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Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus #15
Street Dreams
While on routine patrol, LAPD Officer Cindy Decker rescues a newborn abandoned in an alley dumpster.
442 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2003
450 people are currently reading
1923 people want to read
About the author
Faye Kellerman
180 books2,021 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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October 26, 2016
Following an emotional rollercoaster featuring mobster Chris Donatti in the last episode of this series, Peter Decker is back in another page turning police thriller. In this fifteenth book in the series, Officer Cindy Decker discovers a newborn baby abandoned in a dumpster. Cindy is determined to find the baby's parents in an attempt to prove to her department once and for all that she merits the rank of detective based on her ability not because of her Lieutenant father. Ensuing is the first book in this series where both Deckers work together in order to solve multiple cases.
Faye Kellerman once again has weaved together multiple mysteries in one book. The case Cindy is working on contains more than one crime, all involving developmentally disabled teenagers from the Fordham Day Center. Meanwhile, Rina has unearthed an eighty year old case to find out how her grandmother had been murdered in prewar Germany. Both women ask for Peter's assistance in solving their cases, allowing for this episode to balance police and family life.
Besides the police work is Cindy's personal life. Being a woman in a male dominated profession does not give her much chance to socialize. Kellerman solves that puzzle by introducing her to Yaakov "Koby" Kutiel, an Ethiopian Jew who is a critical care nurse at MidCity Pediatric Hospital. Their romance ensues over the course of the book, allowing Kellerman to address social themes such as interracial romance, African Americans' view of police, and the history of Ethiopian Jewry. Their romance offered a brief respite from police work that Kellerman hadn't offered since the early days of the series when Peter and Rina had first met. Instead of only police and cases I also found myself reading quickly to find out how Cindy and Koby's relationship progressed.
The addition of Koby's character spices up a series that had almost reached its peak after fifteen books. As Cindy is an independent adult and the two boys are in college, the Deckers only have Hannah at home and are close to entering a new stage of life. With Cindy about to get married and earning that elusive gold shield, the series can pick up steam again with more cases featuring the younger couple. This case with both Deckers working together almost screamed out at me that Cindy could wind up working at her father's station. Combined with Koby's involvement both at home and at the hospital there is no telling how many future cases Kellerman has in store for us.
As in all long running series, some books rate better than others. Even though many people state their dislike for Cindy as a character, I find myself enjoying her more and more with each case she is in. A twenty first century cop and independent woman, Cindy is just what the series needs to keep from getting stale. By changing off cases with Peter and Cindy, Kellerman allows for many different scenarios both in and away from the police station. With Cindy about to get married, there is no telling where the series will lead, but this new chain of events has me eagerly looking forward to the next book in this series.
Faye Kellerman once again has weaved together multiple mysteries in one book. The case Cindy is working on contains more than one crime, all involving developmentally disabled teenagers from the Fordham Day Center. Meanwhile, Rina has unearthed an eighty year old case to find out how her grandmother had been murdered in prewar Germany. Both women ask for Peter's assistance in solving their cases, allowing for this episode to balance police and family life.
Besides the police work is Cindy's personal life. Being a woman in a male dominated profession does not give her much chance to socialize. Kellerman solves that puzzle by introducing her to Yaakov "Koby" Kutiel, an Ethiopian Jew who is a critical care nurse at MidCity Pediatric Hospital. Their romance ensues over the course of the book, allowing Kellerman to address social themes such as interracial romance, African Americans' view of police, and the history of Ethiopian Jewry. Their romance offered a brief respite from police work that Kellerman hadn't offered since the early days of the series when Peter and Rina had first met. Instead of only police and cases I also found myself reading quickly to find out how Cindy and Koby's relationship progressed.
The addition of Koby's character spices up a series that had almost reached its peak after fifteen books. As Cindy is an independent adult and the two boys are in college, the Deckers only have Hannah at home and are close to entering a new stage of life. With Cindy about to get married and earning that elusive gold shield, the series can pick up steam again with more cases featuring the younger couple. This case with both Deckers working together almost screamed out at me that Cindy could wind up working at her father's station. Combined with Koby's involvement both at home and at the hospital there is no telling how many future cases Kellerman has in store for us.
