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九カ月の娘と農場で暮らすピーターとリナのデッカー夫妻のもとに、子供と泊まりに来たリナの旧友。彼女は何に怯えているのか?戒律厳しいユダヤ教徒の村で何があったのか?ダイヤモンド・ディーラー一家失踪事件を担当するデッカーは二つの謎を追うことになる。捜査を進める彼が行き着いた先はイスラエル。リナとともに飛んだ聖地で彼を待ち受けるものは?シリーズ第七弾。
632 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1994
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1777 people want to read
About the author
Faye Kellerman
179 books2,020 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
May 22, 2016
In this latest installment featuring Peter and Rina Decker, we see diamond dealer Arik Yalom and his wife Dalia murdered and his sons fleeing the country. Meanwhile, one of Rina's former school friends Honey Klein has come to visit with her children. Klein appears distressed and her children forelorn, causing Peter to question if this was a pleasure visit or an escape.
This book appears to me as a transition book in the series. Peter and Marge have a new position in homicide under a lieutenant who plays strictly by the book. At home, Sammy and Jake have switched to a more modern yeshiva that teaches English so they have the option of going to college one day should they wish. Baby Hannah is growing up quickly, freeing up Rina to accomplish more, including helping Peter with his work.
Sure enough, after questioning all those associated with the Yalom case, Peter and Marge have reason to believe that the boys have gone to Israel. Additionally, Honey Klein's rental car is found abandoned near the airport, leaving Rina to think that she must have fled to Israel as well. A nice touch is that Detective Milo Sturgis is mentioned in passing, leaving me to believe that they could collaborate on future cases. Peter on his own money goes to Israel to investigate with Rina coming along to translate, and suffice it to say this was not a site seeing trip.
This particular book read more like a thriller focused on police rather than home life. Where it did touch on the Deckers growing up as a family, Kellerman took Rina out of her role as homemaker and into a police setting. With a long series we can be prepared for each book to focus on something different- the family, religion, a tough case. Even though the books are intriguing and could stand alone, they are best read in chronological order because life moves on in between each case. I'm in this for the long haul and look forward to the next book in the series.
This book appears to me as a transition book in the series. Peter and Marge have a new position in homicide under a lieutenant who plays strictly by the book. At home, Sammy and Jake have switched to a more modern yeshiva that teaches English so they have the option of going to college one day should they wish. Baby Hannah is growing up quickly, freeing up Rina to accomplish more, including helping Peter with his work.
Sure enough, after questioning all those associated with the Yalom case, Peter and Marge have reason to believe that the boys have gone to Israel. Additionally, Honey Klein's rental car is found abandoned near the airport, leaving Rina to think that she must have fled to Israel as well. A nice touch is that Detective Milo Sturgis is mentioned in passing, leaving me to believe that they could collaborate on future cases. Peter on his own money goes to Israel to investigate with Rina coming along to translate, and suffice it to say this was not a site seeing trip.
This particular book read more like a thriller focused on police rather than home life. Where it did touch on the Deckers growing up as a family, Kellerman took Rina out of her role as homemaker and into a police setting. With a long series we can be prepared for each book to focus on something different- the family, religion, a tough case. Even though the books are intriguing and could stand alone, they are best read in chronological order because life moves on in between each case. I'm in this for the long haul and look forward to the next book in the series.
January 16, 2019
Hmm, a diamond is a girl's best friend? Maybe so, but the wheelings and dealings behind said diamond can be deadly! Another great read by Faye Kellerman, so many characters to learn about, plus the diamond industry and of course Judaism. These books are definitely a learning experience for me. The case starts out in LA, then branches out across the Atlantic to Israel with a glimpse at New York City. Rina plays a bigger role as intepreter and investigator in what is foreign to Decker. Lots of twists and turns, murder and mayhem, still worth sticking to this series (at least for me). 4 stars and 2 thumbs up.
From the blurb: A diamond dealer and his entire family have mysteriously disappeared from their sprawling Las Angeles manor, leaving the estate undisturbed and their valuables untouched. Investigating detective Decker is stumped--faced with a perplexing case riddled with dead ends. Then a second dealer is found murdered in Manhattan, catapulting Decker and his wife, Rina, into a heart-stopping maze of murder and intrigue that spans the globe...only to touch down dangerously in their own backyard.
From the blurb: A diamond dealer and his entire family have mysteriously disappeared from their sprawling Las Angeles manor, leaving the estate undisturbed and their valuables untouched. Investigating detective Decker is stumped--faced with a perplexing case riddled with dead ends. Then a second dealer is found murdered in Manhattan, catapulting Decker and his wife, Rina, into a heart-stopping maze of murder and intrigue that spans the globe...only to touch down dangerously in their own backyard.
January 1, 2013
I read this book for my mystery book club, it is the 7th in the Peter Decker / Rina Lazarus series by Faye Kellerman. Rina is an Orthodox Jew and her husband, Peter, converted to Judaism, which I’m thinking must have happened in the previous books. I had a hard time reading this book since there were so many Hebrew words used throughout, which slowed down the pace and understanding of exactly what was going on. There were 2 mysteries going on, one involving Rina’s high school friend, Honey Klein; and the other involving the disappearance of a diamond dealer and his family. The mystery eventually takes the couple to Israel, which just increased the amount of Hebrew words and context, and added the history of Israel and the religious cultures that reside there. I read some of the other reviews of earlier books in this series, and it appears that they all follow the same pattern – deeply religious under tones and men being superior to women (sometimes just subtle hints). I probably won’t read any more books by Faye Kellerman, but would like to read a book by her husband, Jonathan Kellerman… it sounds like his books center around the mystery without as much romance, history, and religion.
