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Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus #13
The Forgotten
Having submitted for counseling a troubled wealthy teen who desecrated a synagogue with anti-Semitic graffiti, Rina Lazarus discovers there is more to the case when the boy and his therapist are found murdered and joins forces with her husband, LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Peter Decker, to uncover the truth. Reprint.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2001
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1778 people want to read
About the author
Faye Kellerman
179 books2,022 followersFaye Kellerman was born in St. Louis, Missouri and grew up in Sherman Oaks, California. She earned a BA in mathematics and a doctorate in dentistry at UCLA., and conducted research in oral biology. Kellerman's groundbreaking first novel, THE RITUAL BATH, was published in 1986 to wide critical and commercial acclaim. The winner of the Macavity Award for the Best First Novel from the Mystery Readers of American, THE RITUAL BATH introduced readers to Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, termed by People Magazine "Hands down, the most refreshing mystery couple around." The New York Times enthused, "This couple's domestic affairs have the haimish warmth of reality, unlike the formulaic lives of so many other genre detectives."
There are well over twenty million copies of Faye Kellerman's novels in print internationally. The Decker/Lazarus thrillers include SACRED AND PROFANE; MILK AND HONEY; DAY OF ATONEMENT; FALSE PROPHET; GRIEVOUS SIN; SANCTUARY; as well as her New York Times Bestsellers, JUSTICE, PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD - listed by the LA Times as one of the best crime novel of 2001; SERPENT'S TOOTH; JUPITER'S BONES, THE FORGOTTEN, STONE KISS, STRAIGHT INTO DARKNESS, THE BURNT HOUSE, THE MERCEDES COFFIN and BLINDMAN'S BLUFF. . The novels, STALKER and STREET DREAMS, introduced Kellerman's newest protagonist, Police Officer Cindy Decker. In addition to her crime series, Kellerman is also the author of New York Time's bestseller MOON MUSIC, a suspense horror novel set in Las Vegas featuring Detective Romulus Poe, as well as an historical novel of intrigue set in Elizabethan England, THE QUALITY OF MERCY. She has also co-authored the New York Times Bestseller DOUBLE HOMICIDE, with her husband and partner in crime, Jonathan Kellerman. She has also written a young adult novel, PRISM, with her daughter, Aliza Kellerman
Faye Kellerman's highly praised short stories and reviews have been anthologized in numerous collections including two volumes of the notable SISTERS IN CRIME SERIES, Sara Paretsky's, A WOMAN'S EYE; THE FIRST ANNUAL YEAR'S FINEST CRIME AND MYSTERY STORIES; THE THIRD ANNUAL BEST MYSTERY STORIES OF THE YEAR; WOMEN OF MYSTERY AND DEADLY ALLIES 11. Her personally annotated collection of her award winning stories, THE GARDEN OF EDEN and OTHER CRIMINAL DELIGHTS, was published in August of 2006. H
Her other hobbies include gardening, sewing and jogging if her back doesn't give out. She is the proud mother of four children, and her eldest son, Jesse, has just published his fourth novel, THE EXECUTOR, from Putnam. She lives in Los Angeles and Santa Fe with her husband, Jonathan, their youngest child, and their French Bulldog, Hugo.
There are well over twenty million copies of Faye Kellerman's novels in print internationally. The Decker/Lazarus thrillers include SACRED AND PROFANE; MILK AND HONEY; DAY OF ATONEMENT; FALSE PROPHET; GRIEVOUS SIN; SANCTUARY; as well as her New York Times Bestsellers, JUSTICE, PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD - listed by the LA Times as one of the best crime novel of 2001; SERPENT'S TOOTH; JUPITER'S BONES, THE FORGOTTEN, STONE KISS, STRAIGHT INTO DARKNESS, THE BURNT HOUSE, THE MERCEDES COFFIN and BLINDMAN'S BLUFF. . The novels, STALKER and STREET DREAMS, introduced Kellerman's newest protagonist, Police Officer Cindy Decker. In addition to her crime series, Kellerman is also the author of New York Time's bestseller MOON MUSIC, a suspense horror novel set in Las Vegas featuring Detective Romulus Poe, as well as an historical novel of intrigue set in Elizabethan England, THE QUALITY OF MERCY. She has also co-authored the New York Times Bestseller DOUBLE HOMICIDE, with her husband and partner in crime, Jonathan Kellerman. She has also written a young adult novel, PRISM, with her daughter, Aliza Kellerman
Faye Kellerman's highly praised short stories and reviews have been anthologized in numerous collections including two volumes of the notable SISTERS IN CRIME SERIES, Sara Paretsky's, A WOMAN'S EYE; THE FIRST ANNUAL YEAR'S FINEST CRIME AND MYSTERY STORIES; THE THIRD ANNUAL BEST MYSTERY STORIES OF THE YEAR; WOMEN OF MYSTERY AND DEADLY ALLIES 11. Her personally annotated collection of her award winning stories, THE GARDEN OF EDEN and OTHER CRIMINAL DELIGHTS, was published in August of 2006. H
Her other hobbies include gardening, sewing and jogging if her back doesn't give out. She is the proud mother of four children, and her eldest son, Jesse, has just published his fourth novel, THE EXECUTOR, from Putnam. She lives in Los Angeles and Santa Fe with her husband, Jonathan, their youngest child, and their French Bulldog, Hugo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
October 10, 2016
Peter and Rina Decker and their family are back in another heart stopping mystery, this the thirteenth in Faye Kellerman's award winning series. The Deckers' store front shul (synagogue) has been vandalized and immediately labeled as a hate crime. Even though the case could easily be a conflict of interest, Lieutenant Decker wants nothing more than to nab the person who caused all the mess. Along with his team of homicide detectives and family members, Decker takes on this case that hits to the core of his family's dynamics and religious convictions.