As in all long running series, some books rate better than others. Even though many people state their dislike for Cindy as a character, I find myself enjoying her more and more with each case she is in. A twenty first century cop and independent woman, Cindy is just what the series needs to keep from getting stale. By changing off cases with Peter and Cindy, Kellerman allows for many different scenarios both in and away from the police station. With Cindy about to get married, there is no telling where the series will lead, but this new chain of events has me eagerly looking forward to the next book in this series.
August 5, 2025
“Do you want me to arrest you? Three squares and a hot shower,” I told her.”
“No.” She drew herself tighter under her cover. “No, but thanks. You can give me mo’ money if you be feeling charitylike.”
The poor thing was barely hours old when LAPD Officer Cindy Decker found a newborn baby unceremoniously trashed in an alley dumpster, complete with ragged umbilical cord, placental remains, and fresh birthing blood. Despite dealing with her own past personal trauma, Cindy Decker gives the investigation her best effort thinking to use it as a springboard to a much sought after promotion to a gold shield – the coveted rank of detective.
STREET DREAMS is a gripping police procedural that deals with a heaping helping of timely themes – poverty and street people; medical care and housing for mentally challenged; gang rape and gang violence; internal police politics and techniques of investigation; the minutiae of planning an effective police interview or interrogation; and more. Romance also makes its not unexpected appearance in the form of burgeoning inter-racial and inter-cultural love.
Sadly, Kellerman decided to clutter what would have been a 5-star cracker jack thriller with a meaningless and uninteresting side story of the details of Jewish table manners, family relations, and courting procedures accompanied by a veritable blizzard of Hebrew and Yiddish expressions appropriate to the conversation at hand. Yawn! My opinion only, of course, but I found all of this actually beyond uninteresting and encroaching on irritating.
What might have been a top-10 of the year for me now comes in at a damaged 3-star rating with the hope that my next Faye Kellerman reading stays in its proper lane.
Paul Weiss
“No.” She drew herself tighter under her cover. “No, but thanks. You can give me mo’ money if you be feeling charitylike.”
The poor thing was barely hours old when LAPD Officer Cindy Decker found a newborn baby unceremoniously trashed in an alley dumpster, complete with ragged umbilical cord, placental remains, and fresh birthing blood. Despite dealing with her own past personal trauma, Cindy Decker gives the investigation her best effort thinking to use it as a springboard to a much sought after promotion to a gold shield – the coveted rank of detective.
STREET DREAMS is a gripping police procedural that deals with a heaping helping of timely themes – poverty and street people; medical care and housing for mentally challenged; gang rape and gang violence; internal police politics and techniques of investigation; the minutiae of planning an effective police interview or interrogation; and more. Romance also makes its not unexpected appearance in the form of burgeoning inter-racial and inter-cultural love.
Sadly, Kellerman decided to clutter what would have been a 5-star cracker jack thriller with a meaningless and uninteresting side story of the details of Jewish table manners, family relations, and courting procedures accompanied by a veritable blizzard of Hebrew and Yiddish expressions appropriate to the conversation at hand. Yawn! My opinion only, of course, but I found all of this actually beyond uninteresting and encroaching on irritating.
What might have been a top-10 of the year for me now comes in at a damaged 3-star rating with the hope that my next Faye Kellerman reading stays in its proper lane.
Paul Weiss
September 4, 2019
Street Dreams is yet another thrilling page turner by Faye Kellerman.
When LAPD officer Cynthia Decker finds an abandoned infant in a downtown rubbish dump, the hunt is on for clues, through the murky world of inner city Hollywood.
Cindy finds her love interest in an Ethiopian-Israeli male nurse, with lots of charm and mystique - Yaakov Kutiel the book focuses much on Cindy and Yaakov's steamy romance) , and soon joins up with her father Lieutenant Peter Decker, in cracking open a maze of rape and murder, in many sleazy and dangerous corners.
It is a story of the vicious thugs that pray on the innocent.
