Milk and Honey

For those unfamiliar with Faye Kellerman's early work, than this is worth the read just to get the back story on her characters. The plot becomes bogged down in characterizations that mask a thin and somewhat incredulous plot.

Am a big fan of Faye Kellerman and the Decker/Lazarus Novels. This was an older one that somehow I had missed reading. Was well worth going back and reading. I enjoy how her characters are so real life like.

It was a good story but there was too much Jewish religion information that was not necessary to the story line. It could have been less info and still got the point across that he's learning to be Jewish.

The story hooked me; the language was atrocious! I do not think I will be reading any further books by this author! Total disrespect for the Jewish faith, language was offensive! Shame because plot intrigued - wanted it get better!

The ending with the solution for the second theme was exceptionally weak.
The language was overloaded with the 'f' and 's' words to excess. Some to set scenes was fine, but this went so far as to interrupt the narrative flow.
But the author was just learning in an early novel.

I just began this series. A friend gave me a box filled with all of the Decker/Lazarus books and advised that I "suspend belief" as well as ignore the too-frequent editorial goofs. He called them "good airplane stories." I barely got through the first one. But thought that they had to improve once the characters were better established, so read #2. I just finished shaking my head at major portions of #3, Milk and Honey -- parts of which I had to skim to get through them -- and began #4, Day of Atonement last night. This one is the deal maker-breaker. So many people seem to like this series, for many reasons, and that's good, because they have found characters and stories that they enjoy -- but I am just not convinced. So far, they just aren't intriguing or illuminating (and, sorry, some things are just very badly represented and/or researched). Except for his all-inclusively bigoted, and sometimes descriptively salacious mouth, especially when around his pals, sleazy contacts, and co-workers, the Decker character is ok for a LA detective, works hard at his job, and he shows promise of growing into an interesting character. The one-dimensional Rina character, however, bores me to stupification. Aside from her oft-mentioned physical beauty (far too oft), what the heck does he see in her? So, three 'test' books down, and one to go- - to see if I get any further with the series or if the box goes to Goodwill with best wishes. That's just my personal reaction. You might love them -- lots of people have!

Update: Too bad, since I have an entire box full of them. Not for me. Struggled to get halfway through #4 and am giving up. Off they go to Goodwill. Much the same problems as with the first three books. The constant racial slurs of every kind, way too much empty conversational 'noise' from side-characters, and so many grammatical and editorial errors in this one that the mind spins, and the boring Rina character who just keeps saying "I'm sorry." And should be. Perhaps the later ones improve -- but by now I just don't care.

By this point, I've read so many mysteries that I've pretty much come to expect all the twists and flashbacks when they happen. The detective of this book finds a young girl on a playground and that leads him to a quadruple homicide by page 100. His friend is accused of rape but is most likely innocent given the scene of the crime. There's a lot of social stuff about him and his girlfriend.

Faye Kellerman distinguished herself in Jewish circles by writing about Orthodox Jewish characters - one baal tshuva and his Orthodox Jewish girlfriend. These scenes are the parts that people tend to focus on when they focus on Kellerman. Since this is an earlier book, the characters are still dating and there's some negotiation concerning premarital sex and whether or not Rina wears head covering (although most Orthodox Jewish women stop covering their hair when their marriage is over - and even though Rina is a widow, she still shouldn't be going back and forth on that particular halacha - at least not without some explanation). Some of the bits seem shoehorned in (that ever popular "I learned this in my research and you're going to read about it") but for the most part it seems organic.

Beyond that, the mystery is pretty standard. Michael Connelly does the police detective in Los Angeles better but this is a fine time waster. The Jewish stuff is interesting - more interesting for someone who doesn't know much about Judaism - and the relationship stuff is mostly harmless.

I have read a number of Faye Kellerman's books, and I've loved each and every one of them!

This story starts out at a fast pace, and keeps it up throughout the rest of the novel. The author has a wonderful way of introducing characters who have been in previous books -- it is not necessary to read them in particular order to get the main gist of the story.

The characters are likeable and very human. It is easy to get caught up with their emotions, and feel as if one is an actual participant in the story!