On the surface the crime is as simple as a hate crime can be. A local white superiority group labeled the Preservers of Ethnic Integrity has made de facto segregation their mantra. A teenager from a prep school fell in with this group during troubled times,
leading to research his own family history and then vandalize the shul. Admitting his wrongdoings, the teen, Ernesto Golding, is taken into custody and allows his parents to put him into psychotherapy. Case closed. Yet, six months later, Golding and his therapist are found murdered, reopening the case and Decker's involvement in it.
Being the thirteenth book in a series, it would be easy for an author to become formulaic, but Kellerman has dug up many new facets to Decker's cases for us to savor. In this case, Rina involves herself in digging up information on the Golding's past in Holocaust ravaged Europe. Her search takes her to a tolerance center and to a nursing home to visit with a survivor. I thought the scenes at the nursing home to be among the most poignant and touching of the book.
Additionally, in this case is the involvement of a teenaged Jacob. I remember him as a seven-year-old still grieving over his father, but here he has grown to be a seventeen year old young man on the verge of leaving the house. Unfortunately his early childhood left baggage that he did not recover well from, leading him to fall into the wrong crowd, and, subsequently, his involvement on this case. Peter has to balance his home and professional life more than ever before with things coming to a crux near the end. This made for a page turning second half of the book that kept me reading for a resolution.
With both Shmueli and Yonkel leaving for college, the Deckers have reached a new stage of their lives. Only Hannah will be home allowing her parents to give her their undivided attention, or will they. Also, Cindy has more notches on her police belt and in all likelihood will drop in on father's home from time to time. Kellerman continues to hold my interest with new storylines, and all this speculation will have me reading through to the series' end. As always, a fun yet poignant read, which left me looking forward to the next case.
On the surface the crime is as simple as a hate crime can be. A local white superiority group labeled the Preservers of Ethnic Integrity has made de facto segregation their mantra. A teenager from a prep school fell in with this group during troubled times,
leading to research his own family history and then vandalize the shul. Admitting his wrongdoings, the teen, Ernesto Golding, is taken into custody and allows his parents to put him into psychotherapy. Case closed. Yet, six months later, Golding and his therapist are found murdered, reopening the case and Decker's involvement in it.
Being the thirteenth book in a series, it would be easy for an author to become formulaic, but Kellerman has dug up many new facets to Decker's cases for us to savor. In this case, Rina involves herself in digging up information on the Golding's past in Holocaust ravaged Europe. Her search takes her to a tolerance center and to a nursing home to visit with a survivor. I thought the scenes at the nursing home to be among the most poignant and touching of the book.
Additionally, in this case is the involvement of a teenaged Jacob. I remember him as a seven-year-old still grieving over his father, but here he has grown to be a seventeen year old young man on the verge of leaving the house. Unfortunately his early childhood left baggage that he did not recover well from, leading him to fall into the wrong crowd, and, subsequently, his involvement on this case. Peter has to balance his home and professional life more than ever before with things coming to a crux near the end. This made for a page turning second half of the book that kept me reading for a resolution.
With both Shmueli and Yonkel leaving for college, the Deckers have reached a new stage of their lives. Only Hannah will be home allowing her parents to give her their undivided attention, or will they. Also, Cindy has more notches on her police belt and in all likelihood will drop in on father's home from time to time. Kellerman continues to hold my interest with new storylines, and all this speculation will have me reading through to the series' end. As always, a fun yet poignant read, which left me looking forward to the next case.
September 4, 2019
Faye Kellerman is definitely the No 1-crime fiction writer of today, and ranks up there with the best novelists of police and crime thrillers.
She has not in any way lost any of her talent for keeping the reader glued to the book, and opening up a world of intrigue and mystery.
This book proves Kellerman's skill at moving skillfully from the homely to the horrific, from warmth to horror, from heroic to diabolical.
