Day of Atonement (Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus Series Book 4)

Rina actually is much closer with the teen's family than Peter is, yet it is his blood relative. She wants nothing more than to help solve the case, but he would like to separate work and home life. All the while, thoughts keep going through his mind as to how to confront his mother and half siblings when finally given the opportunity to do so. I enjoyed this mystery more than books two or three, although not at the level of book one, because it runs the gamut of human emotions.

Yes, it is a page turning detective story, but it also delves more into Peter's back story and introduces us to more characters. Although it doesn't explicitly say it, I feel Kellerman leaves the door open for the two boys to split time between Los Angeles and New York. How will they respond to their new family? That is a story for another time and place, as I look forward to book five and reading through this series to the end. View all 4 comments. Ahh, the honeymoon, a time for joy, celebration, bonding, love, excitement Yep as seems to be the case with some people old English ladies, mystery writers, owners of mystery book stores etc.

They dog your footsteps. So when another horrific murder takes place near Peter and Rina and since it involves "family" and Peter is now the "policeman in the family" he gets drawn in. Of course it's not that simple, there are also huge fami Ahh, the honeymoon, a time for joy, celebration, bonding, love, excitement Of course it's not that simple, there are also huge family development to deal with along with the tragedies all around.

Kellerman is a good writer as I'm sure hosts of fans have discovered before I even picked up one of her books. I think simply based on what I've read that these books will appeal to a wide range of readers based simply on their readability. She has a great storytelling skill. Jan 23, Laura Beth rated it really liked it Shelves: This was a great book. I enjoy the constantly growing relationship between Rina and Peter.

I love Peter's struggling relationship with his religion and himself; how he must come to terms with who he is as a person and as a Jew and how being raised Baptist and the relationship with his adopted family is impacted by his return to his birth religion. All of this creates a depth of character that is This was a great book. All of this creates a depth of character that is very interesting to read. I read this book years ago and enjoyed it every bit as much as I did the first time. If you haven't read Kellerman before I recommend going back to the beginning and starting with Ritual Bath.

Rina and Peter are newly married in this book and seeing how the learn to work with each other and deal with complicated family problems is wonderful. If I had to rate th I read this book years ago and enjoyed it every bit as much as I did the first time. If I had to rate the book strictly on this part of the story line I would give it five stars.

My problem is the mystery element -- in this case the search for a runaway boy. I find that it about half of Kellerman's book she gets more graphic and brutal than I care for. I've reached a point in life where I know awful things happen, but I don't always want to read about them. This is strictly a personal choice an many other readers might not feel this way.

That said, even knowing that there were parts of the book I did not care for I was still eager to read it again for the wonderful relationship between Rina and Peter. May 31, Simone rated it really liked it Shelves: I enjoyed Book 4 and I am moving on to Book 5 right away. The Peter and Rina storyline is compelling enough to keep me going, and I found this cop-plot was more interesting than the previous ones. Book 4 was much tamer on that front so maybe the worst is over. As far as my memory goes, there was a total lack of toilet-ta I enjoyed Book 4 and I am moving on to Book 5 right away.

As far as my memory goes, there was a total lack of toilet-talk in Book Sep 27, Nancy Groves rated it liked it. The case that Decker and Lazarus pursue in this book is suspenseful, and overall I enjoyed the book. I gave it 3 stars instead of 4, however, because I just can't buy an important premise that is crucial to the plot.

Decker glimpses a group of female relatives and family friends preparing food and instantly determines that one of them The case that Decker and Lazarus pursue in this book is suspenseful, and overall I enjoyed the book. Decker glimpses a group of female relatives and family friends preparing food and instantly determines that one of them is his birth mother, who gave him up for adoption some 40 years earlier.

They've never met, never communicated, and as far as I could tell he'd never seen her picture. Yet somehow he knew it was her. He literally runs out of the house because he doesn't want to be near her or for anyone else to discover their relationship she has never told her husband or their children that she had a child out of wedlock when she was just Of course he has to come back, and inevitably comes face to face with his birth mother, and now SHE instantly recognizes him! I know that in some families there can be strong similarities in features and traits between children and parents or other relatives, while in others it's hard to pin down who looks like whom.

But I just couldn't accept that these two strangers would both know each other right off the bat. This kinship is crucial to the plot because his birth mother's grandson has gone missing, and Decker offers to use his detective skills, getting more deeply involved than he initially planned because the boy is part of his family. To me, the entire plot rests on very shaky foundations, but aside from that it was well done. Apr 11, Bodosika Bodosika rated it liked it. This is an interesting book and I never thought I will enjoy it the way I did. I gave it 3 Stars. Feb 23, Elizabeth rated it really liked it.

This is one of the fairly early Faye Kellerman books taking place not too long after Rina and Decker are married. It is an exciting and is a "can't put it down" book". Besides being a great mystery it has lots of information on the Jewish culture. I loved this book! Nov 20, Shannon rated it liked it. A bit slower than the first three books in the series but still a good read. Decker uses handcuffs on his wife because he wants her to stay in the car. Shelve Milk and Honey. Day of Atonement by Faye Kellerman. Peter Decker of the L. Shelve Day of Atonement. False Prophet by Faye Kellerman.

