The Ritual Bath

Rating:
Summary: Kind of a slow start to a series.
Review: In this first in the series, Peter Decker is called to handle the rape of a woman inside a Jewish complex. Although I enjoyed the informative part of the book which dealt with the mikvah and the other rituals of the Orthodox Jews, the character of Peter Decker seemed one-dimensional and wooden. The attraction between Peter (and outsider) and Rina is an interesting twist when you condsider that Peter was given up for adoption and raised in a Baptist family although his birth mother is Jewish. However, Peter's and Rina's growing attraction for each other creates an interesting storyline, and hopefully the author will be able to develop this character (Decker) into someone who isn't quite so one-dimensional.

Rating:
Summary: Multi-Cultural Mystery
Review: In this novel, the first in a series of stories featuring LA detective Peter Decker and Jewish teacher Rina Lazarus, Kellerman weaves many elements together successfully: there's a crime, a hero (and heroine), the promise of romance, a social message, and enough action to keep the reader interested in both the resolution and the characters. The story begins with a rape; as heinous as the crime is, the fact that it has occurred in a yeshiva in the Southern California foothills adds even more complications that usual for Pete Decker. The community of the yeshiva is closed, literally and symbolically, to outsiders. The only person who seems willing to help Decker is Rina, a young widow who is devoted to 'Torah' Judaism, and her sense of duty includes running the mikvah, or ritual bath, for women in their purification after monthly menses. Rina found the victim, a woman who left the mikvah only to be attacked on her way home. As the plot unfolds, Kellerman reminds us of the fact that Anti-Semitism is unfortunately alive and well in our own time, even if not intended: the cops, including Decker, refer to the yeshiva as 'Jewtown' at the beginning of the novel; later, Rina is accosted by punks in a parking lot, simply because she is Jewish. Decker balances his pursuit of the yeshiva rapist with another rapist with a similar mode of operation, and the two plotlines intertwine well. Although I pretty much knew who did the yeshiva rape and why fairly quickly into the novel, the characters kept me interested in following their story: it was obvious that Rina and Decker would have some kind of relationship by the end of the book, despite Rina's devotion to her religion and only dating within it. Kellerman does add a little bit of 'deus ex machina' at the end to smooth the way for future books with these two characters, but that is forgiven, since we do end up caring about them and their relationship. Definitely a good beginning to a (hopefully) good series.

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent!
Review: Magnificent treatment and presentation of Orthodox Jewish lifestyles! Realistic struggles and wonderfully developed relationships along side of the police drama/mystery. Faye begins Peter and Rina's life story here with romance and tenderness while helping Peter to discover his roots and and begin to touch his spiritual beliefs. Highly recommended - read Faye's books in order to experience Rina and Peter's growing relationship

Rating:
Summary: Other authors while you wait for the next Faye K.
Review: People who like Faye Kellerman have found the following authors to be worth while to read while waiting for her next book: Rochelle Krich, Michael Kahn, Ruth Freeman Solomon (especially "Candlesticks and the Cross"), Sharon Steeber (especially the novel: "The Jews") and Maisie Mosco.

Rating:
Summary: Well-written debut novel
Review: Police detective Peter Decker is called to an orthodox Jewish community to investigate the rape of one of the women who lives there. The call is made by the victim's friend, Rina Lazarus, whom Peter is attracted to immediately. Thus begins a wonderful mystery series which features a strictly religious orthodox Jewish woman, and a man who is indifferent to religion, but not to Rina. The tension between the two creates a wonderful dance of approach/avoidance and a question as to whether their beliefs or their feelings will reign supreme in their relationship. Decker becomes acquainted with Rina's two sons and does his best to protect her from any future sexual attacks by the predator who roams the yeshiva community. The rape occurred near the mikvah where the women go for spiritual purification. Throughout the book the reader is treated to a background of orthodox Jewish practices and receives a real education in this fascinating religion. The difficulties in the relationship between Rina and Peter are clearly defined, but the ending leaves room for further development in the other books of the series.

Rating:
Summary: Well-written debut novel
Review: Police detective Peter Decker is called to an orthodox Jewish community to investigate the rape of one of the women who lives there. The call is made by the victim's friend, Rina Lazarus, whom Peter is attracted to immediately. Thus begins a wonderful mystery series which features a strictly religious orthodox Jewish woman, and a man who is indifferent to religion, but not to Rina. The tension between the two creates a wonderful dance of approach/avoidance and a question as to whether their beliefs or their feelings will reign supreme in their relationship. Decker becomes acquainted with Rina's two sons and does his best to protect her from any future sexual attacks by the predator who roams the yeshiva community. The rape occurred near the mikvah where the women go for spiritual purification. Throughout the book the reader is treated to a background of orthodox Jewish practices and receives a real education in this fascinating religion. The difficulties in the relationship between Rina and Peter are clearly defined, but the ending leaves room for further development in the other books of the series.

Rating:
Summary: her first of a series
Review: read this a few times, very good for a first, and can't wait for each new one to arrive...just great.

Rating:
Summary: For a non-Jew, I learned quite a bit!
Review: Since I was given the entire Decker/Lazarus series as a gift this summer, I sure hope I get what I deserve, and it is heading in a positive direction after this book. I learned quite a bit about Judaism, and that is impressive since I am myself Methodist. Gee, Orthodox Jews sure live a strict life, but hey, that's what Moses wants. I am eagerly awaiting to open the pages of SACRED AND PROFANE really soon, and see if Rina is a big help in Peter's next big-time case! I'll tell AMAZON what I think about it as well.

Rating:
Summary: Spellbinding and difficult to stop reading.
Review: The author is very good in grasping the readers attention and keeping one involved with the storyline. Each chapter flows into the next. As I finished this book, I reached for the next in the series to start getting a feel for it and before I knew it, I had read the first four chapters.

Rating:
Summary: Great introductory book to a new detective pair..
Review: The first of eleven novels in the Peter Decler/Rina Lazarus series, The Ritual Bath, published in 1986, throws the two together for the first time when Decker is assigned to investigate a rape at the mikvah in the Orthodox complex where Rina lives with her two sons, Shumel (Sammy) and Yaakov (Jacob or Jake) . Decker and his partner Marge Dunn are shocked that such a heinous crime could take place at a Yeshiva, Jewtown as the police refer to it. As the novel unfolds and murder comes into play Rina and Peter are drawn to each other. As one would expect their relationship is frowned upon because she's religious, frum, and Peter is considered an outsider. Peter's biological mother was a Jew; but was given up for adoption at birth. Through an adoption agency mix-up he was placed with Baptist parents. He grew up as a Baptist. Magnificent treatment and presentation of Orthodox Jewish lifestyles! Realistic struggles and wonderfully developed relationships along side of the police drama/mystery. Faye begins Peter and Rina's life story here with romance and tenderness while helping Peter to discover his roots and begin to touch his spiritual beliefs.