In an age where the hideous anti-Semitism is on the rise again, in measure never seen since the fall of Nazi Germany, the story begins with the hideous desecration of Peter and Rina's local synagogue, through the world of shady White Supremacist type groups, teenagers corrupted into insanity to some extent by their own radical left 60s hippy parents.
Of course Peter and his teams determination and Rina's sanity and compassion helps restore truth and balance. Rina's rebellious son Jacob plays a big role in bringing this one to being solved.
On the downside I would have liked to see some more of Cindy , and Marge's stepdaughter Vega.
She has not in any way lost any of her talent for keeping the reader glued to the book, and opening up a world of intrigue and mystery.
This book proves Kellerman's skill at moving skillfully from the homely to the horrific, from warmth to horror, from heroic to diabolical.
In an age where the hideous anti-Semitism is on the rise again, in measure never seen since the fall of Nazi Germany, the story begins with the hideous desecration of Peter and Rina's local synagogue, through the world of shady White Supremacist type groups, teenagers corrupted into insanity to some extent by their own radical left 60s hippy parents.
Of course Peter and his teams determination and Rina's sanity and compassion helps restore truth and balance. Rina's rebellious son Jacob plays a big role in bringing this one to being solved.
On the downside I would have liked to see some more of Cindy , and Marge's stepdaughter Vega.
December 23, 2019
How can I put this? I finished the book, the first one by this author in a series, but wasn’t wowed. The book begins with desecration of a shul, leading to the investigation of hate groups. There was a smattering of looks into the private life of the lead detective, but the story sort of dragged along. I liked that the book was peppered with Yiddish even if I had to google the definition. Predictably, the investigation culminated with the team solving the crimes that eventually included multiple murders, but the story was kind of out there to me.
April 25, 2011
I had read another Faye Kellerman book many years ago and Jonathan Kellerman, Faye's husband, is one of my favorite authors. This book is just awful though. I actually considered putting it back on the shelf after about 200 pages as I didn't really care how it turned out. Every character was whiny and annoying. The first crime, the vandalization of a synagogue, is solved far too easily. THe second crime, several months later cause the police to automatically conclude the two are related even though there was no evidence that they are related. A waste of my time.
May 17, 2014
I had stopped reading Faye Kellerman's Decker/Lazarus series because it had become too much like her husband's Alex Delaware series which I can't read anymore. As much as I like the protagonists of both series, their cases are too dark for me. I read an interview with Faye Kellerman in which she said that she wanted to write L.A. noir. Well, she's certainly been succeeding. The reason why I started reading her was because of the Jewish content in her work. This book, which deals with a hate crime against a synagogue seemed to be dealing with the kind of themes that had drawn me to Faye Kellerman.
This was actually an interesting book. I learned about the concentration camp Treblinka and why there were so few survivors of that camp.
There were some very moving moments and some excellent characterization as well. I'm glad that I decided to read this one.
This was actually an interesting book. I learned about the concentration camp Treblinka and why there were so few survivors of that camp.
There were some very moving moments and some excellent characterization as well. I'm glad that I decided to read this one.
August 30, 2008
This started out with some promise--she's not a bad writer for a bestseller mystery author, and the character development was decent. However, the story got more and more implausible as it went on. The killer's supposed motive was hopelessly weak and totally didn't justify the killing spree, and the tying together of two unrelated plot lines involving the Holocaust and college entrance exams (yeah, I know, WTF?) was absurd. With few leads, the detectives were forced to take a few shots in the dark early on in the investigation. Somehow, everyone they checked out turned out to be involved in the conspiracy. Aren't mysteries supposed to have a few twists?
Thoroughly unsatisfying.
Thoroughly unsatisfying.
January 10, 2017
I feel like Kellerman phoned this one in. This hodge-podge of words didn't hold together as a novel. At times, it made no sense at all.
March 11, 2012
Don't think the author could decide what this book was supposed to be about. Too many characters each called by multiple names got confussing at times. Language and discriptions inconsistant.
April 7, 2019
Troubled Past
"The call was from the police. Not from Rina's lieutenant husband, but from the police police." p 1 The shul, the makeshift synagogue Rina and her family are members with, has been vandalized. Makeshift? Well, the orthodox congregation have rent a former storefront. The place has been broken in, the books have been torn, there are spray painted insults, swastikas, photography with concentration camp victims. A silver wine cup was stolen, a kiddush cup. Rina's husband Peter Decker is sent to investigate - he has his team search hate groups along with local schools, as the last similar cases had been committed by teenagers from private high schools. But even when a very probable suspect is found, this case has come by no means to a conclusion, because in the end, there will be murder, runaways, over eager parents and parents who could not care less, drugs, and fraud. And the case will hit close to home for the Deckers.