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Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus Series

Sanctuary by Faye Kellerman. A diamond dealer and his entire family have myste… More. Justice by Faye Kellerman. The cruel and bizarre slaying of a beautiful teen… More. Prayers for the Dead by Faye Kellerman.

The brutal murder of Dr. Azor Sparks in an alley… More. Shelve Prayers for the Dead. Serpent's Tooth by Faye Kellerman. A man walks into a trendy Los Angeles restaurant… More. Jupiter's Bones by Faye Kellerman. I don't think fire and brimstone will come pouring down if you do, but I think it is wrong. Not on moral grounds - though a case could be made for that, too - but because it's immodest.

Who are Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus?

Tsnios - bodily modesty is important to us. That's why we dress the way we do, that's why married women cover their hair. Not to look unattractive - we like dressing up as much as the next person - but because we believe that the body is private and not some cheesy piece of artwork that is put on public display. This strains the credibility, but it keeps the plot going.

Despite all the difficulties, Decker's and Rina's relationship continues to develop, and he soon makes friends with her sons, although the first time she comes to meet him, he can't help thinking, "Shit! She'd brought her kids".

Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus Series by Faye Kellerman

It is their partnership which leads to the eventual capture of the rapist who gets knocked out when he is hit hard over the head "with an oversized volume of the Talmud"! It makes an interesting and easy-to-read story, and the author writes with complete conviction, whether she is explaining the intricacies of Orthodox belief or is handling the nitty-gritty of violent crime, as when Rina is taunted and assaulted by anti-semite punk youths in a supermarket car park.

There are explicit details of sex and violence, as when Rina persuades the rape victim to talk to her and she later tells Decker: First the regular way, then sodomy, but he wasn't aroused. She couldn't feel him penetrating her, I guess she felt a little something anally, but nothing really physically painful. In view of the convincing if at times unintentionally off-putting portrayal of the intricacies of life at the yeshiva , and the assured storytelling, this book gets the series off to a good start and is to be recommended.

Sacred and Profane Sacred and Profane takes place six months after Peter Decker first met Rina, and s tarts with him taking Rina's two young sons on a camping trip into the foothills above Los Angeles where he is very careful to feed them strictly kosher food. But then the older boy stumbles on a horrific find - two human skeletons, and Decker finds himself plunged into a double case of murder.

A forensic dentist here the author makes good use of her dental training , determines that the victims were teenage girls and Decker, himself a father of a year-old daughter by his divorced wife, is suddenly embroiled in a highly disturbing case that takes him from one end of Los Angeles society to the other, and, as he shuttles between the middle-class respectability of the suburbs and the terrifying crack dens of Hollywood Boulevard, he is constantly brought back to the fact that the only unifying thread in a network of violence and particularly perverse pornography including snuff movies seems to be the deaths of two apparently very different young girls, who may have had some connection with a sinister group of old men who call themselves "The Loving Grandpas".

Determined to know more about Rina's Jewish faith, Decker has been having weekly sessions with Rabbi Shulman. But Hebrew remained a roadblock. But he didn't consider that a viable option. He was a product of his real parents - the man and woman who had nurtured him. And they had raised him a Baptist. Besides, Rina deserved a genuinely committed Jew for a husband, not a Jew by accident of birth. Anything less would make her miserable. He knew he'd have to come to Orthodoxy on his own. Meanwhile "He and Rena were in love but not yet lovers" - not at the start of the book anyway.

• Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus Series in Order - Faye Kellerman - FictionDB!
• Pieces Of One.
• Fler böcker av Faye Kellerman.
• Hardback Editions.

It is still not an entirely convincing situation. Give it a year, he said to himself. Priests do it for much longer. He translated the Hebrew in his mind, proud that he could understand it. Well, he thought, at least someone is coming. Decker and Rina both come alive as interesting individuals, although Decker's doubts are easier to accept than Rina's dogmatic certainties. When his police colleagues start jokingly addressing him as Rabbi, "No doubt they attributed his metamorphosis to Rina; he loved her and was changing to please her.

But Decker knew it was deeper than that. Religion had given him a spark of renewed faith, and though it hadn't blossomed into fire - maybe he was too cynical for it to ever get that bright - it was better than complete darkness. But the author allows him to complain to Rina: Indirectly it was my fault. She was feeding me information, and when the case began to get complicated, I told her to back off. She didn't listen, and I think someone got to her. Now she's hanging on by a thread and I'm pissed off.

Life is not sugar and spice. I hate the holier than thou attitude around here.

Paperback Editions

I hate the self-righteousness! I hate the our-way-is-right-and-your way-is- wrong pigheadedness.

You can believe in your little rules and rituals, but let me tell you something. In the real world there are no blacks and white - only goddam muddy grays! Give him one month of it and I will guarantee you, the man's iron-clad faith will be cleaved as wide as the Red Sea. He lost his entire family. His wife was made sterile by Nazi butchery. His children were executed in front of his eyes - shot in the head. He was forced to dig their graves with his bare hands. As for Decker's possible conversion, he tells his colleague Marge, "It seemed like a good idea at the time. I wasn't aware of how involved it got.

Judaism is a hands-on religion. It takes over your life. There are dietary restrictions, sexual restrictions, drinking restrictions, clothing restrictions You know you're not even allowed to wear a garment made of wool and linen.