For all its many crimes of passion and politics, Jerusalem has only once before been victimized by a serial killer. Now the elusive psychopath is b...
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reviews
Feb 01, 2012
Bridgette
rated it: 
Typically, once I have begun a series, I much prefer the author to produce within the canon. After all, publishing a book outside the series takes time away from the characters I’ve become entranced with. Nevertheless, I can hardly condemn a wrier to a life of tedious enslavement to their creations solely for my pleasure. And if I were totally honest, I’d admit that often their out-of-series books surpass their series books in quality because they get a fresh infusion of creativity.
Suc More...
Suc More...
Dec 27, 2010
Stephen
rated it: 
I've read a few other crime novels by Jonathan Kellerman and found the palled after reading three of them -- they also seemed to be similar, and got more and more predictable. So I was a bit reluctant to start this one, because it seemed inordinately long, but I wanted some light bedtime reading and it was available, and so I started it, and found it refreshingly different from mkost of Kellerman's other novels. It has different setting and different characters.
The story is set in Jer More...
The story is set in Jer More...
Apr 19, 2008
Bernadette
rated it:
The first Jonathan Kellerman I ever read and still the best. Great character development and plot.
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Aug 28, 2010
BoekenTrol
rated it: 
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/7818...
Dit was mijn eerste thriller van Kellerman. En het was meteen vuurwerk. Allemensen wat een boek. Af en toe gingen me de haren recht overeind staan, zelf bij meerdere malen lezen nog.
Normaliter heb ik dan zoiets van 'o, ja, zo ging het'. Dat is er nu ook wel, maar omdat het verhaal, de verschillende verhaallijnen en de personages zo intrigerend zijn, kan me dat helemaal niets schelen en sla ik bij de tigste keer herlezen nog steeds geen More...
Dit was mijn eerste thriller van Kellerman. En het was meteen vuurwerk. Allemensen wat een boek. Af en toe gingen me de haren recht overeind staan, zelf bij meerdere malen lezen nog.
Normaliter heb ik dan zoiets van 'o, ja, zo ging het'. Dat is er nu ook wel, maar omdat het verhaal, de verschillende verhaallijnen en de personages zo intrigerend zijn, kan me dat helemaal niets schelen en sla ik bij de tigste keer herlezen nog steeds geen More...
Jul 25, 2011
Lily
rated it: 
Absolute crap -- the "evil" killer is the son of a Jewish doctor and a gentile woman. Apparently half-breeds are cursed by God? Kellerman is absolutely hysterical on the subject of Jews mixing with the lesser races. In fact, Dr. Terrific is much like the poor man's Joe Christmas, though I doubt Kellerman is literate enough to have read LIGHT IN AUGUST by William Faulkner. In any case, reading Kellerman on the Palestinians is like reading Faulkner on Jim Crow.
But not as goo
But not as goo
Sep 02, 2010
Rebecca
rated it:
Probably my favourite book by Jonathan Kellerman. Mystery set in modern day Jerusalem, and chilling to read. A serial killer is targeting young Arab women, and it's up to Daniel Sharavi and his team to find the murderer. Lots of psychological drama, details on Israeli daily life and a very vivid, very alive look at Jerusalem. This one I have read about a half-dozen times, and have enjoyed very much. Not at all like the Alex Delaware novels.
Dec 12, 2010
Alex
rated it:
I was wary about reading this book because it wasn't an Alex Delaware story. I needn't have worried because it's the best I've read of Kellerman so far (though I have a number of novels to go yet).
He brings Jerusalem vividly to life and the city is easy to picture in your mind as he describes it so well. It's so good that I was willing the killer in the book to keep on killing - that way the book wouldn't end. Sad, I know !
He brings Jerusalem vividly to life and the city is easy to picture in your mind as he describes it so well. It's so good that I was willing the killer in the book to keep on killing - that way the book wouldn't end. Sad, I know !
Sep 25, 2011
Lynn
rated it:
I quite enjoyed this book, the first of Kellerman's I've read. His depiction of the various racial, ethnic and religious prejudices and undercurrents in modern-day Jerusalem were fascinating. The characters were very well-drawn, and the suspense of "whodunnit" was excellent, captivating the reader until the denouement. A nice companion piece to wife Faye Kellerman's Decker/Lazarus series.