The series is strictly police procedural, with lots of footwork, and only at the beginning of using the internet. It kept me glued to the story, I like the dry irony of the writing (sort of Philip Marlowe - style), there was some action scene in it, and lots of pages with Rina involved. The case seemed logical enough, although I kind of wonder how probable it would have been that everything would end up linked together - how many separate crimes were there in the end? Like, 5 or 6??
There has been a long break from my side between the last book in this series and now this number 13 (there are 24 books as of 2019) - I admit that I liked the first ones best and thus lost speed. Decker's wife Rina is orthodox Jew and he adapted his life along. Longer story, read books 1+2, but you might as well hop in with this one, there are enough explanations without being overly spoilers. The Deckers are a real patchwork family, with his grown daugther from his divorced ex-wife, Rina's two sons from her husband, who died of cancer, and one daughter together.The first books were rich in explaining orthodox live mostly via Peter's questions, discuss an issue and often relate this to the topical case. Then Rina sort of faded to the background - same as I faded as a reader. Since the last book, author Faye Kellerman got me back. Now this is a lot with Rina and the family - mostly Jake - and lots about genocide in general, with Treblinka in particular, plus some discussion about couples with mixed background, which in this context might even mean orthodox Jew and not Jewish enough, aka, not orthodox; or Spanish-speaking, but Cuban and Mexican. They could have taken that further, but okay.
Complaints? Hm, Rina. I do like Rina, but I sometimes wonder. I mean, some readers complain about her being "holier than holy", which I would not sign, but then, come on. She is by twelve years younger than Peter, all men who see her tend to fall in love with her or feel lust about her, and she does not care much about how she looks like, other then look modest. And sexy as she is, and bright, and educated, she only ever sees Peter, despite a detective's income, working long hours, being grumpy and patronizing, and being a tad, hm, bulky. So she just wants what every girl would want...?!
Else, pretty good. 4 solid stars
Characters
Again, like in number 12, Kellerman made no updates on the Deckers' ages. So, I am doing some maths from older books:
Peter Decker should be 49 (he was 42 on p 51 in False Prophet when his baby daughter was born who is now 7 - cf. p 79). LAPD Lieutenant, Homicide.Used to work Juvey. Used to be a lawyer. Had a farm with horses - Sold two years ago to move closer to the shul (synagogue). Tall, red-haired.
(Neither of the following featureing here:) Adopted like his younger brother by 6 years, Randy, their parents live in Gainesville, were they grew up. Divorced from Jan, one daugher Cynthia „Cindy“, should be like 26. Taking shifts as a young cop herself. Peter has half-siblings in New York from his biological mother.
• Rina Lazarus should be 37 now, (30 on p 51 in False Prophet -Pete is 12 years older) Was widowed, two young sons, Yaakov “Jake“, is nearly 17 now, p. 36 - now a little gap, because two years ago, he was almost 16 p 109; and Shmuel “Sammy“ should be 18. Baby Hannah with Peter, now 7.
Her parents, who are not showing up in this book, live more wordly and disapprove of some of her choices. Her late husband was a Torah student. Her parents, Mr. Stefan "Opah" and Mrs. Magda Elias, "Omah", are of Hungarian decent.
• Marge Dunn. Peter’s former partner at LAPD, now on his team, blonde
Cop Tom Webster and Bert Martinez
"The call was from the police. Not from Rina's lieutenant husband, but from the police police." p 1 The shul, the makeshift synagogue Rina and her family are members with, has been vandalized. Makeshift? Well, the orthodox congregation have rent a former storefront. The place has been broken in, the books have been torn, there are spray painted insults, swastikas, photography with concentration camp victims. A silver wine cup was stolen, a kiddush cup. Rina's husband Peter Decker is sent to investigate - he has his team search hate groups along with local schools, as the last similar cases had been committed by teenagers from private high schools. But even when a very probable suspect is found, this case has come by no means to a conclusion, because in the end, there will be murder, runaways, over eager parents and parents who could not care less, drugs, and fraud. And the case will hit close to home for the Deckers.
The series is strictly police procedural, with lots of footwork, and only at the beginning of using the internet. It kept me glued to the story, I like the dry irony of the writing (sort of Philip Marlowe - style), there was some action scene in it, and lots of pages with Rina involved. The case seemed logical enough, although I kind of wonder how probable it would have been that everything would end up linked together - how many separate crimes were there in the end? Like, 5 or 6??
There has been a long break from my side between the last book in this series and now this number 13 (there are 24 books as of 2019) - I admit that I liked the first ones best and thus lost speed. Decker's wife Rina is orthodox Jew and he adapted his life along. Longer story, read books 1+2, but you might as well hop in with this one, there are enough explanations without being overly spoilers. The Deckers are a real patchwork family, with his grown daugther from his divorced ex-wife, Rina's two sons from her husband, who died of cancer, and one daughter together.The first books were rich in explaining orthodox live mostly via Peter's questions, discuss an issue and often relate this to the topical case. Then Rina sort of faded to the background - same as I faded as a reader. Since the last book, author Faye Kellerman got me back. Now this is a lot with Rina and the family - mostly Jake - and lots about genocide in general, with Treblinka in particular, plus some discussion about couples with mixed background, which in this context might even mean orthodox Jew and not Jewish enough, aka, not orthodox; or Spanish-speaking, but Cuban and Mexican. They could have taken that further, but okay.
