Prayers for the Dead

Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus #9

by Faye Kellerman

When celebrated heart surgeon Dr. Azor Sparks is brutally murdered, the suspects include the doctor's six children, a jealous colleague, and a gang of biker buddies, and it is up to Lieutenant Peter Decker to sort out the truth. By the author of Justice. 100,000 first printing.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Jewish, Audiobook

406 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Faye 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.

Reviews

[Brina · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the ninth book of the Decker and Lazarus series we relive a painful part of Rina's past. Renowned heart surgeon Azor Sparks is found brutally murdered in an alleyway behind a fancy restaurant. Lieutenant Decker and his team of detectives are called upon to investigate. Upon hearing the news, Rina immediately reaches out to the Dr's son Bram, and we find they had a past. Because of his wife's involvement, Lieutenant Decker would like to bring the murderer to justice but is not sure he can continue on the case.
As the case unravels, Kellerman writes of current issues of the time- gay rights, government involvement in hospitals, and interestingly enough the need for motorcyclists to wear helmets. Yet the main issue at hand in this case is religion although not Judaism. It is the breach in one prominent family between fundamentalist and catholic beliefs, and Rina's involvement with this family.
I enjoyed Rina's involvement in this case as she was absent from the last one. She is one smart lady and also an amazing homemaker. We see her discussing the case at ease while also doing a fine job raising her children and cooking mouth watering food. Likewise we see banter from the detectives, especially Marge who was on vacation during the last case.
In most mysteries we have a detective working alone to solve cases. In this series, Decker is surrounded by a team of cops and a loving family at home. As the the series moves from the early days of Peter and Rina's relationship into their day to day life as a family and also as Decker the detective transitions into Decker the lieutenant, I feel the series is just starting to pick up steam. An impeccable job as usual by Kellerman as I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars and 2 thumbs up.

A fairly good read, with lots of red herrings tossed in and some really shady characters to boot. Decker is now the Lieutenant overseeing a couple of different squads, but still wanting to keep his fingers deep in Homicide. Family politics rears its head in more ways than one just to keep the reader on their toes!

From the blurb: The brutal murder of Dr. Azor Sparks in an alley behind a restaurant is greeted with public outrage and a demand for swift, sure justice. But the investigation into the well-known surgeon's death is raising too many questions and providing too few answers for homicide detective Lieutenant Peter Decker.

Why, for example, would the family of a man so beloved respond to his slaying with more surprise than grief? And what linked a celebrated doctor with strict fundamentalist beliefs to a gang of outlaw bikers? But the most unsettling connection of all is the one that ties the tormented Sparks family to Peter Decker's own -- and the secrets shared by a renegade Catholic priest...and Decker's wife, Rina Lazarus.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

After several years away from the series, I was completely drawn into the Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series as Peter, a police lieutenant, is investigating the murder of a well-respected doctor. He had a large family, with several adult children, so as Peter begins his investigation, he looks at each of them as possible suspects.

One of them, Bram, a priest, has a connection with Rina, Peter's wife, that rather disturbs him and has the potential to affect his ability to investigate without prejudice.

I loved this book and am more than eager to catch up with the rest of this series.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Religious zealots, spoilers or the closed minded stop here and don’t bother with this book.

It is NOT meant to be ABOUT religion. Religious beliefs and personal religious struggles are the back drop for the mystery/story. If you have EVER had these personal struggles with family and friends on religious issues you will understand the backdrop of the book. IT IS HUMAN! It is not meant to categorize, preach or teach. It is simply a GREAT mystery.

Faye really gets the reader into the character's minds. Here, the characters struggle with religious and moral limits. Faye always balances the professional and personal relationship aspects of the stories. This book is deep on many levels while still being a great murder mystery with warmth and humor.

I found it difficult to put the book down, and was fascinated by all of the characters, twists and turns and shocked at the ending.

[📚 Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun. These books are great, totally hold my interest and keep me wanting to read more.