July 21, 2014
I was really hoping that I would like this book, since so many people I know had recommended Kellerman as a master of the mystery genre, but I was quite disappointed with this novel. This will likely be the last Faye Kellerman book I read. First, it was about 100-150 pages too long. I have no issue whatsoever with lengthy books with the level of detail and scope that justifies their length (The Golden Notebook and Dune are both favorites of mine). While I can't point to specific characters or subplots that needed trimming, the overall pace of the book is off. There are tons of meandering descriptions and character musings that are overstuffed and plodding, and then sudden "insights" that usually Decker and Rina or Marge come up with as they bounce hypotheses off of each other. These exchanges are too sudden and difficult to follow after such lengthy set-ups. I often found myself thinking "where did that come from?" when I rarely have trouble following complex plots. I found myself skimming a few pages at a time just to get to the point!
Secondly, I just didn't enjoy Decker as a character, nor did I enjoy his relationship with Rina. Decker just isn't very interesting. He's a "hard boiled" detective who has been through some personal issues, but he never becomes a three-dimensional person, just a cardboard character who does just about what you would expect him to do in the kinds of situations you would expect him to find himself in. And his marriage to Rina is rendered as more parental than equal. Decker is often angry or annoyed at Rina, semi-patronizingly indulging a hunch she has, or comforting her when she's frightened, which she is a lot . I get that Rina is younger and Orthodox, and thus has been somewhat sheltered, and also that she is not a detective with the requisite training, but her child-like need and his gruff impatience just reminded me of a testy father and his spunky daughter who keeps getting too big for her britches. This dynamic got boring really quickly!
Thirdly, there are a few howlers in regards to logical leaps within the plot. I am so sure that Decker would have been swiftly approved to take his investigation to Israel and that his captain would be fine with his wife as his official interpreter (not a spoiler--this info is on the book jacket). Yeahhhh....just no! There are other leaps that are not quite this bad, but do make the overall story weaker, as you have trouble believing the characters' motivations or ability to intuit information that just doesn't quite hold water.
While I did find the information about Orthodox beliefs and culture very interesting, the sporadic use of Yiddish phrases was sometimes enlightening, sometimes off-putting. I have no idea how common peppering English with Yiddish happens among Orthodox Jews, but it began to feel like a gimmick at times. I also enjoyed that there were a few surprises that I did not see coming, and those twists were well-played. Kellerman does have chops as a writer, especially when she manages to keep her descriptions brief and economical, but she seems to get too cute and bogged down in her little tricks. I have heard from others that this book is one of her weaker Decker/Lazarus novels, and I am willing to believe that it is. I am not willing to try again at over 400 pages, though!
Secondly, I just didn't enjoy Decker as a character, nor did I enjoy his relationship with Rina. Decker just isn't very interesting. He's a "hard boiled" detective who has been through some personal issues, but he never becomes a three-dimensional person, just a cardboard character who does just about what you would expect him to do in the kinds of situations you would expect him to find himself in. And his marriage to Rina is rendered as more parental than equal. Decker is often angry or annoyed at Rina, semi-patronizingly indulging a hunch she has, or comforting her when she's frightened, which she is a lot . I get that Rina is younger and Orthodox, and thus has been somewhat sheltered, and also that she is not a detective with the requisite training, but her child-like need and his gruff impatience just reminded me of a testy father and his spunky daughter who keeps getting too big for her britches. This dynamic got boring really quickly!
Thirdly, there are a few howlers in regards to logical leaps within the plot. I am so sure that Decker would have been swiftly approved to take his investigation to Israel and that his captain would be fine with his wife as his official interpreter (not a spoiler--this info is on the book jacket). Yeahhhh....just no! There are other leaps that are not quite this bad, but do make the overall story weaker, as you have trouble believing the characters' motivations or ability to intuit information that just doesn't quite hold water.
While I did find the information about Orthodox beliefs and culture very interesting, the sporadic use of Yiddish phrases was sometimes enlightening, sometimes off-putting. I have no idea how common peppering English with Yiddish happens among Orthodox Jews, but it began to feel like a gimmick at times. I also enjoyed that there were a few surprises that I did not see coming, and those twists were well-played. Kellerman does have chops as a writer, especially when she manages to keep her descriptions brief and economical, but she seems to get too cute and bogged down in her little tricks. I have heard from others that this book is one of her weaker Decker/Lazarus novels, and I am willing to believe that it is. I am not willing to try again at over 400 pages, though!
February 23, 2016
I love this series, so far, but this was not my favorite story. It was well written, just person preference that you like some better than others. Love the main characters as usual, but didn't dig the secondary characters as much as usual. Did love the cameo from detective Sturgis. On to the next one.
May 29, 2017
I appreciated this book for the look into Jewish culture. I liked the main characters, too. However, to me it lacked something as a mystery. The detectives' main method seems to be throwing wild theories around and hoping something ends up making sense. I just didn't find this believable.
December 28, 2019
Good read. Peter and Rins’s lives continue. Enjoyed the foray into the diamond business and the travel to Israel. The story line flowed, but too much depended on luck, not evidence.
November 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this "missing persons" murder mystery, the family dynamics, and the Judaism aspects which opened up a whole ancient culture that is new to me.
Faye Kellerman's writing style is tight; the interactions and glimpses of Peter and Rina's home life is humorous and relatable. The bouncing off of ideas between Peter and co-investigator Marge through deduction gets the brain synapses pinging. Add to that, an insider's intro to the fascinating workings of the diamond business and its impact on world events.
What stumped me to a small degree was the history and role of side character Gold in all of this. I may be dense as he explains his family's past towards the conclusion but I'm still confused on who is who, except for the daughter while the focus was mostly on her husband. Save for that one issue, this book was great so it's a 4 star instead of 5.
This is my first foray into the Peter and Rina series. Looking forward to reading more.
Loved it!
Faye Kellerman's writing style is tight; the interactions and glimpses of Peter and Rina's home life is humorous and relatable. The bouncing off of ideas between Peter and co-investigator Marge through deduction gets the brain synapses pinging. Add to that, an insider's intro to the fascinating workings of the diamond business and its impact on world events.