In this book, as in all of her others, there are actually two stories going on simultaneously. The first has to do with the family unit and their everyday lives. The second has to do with the crime that was committed, the criminals involved, and the resolution.

I highly recommend this book (along with all of her other books) to anyone who loves thrillers with a tidbit of romance thrown in for good measure!

It was a great pleasure to read this book, and see how an outsider saw Israel fifty years ago. Mikes was a British writer, a humorist whose origins were in Hungry. He was very popular in England at the time he wrote this book. The book is a small , clearly written survey of the new Jewish state.

I enjoyed reading it in part because it was nice to remember certain realities that are long gone, interesting to compare the Israel then with the Israel now.

Israel was a much smaller and less complicated society then than it is now. Mikes catches the youthful enthusiasm of its people, the pioneering spirit, though even though he sees signs that the great elite- Israeli- institution of the time, the Kibbutz was losing a bit of the pioneering spirit. He travels over the country and he talks to people, visits new immigrants struggling to make their way, praises the ethic of working with the hands, which is part of the ethos of early Israel. He writes about how proud certain professors are that they have become workers of the land.

Mikes talks with a large number of people and hears them explain why they so believe in living in Israel. He does not however touch upon the historical religious reasons in any real or deep way.

In some sense Mikes misses the Jewish religious component in the state's formation and identity.

But on the whole he provides a truly enjoyable look at the early state of Israel.

"Milk and Honey," the third in the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus novels, proves to be as good a read as "Day of Atonement," my first venture into Faye Kellerman's excellent mystery/sleuth series. This is a stand-alone novel, and one can easily get to know the cast of characters and their history without having read the prior books. Ms. Kellerman's Decker/Lazarus novels are a terrific change of pace from my usual fiction reading. Although these have their share of violence, gruesomeness and unsavory individuals, the ethnic/cultural aspect of the stories and the sheer humanity of the characters are refreshing.

Peter Decker, a detective with the Los Angeles police, is still courting Rina Lazarus, an Orthodoz Jewish widow and the mother of two small sons. Raised a Baptist, Peter is studying with Rabbi Aaron Schulman to become a Jew, but at times has doubts about the course he has chosen. He and Rina are very much in love. Apart from her beauty, outside and in, Decker is drawn to her total lack of guile. Rina, who in no way wants to pressure him, needs to find out how committed her finance is to their relationship and to becoming an observant religious man. She has taken her boys back east, to visit with her ex in-laws in Brooklyn.

Late one night, thinking of Rina thousands of miles away, Peter is unable to sleep and takes a drive into the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. He finds an adorable toddler wandering around by herself in the early morning hours. After checking with people in the near-by housing complex, he determines the child to be lost or abandoned. When he gets her into the light, Decker discovers she is wearing blood-soaked pajamas and is covered in bee stings. He is concerned that something has happened to the little girl's parent(s) or guardian, since the blood does not seem to be her own. He feels for the bewildered child and is determined to find her family. His partner, Marge Dunn, places their small charge in foster care while they look for the relatives. Their search is relatively short, but what they find will lead them into a long and horrific investigation concerning a family feud turned violent, an overabundance of passion and death. No spoilers here!!

Meanwhile, Abel Atwater. an old buddy from his Vietnam War days appears in need of help. Atwater lost a leg and some of his sanity in the war. Now it appears he has been charged with the rape and mutilation of a prostitute. He swears he is innocent. Peter has some doubts.

The author deftly handles the workings of various intense personal relationships and solving multiple crimes with apparent ease. As with the other Kellerman book I read, her characters are her strength. They are truly three-dimensional and their dialogue is extremely realistic - at times just plain funny, at others quite moving. Her mysteries are solid. No loose threads are left behind. I plan on reading more of this excellent author's work and highly recommend it to others.

JANA

By this point, I've read so many mysteries that I've pretty much come to expect all the twists and flashbacks when they happen. The detective of this book finds a young girl on a playground and that leads him to a quadruple homicide by page 100. His friend is accused of rape but is most likely innocent given the scene of the crime. There's a lot of social stuff about him and his girlfriend.

