Stalker

Rating:
Summary: Stalker
Review: A disappointment. The characters were unusually shallow. The book seemed more of a TV script than a novel. I found myself trying to decide whether it was worth the effort to finish. In the past Ms. Kellerman's books have been entertaining. This book was a chore. I would like to have $1 for every time the word "but" was used.

I think writers should stop trying to churn out a book a year. There seems to be a lack of creativity with the increase in volume.

Rating:
Summary: a major disappointment
Review: What made Faye Kellerman's books so special was her treatment of a world that most of us don't live in, the world of Orthodox Judaism and how it effects the characters of Rina and Peter. This book focuses on Peter's daughter, Cindy, who is not of this world and rather boring to boot. Rina does not make an appearance until halfway through the book and then she's mostly serving food. There was none of the feisty, original thinking that she is so famous for and Peter seemed diminished as he simply turned into a worried parent. Had this book not had the framework of being billed as a Peter and Rina novel, it would have boiled down to a very ordinary, cliched story. I feel that the book was masquerading under false pretenses. I buy this series to learn what Peter and Rina are up to and to better understand their lives in the context of their faith. This book was a cheat.

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing...
Review: After a terrific series about likable characters, Peter & Rina Decker, why would Faye Kellerman want to create such an unlikeable character in Cindy? I could never get into the story because I never cared about what happened to her. She's arrogant and, despite the "Ivy League education", stupid! Stick with Peter and Rina from now on!

Rating:
Summary: What a letdown
Review: I have felt as though the last few Faye Kellerman books have been going down in quality of writing. This book absolutely confirms this for me.

While I was VERY intrigued to learn more about Decker's eldest child - Cindy, I was left feeling as though this character was never really put out for us to understand. Its as though Kellerman wasn't quite sure what kind of person Cindy should be so she made her into a very "neutral" kind of person.

Also, I found the storyline was very slow. As a matter of fact, the first 50 pages or so were incredibly boring and I had to force myself to read on.

Not a great book.

Rating:
Summary: Very good book
Review: I really enjoyed this latest effort by Faye Kellerman. I was dubious at first because I have grown to so like Peter and Rina. But this was a wonderful exploration and it seems to me that Faye Kellerman's skill in writing continues to mature.

All of my favorite elements were there as were my favorite characters from her other works. A nice surprise was the development of the Scott Oliver character. I hadn't expected that and it was nice to see Faye attempt to make him more human and less stereotypical. The use of stereotype as device seems to creep in too easily but I have to admit it is effective.

I thought Cindy's character development was a bit heavy but perhaps it is just that I am too far from 25 to remember.

Still it was a wonderful trip and makes me eager to take the next one.

Terry Fritts

Rating:
Summary: An okay book - but not up to her usual
Review: I understand that authors get tired writing about the same characters, while fans want more of that characters. I got this book expecting a Peter Decker novel because that's how it was advertised. Although he does make more than a cameo appearance, I felt that Mrs. Kellerman did not stay true to character. By the middle of the book, Peter came across as an neurotic, over protective father who could not accept his daughter as an adult, let alone as a fellow police office. As for Cindy, while I emphasized with her need to be accepted as an adult, I'm not sure that I want to spend to much time in her company. And even though she is a rookie, I found several of the mistakes she made just plain stupidity -- either that or put in to further the plot development, rather than the character development. As for the story : There was very little of her wonderful explanation about Orthodox Jewish religion and culture. The plot details are covered in other reviews, but I do agree

with another reviewer that the plot rambles on in places. Still - a good read, but not Faye Kellerman's best.

Rating:
Summary: A major disappointment
Review: I was disappointed that Cindy wasn't killed right off the bat. Then the rest of the book could have been the investigation of her murder. Talk about a nitwit who deserved to die!

Rating:
Summary: Stalker less than stimulating.....
Review: I was a bit disappointed in this latest by Ms. Kellerman. Her previous Decker/Lazurus books have been rich in characterzation,plot and the jewish faith. I felt this book lacked all these important traits. I can appreciate Ms. Kellerman going in a new direction with Cynthia, but given that, I expected Cynthia to be more fully drawn. I didn't feel the plot was terrilbly exciting either. This book wasn't horrible but neither did it keep me awake nights wanting to finish it. I would recommend all of the previous books in this series if you would like to see just how fabulous Ms. Kellerman can write. Ree-views

Rating:
Summary: A really good read
Review: I like the way Faye Kellerman is branching out and telling stories about other members of Peter Decker's family. "Stalker" tells rookie Hollywood cop Cindy Decker's story. She's arrogant, inexperienced and too eager to prove herself to her dad and the other guys on the force and she ends up paying a price for it. The climax to the book is exciting, but the book is most interesting as a character study. Cindy has her father's impetuousness, his sexuality and his hot temper. At the end of the book, as she continues to deal with the realities of being a woman in a man's field and the aftermath of her experiences, it becomes evident that she will also have her father's burdens. I look forward to seeing more of Cindy.

Rating:
Summary: Most predictable story line unlike Kellerman's previous
Review: As a reader of Faye Kellerman's previous books, I found this book not up to the degree of excitement and unpredictability as others. She seems to be filling pages with unnecessary and detached themes which I feel did not justify the storyline. Ms. Kellerman is by far one of the greatest mystery writers of our time. I only hope she can maintain the quality of her previous books in those to come.