[Sherri F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio & paperback: Ahh so glad to be back to my comfort zone...this is one of my favorite series ever and #8 (Justice) was a little disappointing for me, but this 9th installment, was a strong and wonderful comeback...and was made better that I had both the paperback and eAudio versions and it was pooring down rain yesterday & wasn't feeling so great to be out in it--not that I really needed much incentive or excuse to stay in and devour most of this book. Since I was disappointed that Marge was missing from #8 and very little Rina, I was happy to have them back in full force. Decker is now promoted to Lt so he supv. of a team, which Marge is part of and someone that will be good to tell him like it is when needed. I'm not sure how I feel about her new partner or the "southern" guy on the team--not sure if it's the characters as they are written or how they came across on audio--but I may just have to warm up to them. With Rina being Orthodox Jewish and Decker's conversion decision/learning, there is always some religious aspect, which I have liked in a learning way for me & just for variety in mystery or crime storylines, but usually not a fan if it's a main storyline or just so in your face kind of stuff. However, even though there was much more religion involved (because the family involved has a variety within it b/c of converting by choice or marriage), in addition to complex medical terminology, formulas, etc., and could possibly make a book less enjoyable, the mystery/crime part as well as the personal side of things is so well done and written, that it still all worked so well for me. It's so frustrating as a non-writer to even try to describe just how much I enjoy Rina & Decker as a couple along w/their immediate & extended family plus the variety of great crime stories they come across that even things in a book that could or have irritated me in other books, barely bother me with this series/author. It's a series I only found earlier this year, but rather than rushing through it b/c I enjoy it so much, I'm trying to work through slowly (& it's not easy) b/c I fear the withdrawal of waiting a year or more between installments!

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this entry in Kellerman's Peter Decker/Rina Lazerus series. The twists and turns of the story, how she interweaves the personal and professional lives of the detective and his family is very skillful. In this one she also manages to balance the intricacies of religion; the Deckers' Orthodox Judaism, the victim and his family's Fundamentalist Christianity and one of the victim's son's Catholicism without missing a beat. The complexities of the plot in this one centers on the complexities of relationships. Very well done and very entertaining.

[J L's Bibliomania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revisited the mid-point of the extensive Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus saga. Started as an audiobook, but the library's CDs skipped so much that I switched to print.

As with many authors, I like the middle of this long-running series best. The fledgling author kinks are behind us. We and the author have had time to become familar with the characters and develop shared experiences to serve as touchstones. Yet the series is still new enough to be fresh and not overwhelmed by the flashbacks to previous books.

I do recommend reading this series in the order it was written.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had an English professor at Marshall University who brought a big box of books to class one day, told us all to pick one and write a paper about it. This is the one I ended up with.

I started reading it in the middle of class and literally didn't stop reading until about 10pm that night, when I was finished.

VERY good whodunit. The ending made me groan just a little bit, kind of lame, but all in all, an excellent way to spend an evening.

[Laura Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The twists and turns of this mystery kept me guessing until the end. First you think the mystery is headed in one direction and then it takes a turn in another direction and then another twist at the end. I loved this one. Rina is back to playing a part in solving the mystery and Peter is learning how to be the lieutenant to the squad. I always love the bi-play between Peter and Rina.

[Margo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, interesting because wife Rina was more of a part of the main plot than she usually is, and also because it involved a lot of non Jewish religious practices. Some good twists near the end.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read. It is not enough to live a virtuous and charitable life intermittently, but the Prophets and sages say one must "endure to the end. " Lapsing morals, hidden morals, nonexistent morals, and Big Pharma combine to bring this novel to a roiling conclusion.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another suspenseful novel by Faye Kellerman. Not only do I enjoy the main story about Peter Decker tracking down the criminals, I also enjoy reading about the family interactions.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two-haiku review:

Doctor is murdered
Partners or drug company
Or his family?

Good add to series
Rina gets involved in case
Learn more of her past

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept you on the edge of your feet from beginning to end... Loved it!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual Faye K writes a good tale.

