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The Mercedes Coffin: A Decker and Lazarus Book Hardcover – August 12, 2008

by Faye Kellerman (Author)

129 customer reviews

Book 17 of 22 in the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus Series

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Billionaire genius Genoa Greeves never got over the shocking death of her favorite teacher, Bennett "Dr. Ben" Alston Little, murdered execution-style and stuffed into the trunk of his Mercedes-Benz. No arrests were ever made, no killer charged for the brutal crime. Fifteen years later, the high-tech CEO reads about another execution-style murder; this time the victim is a Hollywood music producer named Primo Ekerling. There is no obvious connection, but the case is eerily similar to Little's and Genoa feels the time is right to close Dr. Ben's case once and for all—offering the L.A.P.D. a substantial financial "incentive" if justice is finally served for Little.

Lieutenant Peter Decker resents having to commit valuable manpower to a fifteen-year-old open case simply because a rich woman says "Jump!" Still, the recent murder of Primo Ekerling does bear a disturbing resemblance to Little's case, even though two thug suspects are currently behind bars for the Ekerling murder. Decker can't help but wonder about a connection. His first phone calls are to the two primary investigators in the Little case, retired detectives Calvin Vitton and Arnie Lamar. Lamar is cooperative, but Vitton is not only reluctant to talk, he winds up dead of a suspicious suicide twelve hours later. Plunging into this long-buried murder, Decker discovers that even though the two slayings are separated by a decade and a half, there is still plenty of greed, lust, and evil to connect the dots.

Decker's team of top investigators not only includes his favorite homicide detectives, Scott Oliver and Marge Dunn, but also his newly minted Hollywood detective daughter, Cindy Kutiel, whose help proves to be invaluable. His wife, Rina Lazarus, continues to be his backbone of support, offering a cool, rational outlook despite her growing concern for her husband's welfare and safety. Rina's worries and fears begin to build at a fevered pitch as past and present collide with a vengeance, catapulting an unsuspecting Peter Decker closer and closer to the edge of an infinite dark abyss.

A relentlessly gripping tale spun by a master, Faye Kellerman's The Mercedes Coffin races through a dangerous urban world of fleeting fame and false dreams, making heart-pumping hairpin turns at each step of a terrifying journey, where truth and justice are fine lines between life and death.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In bestseller Kellerman's uneven 17th novel to feature LAPD Lt. Peter Decker and wife Rina Lazarus (after 2007's The Burnt House), Decker must solve a 15-year-old cold case—the murder of saintly Bennett Little, a high school history teacher whose bound body the police found, with three shots in the back of his head, in the trunk of Little's Mercedes. When unscrupulous music producer Primo Ekerling turns up dead in the trunk of his Mercedes, Genoa Greeves, a wealthy computer mogul with fond memories of Little as a teacher, offers the LAPD a seven-figure charitable donation to reopen the case. Early in the reinvestigation, Decker is brought up short when one of the original cops on the case eats his gun just before a scheduled appointment with the lieutenant. Finding a link between Little and Eckerling won't prove easy. Fans may enjoy the interplay among Decker, Rina and their children, but newcomers would be advised to start with an earlier entry in this popular crime series. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Part of the fun of reading Kellerman’s early Decker-Lazarus mysteries is the infusion of Jewish tradition in the mix. In recent years, however, series entries have given Rina Lazarus, Decker’s lively, clever wife, a decidedly minor role. Although that’s certainly the case here, Kellerman compensates somewhat by writing with her usual zest, and telling the story almost exclusively in dialogue, which not only quickens the pace but also allows readers an intimate glimpse of how the detectives patch together the clues. The body of a music producer stuffed into the trunk of a Mercedes left parked in a remote spot attracts the attention of a millionaire businesswoman, whose favorite teacher, Ben Little, was similarly killed 15 years before. Wondering if the murders are linked, she promises a big payoff to the LAPD if Little’s murder is solved. The pressure’s on Lieutenant Peter Decker, and, of course, everyone he talks to has something to hide—Little’s wife, the gangbanger turned basketball coach, a musician gone crazy, even the cop who investigated Little’s murder. Although Decker never ties up all the loose ends, he eventually answers enough of the questions to put bad guys behind bars, win over Miss Moneybags, please his boss—and satisfy his many fans. --Stephanie Zvirin

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Product details

Hardcover: 367 pages
Publisher: William Morrow; 1st edition (August 12, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061227331
ISBN-13: 978-0061227332
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (129 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #755,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #9523 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery > Police Procedurals
- #20806 in Books > Romance > Romantic Suspense
- #30296 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers & Suspense > Suspense

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Top Customer Reviews

Do Not Buy This Book

ByH. Wongon October 5, 2008

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is only the second book in my entire life that I have not been able to finish. I have read all of both Faye and Jonathan Kellerman's previous books. I have felt for awhile that Faye was running out of ideas.

