Justice (Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus Novels (Audio))

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but please more detecting and less religion!
Review: This was an interesting book, although I prefer a writing style more to-the-point. This author reminds me a little of V.C. Andrews or Mary Higgins Clark, in that the 17-year old in this story seemed way ahead of others her age, in some of her thoughts and actions.

The story was interesting, but this is my first Kellerman novel, and I found it hard at first to keep going from the third-person narration of the Peter/Rina scenes and the first-person dialog of Theresa - I kept thinking, what the heck is the connection here? It made more sense as the book went along, but it's jarring at first.

The book could do with less of the religion aspect, also. If I want to read about the Jewish religion and customs, or Catholic guilt and penance, I'll choose a non-fiction book about those topics. Some authors can weave non case-related info into a mystery/detective novel in a seamless way that makes you feel you learned something while enjoying a fictional story, but that's not the case here. I felt like Rina was hounding me to attend services - it just doesn't fit in the story well.


One major problem with the story, though, ***** SPOILER ALERT **** was that earlier in the book, Chris' uncle/father stood to lose a tremendous amount of money if Chris didn't marry his uncle's business rival's daughter. There was no way to get out of that deal. Then suddenly at the end of the book, his uncle says that Terry would "make him (Chris) great babies", and the plan is that Terry and Chris would go back to New York together. Say what?

I did like the fact that NOT every tiny thread was neatly tied up at the end, though, like whether Peter actually saw some of the videotapes of the police officer in the motel, or whether he was just making educated guesses to help obtain an admission of guilt.

This seems to be an intriguing series, though, so I will try another.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This was the first book by Faye Kellerman that I had ever read. And I loved it. The plot keeps you wanting to read more and more unitl you finally find out what happens with chris and to see if he did it or not. I'm 16, and I don't read alot but this book made me want to read more of her books. Right now i'm reading Stalker. It's not as good as Justice, but it's pretty good.

Rating:
Summary: BLIND JUSTICE
Review: With this eighth entry in her popular Decker/Lazarus series, Faye Kellerman finally reaches a pinnacle of writing. "Justice" is a compelling mystery and psychological thriller that puts Decker and especially Rina in supporting roles. The voice of this novel is student Terry McLaughlin, a virginal Catholic girl, who finds herself tutoring a stud muffin with a somewhat colorful and enigmatic past, which includes the murder of his abusive father, and ties to his Mafia-family. Chris Whitman is the boy, a handsome, charismatic youth who develops an obsession with Terry. Problem is Chris is the chief suspect in the murder of his trashy girl friend. When he confesses in order to protect Terry, Decker finds himself in an unusual kaleidoscope of inter-departmental intrigue and trying to justify Whitman's conviction. Another powerfl presence in the book is Wanda Bontemp, a black cop, whose own prejudices and misconceptions have been her own private demons.
The story is well written, and Kellerman's religious preferences don't dominate the novel.
A good book in this up and down series.

Rating:
Summary: BLIND JUSTICE
Review: With this eighth entry in her popular Decker/Lazarus series, Faye Kellerman finally reaches a pinnacle of writing. "Justice" is a compelling mystery and psychological thriller that puts Decker and especially Rina in supporting roles. The voice of this novel is student Terry McLaughlin, a virginal Catholic girl, who finds herself tutoring a stud muffin with a somewhat colorful and enigmatic past, which includes the murder of his abusive father, and ties to his Mafia-family. Chris Whitman is the boy, a handsome, charismatic youth who develops an obsession with Terry. Problem is Chris is the chief suspect in the murder of his trashy girl friend. When he confesses in order to protect Terry, Decker finds himself in an unusual kaleidoscope of inter-departmental intrigue and trying to justify Whitman's conviction. Another powerfl presence in the book is Wanda Bontemp, a black cop, whose own prejudices and misconceptions have been her own private demons.
The story is well written, and Kellerman's religious preferences don't dominate the novel.
A good book in this up and down series.