Convoluted plot .. hard to guess who murdered the famous heart surgeon.
Many faiths involved in this tale .. Bram Sparks is a main character.
Pharmaceutical research, organ transplant, friendship and family loyalty are some of the themes.
A few twists at the end prevented a 5 star rating from me.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roughly six months since Peter Decker's promotion to Lieutenant at the end of "Justice," a prominent heart surgeon, Azor Sparks, is found dead behind a swanky restaurant - the victim of a gruesome homicide. With six children who stand to inherit a million dollars each, a team of colleagues who do NOT stand to profit nearly as much as Sparks will should the new anti-rejection drug they've been helping to research hit the market and the "secret life" motorcycle gang Sparks rides with, there's no shortage of suspects in a case with very little clues. Oh, and if things weren't going nowhere fast enough for Decker, it just so happens one of the Sparks sons just happened to be the best friend of his wife, Rina's, late husband. It's enough to have anyone reaching for a bottle of Maalox!

This was my favorite in this series thus far: there were so many angles as to what the motive could have been - most of Sparks's children were facing some kind of financial woes, making them make the most sense as culprits. But at the same time, Sparks was about to get the lion's share of the fame for a new drug, despite not being the only one on the research team - just the one with the "name." And why was Sparks donating big bucks to the biker's "cause?" And could Decker really be impartial while seething over not knowing just how close Rina and Abram (Bram) Sparks had really been after Yitsi died?

I really appreciated the "Anti-Rejection Drugs for Dummies" explanation for why the drug being developed mattered so much. It was told in layman's term but also in a way that didn't make the reader feel stupid.

The family dynamic was complex as it was clear that Bram was really the father-figure of the family as Azor's focus had been his career. The secret life as a member of a biker gang ended up having more of a motive for Azor than your typical mid-life crisis. And then there was the matter of Azor's "golden child" Bram rebelling against the family by not following his father's footsteps of becoming a doctor, but rather going against their Fundamentalist religious beliefs and becoming a Catholic priest - and a rumored gay one at that. Frustrating Decker the most though was Rina's unwavering faith that there was no way Bram could have been involved in his father's death - and that she was the one to put together some vital pieces of information which ultimately broke the case open.

I feel in some respects, this was the most risque of the books in this series, and it is definitely the one in which I laughed out loud the most while listening to it with quips like this:

Bram, to Rina addressing whether or not he's gay: "I'm a priest. I'm supposed to have a confused sexual orientation!"

Marge, to her partner after he compared Sparks to a vampire: "Sparks was collecting hearts, not eating them!"

This has definitely become my favorite series to listen to - I am so glad I didn't give it up after finding Decker to be a controlling asshat with the last book of this series I actually read and am already looking forward to what comes next.

[StefanieFrei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mighty Ego

I REALLY LOVED TO READ THIS. You have a short sequence in the beginning which left me wondering all through the rest of the book. Then you find the police at the site of the murder of a successful, renowned and wealthy heart surgeon, who also excelled at being deeply religious and very philantrophic. But who could have committed the ghastly crime? And, furthermore, why?

This is number 9 in the Decker/Lazarus series but it might be read on its own – any reference to the past will be explained in this very book, thus not requiring to have read the other titles but offering more insight to some of the past than the first eight books did. I liked the clever trick author Kellerman did about that.

The case is complex, it is topical, and motivations go way beyond what I had expected. LAPD Lieutenant Decker, now newly appointed head of the operations, finds himself unexpectedly personnally involved – his wife Rina knew the dead man. And more, she once was close to one of his sons, who turned away from the proprietary christian beliefs of his family to become a catholic priest. Investigations include researching within the victim’s large family, with grown-up children not even close to their father’s success or money, a biker gang, and the victims extended business activities. The setup kept me wondering all throughout the book. For those sensitive about that, no sexual assault in this book, and the gory details left reduced to what the cops see when finding a dead body (well, that can hardly be hygienical very often).

