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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
While I was on vacation, I read Stalker by Faye Kellerman. This is the 12th in the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series. It was fast paced and fun to read, although I found Cindy’s actions as a Mysteryrookie cop to be less than believable.
I read the Kindle edition. Book originally published Aug 2000 by Morrow/Harper Collins.
I read the Kindle edition. Book originally published Aug 2000 by Morrow/Harper Collins.
Do not read if you have to leave into the darkness alone – or stay at home on your own
Normally, Faye Kellerman’s Decker/Lazarus – series are police procedural. “Stalker“ comes as a veritable thriller and I am talking about gripping, evil, conspiracy, interchanging fast-paced action with dark foreboding. On the one hand, there is Peter Decker, LAPD-Lieutenant, investigating a series of car jackings with his team. The cases are somewhat off, from taking easy prey on mothers with young children to steal their cars to a small number of cases gone awfully wrong. On the other hand, there is Cindy Decker, rookie cop with LAPD and Peter’s 25-year-old daughter. Her big mouth and ivy league education do not make her live with her colleagues easy. But then, some of the things happening to her are decidedly off. She may have been absent-minded enough to put the photo with her 6-year-old sister Hannah away from its usual location. But did she also re-arrange her clothes? If only it had stayed that simple.
Despite of being number 12 in a series, this one might be read standalone, which is also because the main character is Cindy, not that much her father as in the previous books (we saw her in some amateur investigations in number 6, “Grievous Sin“, but rather as a side kick). It allows for a change of position, younger, female, beginner, which also makes her the potential victim of the namegiving stalker – one of those crimes which constantly keep the victim wondering whether something is really happening and when the next blow might be expected. And those blows will come, and at what a pace! Fortunately, the author has not forgotten to also include the other characters quite a lot in this one book (some of the series have one or the other seem like on vacation): not only Peter, but his second wife Rina, formerly Lazarus, Cindy’s stepmother, Peter’s former partner Marge, her present partner Scott Oliver, even something from Cindy’s step-brothers, Rina‘s sons from her first marriage, and Peter’s and Rina’s young daughter Hannah. So this is really a book for old and new fans.
I admit that the explanation for the criminal activity is, although plausible and realistic in its essentials, a bit over-constructed (lots of persons, lot of interdependencies, lots of different reasons/story lines leading to the grand finale). But who cares when you just cannot put down the book for quite a number of pages? I admit that after book number 11 (the one before) which I rated with 4 stars I was not sure how far I should be continuing in the series. With this one, Faye Kellerman really got to me again! Solid 5 stars for a completely new turn in the series without losing on its strengths – the characters.
Oh, and for those sensitive about it: thriller yes, but no pedophiles, sex-criminals, slashers (unless you count a couch).
Normally, Faye Kellerman’s Decker/Lazarus – series are police procedural. “Stalker“ comes as a veritable thriller and I am talking about gripping, evil, conspiracy, interchanging fast-paced action with dark foreboding. On the one hand, there is Peter Decker, LAPD-Lieutenant, investigating a series of car jackings with his team. The cases are somewhat off, from taking easy prey on mothers with young children to steal their cars to a small number of cases gone awfully wrong. On the other hand, there is Cindy Decker, rookie cop with LAPD and Peter’s 25-year-old daughter. Her big mouth and ivy league education do not make her live with her colleagues easy. But then, some of the things happening to her are decidedly off. She may have been absent-minded enough to put the photo with her 6-year-old sister Hannah away from its usual location. But did she also re-arrange her clothes? If only it had stayed that simple.
Despite of being number 12 in a series, this one might be read standalone, which is also because the main character is Cindy, not that much her father as in the previous books (we saw her in some amateur investigations in number 6, “Grievous Sin“, but rather as a side kick). It allows for a change of position, younger, female, beginner, which also makes her the potential victim of the namegiving stalker – one of those crimes which constantly keep the victim wondering whether something is really happening and when the next blow might be expected. And those blows will come, and at what a pace! Fortunately, the author has not forgotten to also include the other characters quite a lot in this one book (some of the series have one or the other seem like on vacation): not only Peter, but his second wife Rina, formerly Lazarus, Cindy’s stepmother, Peter’s former partner Marge, her present partner Scott Oliver, even something from Cindy’s step-brothers, Rina‘s sons from her first marriage, and Peter’s and Rina’s young daughter Hannah. So this is really a book for old and new fans.