Complaints? Hm, Rina. I do like Rina, but I sometimes wonder. I mean, some readers complain about her being "holier than holy", which I would not sign, but then, come on. She is by twelve years younger than Peter, all men who see her tend to fall in love with her or feel lust about her, and she does not care much about how she looks like, other then look modest. And sexy as she is, and bright, and educated, she only ever sees Peter, despite a detective's income, working long hours, being grumpy and patronizing, and being a tad, hm, bulky. So she just wants what every girl would want...?!
Else, pretty good. 4 solid stars
Characters
Again, like in number 12, Kellerman made no updates on the Deckers' ages. So, I am doing some maths from older books:
Peter Decker should be 49 (he was 42 on p 51 in False Prophet when his baby daughter was born who is now 7 - cf. p 79). LAPD Lieutenant, Homicide.Used to work Juvey. Used to be a lawyer. Had a farm with horses - Sold two years ago to move closer to the shul (synagogue). Tall, red-haired.
(Neither of the following featureing here:) Adopted like his younger brother by 6 years, Randy, their parents live in Gainesville, were they grew up. Divorced from Jan, one daugher Cynthia „Cindy“, should be like 26. Taking shifts as a young cop herself. Peter has half-siblings in New York from his biological mother.
• Rina Lazarus should be 37 now, (30 on p 51 in False Prophet -Pete is 12 years older) Was widowed, two young sons, Yaakov “Jake“, is nearly 17 now, p. 36 - now a little gap, because two years ago, he was almost 16 p 109; and Shmuel “Sammy“ should be 18. Baby Hannah with Peter, now 7.
Her parents, who are not showing up in this book, live more wordly and disapprove of some of her choices. Her late husband was a Torah student. Her parents, Mr. Stefan "Opah" and Mrs. Magda Elias, "Omah", are of Hungarian decent.
• Marge Dunn. Peter’s former partner at LAPD, now on his team, blonde
Cop Tom Webster and Bert Martinez
June 26, 2020
I enjoy these detective stories. Each case is different and none seem repetitive.
This one was engrossing as you followed the trail as you also get a lot of focus on Decker and his family.
This one was engrossing as you followed the trail as you also get a lot of focus on Decker and his family.
November 1, 2018
Parts of this book were very good—the history of Treblinka, and Jacob’s transition from easy kid to troubled teen rang quite true. The characters in Kellerman’s books are always quite well done. But the main plot in this one was a mess. Contrived and jumbled, with several plot lines that appeared and, to my remembrance, were never explained. The mixture of good and not so good made this a frustrating read at times.
May 21, 2018
I love Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus and this one was amazing. Some of the history is well explained and opens up a history that is sadly not always well known.
However the ending left a little to be desired and there was definitely a couple of twists that I was expecting that never materialised.
However interwoven in a story of troubled teens and rich parents we get to see how Peter and Rina struggle just the same as everyone else.
Mix that in with the desecration of the synagogue and some very violent murders and you have the combination for a great story.
However the ending left a little to be desired and there was definitely a couple of twists that I was expecting that never materialised.
However interwoven in a story of troubled teens and rich parents we get to see how Peter and Rina struggle just the same as everyone else.
Mix that in with the desecration of the synagogue and some very violent murders and you have the combination for a great story.
December 5, 2019
seamless. good relationships.
November 3, 2018
Two-haiku review:
Synagogue vandals
Decker catches one rich boy
Who's sentenced to shrinks
Multi-leveled plot
Decker and Jacob closer
Good family stuff
Synagogue vandals
Decker catches one rich boy
Who's sentenced to shrinks
Multi-leveled plot
Decker and Jacob closer
Good family stuff
January 23, 2025
I don't want to do my girl Faye dirty, this just wasn't it for me. It has to be hard to come up with a plethora of new stories and keep them all as gripping as the first handful. This drug on. This one more for Yonkie. I can see a little mischief here and there as a teenager but his "failures" were too uncharacteristic, and constant, and it pulled me out of it. The storyline was about a troubled teen who got in with the wrong crowd, racial extremes, vandalism, murder. We explore said wrong crowd, and those who are surprisingly intertwined, to figure out who the guilty one is. But you know all along. Two characters have the same duplicity, which makes it less believable. Naturally though the ending will keep you. She always grabs you there. I trust her to deliver. On to the next!