What stumped me to a small degree was the history and role of side character Gold in all of this. I may be dense as he explains his family's past towards the conclusion but I'm still confused on who is who, except for the daughter while the focus was mostly on her husband. Save for that one issue, this book was great so it's a 4 star instead of 5.
This is my first foray into the Peter and Rina series. Looking forward to reading more.
Loved it!
March 28, 2018
Years ago I was a huge Faye Kellerman fan. I read approximately eight of her earlier books, but not all in order. The first one is THE RITUAL BATH which I have since re-read and it is one of my fave books ever and definitely my favorite of hers. In the past few years I decided to go back, start the series again, and read them in order, continuing through the end of the series - since I have missed most of them. To my surprise, I have been struggling through each one, finding them dull and plodding. I guess my taste has changed over the years. I am determined to keep going...for awhile at least.
SANCTUARY had some very interesting plot twists and good moments, but as a whole I was not that interested in the book. I love Rina and Peter Decker - the two main characters - but the plots are not holding my attention.
SANCTUARY had some very interesting plot twists and good moments, but as a whole I was not that interested in the book. I love Rina and Peter Decker - the two main characters - but the plots are not holding my attention.
September 19, 2022
I liked this one a little better because Rina was more of a player. In the last books she's been busy having a baby and being a mother and housekeeper, but that wasn't really the promise of the first book. There appears to be some family pressure for her to be "just" the mother and homemaker, but as a character she's worth more than that and hope Keller doesn't burn her.
Interesting story, with a lot of knowledge about diamonds and Israel that I didn't know.
Interesting story, with a lot of knowledge about diamonds and Israel that I didn't know.
May 21, 2021
A very intricate set of stories-within-the-story with some overlapping elements to connect them. Had to work to keep up with all the characters and their different issues!
A huge amount of information about Jewish culture, societal norms, and some of the ultra religious Jewish sects, and all of this information played a major role in the book.
If you have no knowledge of Jewish culture, it would make it a little more challenging to read, understand and enjoy Sanctuary..
A huge amount of information about Jewish culture, societal norms, and some of the ultra religious Jewish sects, and all of this information played a major role in the book.
If you have no knowledge of Jewish culture, it would make it a little more challenging to read, understand and enjoy Sanctuary..
June 11, 2020
One of the author's best. Diamond-associated murders. The action turns from southern California to Chasidic New York to South Africa, Antwerp to Israel to North Africa. Very well crafted and enjoyable.
October 20, 2023
Continuing to listen my way through the Peter Decker series on a stretch of many road trips this fall. This one had an international flair, taking us on an adventure to Israel. Enjoyable. Onto the next.
March 12, 2018
Taking place nine months after the end of "Grievous Sin," Peter and his partner, Marge, have been transferred from the Foothills Division into homicide at another precinct and are still very much needing to prove themselves. Marge is less than thrilled when they are assigned to a missing persons case - the entire Yalom family has disappeared - instead of a homicide. But things change when diamond dealer Mr. Yalom along with his wife are found dead, and the prime suspects, their two teenage boys are still missing.
Meanwhile, an old friend of Rina's, Honey Klein, has asked if she and her four kids can come visit California from New York and stay with the Deckers, claiming it's a vacation. Being a suspicious detective, Peter feels there is more to Honey's story than she is letting on, especially when she and the kids promptly disappear and Honey's husband, also a diamond dealer, is found dead in Manhattan.
Being that both families are Jewish, Peter deduces that the kids and the Kleins have taken refuge in Israel. With a little stretching of the truth, Peter gets reluctant approval from his new boss to travel to Israel (on his own dime) in search of the Yalom boys first and foremost, and perhaps to also find the Klein family as an added bonus to the NYPD. Marge stays behind to investigate the case in L.A.; Peter takes Rina with him as she speaks fluent Hebrew and can translate for him.
This is the second book in a row I have listened to in which the main character, a cop (the other being James Patterson's Alex Cross), seemed to think they could just waltz into a foreign country and be granted privileges to investigate their case and I appreciated the resistance from local law enforcement Peter found himself up against in his race to find the boys before someone else did. The events in Israel did unfold very quickly and provided an interesting look at the diamond trade, especially how the countries of Africa play into it - both those that are well known for being part of the industry and those whose potential have not quite been tapped into (as of when the book was written in the early 90s).
The mystery surrounding Honey and her kids was definitely a secondary plot in this story and shed some interesting light on the differences between civil and religious law and the way each is handled.
The pacing of this was good, the plot was interesting - though perhaps was a bit too tidily wrapped up in the end - and I loved the nod to Detective Sturgis - a main character in the Alex Delaware series written by the author's husband. This is the second book in this series I have listened to and I am finding I am looking forward to continue listening to this series.
Meanwhile, an old friend of Rina's, Honey Klein, has asked if she and her four kids can come visit California from New York and stay with the Deckers, claiming it's a vacation. Being a suspicious detective, Peter feels there is more to Honey's story than she is letting on, especially when she and the kids promptly disappear and Honey's husband, also a diamond dealer, is found dead in Manhattan.
Being that both families are Jewish, Peter deduces that the kids and the Kleins have taken refuge in Israel. With a little stretching of the truth, Peter gets reluctant approval from his new boss to travel to Israel (on his own dime) in search of the Yalom boys first and foremost, and perhaps to also find the Klein family as an added bonus to the NYPD. Marge stays behind to investigate the case in L.A.; Peter takes Rina with him as she speaks fluent Hebrew and can translate for him.
This is the second book in a row I have listened to in which the main character, a cop (the other being James Patterson's Alex Cross), seemed to think they could just waltz into a foreign country and be granted privileges to investigate their case and I appreciated the resistance from local law enforcement Peter found himself up against in his race to find the boys before someone else did. The events in Israel did unfold very quickly and provided an interesting look at the diamond trade, especially how the countries of Africa play into it - both those that are well known for being part of the industry and those whose potential have not quite been tapped into (as of when the book was written in the early 90s).