I admit that the explanation for the criminal activity is, although plausible and realistic in its essentials, a bit over-constructed (lots of persons, lot of interdependencies, lots of different reasons/story lines leading to the grand finale). But who cares when you just cannot put down the book for quite a number of pages? I admit that after book number 11 (the one before) which I rated with 4 stars I was not sure how far I should be continuing in the series. With this one, Faye Kellerman really got to me again! Solid 5 stars for a completely new turn in the series without losing on its strengths – the characters.
Oh, and for those sensitive about it: thriller yes, but no pedophiles, sex-criminals, slashers (unless you count a couch).
I was expecting so much from this book, we can all imagine what it must feel like to be stalked, and yet it fell short for me. So much could have been done with the subject but there were only four or five stalking incidents a couple of which were only touched on briefly, if you blinked, you'd have missed them. And for this reason it lacked the build up of friction and terror for me. It wasn't completely bad, just didn't have me completely hooked.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Marge is a legend 💪👸🏼
I had a few issues here. That being said, I plan on reading a few more in this series, as I can see hints of brilliance here. Cindy is a complicated character, and you can't quite get a good feel on what her deal is, but that's ok--it makes for some interesting juxtapositions in the story. There are a few red herrings here and "coincidences" that make you groan. But overall, the characters are interesting enough to warrant reading another book or two.
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4.5 stars.
One of the better ones in the series. I have been erratically following the Decker Lazarus saga for quite a few years now , possibly a book or a couple a year. To me , what happens with them and their progeny is the main attraction , rather than the crime which is just a sideline.
I love reading the series out of order.
In this particular book , Cindy has just joined the PD as a rookie and is given much flak , especially as she is a female progeny of someone higher up ... And people are envious and uncomfortable.
Suddenly she gets involved in a financial scam/ shootout case her father , Peter Decker and his associate , Scott Oliver , along with Marge are involved in.. and things turn grim.
Cindy's home is vandalised , car is tempered with , she develops a relationship with one of her father's associates and things move to a head-on collision .
Was a very interesting read.
One of the better ones in the series. I have been erratically following the Decker Lazarus saga for quite a few years now , possibly a book or a couple a year. To me , what happens with them and their progeny is the main attraction , rather than the crime which is just a sideline.
I love reading the series out of order.
In this particular book , Cindy has just joined the PD as a rookie and is given much flak , especially as she is a female progeny of someone higher up ... And people are envious and uncomfortable.
Suddenly she gets involved in a financial scam/ shootout case her father , Peter Decker and his associate , Scott Oliver , along with Marge are involved in.. and things turn grim.
Cindy's home is vandalised , car is tempered with , she develops a relationship with one of her father's associates and things move to a head-on collision .
Was a very interesting read.
At one time I was a devoted fan of Faye Kellerman. After Jupiter's Bones, the first of my disappointments with her novels, I veered away from her work for quite a few years. I returned to her writing this month with Stalker, the next in the Decker/Lazarus series. Sadly, it was another disappointment. The plot is disjointed. Some of the dialogue, especially the police banter, came across like the dialogue of adolescent boys learning how to use dirty words and hoping not to get caught (this goes for the female cops as well). The details are overwritten giving the book a length the plot realy doesn't deserve. When I finally got to the "whodunit", the revelation of who the stalker is and how the stalker tied into a year old crime, I found I didn't care. Kellerman failed to pull me in emotionally as she had with her earlier books.
This actually follows Cindy Decker, Pete's daughter. She's having a few difficulties integrating into the LAPD, and then appears to have really pissed someone off big-time, enough for them to try to injure or kill her. She just can't quite figure out who's after her, or why. It has to do with carjackings.
I like Cindy. I do think she was somewhat stupid and impulsive in this book, but it made sense with who she is.