March 11, 2017
Like series but enjoyed it more when his wife helped solve crimes. Well narrated and recommended with proviso that series seems to dedicate more and more time with religious ceremonies, especially as we are being inundated with Islam recently in books, this IS a nice counterbalance and series predates that but ...). I read Christian mysteries regularly and understand how religion MUST be a base for family life, however, more isn't always better and at the cost of a good characterization (his wife) as crime solving aide to the main character.
.
.
March 9, 2017
A hate crime on the Jewish temple starts this book and leads to the murder of the only boy caught. Now Decker and Rina must find out who killed the boy and his counselors. I do love this series. I especially love Peter's struggles at being a good dad. They give the series that extra something that make Peter a three dimensional character that we can all relate to. Jacob's troubles are real and hard to read but make the stories and the series better and show that everyone struggles.
December 20, 2019
This was the first Faye Kellerman novel that I’ve read, and unfortunately, it never quite gelled for me. It wasn’t horrible- I was invested enough to finish and find out ‘who done it’- but I also won’t be seeking out any more Kellerman novels going forward. My main criticisms were four-fold:
Lack of connection to its setting: My favorite detective novels are those that that provide a connection and insight into the cities where they’re set- think Ian Rankin’s Edinburgh, Michael Connelly’s Los Angeles or Jo Nesbo’s Oslo. Kellerman tried but didn’t quite deliver on this. Although she makes references to different locations within Los Angeles, the city as she describes it never quite feels like a real place;
Lengthy dead-end storylines: The beginning of this novel focuses on a vandalism at a Jewish synagogue, and there is a lot of time spent not just on the crime, but the community clean up of the synagogue. So.much.time is spent talking about the clean up. It reminded me of listening to someone complain about a task for longer than it would take to actually do the task. Just clean up the synagogue and get on with it! Even more frustrating is that this tedious section is a b-plot that could have been cut out entirely;
Unnecessarily aggressive language/detail: although I am a big fan of the hard-boiled mysteries and all the blue language and R-rated subject matter that comes with it, I want that seedier side to dovetail with the overall plot and character development. Kellerman employs a bunch of cussing and violent subject matter but it largely shows up in the side plots and irrelevant details- scenes with the main character’s stepson, the dead-end initial vandalism plot, etc.- where it comes across as unnecessary.
Uncompelling characters: although I realize that The Forgotten is a later book in a series, and there may be some earlier novels that create a connection with the characters, The Forgotten didn't get me invested in its characters. Decker, the protagonist, was a standard ‘no nonsense’ detective- not a lot of characterization besides the classic cop ‘workaholic personality’. Decker’s Jewish wife, Rina, had little characterization beyond her religion, and because she featured the most in the book’s tedious ‘synagogue clean up’ section, I also found her character tedious. On the bad guy end, all of the villains were essentially one-note psychopaths, and their motivations for evil-doing didn’t extend much beyond this characterization.
Overall: The Forgotten wasn’t a read to remember.
Lack of connection to its setting: My favorite detective novels are those that that provide a connection and insight into the cities where they’re set- think Ian Rankin’s Edinburgh, Michael Connelly’s Los Angeles or Jo Nesbo’s Oslo. Kellerman tried but didn’t quite deliver on this. Although she makes references to different locations within Los Angeles, the city as she describes it never quite feels like a real place;
Lengthy dead-end storylines: The beginning of this novel focuses on a vandalism at a Jewish synagogue, and there is a lot of time spent not just on the crime, but the community clean up of the synagogue. So.much.time is spent talking about the clean up. It reminded me of listening to someone complain about a task for longer than it would take to actually do the task. Just clean up the synagogue and get on with it! Even more frustrating is that this tedious section is a b-plot that could have been cut out entirely;
Unnecessarily aggressive language/detail: although I am a big fan of the hard-boiled mysteries and all the blue language and R-rated subject matter that comes with it, I want that seedier side to dovetail with the overall plot and character development. Kellerman employs a bunch of cussing and violent subject matter but it largely shows up in the side plots and irrelevant details- scenes with the main character’s stepson, the dead-end initial vandalism plot, etc.- where it comes across as unnecessary.
Uncompelling characters: although I realize that The Forgotten is a later book in a series, and there may be some earlier novels that create a connection with the characters, The Forgotten didn't get me invested in its characters. Decker, the protagonist, was a standard ‘no nonsense’ detective- not a lot of characterization besides the classic cop ‘workaholic personality’. Decker’s Jewish wife, Rina, had little characterization beyond her religion, and because she featured the most in the book’s tedious ‘synagogue clean up’ section, I also found her character tedious. On the bad guy end, all of the villains were essentially one-note psychopaths, and their motivations for evil-doing didn’t extend much beyond this characterization.
Overall: The Forgotten wasn’t a read to remember.
May 29, 2009
I really liked the Jewish history. This was an interesting read.