Apart from the aforementioned fact that you might start on the series with this book, those who know it will love to learn that, finally, Rina is back to play a significant role, not only privately, but, much to Decker’s dislike, in the case. Same is true for Decker’s former “partner in crime“, cop Marge Dunn. Also, Judaism again plays a bigger role: Decker married an orthodox jewish wife, same background you may find out about the author. Along with the books, some of the tradition is being explained, this time, the namegiving prayers for the dead and some others. Additionally, the author enters a field you might consider the counterpart for christians, constantly mentioning that the dead doctor was a fundamentalist and even disapproved about one of his sons becoming “only“ a catholic. Yes, there are pretty fundamentalist sects within christian belief but they probably would not call themselves thus nor would anybody openly refer to them as such all the time. It sounds a bit either PC or not knowing that Kellerman does not just give that group a name, she might at least have picked an invented one (there is one someplace, but less often than “fundamentalist“ which sounds rather awkward).

This minor point of criticism does not lessen how much I really enjoyed this book. A solid 5 stars.

[Ruth Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A famous heart doctor is murdered behind a restaurant. Peter must figure out the events that lead up to it. Little does he know Tina knows the family. She reaches out to the son who was friends with her late husband. Read and see how this turns out.

[Marsha]

Faye Kellerman, and her husband, Jonathan, are both super writers. I learn a lot from her series because the characters are orthodox jews. Good mysteries.

[Dharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not totally sure what I think of this book. It's my first Kellerman. I felt there were serious reaches in some plot threads to make things work, dramatic, something.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an old of hers, but saw it at the library on CD. I love the way she weaves the police work and family life of the Deckers together. Reminded me of how well I like her books.

[Julia Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best one yet. Lots of plot twists, Catholic and Jewish, motorcycle gangs, heart transplants, and more.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure how Rina continues to get entangled in Peter's investigations, but it really does keep me coming back to read more!

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series isn’t always consistent in its quality, but this book is a solid contribution.

Fictional renowned heart surgeon Azor Moses Sparks died brutally one night behind an expensive Los Angeles restaurant. Whoever killed him riddled his head with bullets and slammed a knife deep into his chest cavity. It took strength to do that, and some argued it took even rage.

Alas, Peter Decker is home late again and is unaware of the murder as he attempts to eat leftover Chinese food. Even Rina, who has sleepily joined him, realizes he can’t eat that—it’s just too leftover nasty. She is determined to make him salami and eggs. That’s when the phone rings. He takes the call and casually announces that he’s back on the road. A famous heart surgeon named Sparks is dead. He is somewhat surprised by Rina’s immediate reaction, but he doesn’t think much of it. But Rina has secrets that tie directly into the case, and Decker will have to confront those eventually.

This is an engaging book in which the author peels back the secrets of a supposedly fundamentalist conservative doctor and his family. I read the lion’s share of it tonight between supper and bedtime, so you won’t be at this for days and days. You need to read this just to enjoy the ride through the labyrinth of secrets amassed by this doctor and his highly dysfunctional family. Nothing in this book refers to earlier books in the series per se, so you can read it without going back to the beginning if you want to.

If this had a downside, it is that there’s not as much information about Judaism as you’ll find in prior books. That information is part of the magic of this series for me. But it’s still very much worth your time.

[J.L. Rallios · Rating 1 out of 5]

On the plus side, this police procedural was pretty well-written and the mystery was... well, I didn't finish it, so I can't say. I tried to push through it, but then I had to ask myself, "Why?" I didn't like the profanity which kept popping up here and there -- and not very mild either. Decker, the main character, was likeable. There was not much not to like about Decker, except his "world view" (as they call one's belief system nowadays), which I don't agree with. It was slanted away from Christianity. I say "slanted away" because it wasn't vehemently opposed. That much I'll give the author, but it was definitely cynical of its tenets, especially about being against the belief that all men are sinners with Decker saying that he preferred to think that everybody's has good in them. Of course, the implication is that Christianity instigates intolerance and hatred, which is not true (not genuine Christianity, that is -- read the New Testament). But this is a review, not a debate, so I apologize that I digressed. Even so, it does state, apart from the profanity, one of the attributes that added to my motivation to stop reading. Another is that there were so many names and so little description as to who is who. The main reason, however, is that the mystery itself wasn't that interesting to me. If it had been so, I would've made allowances because I am okay with views contrary to my own as well as with some struggling with who's who in the story. It just wasn't worth it, even though I made it through 2/3 of the book.

