeared in a few stories. There are also a few (4) non-fiction pieces in this collection (I assumed they were non-fiction); they seemed out of place. I wanted more mysteries!

Bottom line? You will enjoy this collection by Faye Kellerman.

Not everything written by well-established authors should be published. Never was this truer than when Stephen King came out with From A Buick 8 and the coauthored Colorado Kid.

Faye Kellerman has been delighting readers with her Decker/Lazzarus crime fiction novels for many years now, and most will probably snap up The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights, a mish-mash collection of short stories (and a few inspired by and coauthored with some of Kellerman's close family members).

Short story fans will be as equally delighted and chagrined as Kellerman's fan-base, as this collection runs from quite good to downright terrible. The most notable are the final two stories, "Mummy and Jack" and "Holy Water."

"Mummy and Jack" was a coauthored piece with Kellerman's older son Jesse. Wickedly dark in tone, the story takes the Oedipus complex a bit over the edge and plops us uncomfortably in the middle of adult son Jack's desire to please his mother by any means necessary ...including killing.

"Holy Water," the longest story in the collection, is a hilarious romp via a Rabbi who's hijacked by some prosperous thugs that demand the formula for a rival cola company's soda. Since the Rabbi confirmed the ingredients for kosher reasons, he's on their list of men whom they need to "talk to." But the Rabbi is smarter than the thugs and twists their plans until even the bad guys come around to his way of thinking.

But from here the stories take a serious nosedive. Several of the Decker/Lazzarus stories fall flat or conclude in very ho-hum fashion. One story that focuses on Decker and his now grown daughter who's entering the police field, goes absolutely nowhere while trying to show the strains of the father/daughter relationship during an accidental shooting. Two stories were cowritten by Kellerman's other children and they read, unfortunately, more like poorly put together streams of consciousness.

If it weren't for "Holy Water" and "Mummy and Jack," this collection would be easily forgettable. But the big question: Is it worth the price of purchase just for those two stories? That probably depends on how much of a Faye Kellerman fan you are.

Of the seventeen offerings the only disappointment was "Bonding," a radical departure from Kellerman's usual portrayal of family relationships. The collaborative efforts with her daughters in "The Luck of the Draw" is a delightful story from three points of view on how a lottery win changes family values.

"Free Parking" becomes a study of the generation gap as four generations of women gather at the nursing home every week to play Monopoly so the 87 year old great-grandmother of the family can participate. ("It depends on what you want out of the game, Christy. For your grandma and her sisters, it's the process. The game is just an excuse for them to get together and chat.....You'll understand when you get older.")

Author Faye Kellerman is a noted crime writer who gives readers an unusual offering of seventeen short stories full of suspense and mayhem in this book. A bit like a gift basket, this veritable sampler of stories is sure to please fans of the prolific Kellerman, and win new readers to her following.

An introduction by the author to each story provides the readers insight regarding not only characters and plot, but also often inspiration for the piece. Two of the stories are in collaboration with Kellerman's children, and another two are autobiographical essays.

The title piece, "Garden of Eden" portrays a family's greed as daughters fight over their mother's will. Kellerman's famous husband and wife team of Detective Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus appear in this new story that reveals that true treasures are found in unexpected places.

In "Bulls Eye," Decker helps his daughter solve the mystery of the assassination of an unpopular police academy drill instructor. Another story, "Discards," avid Kellerman readers will recognize another favorite character, Andrea Darling, Los Angeles Private Investigator. This complex story of murder and mayhem is set in modern California in the shadow of the "beautiful people."

All told, there are seventeen original tales, full of suspense and sure to please anyone who likes a good thriller.

Kellerman has given readers a delightful compilation of her previously published and new short stories, proving that this author can not only construct the intricate plots of her full length novels but can also deliver silhouettes full of keen observations and humor in the form of short stories and essays.

Kellerman has applied her unique formula for producing best-selling crime novels to the short story and The Garden of Eden is the successful result

Faye Kellerman, is one of the best authors i have read. Her diversity in this book of short stories, shines through impeccibly.
She not only writes about Peter Decker and Rina Lazerus, but other stories, such as a touch on Jack the Ripper, in my opinion!!
She puts such detail, in such a small story, that it's not overwhelming. Like many authors, we are left sitting there after reading, thinking and pondering what we have just read. Sometimes we even have to re-read a passage or two.
But with Faye Kellerman's novels all you have to do, is sit back, read and enjoy!

Faye Kellerman's early novels were decent though nothing spectacular, with their main virtue being the glimpses it provided into a modern Orthodox Jewish community in Los Angeles. Since then, Kellerman has gotten even better, so even if she is not a top-tier mystery writer (a category I reserve to true masters of the genre like Michael Connelly, James Lee Burke or Elmore Leonard), she is definitely one of the near-greats. Of course, this is only based on her novels; short-story writing has different requirements. The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights gives her fans a chance to see if she is as successful in the short form as the long form.