Amazon:
L.A. homicide detective Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, his Orthodox Jewish wife, return in a new entry in this popular series. Faye Kellerman can be counted on to deliver emotional complexity along with suspense, and in The Forgotten it comes from the relationship between Peter and Jacob, Rina's troubled teenage son. Jacob has a personal connection to the event that sets off this intricately plotted novel, the defacing of Rina's synagogue by one of his classmates. Ernesto Golding can't explain why he vandalized the synagogue, but when he and his therapists are murdered months after the incident, Peter realizes that something the teenager told him when admitting his guilt may hold the key to the killings: Ernesto's belief that his grandfather may have been a Nazi who posed as a Jew to escape to South America after the war. Investigating Ernesto's story gives Rina a strand of the plot to tease out; meanwhile, Peter concentrates on another motive for the therapist murders that involves computer fraud, the College Board exams, and the high cost exacted by parents who pressure their teenagers to succeed.
Kellerman skillfully keeps the dramatic tension going as she pulls all the pieces of her complex plot together. But what makes this novel her best yet is her acutely revealing portrait of Jacob, struggling with the existential angst of adolescence as he attempts to reconcile his devotion to Judaism with the temptations of contemporary life, from drugs to sex. She brilliantly limns his search for identity, intimacy, and independence even as he redefines his relationship to Peter and Rina, in a scenario that resounds with psychological truth. The Forgotten is a terrific addition to the Kellerman oeuvre. While she's always been an exceptional illustrator of the emotional life of the family, this time she writes with an expertise that may owe something to professional insights of her husband, author Jonathan Kellerman, who's also a child psychologist. --Jane Adams
Amazon:
L.A. homicide detective Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, his Orthodox Jewish wife, return in a new entry in this popular series. Faye Kellerman can be counted on to deliver emotional complexity along with suspense, and in The Forgotten it comes from the relationship between Peter and Jacob, Rina's troubled teenage son. Jacob has a personal connection to the event that sets off this intricately plotted novel, the defacing of Rina's synagogue by one of his classmates. Ernesto Golding can't explain why he vandalized the synagogue, but when he and his therapists are murdered months after the incident, Peter realizes that something the teenager told him when admitting his guilt may hold the key to the killings: Ernesto's belief that his grandfather may have been a Nazi who posed as a Jew to escape to South America after the war. Investigating Ernesto's story gives Rina a strand of the plot to tease out; meanwhile, Peter concentrates on another motive for the therapist murders that involves computer fraud, the College Board exams, and the high cost exacted by parents who pressure their teenagers to succeed.
Kellerman skillfully keeps the dramatic tension going as she pulls all the pieces of her complex plot together. But what makes this novel her best yet is her acutely revealing portrait of Jacob, struggling with the existential angst of adolescence as he attempts to reconcile his devotion to Judaism with the temptations of contemporary life, from drugs to sex. She brilliantly limns his search for identity, intimacy, and independence even as he redefines his relationship to Peter and Rina, in a scenario that resounds with psychological truth. The Forgotten is a terrific addition to the Kellerman oeuvre. While she's always been an exceptional illustrator of the emotional life of the family, this time she writes with an expertise that may owe something to professional insights of her husband, author Jonathan Kellerman, who's also a child psychologist. --Jane Adams
June 15, 2011
I picked this up as a book on tape to listen to on a recent road trip. Apparently these characters appear in other Faye Kellerman books, but I've never read any before.
It sounded like an interesting story and I enjoyed the first 1/4th. A Jewish synagogue is vandalized with lots of anti Semitic graffiti and Rina Lazarus, the unofficial caretaker, is determined to repair the damage. Her husband, the police lieutenant is also determined to do the right thing and find the criminal who did this---even if it is just a "good rich kid" from one of the influential families. Rina's son (and the Lieutenant's stepson) keeps popping in and out of the story too and we worry that his casual drug use of the past is actually hinting at something more devious. I was worried he was involved in this somehow or that something bad was going to happen to him.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to find out. The F-word got thrown in so much on tape 2, I had to quit listening. Really!? Do decent people really talk like this all the time or is this just New York editors efforts to make these books edgier? I find it offensive and very annoying.
This book was a condensed audio to 4.5 hours. Since I was already missing some of the "details" in order for it to be condensed, I wish the reader had skipped all the language. This isn't even going into my yard sale pile....I don't want someone else stumbling upon it.
It sounded like an interesting story and I enjoyed the first 1/4th. A Jewish synagogue is vandalized with lots of anti Semitic graffiti and Rina Lazarus, the unofficial caretaker, is determined to repair the damage. Her husband, the police lieutenant is also determined to do the right thing and find the criminal who did this---even if it is just a "good rich kid" from one of the influential families. Rina's son (and the Lieutenant's stepson) keeps popping in and out of the story too and we worry that his casual drug use of the past is actually hinting at something more devious. I was worried he was involved in this somehow or that something bad was going to happen to him.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to find out. The F-word got thrown in so much on tape 2, I had to quit listening. Really!? Do decent people really talk like this all the time or is this just New York editors efforts to make these books edgier? I find it offensive and very annoying.
