Murder 101 audiobook

I have missed the last two books in the Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series, largely because they have been released since I started blogging and my reading time has rarely since been my own, so I jumped at the chance to rejoin the series with Murder 101.It's been six months since Peter retired from the LAPD and he and Rina are now living in upstate New York, closer to their adult children. Peter is working for the local police force which is rarely troubled by anything more than drunken college students, while Rina has made herself at home within the community. When the body of a young coed is discovered brutally stabbed to death, Decker is the only member of the Greenbury Police with the experience to investigate. He quickly connects the dead woman to a recent theft from a crypt and, teamed with an obnoxious rookie, Tyler McAdams, Decker suddenly finds himself in the midst of a case involving stolen art, Russian assassins and international politics.I so enjoyed reconnecting with the characters of this series, I love that Kellerman has aged them in 'real time'...it has been 27 years since The Ritual Bath was first published. The children Decker and Rina share, including foster son Gabe, are now grown up and on their own, Decker's old partner Marg has left the LAPD for quieter pastures and Decker and Rina are adjusting to the changes their move has wrought.In this book Decker is partnered with Tyler McAdams, a Harvard graduate with a silver spoon in his mouth and a chip on his shoulder, who initially drives Peter crazy but eventually, with Decker's gruff guidance, proves useful.I wouldn't expect anything less from Kellerman than a well crafted mystery which requires shoe leather, rather than luck, to solve. Decker's investigation is all about following leads, face to face interviews and a bit of hard earned cop instinct. The murdered girl is the first homicide to occur in Greenbury in twenty years so it makes sense that Decker is placed in charge, and in his usual bulldog manner, Decker is determined to solve the case even when his life, and Rina's and Tyler's, are threatened.Murder 101 is another well paced, solid installment in the Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series, which is likely nearing its conclusion, but proves that Decker isn't quite ready to give up his badge just yet.

I have read everything by Faye Kellerman. She has really grown as an author and I love that she writes the same characters in every book - giving us the opportunity of growing with the "Decker" family.Addtionally, I am so grateful that Kellerman has substantially toned down the religious aspect of her stories. I have no problem with incorporating some religion in the story if it will make it move forward, but at some point, she was spending so much time telling us about Rena's beliefs and myriad of traditions that it seriously took away from the storyline - after all, this is a thriller - not a book on religion.Why I liked this story so much? The combining of Decker and Harvard was perfect. At first, I wasn't sure, but by a few chapters, I was loving the back and forth between the two partners. It was amusing and engaging and I felt myself rooting for them to remain partners......The whodunit is mild enough - a theft of art that ends up being a homicide which Decker investigates through NYC and Boston (great way for Kellerman to get Decker back in the big city for a bit).A word of warning, when you start reading this book pay very close attention because there are so many people "involved' in this "art" theft/murder that you are going to lose the thread if you don't pay attention. Ditto on the details about which country stole what heirloom. I think Kellerman could have toned it down a bit here.However, in true Kellerman style, while there is a bit of action, the story is mostly about solving the mystery with brains and good old fashion investigating.The one thing that Kellerman still needs to do is tone down the propaganda when it comes to Rina. Wow, between Decker, Harvard and absolutely everybody else in this story, Rina is made out to be a saint. She never says anything wrong, every person around her loves her instantly, she is welcome at meetings where she should clearly not be and she is the center of absolutely everyone's world. Its getting old and it feels fake and takes away from the rest of the story.Honestly, I think the future stories would highly benefit from reducing Rina's role SIGNIFICANTLY or better still, remove her completely.Overall though, this was a strong book.

** spoiler alert ** So happy Rina and Peter are back! I was feeling uneasy knowing they had headed to Upstate NY but it brought back almost the whole family (except Gabe, my least favorite character and storyline) which is kind of what I like best anyway. (I find it hard to believe Rina left her 90+ parents so far away, of course) Usually the mystery is what I have to get through to read about the characters, but this time Rina played a major part -- which I love. Also some great art and stolen art facts, perhaps well-known to more cultured people but new to me. FK really brought her A game back after the last effort of Gun Games. (I know, I gave it 5 stars...but I am always so happy to see these characters!!). Lots of off-stage action (Peter's father died? Everyone retired, not just Peter? Hannah is engaged?? and in a PhD program? Didn't she just leave for seminary right after high school in the last book, last year??) which I don't love, but no quibbles. Now if only FK would write a book solely on the family...