A side story takes place as Rina, Peter Decker's beautiful Orthodox wife does some of her own detective work, also roping in `Loo' Decker, to find out about the murder of her grandmother in Munich, Germany, in 1928.
Hence the story is set against the backdrop of both the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany , in the 1930's and the war of Israel against Muslim terror.
When LAPD officer Cynthia Decker finds an abandoned infant in a downtown rubbish dump, the hunt is on for clues, through the murky world of inner city Hollywood.
Cindy finds her love interest in an Ethiopian-Israeli male nurse, with lots of charm and mystique - Yaakov Kutiel the book focuses much on Cindy and Yaakov's steamy romance) , and soon joins up with her father Lieutenant Peter Decker, in cracking open a maze of rape and murder, in many sleazy and dangerous corners.
It is a story of the vicious thugs that pray on the innocent.
A side story takes place as Rina, Peter Decker's beautiful Orthodox wife does some of her own detective work, also roping in `Loo' Decker, to find out about the murder of her grandmother in Munich, Germany, in 1928.
Hence the story is set against the backdrop of both the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany , in the 1930's and the war of Israel against Muslim terror.
January 16, 2012
Once again, the expense of used books where I currently live has lead me to a strange choice. This was found literally lodged behind a shelf in the teacher's lounge and I said "what the hell". I've enjoyed some of her husband's stuff in the past.
But to be clear: this is a romance/thriller hybrid. It's not that the writing was "bad", I burned through it in a quick read, it just isn't good. It's fluffy. There is nothing dark about it. Well, the notion of a mentally challenged woman being gang-raped, later giving birth in an LA alley to then abandon the baby in a dumpster is dark. But there is no "inside the dark mind" angle like with J. Kellerman. This was written to placate fans of the series... one of whom I have no desire to become. Learning a bit about Ethiopian Jewish cultrue was interesting, not fascinating. The sub-plot, attempts to solve a murder in Munich a half century before, literally ends in an old ladies' joyful reunion over tea and snacks - with nothing solved.
If you a semi-conservative Jewish American woman who enjoys positive cultural depictions, while having guilt free titilation picturing scenes of black cock on a non-threating, swell guy of whom mom would approve, this may be a novel for you. Anyone else: don't bother.
But to be clear: this is a romance/thriller hybrid. It's not that the writing was "bad", I burned through it in a quick read, it just isn't good. It's fluffy. There is nothing dark about it. Well, the notion of a mentally challenged woman being gang-raped, later giving birth in an LA alley to then abandon the baby in a dumpster is dark. But there is no "inside the dark mind" angle like with J. Kellerman. This was written to placate fans of the series... one of whom I have no desire to become. Learning a bit about Ethiopian Jewish cultrue was interesting, not fascinating. The sub-plot, attempts to solve a murder in Munich a half century before, literally ends in an old ladies' joyful reunion over tea and snacks - with nothing solved.
If you a semi-conservative Jewish American woman who enjoys positive cultural depictions, while having guilt free titilation picturing scenes of black cock on a non-threating, swell guy of whom mom would approve, this may be a novel for you. Anyone else: don't bother.
June 30, 2020
This one I felt wasn't the usual being from Cindy more than Decker.
It upset my rythym a little
It upset my rythym a little
February 8, 2011
I am in the process of re reading this entire series.. I think that this one is fabulous and I am adding a star..
October 7, 2018
Faye Kellerman’s Peter Decker books were my first love of detective stories so many years ago. I’ll admit that not all her Decker & Rina Lazarus books were equally captivating and engaging; but this one mainly focused on Cindy Decker, Peter’s 28-daughter from his first marriage, is one of my all time favorites. Cindy’s a night patrolling uniformed police officer, who has her father’s good cop instincts. One night, she’s called to an alley behind a restaurant, where sounds of a crying baby can be heard. It’s Cindy who discovers the newly born baby at the bottom of the garbage container. From there, Cindy, who can’t let this case go, will spend many of hours of her spare time trying to find the mother of this baby, and why she left it behind. Cindy goes from one interesting discovery to the next. While visiting the infant in the hospital, Cindy meets Kobe (Jakov); a neo-natal specialist RN and Ethiopian Jew, who immigrated to the US eight years ago, to make himself a better future. What I especially liked is that Cindy and Kobe fall in love in a very credible manner; they are both very authentic characters and their conversations are about anything or nothing feel totally realistic.