Aug 28, 2010
Melissa
rated it:
Suspenseful story about a sadistic psychopathic sexual serial slayer. Takes place mostly in Jerusalem and delves into the minds and backgrounds of many of the principal characters and, of course, the politics, history, races and religions of the area and how they affect the handling of the case. A bit of FBI, Interpol, LAPD, and Nazis thrown in for good measure.
Jan 23, 2009
Pa
rated it:
This is a reasonably good story about a serial killer in Jerusalem. Gives a good perspective of life in modern Jerusalem and of the many problems, interactions and conflicts among the several factions. Though strongly pro-Israel, it does make some attempt to fairly present the other views. An interesting and well-developed plot.
May 27, 2009
Hippichik1961
rated it:
I usually love Jonathan Kellerman books, but could not get into this one, for some strange reason. I guess I was expecting it to be his customary characters of Alex and Milo. While it started with them, they quickly became background characters. I didn't actually finish this one because it did not hold my interest.
Feb 09, 2012
Krista
rated it:
Butcher's theater was different than Kellerman's usual: it took place in Israel, and the main characters were orthodox Jewish, Muslim, and Arabic-Christian police officers. Fascinating view into that culture, especially the practical realities of these different religions co-existing, but still a compelling Kellerman mystery.
Feb 25, 2011
Sonia
rated it:
This was 600 or more pages. If he had written 300 less, it would have worked just as well or better even. But, it was an excellent story. Great characters. Horribly violent. Excellent Arabic/Jewish words and communication very authentic. Love it inn general.
Dec 22, 2011
Ariel
rated it:
The Butcher's Theater brings Jerusalem of the 1980s to life. It paints the story of a murderer and shows how the police try to catch him. A must read if you only read this novel by Dr. Kellerman.
Aug 06, 2011
This was the first Kellerman I read. I found it violent but well written. I have read a lot of his books since then. This is a stand alone novel of a mass murderer in Jerusalem.
May 22, 2011
Azariphale
rated it:
Overall as Kellerman books go, this one is pretty good. Yes we all like to read about Alex and Milo, but here were are offered different Characters with entirely different views on "the job".
I did enjoy reading things from the killers point of view, and it was nice to see some dots connecting early in the book. Also the historical view of Jerusalem in the late 1980's was interesting as well.
I did not enjoy part of the backstory on Sharavi (the lead character). I More...
I did enjoy reading things from the killers point of view, and it was nice to see some dots connecting early in the book. Also the historical view of Jerusalem in the late 1980's was interesting as well.
I did not enjoy part of the backstory on Sharavi (the lead character). I More...
Feb 26, 2010
Linda
rated it:
Pretty good story, not one I would read again, too graphic for me, but I liked the setting and the basic story and the charactors.
Oct 05, 2009
Poietes
rated it:
This is early Kellerman, and I had never read it before. Honestly, it is one of his best. Tightly drawn.
Aug 05, 2011
very violent, dark.... perhaps a bit overly descriptive at times... enjoyed the immersion in the Holy Land...
Mar 12, 2009
Pretty different. I didn't realize it wasn't one of his regular Alex Delaware novels, but I like it.
Feb 24, 2009
Lena
rated it:
I had a hard time putting whether I liked this book or I really liked this book. I'll be honest, I really liked it, because it was well written. I didn't like it because it was so well written. The bad guy used a lot of words that I wasn't comfortable with and the character really creeped me out.
Apr 13, 2008
Heidi
rated it:
As much as I love mysteries, they don't usually earn 5 stars... but this one, which takes place in Isreal, is as much about the culture and clashes of peoples, as it is about the victims and murderer.
Kellerman's Jewish police detective is a fully developed character who deserved his own series... as good as any long-running detective series, but I think he's only featured in one other (a Delaware mystery) Kellerman novel.
Kellerman's Jewish police detective is a fully developed character who deserved his own series... as good as any long-running detective series, but I think he's only featured in one other (a Delaware mystery) Kellerman novel.