The mystery surrounding Honey and her kids was definitely a secondary plot in this story and shed some interesting light on the differences between civil and religious law and the way each is handled.
The pacing of this was good, the plot was interesting - though perhaps was a bit too tidily wrapped up in the end - and I loved the nod to Detective Sturgis - a main character in the Alex Delaware series written by the author's husband. This is the second book in this series I have listened to and I am finding I am looking forward to continue listening to this series.
May 18, 2025
"Sanctuary" is a Jewish murder mystery. In this case someone MIGHT be murdered and he is Jewish. A Jewish detective is placed on the case to find him and the missing family. This was a pretty good read. I really liked it.
Note: A lot of Hebrew words are used in this novel. While the meaning of those words are often defined (but not always) there is enough context provided to ignore them. I am thinking of providing a glossary for readers on this topic.
The story: A Jewish diamond dealer is reported missing along with his wife and two sons. Detective Peter Decker is investigating along with his partner, Marge, who is trying to make her way up the ladder and getting a lot of guff. Decker's wife, Rina Lazarus, also gets involved as the case takes him to Israel chasing down the missing boys.
OK... does someone die? You bet. Is it gruesome? Well... it's not pretty but it is not described in detail. Is there any cursing? Some. Not too often. Can kids read this book? Hmmm... no... maybe older teens if you don't mind them learning that people get killed but it's not any worse than a TV murder mystery. They do discuss adultery though. Just so you know.
I like this story because it talks about certain Jewish issues including the plight of the agunah (the anchored woman) who cannot get a divorce until her husband relents and gives her a divorce (a "get"). It is a side story to be sure but I was grateful it was included. It added to the story and supported it. It was not just thrown in there.
Complaints? Yes. While the ending was satisfying, there is a part toward the end where the author, through the voice of Peter Decker, editorializes. It is brief and OK as far as it goes, but if you are going to bring up a controversial subject at the end you ought to discuss it thoroughly or not at all. I think the author offered a quick solution (through Peter Decker) to a controversial issue without mentioning the utterly unforgivable and uncorrectable chaos such a solution would create... which is partly why the situation persists because the solutions are few and not easy at all. The author did an injustice to the reader in that sense, but one can ignore that misstep at the end and enjoy the novel as I did.
Note: A lot of Hebrew words are used in this novel. While the meaning of those words are often defined (but not always) there is enough context provided to ignore them. I am thinking of providing a glossary for readers on this topic.
The story: A Jewish diamond dealer is reported missing along with his wife and two sons. Detective Peter Decker is investigating along with his partner, Marge, who is trying to make her way up the ladder and getting a lot of guff. Decker's wife, Rina Lazarus, also gets involved as the case takes him to Israel chasing down the missing boys.
OK... does someone die? You bet. Is it gruesome? Well... it's not pretty but it is not described in detail. Is there any cursing? Some. Not too often. Can kids read this book? Hmmm... no... maybe older teens if you don't mind them learning that people get killed but it's not any worse than a TV murder mystery. They do discuss adultery though. Just so you know.
I like this story because it talks about certain Jewish issues including the plight of the agunah (the anchored woman) who cannot get a divorce until her husband relents and gives her a divorce (a "get"). It is a side story to be sure but I was grateful it was included. It added to the story and supported it. It was not just thrown in there.
Complaints? Yes. While the ending was satisfying, there is a part toward the end where the author, through the voice of Peter Decker, editorializes. It is brief and OK as far as it goes, but if you are going to bring up a controversial subject at the end you ought to discuss it thoroughly or not at all. I think the author offered a quick solution (through Peter Decker) to a controversial issue without mentioning the utterly unforgivable and uncorrectable chaos such a solution would create... which is partly why the situation persists because the solutions are few and not easy at all. The author did an injustice to the reader in that sense, but one can ignore that misstep at the end and enjoy the novel as I did.
November 11, 2012
After reading a very large intense book, I chose Sanctuary as my “in between” read, thinking it would be easy and light. I was pleasantly surprised to have really enjoyed it. In the beginning I thought it was a little hokey with just too much Jewish background, but I soon came to realize it was all an integral part of the entire plot.
This murder-mystery deals with the diamond industry, and takes the reader from Los Angeles to Israel. When dealing with billions of dollars, there’s bound to be thievery, cheating, murder, suspense, throw in a little middle-east politics and you have a recipe for a great story. I have only read one other Faye Kellerman book which was years ago so I cannot compare, but Sanctuary can stand on it’s own merits. You don’t have to read any of the other Peter Decker/Rina series to enjoy this one. There are enough plot twists to engage any reader.
Having been to Israel and understanding many of the places described in the book was an added bonus. The accurate descriptions of the many different kinds of people from black-hat orthodox, to PLO terrorist, to holocaust survivor, to an L.A. police sergeant – all well done.
There was an extensive overuse of Hebrew and Yiddish words throughout the book, which may be off-putting to someone not familiar with those languages. I also felt there was just too many wasted words about Peter and Rina’s baby Hanna. I assume their side story is the common thread that makes these books a series, but I found it distracting and annoying.
Mitchell Greenberg the narrator was awesome. He pronounced every one of those Hebrew and Yiddish words perfectly, adding authenticity to the story. He changed his accent so many times to suit the characters; everything from Israeli yeshiva boys, to Orthodox old men, to Israeli women and the list goes on. He did a superb job with the inflections of all the characters.
This murder-mystery deals with the diamond industry, and takes the reader from Los Angeles to Israel. When dealing with billions of dollars, there’s bound to be thievery, cheating, murder, suspense, throw in a little middle-east politics and you have a recipe for a great story. I have only read one other Faye Kellerman book which was years ago so I cannot compare, but Sanctuary can stand on it’s own merits. You don’t have to read any of the other Peter Decker/Rina series to enjoy this one. There are enough plot twists to engage any reader.