I like how Decker, at a certain critical moment, teaches his daughter the reality of being a cop; of using some physical force in order to do the right thing. It’s a side to Decker we don’t see often.
I have always loved the family aspect of the Decker books, and here it was surely front and center.
I like how Decker, at a certain critical moment, teaches his daughter the reality of being a cop; of using some physical force in order to do the right thing. It’s a side to Decker we don’t see often.
I have always loved the family aspect of the Decker books, and here it was surely front and center.
June 2, 2017
This was another good one in the series that is focusing more on Decker's daughter Cindy and her police career in solving the mystery behind the baby she finds in the dumpster. I am still catching up on some of the books in the series, but this one also includes a change in Cindy's love life which gives background to what I already know. There is another storyline of the death of Rina's grandmother many years ago in Germany, but it doesn't get resolved too much in this book so it must be in another one I haven't read yet. I love this series!
March 31, 2017
Ok, the story was a 5 star. The mysteries were a 5 star rating. Peter and Rina get 5 stars. Cindy and her new boyfriend get 5 stars. So why did I rate this book 3 stars? Half the book is written in 3rd person, the other half written in first person from Cindy's POV. I am not overly fond of first person any way and the switching back and forth depending on the parts of the story was jarring and not needed to tell the story. So 0 stars for the POV fiasco and 5 stars for the story.
November 11, 2022
I normally listen to this series on audio books, but our library had this one in print instead. There was less of Peter and Rina and more of Peter's daughter Cindy in this one. She's sort of growing on me, but Rina is still my fave.
November 19, 2018
Two-haiku review:
Baby in dumpster
Cindy finds, searches for mom
With help from Peter
Cindy gets boyfriend
She's main character this time
Like her young cop vibe
Baby in dumpster
Cindy finds, searches for mom
With help from Peter
Cindy gets boyfriend
She's main character this time
Like her young cop vibe
March 12, 2022
Faye and Jonathan Kellerman's books are some of my favourites. This particular book, mainly featuring Cindy and her father, Peter Decker, had very good story lines and great characters.
October 13, 2018
Goed boek, aanrader!
January 29, 2024
A great vacation read!
July 26, 2017
Thumb Up for Faye Kellerman.
An interesting book and I will be reading more of her books soon...4star for this Work.
An interesting book and I will be reading more of her books soon...4star for this Work.
July 22, 2010
Fun read starring Decker's cop daughter Cindy !
With more than a dozen books in the popular Rina Lazarus/Peter Decker series, Faye Kellerman's new books are normally anxiously awaited by her fans. We've come to enjoy the clever mysteries solved by this conservative Jewish couple, with fairly detailed expositions of the Jewish religion part of the nominal price of admission. In one earlier book, "Stalker", Decker's daughter by his first marriage, Cindy, now an LAPD officer, was the central character in an compelling story of danger and crime solving. In "Street Dreams", so titled from the recurring nightmares she has of her earlier experience, Cindy once again plays front and center, the opening premise about a still-alive baby she finds in a dumpster. Through some brilliant and persistent sleuthing, above the call of duty for a "mere" officer not yet on the official ("gold shield") Detective staff, Cindy finds not only the natural mother but pursues strong leads to the probable natural father. Along the way, and with just a little help from her father Peter, Cindy helps track down a hit and run killer while getting leads on some dangerous gang members. All in all, the mystery had an entertaining plot and a nicely drawn conclusion.
Unlike most of Kellerman's stories which feature sometimes almost overwhelming descriptions of Jewish orthodox practices, in this novel she provides a love interest for Cindy in the form of a male nurse named Yaakov "Koby" Kutiel, an African who turns out to be an Ethiopian Jew. When things get hot between the two, some interesting scenes take place when Cindy decides to take Koby home for Sabbath dinner. The family reactions to the mixed race couple varies from shock by daddy Peter to immediate acceptance by mama Rina, that latter based on the simple binary discriminator that Koby is a Jew. A great deal of interesting dialogue from these characters as well as some of the detectives spoke to the issue of mixed race and faiths, and added a provocative element to the main story line without "taking sides".