There is no emotion in this book at all. The Decker family interactions are all rote at this point. Great opportunities for Hannah as a rebellious teenager don't materialise - at least in the half of the book that I read. Her character Christopher Donatti gives me the creeps, and I am tired of him popping up when there is no logical reason connected to the story for him to do so. After reading page after page of Scott, Marge, and Decker trying to a link a bunch of nothing characters together I gave up. It was just too boring, there was nothing happening that made me want to keep reading to find out whodunit. I am disappointed that I wasted $9.99 to download this. I chose it over Louise Penny's "The Cruelest Month" and I'm sorry I did.

I ended up downloading Thomas L. Friedman's Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America" and read that instead - it was amazing.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

...too much pontificating

ByBevanon May 24, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Perhaps I should have paid more attention but this tale is so inundated with a plethora of characters that I just gave up trying to track them all. I guess you’d have to admire the author’s ability to cope with them – but I’m not convinced that she did!
There is also a great deal of pontificating and theorizing about potential who-done-it suspects and scenarios that don’t really amount to much more than padding.
Unfortunately, even the ending is mushy and inconclusive.
STILL – writing is hard work....so: ***.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Love the author, wrong performer

ByBarbara L. Hammondson June 10, 2014

Format: Audio CDVerified Purchase

I have listened to other books read by George Guidall, mostly the "Cat Who" books by Lillian Jackson Braun. As Jim Qwilleran, he is wonderful. As LAPD Detective Captain Peter Decker, not so much. I love the Faye Kellerman Decker series, and have listened to one other audiobook in this series, but it wasn't read by Guidall. I am not disparaging Mr. Guidall's performing talent - he is really terrific at this. But somehow his voice doesn't have the edge and timbre to be convincing as Peter Decker. That's why I have to give this just 3 stars. Great story (as usual in this series), just a reader who didn't seem (for me anyway) to fit the part.

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you are wrapped up in the story of an amazing family that just tries to do the right thing ...

ByLornaWon July 3, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Although the main characters remain the same throughout this series, the thrilling sections are always new and exciting, and usually unpredictable. While you go on a wild ride trying to figure out with Peter what has happened and who is responsible so he can stop them from doing it again, you are wrapped up in the story of an amazing family that just tries to do the right thing and love each other throughout. Great story!

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Another complicated but good case.

ByMary Ann Blackon November 9, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This wad a complex plot with many involved. The need to solve two murders fifteen years apart added layers of complexity. The family dynamics and work relationships add to increased options for exploring what truly happened. There were many viable suspects, many of whom were involved. However, the one who killed the original victim was a bit of a surprise. All in all, quite enjoyable.

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Exciting sameness

ByJeffrey Waitzmanon June 13, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The Mercedes Coffin is a well written continuation of the Decker/Lazarus novel series that unfortunately follows the same recipe that has worked so successfully. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I recommend it? Yes. What audience? The first time reader possibly. Certainly the ongoing reader who has followed the Decker/Lazarus family story. But time to inject a deviation in another direction to liven up the story line.

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Another somewhat disappointed fan

ByAmazon Customeron August 20, 2008

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I, too am somewhat disappointed. I would have like more involvement from the usual cast of characters and found this book to be somewhat disjointed. I also felt the ending to be poorly done -- just quickly wrapped up and never really solved. Was the publisher breathing down Faye's neck? However, it was still far and above most of the rest of the genre out there and I will still buy both Faye's and Jonathan's books as soon as they are published.

Give your fans more of what they have come to expect next time, well thought out plots, plausible endings and more of the family -- we all love the Decker family.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Great Read

ByGlenda B. Grahamon June 18, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman was a great book. This author always makes you sit on the edge of your seat in anticipation of the next page. I have not yet read a book, especially with these characters, that I have not enjoyed. Try it and I think you will feel the same!!