Having been to Israel and understanding many of the places described in the book was an added bonus. The accurate descriptions of the many different kinds of people from black-hat orthodox, to PLO terrorist, to holocaust survivor, to an L.A. police sergeant – all well done.
There was an extensive overuse of Hebrew and Yiddish words throughout the book, which may be off-putting to someone not familiar with those languages. I also felt there was just too many wasted words about Peter and Rina’s baby Hanna. I assume their side story is the common thread that makes these books a series, but I found it distracting and annoying.
Mitchell Greenberg the narrator was awesome. He pronounced every one of those Hebrew and Yiddish words perfectly, adding authenticity to the story. He changed his accent so many times to suit the characters; everything from Israeli yeshiva boys, to Orthodox old men, to Israeli women and the list goes on. He did a superb job with the inflections of all the characters.
February 24, 2017
Two mysteries for the price of one....
I loved this story and I am really enjoying this series. I have been in a reading funk and not sure what the problem is. I have been working my way through many series, this one included. When I return to this series I always enjoy myself and loose myself in the world of Decker, his wife Rina, and his partner Marge. I also loved the shout out that Faye Kellerman gave to her husband when Decker gave a call to a West LA cop named Sturgiss (for those who haven't you need to read J. Kellerman's Novels with Detective Sturgiss and psychologist Alex Delaware).
The story of the murder of a diamond seller and his wife in LA and the murder of a diamond seller in NYC overlap and give a wonderful plot to read and enjoy. Decker and Rina end up flying to Israel to solve this case.
I loved this story and I am really enjoying this series. I have been in a reading funk and not sure what the problem is. I have been working my way through many series, this one included. When I return to this series I always enjoy myself and loose myself in the world of Decker, his wife Rina, and his partner Marge. I also loved the shout out that Faye Kellerman gave to her husband when Decker gave a call to a West LA cop named Sturgiss (for those who haven't you need to read J. Kellerman's Novels with Detective Sturgiss and psychologist Alex Delaware).
The story of the murder of a diamond seller and his wife in LA and the murder of a diamond seller in NYC overlap and give a wonderful plot to read and enjoy. Decker and Rina end up flying to Israel to solve this case.
October 12, 2015
Stunning story revolved around diamonds... what does religion and diamonds have in common... A lot when you involve the Jewish diamond sellers, buyers and cutters and the country of Israel and South Africa. Brilliant, witty writing from Faye, of course, I learn something new every time I dive into her series with Peter Decker and Rina. Love that I learn about history, religion and crime solving with rich characters. Suspense wrapped up into a package of dynamite when the PLO is involved. The sad thing... the spiritual and emotional dramas are still in play with Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, Hebron, and other landmarks of Christianity. Faye Kellerman makes me, the reader, feel like a scholar as I flip through the pages to learn more about a culture as old as the first story in the Bible. Fascinating, murder mystery that wraps around a devious plot of greed. Peter Decker and Harry Bosch are my all time heros!
September 15, 2013
Great read. Loved the excursion to Israel. Loved the conversation about gets, but not necessarily the story line of it. I mean the conversation they had about it while in Israel was fantastic. However, watching the story line play out was unsettling. Both murders fell in that gray area where I'm not really sure how I feel. There just isn't an easy answer to either of the situations. Was it right or was it condoning? And was there enough closure? My second favorite in series so far.
March 4, 2018
Probably three and a half stars, to be honest. I'm happy Rina got to be more instrumental this time around, although a lot of it was simply her translating Hebrew for Peter in Israel. The subplot regarding Honey Klein was more of a red herring than anything else, which was a disappointment. The killer was introduced far too late into the story (though I'm satisfied with how that person was dealt with in the end)..
April 5, 2011
I think this book was my favorite in the whole series so far. A good mix of religious knowledge, connection to Rina dn her family/community AND a good detective story.
December 2, 2011
another good one
August 30, 2020
Liked the main story but it seemed really far fetched at times. Definitely liked the Israel bits.
March 28, 2018
Ook dit 'toevluchtsoord' heeft godsdienstige wortels. Hoezo 'ook': nu, lees mijn recensie van Toevluchtsoord van Frances Fyfield. Daar is het een klooster, hier is het maar liefst een hele stad: Jeruzalem.
Toevluchtsoord is het zesde boek van Faye Kellerman waarin Pete en Rina Decker de hoofdrol spelen. Het boek is in 1994 geschreven. Verschillende van de boeken over Pete en Rina die hierna verschenen zijn, zijn al vertaald. Helaas heb ik geen antwoord van de uitgeverij gekregen op mijn vraag waarom men de boeken niet in chronologische volgorde vertaald. Het is best een beetje vreemd om te zien dat in dit deel Hannah net is geboren, terwijl ze in andere delen al een vrolijke kleuter is. Het mag een detail zijn, zulke dingen vind ik belangrijk. Eén van de leuke dingen aan het lezen over Pete en Rina is, dat je als lezer lekker kan meeleven met hen. Tenminste, als je Engels leest, want dan lees je de boeken gewoon zodra ze uitkomen. De lezers die liever op de vertaling wachten, worden dus bij elk deeltje dat uitkomt weer op het verkeerde been gezet.
Maar goed: toevluchtsoord dus. Het oord waar mensen heen gaan als ze zich niet veilig voelen. Dov en Gil Jalom, zonen van een bekende diamanthandelaar en zijn lieftallige vrouw, voelen zich niet veilig meer in Amerika en vluchten naar Israël. Aangezien ze dat natuurlijk niet rondvertellen, duurt het even voordat Peter en Rina Decker de verdwijning van de jongens in verband brengen met de moord op hun ouders. De lichamen van de ouders zijn namelijk goed verstopt. En wat de verdwijning van een jeugdvriendin van Rina, compleet met haar vier kinderen, met deze zaak te maken heeft, wordt ook niet een-twee-drie duidelijk. Wel duidelijk wordt het, dat Pete en Rina door deze zaak gedwongen samen naar Israël gaan, waar ze verstrikt raken in een internationaal complot met politieke achtergronden.