To us, this is one of the best Kellerman offerings in the recent past. Her usual excellent story telling, combined with social issues of concern to all, with just passing indulgence in Jewish practices, make "Dreams" a novel that should enjoy broad reader delight.
With more than a dozen books in the popular Rina Lazarus/Peter Decker series, Faye Kellerman's new books are normally anxiously awaited by her fans. We've come to enjoy the clever mysteries solved by this conservative Jewish couple, with fairly detailed expositions of the Jewish religion part of the nominal price of admission. In one earlier book, "Stalker", Decker's daughter by his first marriage, Cindy, now an LAPD officer, was the central character in an compelling story of danger and crime solving. In "Street Dreams", so titled from the recurring nightmares she has of her earlier experience, Cindy once again plays front and center, the opening premise about a still-alive baby she finds in a dumpster. Through some brilliant and persistent sleuthing, above the call of duty for a "mere" officer not yet on the official ("gold shield") Detective staff, Cindy finds not only the natural mother but pursues strong leads to the probable natural father. Along the way, and with just a little help from her father Peter, Cindy helps track down a hit and run killer while getting leads on some dangerous gang members. All in all, the mystery had an entertaining plot and a nicely drawn conclusion.
Unlike most of Kellerman's stories which feature sometimes almost overwhelming descriptions of Jewish orthodox practices, in this novel she provides a love interest for Cindy in the form of a male nurse named Yaakov "Koby" Kutiel, an African who turns out to be an Ethiopian Jew. When things get hot between the two, some interesting scenes take place when Cindy decides to take Koby home for Sabbath dinner. The family reactions to the mixed race couple varies from shock by daddy Peter to immediate acceptance by mama Rina, that latter based on the simple binary discriminator that Koby is a Jew. A great deal of interesting dialogue from these characters as well as some of the detectives spoke to the issue of mixed race and faiths, and added a provocative element to the main story line without "taking sides".
To us, this is one of the best Kellerman offerings in the recent past. Her usual excellent story telling, combined with social issues of concern to all, with just passing indulgence in Jewish practices, make "Dreams" a novel that should enjoy broad reader delight.
September 30, 2014
THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY
Totally agree, this is one of the better ones.
In one earlier book, "Stalker", Decker's daughter by his first marriage, Cindy, now an LAPD officer, was the central character in an compelling story of danger and crime solving. In "Street Dreams", so titled from the recurring nightmares she has of her earlier experience, Cindy once again plays front and center, the opening premise about a still-alive baby she finds in a dumpster. Through some brilliant and persistent sleuthing, above the call of duty for a "mere" officer not yet on the official ("gold shield") Detective staff, Cindy finds not only the natural mother but pursues strong leads to the probable natural father. Along the way, and with just a little help from her father Peter, Cindy helps track down a hit and run killer while getting leads on some dangerous gang members. All in all, the mystery had an entertaining plot and a nicely drawn conclusion.
Unlike most of Kellerman's stories which feature sometimes almost overwhelming descriptions of Jewish orthodox practices, in this novel she provides a love interest for Cindy in the form of a male nurse named Yaakov "Koby" Kutiel, an African who turns out to be an Ethiopian Jew. When things get hot between the two, some interesting scenes take place when Cindy decides to take Koby home for Sabbath dinner. The family reactions to the mixed race couple varies from shock by daddy Peter to immediate acceptance by mama Rina, that latter based on the simple binary discriminator that Koby is a Jew. A great deal of interesting dialogue from these characters as well as some of the detectives spoke to the issue of mixed race and faiths, and added a provocative element to the main story line without "taking sides".
To us, this is one of the best Kellerman offerings in the recent past. Her usual excellent story telling, combined with social issues of concern to all, with just passing indulgence in Jewish practices, make "Dreams" a novel that should enjoy broad reader delight.