This collection begins with four stories (around a third of the book) with her series characters Peter and Rina Decker (and Peter's daughter Cindy). The Garden of Eden has Rina's gardening friend Cecily being found dead of an apparent heart attack; she was old, so death is not unexpected, but two greedy daughters and some missing cash throws some mystery into the equation. Open House has Peter investigating a murder within an empty house that's up for sale; not even a dead body, though, will stand in the way of a house purchase in a seller's market. Bull's-eye gives the reader a glimpse into Cindy Decker's police academy days, and A Woman of Mystery has Rina assisting a young woman with amnesia.

Most of the remaining stories are standalone mystery stories. The Stalker, Bonding, Discards and Tendrils of Love are rather standard stories. Mummy and Jack is a period piece which offers a different take on a certain historical figure (who most readers will easily figure out). Malibu Dog, The Back Page, Mr. Barton's Head Case and Holy Water all are essentially comic stories (which is unusual for Kellerman, whose novels may have bits of humor but are all serious).

The last four stories fit more into the slice-of-life category than mystery. Free Parking and Luck of the Draw are fictional, and Small Miracles and The Summer of My Womanhood are both autobiographical.

There is nothing wrong with any of these stories, but none really stand out either; they're decent enough to rate a low four stars. Kellerman is obviously better at novel-length stories, where she gets a chance to really develop both her characters and plot. In short story form, she cannot fully use her gifts. (By means of comparison, look at Lawrence Block, who is both an excellent novelist and short story writer, with different strengths in each form.) If you are a Kellerman fan (especially a Peter and Rina fan), you will not be disappointed in this collection; if you are unfamiliar with Kellerman, you should start with one of her novels; this is not the best example of her work.

I agree with previous reviews and am sorely disappointed in the latest works of the Kellermans in general. Clearly, they've entered a comfort zone...

The price of this book was unbelievable. Product was new and in perfect condition. Received as requested.

Thanks so much,

Island Life Shop

I have read all of Faye Kellerman books and have enjoyed them all. She has made the
Peter Decker series very enjoyable and easy to read.

Reviewed by Lynn O'Connell for Reader Views (10/06)

Crime and mystery tales, short stories and autobiographical essays are all part of this collection of works by Faye Kellerman. In all, the book contains 17 stories. Four stories, making up more than 100 of the book's 327 pages, feature Kellerman's husband-and-wife duo, Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, from her full-length novels. And, two of these pieces are published here for the first time. One is the title piece, "The Garden of Eden," which has Lazarus and detective Decker exploring the death of their next-door neighbor. In the other new work, "Open House," Decker and police department colleagues investigate the mysterious death of a woman who was killed and left in the closet of a house for sale. Daughter Cindy makes her first appearance in "Bull's Eye," as a rookie in the police academy.

Two of the short stories are collaborations between Kellerman and her children. "The Luck of the Draw" is co-written with Kellerman's two daughters. "Mummy and Jack," written with son Jesse, is a dark tale reminiscent of Jack the Ripper.

One of my personal favorites in the collection is "Holy Water," which involves the kidnapping of a Rabbi by a soda company in an effort to discover the secret Coca-Cola formula. "Discards," featuring Kellerman's first private detective, Andrea Darling, was another favorite for me. Both tales had some mystery as well as a somewhat light and humorous ending.

The last two works in the book, "Small Miracles" and "Summer of My Womanhood," are autobiographical essays. "Small Miracles" describes Kellerman's successful capture of a mugger, while "Summer of My Womanhood" provides a look into her teen years as she worked in her father's deli.

Other stories include: "The Stalker" and "Bonding," both very dark tales with somewhat disturbing endings; "The Back Page," based on the years-old legend about fillings picking up radio transmissions; and, "A Woman of Mystery," in which Lazarus solves the mystery of a student without memories.

This collection is truly an anthology of works by Kellerman, as it includes stories from numerous genres - not just the crime/mystery stories for which she is best known. The book is also a wonderful way to get to know Kellerman and her writing style.

Each of the stories has a wonderful ending; albeit some are humorous, while others are dark and unsettling. It is amazing to see the range of Kellerman's writing capabilities all together in one book. Each short story has a very short introduction which I found interesting as I tried to put each vignette into perspective as to Kellerman's purpose and the timeframe where it fit in her writing career.

Kellerman fans will probably all enjoy this book, particularly those who are eager for another Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus novel. (The last one came out in 2005.) However, it is important to realize that this collection is not all crime and murder mysteries; fans should read the book as an opportunity to see a new side to Kellerman. I was truly surprised by some of the writing styles, including the personal essays, in the book. The book is a great read for those first-time readers of Kellerman, who then can decide if they want more.

In all, "The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights" held my attention, and each story was a quick read. Some I liked, and some I didn't. But, with such a diverse range of genres represented, every reader is likely to find at least a couple of stories that will leave them wanting more writing from Kellerman.

Book received free of charge.