Eigenlijk komt dit deel uit de serie wat traag op gang. De eerste vreemde gebeurtenissen volgen elkaar in flink tempo, maar het middelste gedeelte, als Pete en Rina tenslotte beslissen dat zij naar Israël moeten afreizen, is ronduit traag te noemen. En vervolgens is de ontknoping wel weer een beetje gehaast, met een zwaar politieke achtergrond, waar op de laatste pagina´s nog een ´human interest´ sausje overheen is gegoten. Dus, hoewel vakkundig in elkaar gezet, verdient dit boek geen schoonheidsprijs en is het mijns inziens ook niet het beste uit de serie. Voeg daarbij de rommelige vertaling, waarvan ik toch wat voorbeelden wil geven, en u begrijpt waarom ik dit deel ´maar´ drie sterren geef. Slordigheden: op pagina 26 komt Pete Decker een huis binnen. Een groot huis. Hij beschrijft de kamers: zitkamer rechts van de hal, eetkamer links, huiskamer rechtdoor. Decker beschrijft eerst de kasten in de hal. Vervolgens loopt hij rechts de zitkamer in. Daar staat ook weer van alles, waaronder grote ´combinatiesofa´s´. Dat is dus gewoon een set van een drie- en tweezitter, zoals wij die ook kennen. Vervolgens loopt Decker terug door de hal, en belandt hij via de eetkamer in een voorraadkamer en dan in de keuken. Hmmm. Stel je voor: een mooie eetkamer en een prachtige keuken. Die wil je toch niet gescheiden houden door een voorraadkamer? Het is toch niet logisch om die kamer daar te hebben? Dan beschrijft Kellerman nog een bijkeuken, een achterportaal en - presto! - een woonkamer. Toen was ik het spoor bijster. Ik weet dat Amerikanen in grote huizen andere benamingen gebruiken voor hun kamers dan wij doen. Maar ik vind het heel slordig om dit niet even netjes na te kijken.
Verderop in het boek wordt voortdurend gesproken over ´lockers´. Luiheid, niets dan luiheid, om dit woord niet te vertalen. Lockers zijn gewoon kleine afsluitbare kastjes of kluisjes, die je op scholen en in kantoren kunt tegenkomen. Ik weet dat de jeugd van tegenwoordig het graag over hun ´locker´ heeft, in navolging van Amerikaanse jeugd, maar ik vind dit geen reden om dit woord maar gelijk maar onvertaald te laten. Dit waren een paar voorbeelden. Ik kreeg nog wel vaker een onbehaaglijk gevoel bij het lezen, voor mij een teken dat er iets niet klopt in de vertaling. Jammer!
Toevluchtsoord is het zesde boek van Faye Kellerman waarin Pete en Rina Decker de hoofdrol spelen. Het boek is in 1994 geschreven. Verschillende van de boeken over Pete en Rina die hierna verschenen zijn, zijn al vertaald. Helaas heb ik geen antwoord van de uitgeverij gekregen op mijn vraag waarom men de boeken niet in chronologische volgorde vertaald. Het is best een beetje vreemd om te zien dat in dit deel Hannah net is geboren, terwijl ze in andere delen al een vrolijke kleuter is. Het mag een detail zijn, zulke dingen vind ik belangrijk. Eén van de leuke dingen aan het lezen over Pete en Rina is, dat je als lezer lekker kan meeleven met hen. Tenminste, als je Engels leest, want dan lees je de boeken gewoon zodra ze uitkomen. De lezers die liever op de vertaling wachten, worden dus bij elk deeltje dat uitkomt weer op het verkeerde been gezet.
Maar goed: toevluchtsoord dus. Het oord waar mensen heen gaan als ze zich niet veilig voelen. Dov en Gil Jalom, zonen van een bekende diamanthandelaar en zijn lieftallige vrouw, voelen zich niet veilig meer in Amerika en vluchten naar Israël. Aangezien ze dat natuurlijk niet rondvertellen, duurt het even voordat Peter en Rina Decker de verdwijning van de jongens in verband brengen met de moord op hun ouders. De lichamen van de ouders zijn namelijk goed verstopt. En wat de verdwijning van een jeugdvriendin van Rina, compleet met haar vier kinderen, met deze zaak te maken heeft, wordt ook niet een-twee-drie duidelijk. Wel duidelijk wordt het, dat Pete en Rina door deze zaak gedwongen samen naar Israël gaan, waar ze verstrikt raken in een internationaal complot met politieke achtergronden.
Eigenlijk komt dit deel uit de serie wat traag op gang. De eerste vreemde gebeurtenissen volgen elkaar in flink tempo, maar het middelste gedeelte, als Pete en Rina tenslotte beslissen dat zij naar Israël moeten afreizen, is ronduit traag te noemen. En vervolgens is de ontknoping wel weer een beetje gehaast, met een zwaar politieke achtergrond, waar op de laatste pagina´s nog een ´human interest´ sausje overheen is gegoten. Dus, hoewel vakkundig in elkaar gezet, verdient dit boek geen schoonheidsprijs en is het mijns inziens ook niet het beste uit de serie. Voeg daarbij de rommelige vertaling, waarvan ik toch wat voorbeelden wil geven, en u begrijpt waarom ik dit deel ´maar´ drie sterren geef. Slordigheden: op pagina 26 komt Pete Decker een huis binnen. Een groot huis. Hij beschrijft de kamers: zitkamer rechts van de hal, eetkamer links, huiskamer rechtdoor. Decker beschrijft eerst de kasten in de hal. Vervolgens loopt hij rechts de zitkamer in. Daar staat ook weer van alles, waaronder grote ´combinatiesofa´s´. Dat is dus gewoon een set van een drie- en tweezitter, zoals wij die ook kennen. Vervolgens loopt Decker terug door de hal, en belandt hij via de eetkamer in een voorraadkamer en dan in de keuken. Hmmm. Stel je voor: een mooie eetkamer en een prachtige keuken. Die wil je toch niet gescheiden houden door een voorraadkamer? Het is toch niet logisch om die kamer daar te hebben? Dan beschrijft Kellerman nog een bijkeuken, een achterportaal en - presto! - een woonkamer. Toen was ik het spoor bijster. Ik weet dat Amerikanen in grote huizen andere benamingen gebruiken voor hun kamers dan wij doen. Maar ik vind het heel slordig om dit niet even netjes na te kijken.
