Justice (Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ Faye Kellerman (Author) "Pages 7 and 8 of the paper were missing..." (more)
Key Phrases: Cheryl Diggs, New York, Henry Trupp (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The eighth appearance of LAPD homicide detective Peter Decker and his wife, Rina Lazarus, will likely increase her constituency as she concentrates more on the case at hand and less on the Jewish law and lore that rises from Rina's Orthodox Jewish background and informs the Decker family life. Chris Whitman, a high-school senior with a hidden past and close ties to his uncle?a powerful Mafia don?has some kinky notions of sexual games. He tries them with his very Catholic and proper (yes, virginal) classmate, Terry, with whom he is obsessed. Trouble begins when Chris's less constrained former girlfriend is found bound and dead in a tawdry hotel the morning after the prom, with evidence suggesting her involvement in a wild night of drugs and sex with multiple partners, including Chris. The youth's confession, coming after Decker discovers photographs that could compromise Terry's reputation, leaves Decker uncomfortable. So does his chief's suggestion that conflicting forensic evidence be given low priority. Decker, fighting some demons of his own, continues investigating even after the case is considered solved, and Uncle Joey, none too happy with Chris or Terry, executes his own brand of revenge. Surprising twists and engaging subplots will keep readers turning the pages to the satisfying conclusion.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Kellerman's latest Pete Decker/Rina Lazarus novel will join its predecessors at or near the top of most best-seller lists. The story begins with a teen prom queen who has been found dead in a fleabag motel, apparently strangled after a night of drink, drugs, and kinky sex. Handsome, clean-cut Chris Whitman has confessed to the killing, but LAPD detective Decker is uncomfortable with the easy resolution of the case and the way things just don't add up. Chris, the son of Mob boss Joe Donatti, is way too cool, too smooth, and too sure of himself. Evidence taken from the dead prom queen's body shows she had sex with at least one other person besides Whitman on the night she died. And sweet, innocent Teresa McLaughlin is in love with Whitman, but there's more to the romance than the usual teen hormonal attraction. So, despite his superiors' objections, Pete digs into the case more deeply and finds, to his horror, what really happened. Although the plot occasionally veers off into improbability, Kellerman keeps the suspense turned to high from beginning to end, and readers will find themselves thoroughly engaged and, as usual with Kellerman's books, well entertained. Emily Melton --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Avon; First Thus edition (August 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380724987
• ISBN-13: 978-0380724987
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #55,934 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 8 in The Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting book, April 25, 2003

By	Karen Potts (Lake Jackson, Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Just when you think Faye Kellerman's writing is already at its best, she comes up with a brilliant book like "Justice". In this eighth book of the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series, Kellerman concentrates on another character's point of view as much as she does on Decker's. She tells the story of Terry, a hard-working young high school girl whose father and step-mother expect her to keep house, babysit her younger sister, and maintain top grades. She is asked to tutor Chris Whitman, a young man who runs with the popular crowd and happens to be related to an important Mafia figure. She enters a world of lies and intrigue, where the only thing which remains somewhat constant is Chris's obsession with Terry. Despite this, he maintains sexual relations with other girls and treats Terry with the utmost respect. One of his sexual partners is killed, and Decker quickly closes in on Chris as the chief suspect. This book is loaded with twists and turns, and stories within stories. It deals with police politics, race relations, and gangland justice, and is a very satisfying read. Congratulations to Faye Kellerman who outdoes herself on this wonderful and complex book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Needs a sequel...., February 29, 2000

By	Christine Giannoni (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

I agree that a sequel is definitely in order for this book. The characters and story were magnificent, but the ending definitely left you wanting to know more about how Terry and Chris' lives progressed. For the first time while reading the books in this series, I didn't want more about Peter and Rina, I wanted more about the other characters.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Faye really shines with "Justice"!, March 19, 1999

By	Danalee Lavelle "Sugar and Spice" (Carmichael, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am in total agreement with Steve below. I've read all Faye's books and this is one of my favorites. If you haven't read the series you won't be able to appreciate the creative extension Faye took on this effort. So, start over with Ritual Bath and go through the series. Including Terry's perspective was a new and successful angle for the author. The book was riveting and the characters fascinating. The sexual explicity was perfectly acceptable, and enjoyable; after all, these books aren't written for kids. Faye, give us more!