Totally agree, this is one of the better ones.
In one earlier book, "Stalker", Decker's daughter by his first marriage, Cindy, now an LAPD officer, was the central character in an compelling story of danger and crime solving. In "Street Dreams", so titled from the recurring nightmares she has of her earlier experience, Cindy once again plays front and center, the opening premise about a still-alive baby she finds in a dumpster. Through some brilliant and persistent sleuthing, above the call of duty for a "mere" officer not yet on the official ("gold shield") Detective staff, Cindy finds not only the natural mother but pursues strong leads to the probable natural father. Along the way, and with just a little help from her father Peter, Cindy helps track down a hit and run killer while getting leads on some dangerous gang members. All in all, the mystery had an entertaining plot and a nicely drawn conclusion.
Unlike most of Kellerman's stories which feature sometimes almost overwhelming descriptions of Jewish orthodox practices, in this novel she provides a love interest for Cindy in the form of a male nurse named Yaakov "Koby" Kutiel, an African who turns out to be an Ethiopian Jew. When things get hot between the two, some interesting scenes take place when Cindy decides to take Koby home for Sabbath dinner. The family reactions to the mixed race couple varies from shock by daddy Peter to immediate acceptance by mama Rina, that latter based on the simple binary discriminator that Koby is a Jew. A great deal of interesting dialogue from these characters as well as some of the detectives spoke to the issue of mixed race and faiths, and added a provocative element to the main story line without "taking sides".
To us, this is one of the best Kellerman offerings in the recent past. Her usual excellent story telling, combined with social issues of concern to all, with just passing indulgence in Jewish practices, make "Dreams" a novel that should enjoy broad reader delight.
March 15, 2014
I read this book several years ago but had forgotten the main storyline, so when it came back to me in a swap with a friend, I decided to re-read it.
While it is labeled a Decker/Lazarus novel, the main plot features Cindy Decker, Peter's daughter, with Peter and Rina’s story playing second fiddle.
Sometimes, this far into a series, the author assumes that readers ‘know’ the main characters well enough that he or she doesn’t need to tell us much about them. Kellerman draws them well enough that understanding them and what drove them was not a problem.
The first Faye Kellerman novel I ever read, it left me a bit lost as some events referred to in it occurred in earlier books.
To Kellerman’s credit, she gave the story a ‘real time’ feel by not having Cindy solve the crime in a few days or a week but over months of diligent investigation. However, her resolution of the crime Cindy’s investigating seemed a little rushed to me as she wrapped it up in a scene slightly longer than a page. Prior to that the guilty party appeared briefly early in the book as a passing mention by another character and the story specifically pointed the reader to a different character who was a much bigger presence in the book. It was good misdirection on Kellerman’s part but it felt a bit like a forced twist.
The book, too, stretched more chapters than it should have beyond the climax as Kellerman tied up the multiple story lines she threaded through the novel. They also felt rushed as if she tried to cram too much information into too little space.
I won’t put Faye Kellerman on my ‘must read’ list – I like Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series better – but will keep her books in mind for when I’m looking for something different to read.
While it is labeled a Decker/Lazarus novel, the main plot features Cindy Decker, Peter's daughter, with Peter and Rina’s story playing second fiddle.
Sometimes, this far into a series, the author assumes that readers ‘know’ the main characters well enough that he or she doesn’t need to tell us much about them. Kellerman draws them well enough that understanding them and what drove them was not a problem.
The first Faye Kellerman novel I ever read, it left me a bit lost as some events referred to in it occurred in earlier books.
To Kellerman’s credit, she gave the story a ‘real time’ feel by not having Cindy solve the crime in a few days or a week but over months of diligent investigation. However, her resolution of the crime Cindy’s investigating seemed a little rushed to me as she wrapped it up in a scene slightly longer than a page. Prior to that the guilty party appeared briefly early in the book as a passing mention by another character and the story specifically pointed the reader to a different character who was a much bigger presence in the book. It was good misdirection on Kellerman’s part but it felt a bit like a forced twist.