This book was a condensed audio to 4.5 hours. Since I was already missing some of the "details" in order for it to be condensed, I wish the reader had skipped all the language. This isn't even going into my yard sale pile....I don't want someone else stumbling upon it.
July 27, 2014
The whole Kellerman family writes. Jonathan, Faye and their son, Jesse. Jonathan and Faye's styles are similar, which is a good thing for happy readers. This is another Rina Lazarus/Peter Decker story. Rina is a frum (observant) Orthodox Jew and Peter Decker is her detective husband, not quite so observant. Their lives include three at-home children. Two boys, from Rina's first husband, who died, and a daughter, Hannah.
The novel starts with the desecration of a temple that Rina belongs to and contributes time to. Evidence points to the son of wealthy parents, who admits to committing the crime, but claims to have worked alone, a clear impossibility considering the level of damage.
The book unravels a far more complex crime, and various characters enmeshed in it. I did find the central problem a bit hard to believe or accept, but it's a novel and deserves some wiggle room. The plot lines of parents spending money, time and effort to get their children's SAT scores high enough to get into the college of their choice. No effort is spared to make children look appealing to admissions officers, even if it involves breaking the law. Or murder.
The book is fast, well-written, has interesting characters and enough tension to keep me reading.
The novel starts with the desecration of a temple that Rina belongs to and contributes time to. Evidence points to the son of wealthy parents, who admits to committing the crime, but claims to have worked alone, a clear impossibility considering the level of damage.
The book unravels a far more complex crime, and various characters enmeshed in it. I did find the central problem a bit hard to believe or accept, but it's a novel and deserves some wiggle room. The plot lines of parents spending money, time and effort to get their children's SAT scores high enough to get into the college of their choice. No effort is spared to make children look appealing to admissions officers, even if it involves breaking the law. Or murder.
The book is fast, well-written, has interesting characters and enough tension to keep me reading.
September 7, 2010
The synagogue close to the Deckers gets vandalized, and a troubled 'rich kid' turns out being the culprit. But it gets much more complicated than that when the same kid later turns out dead, along with his therapist, in a survival camp for troubled, rich kids.
Twists as usual, and some interesting characters.
Decker series books have always interesting details about the life(style) of orthodox Jews. In the first book (I read in the beginning out of chronological order) this seemed quite an overdose, after seeing the series back in order it builds up and helps explain some of the characters reoccurring issues. And another thing that I find refreshing: of the past 5 mysteries or whodunits with at least one Jewish character in it, this one had the least stereotypical story and solution.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/8...
Twists as usual, and some interesting characters.
Decker series books have always interesting details about the life(style) of orthodox Jews. In the first book (I read in the beginning out of chronological order) this seemed quite an overdose, after seeing the series back in order it builds up and helps explain some of the characters reoccurring issues. And another thing that I find refreshing: of the past 5 mysteries or whodunits with at least one Jewish character in it, this one had the least stereotypical story and solution.
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/8...
May 23, 2008
Though I’ve been reading her husband’s books for years, I’d never read a Faye Kellerman book. I picked up this for cheap at the book fair and decided to give it a shot. I didn’t realize it was the 13th in a series! There was obviously back story, but I don’t feel like I was missing too much. The book itself was pretty good. I found myself fairly engrossed by the end. I wasn’t expecting to finish it last night, but before I knew it, I was done!
January 7, 2016
After the last book I wondered if perhaps this series had run its course. Luckily I gave it one more chance and I am glad that I did because The Forgotten is a return to what I love most about the series: an exploration of the characters and their unique and interesting lives. Rina is front and center where she belongs. Peter is the hard-working and intelligent cop I love. The mystery is there too, but more importantly, the characters I love are there.
June 16, 2012
Like most Kellerman books, this one will keep you reading, but it isn't fabulous. The plot is kind of a mishmash and there really isn't anyone who is likable other than Peter and his son. I liked the inclusion of a bit more of Peter's son, and could have used more.
November 5, 2015
A murder mystery without the testosterone of other authors in the mystery authors. Between the lines this author has a great love of her family. Again, very unique for the genre as portrayed in the book
May 8, 2020
I thought this book was hard to follow. There were several things I didn’t follow like why was Ernesto killed. How did Holt die by wild animal when he was a survivalist. The ending was anti climatic. I would not recommend this book to my book club.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2014
I thought it was a good book, the story was a bit hard to follow, and there were a lot of people to keep track of. I did enjoy it, found some funny parts, and learned a few things too.
June 20, 2019
Ending very weak. Definitely not the best in this series.
March 18, 2015
This book reminded me why I love this series.
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