I have been a fan of all the Kellermans, albeit to various degrees. This book felt different, but I enjoyed it a lot. Possibly several somewhat personal "connections" added to my pleasure: being Jewish (so I like references to Judaism and Jewish historical events), living in upstate NY (so I felt more comfortable with the milieu instead of the LA setting), being originally from Russia (so some of the issues related to art and locations...but no spoilers:)Anyway, in this one many of old acquaintances are back, even though their presence is not always logical. Of course, the extended Decker family is center stage, but we also get glimpses of Scott Oliver and even Marge Dunn. The new kid on the block Tyler Mcadams is a plot device allowing for many events and procedures to be explained to a newbie, hence the title. But he is a character who sort of grows on you, as he does on the Deckers. And his connections to the blue bloods in NYC and Harvard, as well as his grandmothers apartment in Manhattan are invaluable to the story. The actual mystery is way too convoluted and unbelievable to my taste mixing some historical things and places (the Amber room, the Hermitage, the Chabad library collection, a lot of the stolen art stories- all loosely based on history and well worth learning about), and some pure fiction, such as the Petrushkevich icons (I could not find any references to this). I have to agree with another reviewer here who expressed irritation with the overblown role of Rina Decker in this book, and her being a saint. Another mention of her famous cooking and I was about to scream. And the interminable epilogue, again, mostly focusing on Rina was totally unbelievable. To imagine that more than a dozen high level law enforcement professionals would accept an unknown amateur to sit in and to even give them advice at a highly secretive meeting only because she happens to be married to a provincial policeman - that just could not happen, and should not happen. Overall, and enjoyable ride, good entertainment.

I have long enjoyed Faye Kellerman's Decker/Lazarus series, and now it's as if it has been given a new beginning. Perhaps recognizing the difficulty of sustaining a long series, Kellerman has moved her characters to a completely new environment, while maintaining some links to the LAPD and of course to the family. Murder 101 provides a complex plot which unfolds through each step of the investigative process. What starts out as a simple B&E gains new dimensions all the way to the last chapter.Peter Decker is older but still at the top of his game. Rina Lazarus, also older of course with guarded references to menopause, is featured making a substantial contribution to the investigation and it is fun to watch her brilliantly organized mind at work. A new character, a wiseass Harvard grad who is playing at being a cop evolves under Decker's guidance and will perhaps return in future episodes.

Yeah, Faye Kellerman. Another good read. Fun twists and turns; great characters and story development. Another book could not put down until I finished it.

So I’m a HUGE fan of the Kellerman Dynasty – Faye, Jonathan and Jesse – I discovered the Decker/Lazarus series solely through being interested in the Kellerman clan having loved all of the Alex Delaware books – and have been hooked ever since.It is a long running series, has had its ups and downs, but overall has always given an excellent reading experience and this one was no exception. It seems to have been a bit hit and miss with the fans, but for THIS fan it was a hit.Pete Decker, having opted for a slower pace of life, had been bored out of his mind. But when he investigates a robbery which leads to a brutal murder, he is back in his element once again. As the story ebbs and flows towards its final resolution it is, as always, very compelling and absolutely fascinating.The “Murder 101″ of the title presumably relates to new character Tyler Mcadams, a wet behind the ears temporary recruit, whose arrogance is immense and who is none too pleased it seems to be stuck with an “Old man” for a partner. Rina of course can see past the bluster and as things progress one of the very best things about this story was the eclectic and ever changing relationship developing between Tyler and Pete. A lot of whether or not you will love this one will come down to your feelings as a reader about him, his background and his persona – for me he was a perfect yin to Decker’s yang and gave a fresh feel and a new ambience to the series as a whole.The mystery element as always was well done – if I had one slight bugbear it was that the art speak was a little too complicated at times and perhaps over egged slightly, possibly too much information occasionally to absorb into the plot as a whole – but putting that aside the “whodunnit” is still a lot of fun to try and work out and there are lots of lovely little twists and turns to keep you on your toes. Excellent writing and sense of place still there, Ms Kellermans style extremely readable.It is true sadly that Pete and Rina are getting on a bit – how much longer they can take front and centre is of course open to discussion – but the series as a whole has a deep and enduring mythology with plenty of more peripheral characters easily able to take the reigns (indeed Cindy, daughter of Pete, has had her own stories already) but despite the division of opinion on the Tyler character I would love to see more of him. His ongoing story bodes well for a scenario where he could take a bigger role and if that was the intention (and I kind of hope it was) then, well, Yay. Although obviously there are people that would disagree…Overall though another terrific read from Faye Kellerman – I am still two books behind on Mr Delaware which gives me something to look forward to – and I have no hesitation of highly recommending the Decker/Lazarus series as a whole entity and indeed you can pick up any individual book and immerse yourself in their world very easily.Happy Reading Folks!