The book, too, stretched more chapters than it should have beyond the climax as Kellerman tied up the multiple story lines she threaded through the novel. They also felt rushed as if she tried to cram too much information into too little space.
I won’t put Faye Kellerman on my ‘must read’ list – I like Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series better – but will keep her books in mind for when I’m looking for something different to read.
February 9, 2015
Author...
FAYE KELLERMAN...
Characters..
Peter Decker, Rina, Cynthia Decker, Sarah Sanders, David Tyler, Koby Yaakov, Buck, Raymond Paxton..n Belinda
Location;
Los Angles..
Plot..
LAPD officer Cindy Decker rescues a new born baby girl from an ally Dumpster. Admitting the newborn safe in a hospital, she finds that the infant's mother is Sara Sanders a mentally retarded from Fordham communal centre in east of Hollywood.Further investigation leads to one David Tyler a black teen, boyfriend of Sarah is the biological father of the newborn. After a brief interview with Sarah, Cindy learns that Sarah had been gang raped by a Hispanic group,beating her black boyfriend David,dumping him in trash box in an unconscious stage. David disappears after that incident, his whereabouts and his condition unknown. Meanwhile another retarded girl from the communal centre, dies from a brutal hit and run accident.Cindy, with the help of father Peter Decker lieutenant from LAPD and with the support of her black Jew boyfriend and male nurse, Koby Yaakov from the hospital,investigates and does justice.
My comment..
A total let down novel from Faye Kellerman. If I find a Faye kellerman novel next time..I will stay away at least thousand kilo meters from that book.
FAYE KELLERMAN...
Characters..
Peter Decker, Rina, Cynthia Decker, Sarah Sanders, David Tyler, Koby Yaakov, Buck, Raymond Paxton..n Belinda
Location;
Los Angles..
Plot..
LAPD officer Cindy Decker rescues a new born baby girl from an ally Dumpster. Admitting the newborn safe in a hospital, she finds that the infant's mother is Sara Sanders a mentally retarded from Fordham communal centre in east of Hollywood.Further investigation leads to one David Tyler a black teen, boyfriend of Sarah is the biological father of the newborn. After a brief interview with Sarah, Cindy learns that Sarah had been gang raped by a Hispanic group,beating her black boyfriend David,dumping him in trash box in an unconscious stage. David disappears after that incident, his whereabouts and his condition unknown. Meanwhile another retarded girl from the communal centre, dies from a brutal hit and run accident.Cindy, with the help of father Peter Decker lieutenant from LAPD and with the support of her black Jew boyfriend and male nurse, Koby Yaakov from the hospital,investigates and does justice.
My comment..
A total let down novel from Faye Kellerman. If I find a Faye kellerman novel next time..I will stay away at least thousand kilo meters from that book.
February 6, 2017
The Decker & Lazarus series has provided me with many hours of entertainment. I read the first book upon its release many years ago. Immediately I fell in love with these characters, and the world they brought into my life. I did not have a lot of knowledge about life for Orthodox Jews and I found myself fascinated and enthralled with the uniqueness of these books. But although I have read or listened to all of the books -- I somehow skipped this one. Luckily today I found it at my library and listened to the entire book in one sitting. I loved that Cindy was the central character and Detective in this book. I enjoyed her interactions with Peter as you could see the bond between dad and daughter. I loved her new many, Yakov. They were well matched and provided Cindy with a a lightness that she needed to offset all of the darkness of her job. Yakov helped round out Cindy in the same way that Rina does for Peter. Now it is on my wish list that Faye Kellerman will write more books featuring Cindy as lead.
October 24, 2009
Street Dreams by Faye Kellerman is entertaining. If the reader has followed the Decker family from novel to novel, he/she will find stories from their pasts are included in the book, even though they are not part of the ‘crime to be solved’. Because Kellerman includes those everyday bits of everyone's lives, the story feels very real. In this novel, the mystery of Rina’s missing grandmother from WWII adds a fun sub-story. Another sub-story is Cindy’s new relationship with an Ethiopian Jew. How he fits in with her Orthodox Jewish family is enjoyable.