Faye Kellerman distinguished herself in Jewish circles by writing about Orthodox Jewish characters - one baal tshuva and his Orthodox Jewish girlfriend. These scenes are the parts that people tend to focus on when they focus on Kellerman. Since this is an earlier book, the characters are still dating and there's some negotiation concerning premarital sex and whether or not Rina wears head covering (although most Orthodox Jewish women stop covering their hair when their marriage is over - and even though Rina is a widow, she still shouldn't be going back and forth on that particular halacha - at least not without some explanation). Some of the bits seem shoehorned in (that ever popular "I learned this in my research and you're going to read about it") but for the most part it seems organic.

Beyond that, the mystery is pretty standard. Michael Connelly does the police detective in Los Angeles better but this is a fine time waster. The Jewish stuff is interesting - more interesting for someone who doesn't know much about Judaism - and the relationship stuff is mostly harmless.

I have read a number of Faye Kellerman's books, and I've loved each and every one of them!

This story starts out at a fast pace, and keeps it up throughout the rest of the novel. The author has a wonderful way of introducing characters who have been in previous books -- it is not necessary to read them in particular order to get the main gist of the story.

The characters are likeable and very human. It is easy to get caught up with their emotions, and feel as if one is an actual participant in the story!

In this book, as in all of her others, there are actually two stories going on simultaneously. The first has to do with the family unit and their everyday lives. The second has to do with the crime that was committed, the criminals involved, and the resolution.

I highly recommend this book (along with all of her other books) to anyone who loves thrillers with a tidbit of romance thrown in for good measure!

It was a great pleasure to read this book, and see how an outsider saw Israel fifty years ago. Mikes was a British writer, a humorist whose origins were in Hungry. He was very popular in England at the time he wrote this book. The book is a small , clearly written survey of the new Jewish state.

I enjoyed reading it in part because it was nice to remember certain realities that are long gone, interesting to compare the Israel then with the Israel now.

Israel was a much smaller and less complicated society then than it is now. Mikes catches the youthful enthusiasm of its people, the pioneering spirit, though even though he sees signs that the great elite- Israeli- institution of the time, the Kibbutz was losing a bit of the pioneering spirit. He travels over the country and he talks to people, visits new immigrants struggling to make their way, praises the ethic of working with the hands, which is part of the ethos of early Israel. He writes about how proud certain professors are that they have become workers of the land.

Mikes talks with a large number of people and hears them explain why they so believe in living in Israel. He does not however touch upon the historical religious reasons in any real or deep way.

In some sense Mikes misses the Jewish religious component in the state's formation and identity.

But on the whole he provides a truly enjoyable look at the early state of Israel.

"Milk and Honey," the third in the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus novels, proves to be as good a read as "Day of Atonement," my first venture into Faye Kellerman's excellent mystery/sleuth series. This is a stand-alone novel, and one can easily get to know the cast of characters and their history without having read the prior books. Ms. Kellerman's Decker/Lazarus novels are a terrific change of pace from my usual fiction reading. Although these have their share of violence, gruesomeness and unsavory individuals, the ethnic/cultural aspect of the stories and the sheer humanity of the characters are refreshing.

Peter Decker, a detective with the Los Angeles police, is still courting Rina Lazarus, an Orthodoz Jewish widow and the mother of two small sons. Raised a Baptist, Peter is studying with Rabbi Aaron Schulman to become a Jew, but at times has doubts about the course he has chosen. He and Rina are very much in love. Apart from her beauty, outside and in, Decker is drawn to her total lack of guile. Rina, who in no way wants to pressure him, needs to find out how committed her finance is to their relationship and to becoming an observant religious man. She has taken her boys back east, to visit with her ex in-laws in Brooklyn.

Late one night, thinking of Rina thousands of miles away, Peter is unable to sleep and takes a drive into the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. He finds an adorable toddler wandering around by herself in the early morning hours. After checking with people in the near-by housing complex, he determines the child to be lost or abandoned. When he gets her into the light, Decker discovers she is wearing blood-soaked pajamas and is covered in bee stings. He is concerned that something has happened to the little girl's parent(s) or guardian, since the blood does not seem to be her own. He feels for the bewildered child and is determined to find her family. His partner, Marge Dunn, places their small charge in foster care while they look for the relatives. Their search is relatively short, but what they find will lead them into a long and horrific investigation concerning a family feud turned violent, an overabundance of passion and death. No spoilers here!!

