Stone Kiss
 Faye Kellerman
 (Reviewer - Narayan Radhakrishnan)
 2002 Warner Books
  ISBN: 0446530387

Lt. Peter Decker of Decker/Lazarus fame returns to investigate a murder in Manhattan.

Sr. Reviewer - Narayan Radhakrishnan writes:

The book jacket of Stone Kiss informs me that it is part of a series of mysteries featuring Lt. Peter Decker & his wife Rina Lazarus. This is my first Faye Kellerman work, so I don't know how it compares.

Peter Decker, a Los Angeles Police Officer flies to Manhattan at the request of his half-brother, Jonathan, a Rabbi. Jonathan's brother-in-law has been murdered, & his niece, Shaynda, the last person to see the victim alive, is missing. Decker is willing to investigate, but faces stiff resistance from the New York's finest, the missing girl's parents & even from the victim's family. Beating all odds, Decker investigates & reveals some chilling secrets that put in jeopardy not only Shaynda's life but also Rina Lazarus', his wife.

I believe that this book will be more enjoyed by readers who have read others in this series. The primary villain in Stone Kiss, Christopher Donatti, has a past history with Decker, & there is often reference to the same. Not knowing what that “history” is, leaves an unfinished taste.

Faye Kellerman devotes many pages to the Jewish faith that in the whole scheme of the work affect the luster of the suspense.

Then again, the sub-title A Decker/Lazarus Mystery is actually a misnomer. Lt. Peter Decker is indeed the hero, the one & only hero -- with Rina Lazarus cast only as a side character.

However, Faye Kellerman does have a way with the words, & the suspenseful narration reminds me somewhat of the classic Hammett/Chandler works, & in that sense Stone Kiss is a satisfying mystery.

All in all a good read, though not a great one.
(10/13/02)

Narayan
2002©Narayan Radhakrishnan
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
I am a 26 years old lawyer practicing in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Along with my legal practice, I have finished post-graduate studies for both Business Law & Human Rights. I am a self proclaimed numero-uno legal thriller lover & am the proud owner of all of Grisham's & Turow's novels. I enjoy John Mortimer's Rumpole & relish an occasional Martini & a rare Scot(ch)t-oline with a Patterson on the side.

My work A FICTION OF LAW is now about 500 pages in length & features 500 lawyer authors & 2000 legal thrillers covering a 300 year period - inclusive of entries from the USA, UK, Asia, Europe, China, Middle East etc. Still in search of a publisher.
www.keralatourism.org