And, oh yes, the book has all the thrills and suspense you would expect from Kellerman, as LAPD officer Cindy Decker finds an abandoned newborn which leads to a case to be solved..
And, oh yes, the book has all the thrills and suspense you would expect from Kellerman, as LAPD officer Cindy Decker finds an abandoned newborn which leads to a case to be solved..
November 11, 2013
There are really two mysteries in this book. One is about LAPD Cindy Decker who finds a baby in a dumpster. She must find out who the baby belongs to. While doing this she falls in love with a ethiopian jew who is a male nurse. Her step-mother Rina has a mystery of her own. Her grandmother was murdered in Germany before the war. She wants after all these years, to find out who killed her. The book was a good read. The book tells us about what happens to the lowest class of our population. We see the slime side of Hollywood, Ca. The hollywood that is not the rich and famous. Faye Kellerman, shows us the real life hollywood and what working in the Hollywood PD is all about. This book was worth reading. We see Cindy Decker in a new light.
October 31, 2015
Cindy Decker is the main character in this installment of the popular detective series. Peter Decker's daughter is currently a member of LAPD where she has worked for the past 2 years. The story starts with her finding an abandoned newborn in a dumpster. She becomes attached to the baby and follows her to the hospital where she encounters an Ethiopian Jewish nurse who she's interested in seeing more of. Being as tenacious as her father, she can't let the case go and finds out more than she bargained for. I don't love Cindy and much as Rina and Peter Decker. For someone who's supposed to be independent, she relies an awful lot on Daddy. I also didn't love the way who thought through her case. She just annoys me a little as a character.
October 17, 2025
I've truly enjoyed this book. I've read many of Peter Decker's stories and he's been one of the police detectives I've liked the most. There's a huge part of this series that is dedicated to Decker's home life and I love his connection to his wife Rina. It appeals to me how over the years Rina's sons have become Decker's sons. They have a great connection. These books are a nice balance between the murder to be solved (by Decker and his squad), and the simple and realistic family dynamics that are present.
Now his oldest daughter Cindy is in the center of this story and I must say I was really pulled into this. Cindy is as charismatic as her daddy. Wonderfully written by Faye Kellerman.
Now his oldest daughter Cindy is in the center of this story and I must say I was really pulled into this. Cindy is as charismatic as her daddy. Wonderfully written by Faye Kellerman.
December 13, 2008
This is mostly a good read, quite engrossing. Like all the Lt. Decker books, it's a standard cop thriller, but it's also about maintaining Jewish traditions in a changing world.
Lt. Decker (as in previous Kellerman mysteries) seems a bit emotionally disturbed to me, but most of this mystery centers on his daughter, Cindy. She's also a cop, and her new boyfriend is an Ethiopian Israeli. Cindy is a good character, ambitious and smart. It's interesting to spend some time in her head, as she demands respect in a mostly male world, while also dealing with the vulnerabilities of new romance.
August 10, 2025
Loved it. I liked the interplay between Peter and Cindy especially.
December 13, 2016
Great and educational.
Love the series and have learned much about the Jewish faith. Everything I love in this book. Cops, murder, love and family, with education involved.
Love the series and have learned much about the Jewish faith. Everything I love in this book. Cops, murder, love and family, with education involved.
October 23, 2019
This was a very light read and short on content. Much of the written matter is taken up by description of Food, Clothes, Surrounding etc without much relevance to the story, at time. Though the story is good, the pace is quite slow and things just don't move. The end was abrupt, almost an anti climax. The sequences featuring Cynthia and her Father Peter are quite good and are what keeps the interest alive.
December 7, 2018
I've read many books in this series and enjoyed most of them. That is why I was so disappointed with this one. By the time I finished the story, I was actually disliking most of the main characters, whom I had liked in other books: Peter Decker, Rina Decker, and Cindy Decker. They all seemed to be acting differently than in past stories and it disappointed me.
September 17, 2015
I have read several in the Decker series and this story is decent but I have an issue with how many times the word "retard" is used in the book. I realize the book is from 11 years ago but I think the story could have been told without the use of that word. I did enjoy the plot lines of the book.
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