[Virginia Tican · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Dolores aka Dolly Sparks made her husband, Dr. Azor Sparks a famous heart by~pass surgeon and a staunch Christian Fundamentalist, her god... she was on her own Warped Reality. When Azor told her some more Truths she could not handle she started looking for somebody to blame... then her husband got murdered and the family secrets were slowly revealed by Decker's investigations ~ like religious hypocrisy... the rabid concepts on homosexuality and the all common motive of money as an incentive for murder. A revelation, one of the Sparks triplets, Bram as in Abram was Rina's dead husband's best friend (common interests in deeper religious learning as well as affection bonded the Jew and the Roman Catholic Gentile together)... Bram took care of Yitzchak, alternating with Rina, during his last days and so became very close to her... unbeknownst to her, though he was already a seminarian, he fell in love with her. Having had no signs of reciprocation from her, he took his priestly vows, after Yitzchak's death, in Rome where Rina advised him to go. One thing, though, I thought Fundamentalists (more purists? than Evangelicals) do not espouse the sacrament of Confirmation as the Roman Catholics do... so I wondered about the silver crucifix (Chapter 22), as one of the Confirmation gifts to each of the triplets, found at the murder scene of the openly gay doctor and colleague of Sparks, and his companion, an employee of the pharmaceutical company who bought Curedon, the drug Dr. Azor Sparks developed.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue my journey through the Decker/Lazarus series written nearly a quarter century ago. It is great to read crime novels that are not chocked full of internet and computers but rather sleuthing based upon insight and intellect and interactions with people. This volume was filled with a wonderfully dysfunctional wealthy and fundamentalist family (dangerous combination to be sure!) who also happens to struggle with a homosexual in the family. But the struggle isn't as it first appears!!! After a grievous murder, Peter gets to work putting together the pieces of a strange puzzle. What makes it harder, and a great test, is that the prime suspect has a past and close emotional connection to Rina. This proves to reveal another unique, and strengthening, aspect to their relationship. Sadly, the homophobia that filled American culture in the late 1990s, at the time of this books authorship, is still rampant a quarter century later; it is improving, but still too prevalent. So the book is a good reminder of how far we still have to go as a society.

Another great addition to the series. I look forward to starting book #10 soon!

[Deane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good story in the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series.

A famous heart doctor, Azor Sparks is brutally killed behind a restaurant in his car...both shot and stabbed...so two killers assumed.

Sparks and his wife, Dolly had 6 children...a set of triplets with two of them being identical twins, one other son and 2 daughters.

No one can imagine that Dr. Sparks could be killed because he was liked by everyone for his heart surgeries. His son Bram left their very fundamental church and became a Catholic priest.

As the story progresses, we learn that Azor is not the man he portrays....he is gay, mean to his children, rode with a bike club on weekends...a whole different man. Because Dolly knew what was going on, she was the problem for the family. She had been on strong meds for years, ran a loving home for her children, loved cooking and having company...but she has a very dark side.

The story was sad at the last when a death occurs of the man who loved Rina so much; she also loved him at the time because he was such a help when her first husband was dying.

[Harry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 5th book I have read by Faye Kellerman. I love the Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus characters, how they interact, and how they and how they observe their religion while negotiating modern day realities. This is the 9th book in the Decker/Lazarus series, and it gives more of the background story than later books.

That said, Kellerman’s books are more about character development and interpersonal relationships than actually solving crimes. Confronted with a unique M.O. (shooting and stabbing that took extraordinary strength), Decker and his team spend the majority of their time interviewing family members and uncovering pharmaceutical fraud, than actually looking for someone with the ability to do the deed. Rina, of course, contributes to the solving of the murders.

To her credit, the author explores themes of homosexuality, Catholicism, and spousal jealousy.