Customer Reviews

Prayers for the Dead (Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus Novels (Audio))

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is the first Faye Kellerman novel that I have read. I enjoy her husband's books very much, so I gave her a try. The story seemed to take quite awhile to get going. At first the character development was not the pace I enjoy, but I'm very glad I continued the book. I wound up enjoying her characters, the plot twists, pretty much everything about it. It even piqued my curiosity about Judaism more so than I have ever been. Thumbs up, my dear. I am definitely buying more of this series.

The book starts off well, as a mystery should, with the events of the murder of Dr. Sparks. But then it spends the next 300 or so pages batting back and forth, and not really going anywhere. Plus the relationship between Rita Lazarus' deceased husband and the priest are totally incongruious, as I'm sure Kellerman realized when she threw in this rather burdensome plot twist.

However, the end of the book really does pull some surprises. You just have to plod through the middle to get there. Not her best work.

This was my first Faye Kellerman novel involving Dectective Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus. I thoroughly enjoyed it, read the sequel, and then the first novel in the Peter Decker/ Rina Lazarus series, Ritual Bath, piqued by how these two characters met, and how their relationship evolves.

The best novels in this series employ gripping, page turning mysteries, the human aspect of the evolving relationship between Peter and Rina, and explanations of Judaism in somewhat the same way as Harry Kemelman's Rabbi David Small mysteries, or the older G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown mysteries, the latter combining great mysteries with interesting explications of Catholicism.

Warning: You might get hooked to the series!

Along with the police suspense, search for the muderer story line which Faye always develops well, one continues to experience the trials and tribulations of Rina and Peter's marital and relationship issues. Here, they struggle with religious and moral limits to trust and committment and Rina, for the first time in Faye's books, falters a bit. Faye always balances the professional and personal/relationship aspects of her stories beautifully. Great reading

This is my first Faye Kellerman novel, and it definetly will not be my last. This book was very deceptive in how played out the storyline. I was completely thrown by at the end. Prayers had great character interaction, and a real good mystery element.

Having read three other Faye Kellerman novels, this one was by far the best. I found it difficult to put the book down, and was fascinated by all of the characters, twists and turns. I very much enjoyed the expanded "role" Rina had in this book and would hope to see more of the Decker's relationship in future books.

As a frequent business traveler I first picked up a Faye Kellerman book in Paris airport in November '99, and am totally hooked. The author writes a tightly woven story with warmth and humor while retaining a real sense of tension around the central characters. The subjects of this series can be pretty disturbing, but the reader's revulsion is always mirrored by Decker's and one can only empathise with his family strife. Keep it up Ms Kellerman, I hate finishing your books.

This is the most thought-provoking book in the entire Rina Lazarus and Peter Decker series. Some of the books in the series are light reading, but this one is really deep on so many levels. A lot of loose ends are tied up about Rina's earlier life, important details that will matter to long-time fans of the book series.

WOW! This is my second Faye Kellerman, and I didn't like the first, but THIS was absolutely wonderful! Faye really got the reader into the character's minds and released information about their dark and stormy pasts at just the right time, like when you would find out more personal details about a friend.

The pace is incredibly quick. I couldn't put this one down. She has a delightful talent for characterization. Suspense was killing me. I look forward to reading more from this author!

She has done it again. Prayers for the Dead is Faye Kellerman's best yet. She has kept me glued to every page, surprised at the end and best of all in love with Peter and Rina, all over again