Meanwhile, Abel Atwater. an old buddy from his Vietnam War days appears in need of help. Atwater lost a leg and some of his sanity in the war. Now it appears he has been charged with the rape and mutilation of a prostitute. He swears he is innocent. Peter has some doubts.

The author deftly handles the workings of various intense personal relationships and solving multiple crimes with apparent ease. As with the other Kellerman book I read, her characters are her strength. They are truly three-dimensional and their dialogue is extremely realistic - at times just plain funny, at others quite moving. Her mysteries are solid. No loose threads are left behind. I plan on reading more of this excellent author's work and highly recommend it to others.

JANA

Despite starting very strongly with the 'The Ritual Bath', three books in and Kellerman is struggling. There's a very dull murder mystery, which plods on and on. Most wearing of all is the treatment of the regular characters. Great emphasis on Decker, his religious conversion is interesting but there's far too much angst. Then there's Rina. I found it distasteful that having already been the potential target of a rapist in the first book, yet again Rina is threatened with rape. Alongside, Kellerman goes to great lengths to show us that while Rina is a committed Orthodox Jew, she is sex personified. There are endless descriptions of how alluring and desirable Rina is, especially with her dress code. I don't understand what Kellerman is getting at. She seems to have a thing about Rina being forbidden fruit, while still being the little woman at home.

All in all, I didn't enjoy this, a dull story with some very bizarre sexual politics. I might read the next one but wouldn't recommend this.

In this the third in the series, Rina is in New York considering Peter's marriage proposal. As with her first two books, I find Kellerman's portrayal of Jewish rituals wonderful and informative. However, as far as Peter's conversion to Judaism - he can't just do it for somebody else, he has to want to do it for himself -- and I just don't get the feeling that he is 100% into it, even though she does end up accepting his proposal. As far as Peter's case, in his effort to find the parents of a two-year-old girl that he found wandering the streets in the middle of the night, he stumbles across a quadruple murder. The author made it very easy not to have any sympathy for any of the homicide victims. The book is well written, but unfortunately trying to follow Decker's work life and trying to follow Decker's personal life is like reading two separate books. The storylines are running parallel to each other, and the two just don't mesh.

If each new installment of this series continues to surpass the one before it, we're gonna need more stars. This is the third entry in the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus Series and I thoroughly enjoyed this one on all levels. The first one (The Ritual Bath) was, I thought, a little too heavy on the religion, although, the crime took place at the Yeshiva (Jewish School), so it was understandable. The second one (Sacred and Profane) was better, but still a little in your face with the religious stuff. This one, though, perfectly balances the religion and the mystery/crime plot - there was nothing to distract me.

The reason the religion enters into the series is because Rina is an Orthodox Jew, and very serious about it. Decker now knows that his biological parents were Jewish, but he was raised Baptist by his adoptive parents, so Rina's world is all new to him. He is determined to stick with his studies and convert to Orthodox Judaism - at first, mainly so he can marry Rina, but as he gets into it and learns more, his faith begins to offer some comfort for him in his life as an LAPD Police Detective. (His colleagues have begun calling him "Rabbi," much to his chagrin).

Anyway, this story starts with Decker finding a toddler wandering around alone one night in the middle of a new suburban community where no one will admit to ever having seen the little girl. She is so cute and friendly, that she captivates Decker and the fact that she was found wearing a blood-soaked sleeper makes this a potentially tragic case in the offing. Decker doggedly pursues it - after all, there is nothing for him to go home to, since Rina packed up and moved to New York - and he has no one else to blame, since it was he who suggested they needed breathing room. (But he didn't mean 3000 miles worth!)

While Decker hunts for the girl's parents (hoping to find them alive, but afraid they won't be), he also tries to help out an old Army buddy of his. He and Abel Atwater went through Basic together and then fought side-by-side in Vietnam together. Abe lost a leg (and something else more important to him, as you'll find out later in the book) in the war and has never come to terms with it - he's an embittered man who frequents prostitutes on a regular basis. He's in trouble now because one of those prostitutes has accused him of brutally raping, beating and stabbing her. He denies the whole thing. Decker wants to believe him, but somewhere in the back of his mind, he's not altogether sure the man his friend has become isn't capable. He is determined to find out, though, so he makes some discreet inquiries - something that could very well come back and bite him in the [...] because a police detective isn't supposed to be working for the defense.