Verderop in het boek wordt voortdurend gesproken over ´lockers´. Luiheid, niets dan luiheid, om dit woord niet te vertalen. Lockers zijn gewoon kleine afsluitbare kastjes of kluisjes, die je op scholen en in kantoren kunt tegenkomen. Ik weet dat de jeugd van tegenwoordig het graag over hun ´locker´ heeft, in navolging van Amerikaanse jeugd, maar ik vind dit geen reden om dit woord maar gelijk maar onvertaald te laten. Dit waren een paar voorbeelden. Ik kreeg nog wel vaker een onbehaaglijk gevoel bij het lezen, voor mij een teken dat er iets niet klopt in de vertaling. Jammer!
January 8, 2018
Cutting a Window to See How the Grain Runs
“…when Honey asked if she and the kids might spend a week with Rina and her family in Los Angeles, Rina thought it strange.“ p 3 Rina Decker’s former classmate Honey Klein married to an ultra-religious Leibbener Chasidic and they rather maintained a very sporadic contact. Now out of the blue, she wants to drop by for a week with only two days‘ notice. The two women’s lifestyles are different: In Honey’s world, there are no TVs or private phones in the houses, no popular fiction or magazines. No phones is a first even to Rina. And Rina, since she married LAPD cop Pete, kind of shifted from orthodox more to modern orthodox Judaism.
At the same time, Pete follows his partner Marge Dunn on a lead to the house of a family that disappeared; husband, wife, two sons in the middle of the school year. Nothing seems to have been searched, nothing taken but the boys passports. Might they have done harm to their parents? Or has the whole family fled? But – why? The husband is a wealthy diamond dealer as is Honey’s husband. Is it a mere coincidence when Honey cannot reach her husband? All the while, Pete and Marge, lately transferred from Juvey to Homicide, have to deal with the snide remarks from their new „Loo“ (Lieutenant) – on women and “niceties“ such as “Looks like the Jews know to hold a buck.“ p 133. But fortunately, Pete and Rina know what a mezuzah is for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezuzah
Author Faye Kellerman tried for something completely new with this one – the routine police procedural was added up with elements in between economic crime, adventure and international/political conspiracy. She has me in with that mix. It turns out with Pete and Rina travelling to Israel, as all traits seem to be leading there, to the namegiving “Sanctuary“ for all Jews, has in it lots of background related to the diamond business and considerations on Jewish marriage and divorce (a nice idea to have a Rabbi go and beat your to-be-ex-husband if he is unwilling to agree with a divorce…) as well as on some of the very different ways of religious approaches in Judaism. Unfortunately, the next four books of the series are missing in my collection. Well, they do as of TODAY
4,5 out of 5 stars (half a star off as some of the adventure/political parts are a slight bit too exaggerated – though I admit I would love to see those in a movie)
“…when Honey asked if she and the kids might spend a week with Rina and her family in Los Angeles, Rina thought it strange.“ p 3 Rina Decker’s former classmate Honey Klein married to an ultra-religious Leibbener Chasidic and they rather maintained a very sporadic contact. Now out of the blue, she wants to drop by for a week with only two days‘ notice. The two women’s lifestyles are different: In Honey’s world, there are no TVs or private phones in the houses, no popular fiction or magazines. No phones is a first even to Rina. And Rina, since she married LAPD cop Pete, kind of shifted from orthodox more to modern orthodox Judaism.
At the same time, Pete follows his partner Marge Dunn on a lead to the house of a family that disappeared; husband, wife, two sons in the middle of the school year. Nothing seems to have been searched, nothing taken but the boys passports. Might they have done harm to their parents? Or has the whole family fled? But – why? The husband is a wealthy diamond dealer as is Honey’s husband. Is it a mere coincidence when Honey cannot reach her husband? All the while, Pete and Marge, lately transferred from Juvey to Homicide, have to deal with the snide remarks from their new „Loo“ (Lieutenant) – on women and “niceties“ such as “Looks like the Jews know to hold a buck.“ p 133. But fortunately, Pete and Rina know what a mezuzah is for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezuzah
Author Faye Kellerman tried for something completely new with this one – the routine police procedural was added up with elements in between economic crime, adventure and international/political conspiracy. She has me in with that mix. It turns out with Pete and Rina travelling to Israel, as all traits seem to be leading there, to the namegiving “Sanctuary“ for all Jews, has in it lots of background related to the diamond business and considerations on Jewish marriage and divorce (a nice idea to have a Rabbi go and beat your to-be-ex-husband if he is unwilling to agree with a divorce…) as well as on some of the very different ways of religious approaches in Judaism. Unfortunately, the next four books of the series are missing in my collection. Well, they do as of TODAY
4,5 out of 5 stars (half a star off as some of the adventure/political parts are a slight bit too exaggerated – though I admit I would love to see those in a movie)
April 25, 2020
Another great entry int the Decker/Lazarus series by Faye Kellerman. Like the first 6, I had to adjust to the reality that this book was written a quarter century ago, and that the technology we take for granted today did not exist at the time of this writing. Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable read. With each volume I enjoy more and more the insights of Jewish religious and social practice that Kellerman weaves into the story of Peter and Rina.
