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A review by judythereader
The Theory of Death by Faye Kellerman
3.0
Just as Tyler McAdams arrives in Greenbury to stay with his friend and mentor, Pete Decker, while he studies for his law school finals, the small town's usual quiet is broken up by the report of a dead body in the woods. Tyler is on leave from the Greenbury force to complete his law degree, but he is eager to help out with with the investigation. It seems an open and shut suicide, but while trying to identify the body, they visit one of the local colleges. After determining their body was once Elijah Wolfe, a young math genius, they find a spiraling pattern of chaos. But is it criminal or is it just academic jealousy?
I know this is late in the series, but it is my first Decker/Lazarus (and apparently McAdams now) book. I enjoyed it very much. It's a very character driven book. Who the people are is more important than the the action. The added sub-plot of a potential suspect who shares a history with McAdams and hopes to have a future puts even more weight on the Novel side of Mystery Novel, but there is a real mystery.
This is not a classic whodunnit. Methodical police work takes you through to the conclusion. I suspect it's what real life is like. There are clues, but not the kind that Sherlock Holmes likes and lets him announce the killer. There is speculation and calculation with various theories and some red herrings. This is very good read.
I know this is late in the series, but it is my first Decker/Lazarus (and apparently McAdams now) book. I enjoyed it very much. It's a very character driven book. Who the people are is more important than the the action. The added sub-plot of a potential suspect who shares a history with McAdams and hopes to have a future puts even more weight on the Novel side of Mystery Novel, but there is a real mystery.
This is not a classic whodunnit. Methodical police work takes you through to the conclusion. I suspect it's what real life is like. There are clues, but not the kind that Sherlock Holmes likes and lets him announce the killer. There is speculation and calculation with various theories and some red herrings. This is very good read.