So, Decker is balancing all this while trying to get back together with Rina which makes things pretty tense all the way around. Lots of history for Decker in this one - we discover the defining moment of his life in Nam that shaped the man he is today. Even though he's a wee bit too perfect sometimes, Rabbi Schulman is one of my favorite characters (I often wonder if he is based on any one real person), and we see more into his past as well in this one. Good character development. I hope we see more of Atwater in the future - he's a very intriguing character too. There are plenty of tear-jerking moments as well as funny moments (the fight between Decker and Atwater is just hilarious!), so don't miss out on this one. (The background is laid out at the start, so you don't have to read the first two in order to enjoy this one, but why not go ahead and read them too?)

Peter Decker is studying the Jewish religion in an effort to become the man that Rina Lazarus wants in her life. Meanwhile she is living on the opposite coast from Peter and this is making him very lonely. As he is returning home from work one day, Peter discovers a wandering toddler who has no identification. He takes her under his wing and makes it his mission to find her family. Unfortunately when he does find them, they have been brutally murdered. Rina comes to visit him while he is immersed in investigating these murders. Their relationship deepens and then is threatened by the presence of one Peter's old army buddies who has been accused of rape and assault. Kellerman eventually unravels all of these different sub-plots but only after uncovering some unsavory family secrets. Parts of this book are overly graphic with descriptions of murder victims, and it is not as well-constructed as some of her other novels, but all in all, this is a good read.

Another page turner by Faye Kellerman. As in all her books she delves into personal relationships, mental anguish, and the mystery. So if you like a book that takes you in emotionally as well as intellectually read this as well as all of her other books. You'll be in for an enjoyable read no matter which one you pick up. The Decker/Lazarus novels have all been five star novels so far & I look forward to read the remaining novels.

"Milk and Honey" the third book in the Decker/lLazarus series continues their relationship between Peter and Rina.. By now followers of Kellerman's previous books know Peter Decker is studying with Rabbi Aaron Schulman to become the Jew he never was. His relationship with Rina has grown. He has proposed to her. While she's back east wrestling with his proposal Decker discovers a two year old wandering around. Unharmed and covered with blood she does not belong to anyone in the development where she's found. By the time Rina returns to California Decker is obsessed with the case especially when he stumbles in a grisly a quadruple murder. Exciting as her other books. A must read for Kellerman fans.

Faye Kellerman is one of the few female writers of Police and Lawyer novels who actually gets it. Too many women write with soft edges. This is not a knock at female writers as there are a lot of things they do much better than men. However, most who write police protocol type books just don't have the necessary bite. Also, Ms. Kellerman keeps the story line moving and does a good job developing her characters.

Another good Decker/Lazarus mystery. Kellerman does a good job of offering story lines complete in the one book as well as bits of her ongoing lines, not just for Peter and Rina but Marge as well. My gripe with this book is that while Kellerman accurately portrays the psychological cost of infertility, she gives inaccurate information about infertility treatments. She describes certain practices that certainly occur but are generally considered unethical as "common", and is wildly inaccurate about cost and physical pain associated with inseminations. Shame for scaring people in this way!

One night police sergeant Peter Denker stumbles on a two-year-old girl. She is covered in blood, but isn't hurt. After a lot of hard work Denker finds the home where the girl lived, but inside he discovers a massacre: four dead bodies, all covered with bees and honey. As if that isn't enough, one of Denkers friends is being accused of rape.

Faye Kellermans third Denker-novel is another pageturner. Filled with daunting descriptions of a family argument that turned into disaster. But also a novel about human emotions and friendship, and how friendship can change.

Pete Decker is on the case of a missing child, but he finds is much more disturbing then the blood of her PJ's.
There is quite a lot of character development on Pete Decker in this novel and also a lot happening with his girlfriend Rina and it detracts from the mystery and tones down the nail biting thriller it could have been.
But if you are in to the books for the series it is all worth it.
Even though the book wasn't a thrill a minute I still read it in two days as it was relatively fast paced. The characters are deep and the mystery deeper. A very good read.