Turning 180 degrees from the last book which focused on their new daughter, this book left the kids pretty much in the background. His partner, Marge, is still part of the story but not to the extent of prior books. Instead, Rina really becomes part of the 'team' as Peter required her assistance in his newest case. Needing to travel to Israel, but not for a hoped-for vacation in the Promised Land, Rina's Hebrew skills and cultural insights prove vital in tracking down missing children as well as unraveling a sinister plot to profit from the diamond trade using terrorist funds from the PLO. A truly international case, this was a new venture for Kellerman in the series, and I appreciated it. I suspect we will find in future volumes that Peter and Rina really become a crime-solving unit working together.
Always a delightful read, I am very much looking forward to Volume #8.
Turning 180 degrees from the last book which focused on their new daughter, this book left the kids pretty much in the background. His partner, Marge, is still part of the story but not to the extent of prior books. Instead, Rina really becomes part of the 'team' as Peter required her assistance in his newest case. Needing to travel to Israel, but not for a hoped-for vacation in the Promised Land, Rina's Hebrew skills and cultural insights prove vital in tracking down missing children as well as unraveling a sinister plot to profit from the diamond trade using terrorist funds from the PLO. A truly international case, this was a new venture for Kellerman in the series, and I appreciated it. I suspect we will find in future volumes that Peter and Rina really become a crime-solving unit working together.
Always a delightful read, I am very much looking forward to Volume #8.
August 8, 2020
In this one, the Deckers both went to Israel at their own expense, as Peter was following his hunch, in search of 2 teen~aged boys whose parents were murdered... Rina was to interpret and aid her clueless but determined husband and Peter was just doing his job. The boys, both Jewish and Americans, sought refuge in separate yeshivas as was instructed by their mother as their contingency plan. A many layered plot that involved 2 sets of Jewish families with different degrees of religiosity... the sparkle of diamonds in the supposedly highly secured Bursa and the impact of a compromised security on the country's diamond trade industry and thus to Israel's economy... exploding bombs or the appearance of terrorists' attacks... the PLO... the peace talks... a Jewish divorce gone bad... and the the Deckers as either heroes or suspects depending on whose perspective. I like it when seemingly unrelated plots all come together and this author most definitely did a very Good job of it... but then she Always does.
January 16, 2021
I've read many of the books written by Faye Kellerman, but somehow missed this one. Even though it is an earlier book, the writing and story line(s) are just as strong and hold together as her later books. I was taken in by the fact this book dealt with an industry that few, if any, other authors place their mysteries in...the diamond industry. Learning about the monopoly that one major company has over the other smaller ones (of course DeBeers wasn't mentioned in the story), learning how the buyers and sellers perform their transaction, and learning about the dangers involved was fascinating.
There are two stores within "Sanctuary" and both cross paths with the diamond industry. Yes, there's a lot of Hebrew words in the story, but the author sees to it that they are defined by the characters so that the reader isn't left in the dark. While this is #7 in the Decker/Lazarus series, I believe the author provides sufficient background so that you do not need to read the books in order.
There are two stores within "Sanctuary" and both cross paths with the diamond industry. Yes, there's a lot of Hebrew words in the story, but the author sees to it that they are defined by the characters so that the reader isn't left in the dark. While this is #7 in the Decker/Lazarus series, I believe the author provides sufficient background so that you do not need to read the books in order.
December 8, 2023
I found this novel so interesting because it involved Peter Decker and his wife, Rina going to Isreal.
Peter needed his wife with him because he can't speak many Hebrew words and she is very good at it and had to come to his rescue many times.
The story starts with a diamond dealer and his wife being brutally murdered but thankfully the mother, Dalia left a clue for her teenage boys to see when they got home from school. They grabbed the money that was stashed and their passports and eventually got themselves to Israel but no one could find them because they split up.
Peter eventually found both boys before the killer could find them....brought them back to the USA.
I liked the part where Gold, a partner to the first man killed used his sniper skills to advantage....Peter disagreed but could do nothing about it. It was also very interesting about the diamond industry in Africa....there are so many diamond dealers who are competing with the bigger companies and I hadn't realized how important that trade is to Israel who purchase many.
Peter needed his wife with him because he can't speak many Hebrew words and she is very good at it and had to come to his rescue many times.
The story starts with a diamond dealer and his wife being brutally murdered but thankfully the mother, Dalia left a clue for her teenage boys to see when they got home from school. They grabbed the money that was stashed and their passports and eventually got themselves to Israel but no one could find them because they split up.
Peter eventually found both boys before the killer could find them....brought them back to the USA.
I liked the part where Gold, a partner to the first man killed used his sniper skills to advantage....Peter disagreed but could do nothing about it. It was also very interesting about the diamond industry in Africa....there are so many diamond dealers who are competing with the bigger companies and I hadn't realized how important that trade is to Israel who purchase many.
August 26, 2022
One of the most fascinating aspects of this series is watching Peter Decker, a Los Angeles detective, convert to Judaism and adjust to the culture of orthodox Jewry. I’ve learned more about the faith from these books, and I presume most of it is accurate.
Decker and his partner catch the case of a diamond dealer who disappeared. Concurrently in New York, a friend of Rina’s who is married to a diamond dealer there calls to let Rina know she, the dealer’s wife, needs a vacation in southern California.
Decker worries that, if the California-based diamond dealer is dead, his sons are in trouble. Decker sets out to find both the dead diamond merchant and his children.
This book takes Decker and Rina onto the gritty streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The suspense runs high through this, and you’ll learn more about the diamond business than you ever thought you could enjoyably learn.
Decker and his partner catch the case of a diamond dealer who disappeared. Concurrently in New York, a friend of Rina’s who is married to a diamond dealer there calls to let Rina know she, the dealer’s wife, needs a vacation in southern California.
Decker worries that, if the California-based diamond dealer is dead, his sons are in trouble. Decker sets out to find both the dead diamond merchant and his children.
This book takes Decker and Rina onto the gritty streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The suspense runs high through this, and you’ll learn more about the diamond business than you ever thought you could enjoyably learn.
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