I have read all of Faye Kellerman's books, also the rest of the kellerman familys' books. Have loved every one of them. The character development is superior and really gets you immersed in their lives.
Have not seen a new f. kellerman book in a very long time, but am anxiously awaiting any and all of them; that is how good they are

This is the first book I've read by this author. I liked it and definitely will read more.
I have a pet peeve about authors who give unrealistic details about horses. I've owned horses, including one stallion, and they require special handling. I don't know any horse person who would ride double on a stallion for a romantic sunset jaunt.
Our family are long-time beekeepers, and the bee information had some inaccuracies, too.
This surprised me, because the author is SO prolific.

I like all these novels that I have read thus far. They are well written, good mysteries and just enough personel words writtten on the characters to keep it all tied together, nicely. I like to read books in order as I don't like jumping around and go back and forth from a later book to an earlier book.

This one was my first Faye Kellerman book, and have read them all since. You really get fooled at the start because it sort of eases along; a little family life with Peter and Rina, a little police work with Peter and Marge (his partner), then she lowers the boom. Great story. If you are new to her, go back and read from The Ritual Bath to here, and then on with the rest. You'll love the series.

It is late at night and Decker stumbles upon a small girl wondering the empty streets of suburbia. We know Decker has has found himself in the midst of another mystery when he discovers that young "Sally" is covered in dried blood.
In addition to this mystery we learn that Rina has gone to New York to consider Peter's marriage proposal. When she returns she finds herself in a subplot invloving an old army buddy of Peter's with a death wish.
Through it all Peter continues his serious and devoted study of Orthodox Judaism.
A wonderful read!

This book was good, however since Rina's Judaism is such a big part of these mysteries, I feel that Rina and Peter having sex before marriage was out of character (especially for Rina).
She is so strict about dietary laws, her clothing and hair covering, keeping the Sabbath....but she sleeps with Peter before marriage? I can't believe it.
It seems that in many of these books, Rina is more an accessory for Peter (she enhances his character) than a crime solver. I'd like to see Rina more involved with crime solving, like in Prayers for the Dead.

Maybe there was pressure to get another book out fast. This was the first of hers I'd read - it is without doubt weaker than the five I've seen since. Over the mountain is a set of cardbord cut-outs. Everybody is either an inbred racist hick bee farmer, or a worthless racist biker or wannabe. There is nothing interesting or compelling about any of them. Back in town, you have the cheap constructs. First, Peter's Army buddy with the wooden leg that must be filled with all the booze and drugs he took in thirty years of marginal living because he can't handle reality. When Peter has problems in his conversion training, the Rabbi just happens to save the moment with a story from his Concentration Camp days. I realize now that this fact was presented in an earlier book. Neither plot line ends up in an interesting or novel way. It seems like after a certain number of pages you are told what happened. Most of her other books are so much better...

Thumbs up! Many twists and turns that leaves you wanting more. Great story line!

Once. I started reading I couldn't put it down as I wanted to find the next plot twist. This book kept me wanting to read more, find out what happens next.

I like the way the Author allows the story to unroll in an unexpected way, with the characters developing as the story continues.
Psychologically the sound very real: the honey makers, the Nam veterans, the lovely Jewish woman.
Good reading.

Initially, this was a good read with interesting characters. The multiple storylines had me hooked. Then, there was a scene where Decker was talking on the phone to his ex, Jan, about the demise of their marriage and how their daughter was the only good thing to have come from it. That's all fine and dandy. However, when Decker started recalling how he'd threatened to kill Jan because she wanted to terminate her pregnancy, I decided I was done with this book and this author. Any character who says something like this, even if he'd never have gone through with killing her, isn't worth the paper he's printed, especially since he's the hero figure of the book. He's moody and controlling of his partner and his new fiance as well. I'm just not interested in reading about supposedly good guys who have no integrity.

I love the way the Kellermans write. this book draws you in quickly with Decker finding a child walking down the road late at night. this seems to be the start of the main plot but it is one of several subplots skillfully wound into the main plot. The characters are three di put downmensional. You start to feel you know them especially Decker but also the victims of the mass murder.