It's almost hard to believe this is the 22nd book in the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series - if I missed any, I'm not aware of them, so you could say I've been around from the git-go. I "watched" as they got hitched, Peter struggled early on with becoming a practicing Jew, they dealt with teenage sons and a new baby and now, a new life in a new place. In her most recent book, The Beast, the author hinted that the couple might be thinking about moving from Los Angeles to be closer to their children and grandchildren. And that's exactly what they've done here, relocating to a small community in upstate New York where Peter is working for the Greenbury Police Department. Wen I finished the first couple of chapters, I had a vague feeling that something was "off." Both Peter and Rina seemed a bit unsure of how they feel about the change (Peter more so), and somehow it didn't feel quite right to me, either. Of course, going from a fast-paced big-city department to one where rescuing kittens from trees provides the big excitement of the day would make me question my decision as well.Peter has partnered up with fairly recent Harvard grad Tyler McAdams, who's got money, a lousy attitude and a totally obnoxious personality. He's also got friends in high places, so like it or not, Peter's stuck with him (adding to Peter's trouble adjusting to the new surroundings). But then, a real crime is reported: valuable Tiffany panels have been stolen from a family mausoleum and replaced by fake versions. Not long thereafter, a female student from the local consortium of five liberal arts schools is murdered, and it seems there could be a connection to the theft. Since Peter has 30 years of experience in the homicide field, he's tapped to lead the investigation. That, in turn, leads to forays and encounters within the halls of academia and the world of ancient works of art, including pieces that may have been stolen by the Nazis. I must say the ins and outs were a little hard for me to follow - there was almost too much historical information and too many characters. I found myself re-reading pages here and there just to make sure I remembered who was who.The move wasn't the only noticeable change, either; Rina takes on a much larger role here than usual. That's not a bad thing, mind you - in a couple of the older books, I actually wondered why her name was even in the book title. In a couple of spots, in fact, she actually outshines her husband in the sleuthing department. My guess? This will be the trend for future books, with Rina becoming as much a partner in Peter's career as she is in their marriage.

Murder 101 is the latest entry in Faye Kellerman's long running Decker/Lazurus series. In fact it's number twenty two. Kellerman has aged her characters over the course of the series. Peter Decker has recently retired from the LAPD. He and his wife Rena Lazurus have moved to quiet Greenbury, NY to be closer to their grown children. Peter has taken a job with the Greenbury PD. But truthfully he's a bit bored - there's not a lot of crime in the town. A possible art forgery in a cemetery crypt seems pretty exciting. But when a body is found, Decker is back in his element. He has a new partner as well - a young man named Ryan, with no experience, and a bad attitude. I always enjoy the mystery in Kellerman's books and the path Decker takes to solve the cases. This one was good, but I did find the international connection to be a bit of stretch. But, the strength of this series is the characters. Rina and Peter are such engaging characters. I've enjoyed watching their relationship grow from their first meeting to this comfortable older stage. Their joy in each other, their love of their family, their faith and their convictions are wonderfully depicted. The title is a nod to Decker's attempts to teach young Ryan the basics of a investigation (and a little bit about life as well. Rina plays a larger role in Murder 101 - she's actually part of the investigation this time round. I like that path that Kellerman has chosen to take for Peter and Rina. I wonder if there will be further cases in Greenbury? And, as much as I enjoy the family aspect of this series (daughter Cindy has had her own book and I'm growing tired of foster son Gabe's issues), it is Peter and Rina I prefer to follow. With such a long running series, there are bound to be some books that are stronger than others. I thought this latest entry was a really good read.

** spoiler alert ** This book took me back to the beginning of the series when Decker wasn't "the Loo" but was a a detective in Foothills. When he was doing the legwork. He and Rina have retired to a sleepy town in New England where Decker is just a cop. Until there is a brutal murder and Decker is the only one on the force with hands on experience dealing with such s thing. His partner is a a political appointee, not even a cop. A Harvard grad avoiding law school. It doesn't take long before Harvard becomes another of Decker's strays. Meanwhile, what looks like a single murder of a college student burgeoned out of control as the murder count grows and becomes more gruesome. But when the murderer starts targeting Peter and his partner things get personal. It was a great read and I can't wait for the next book which I suspect will take place 9 months later after his partner has finished his first year of law school. Harvard has the makings of a good cop.despite being a smartass. We get cameos from Marge and a real visit from Oliver so it's not s completely new cast. I couldn't have had a better reading experience although I do agree with another reviewer, Kellerman had no real idea of distances so made some comments that were completely inane. I chose to overlook them in favor of the greater story.

Peter and Rina have moved to New York? Rural New York State not even the city? This can't be good. Or so I thought when I picked up the book. I was wrong! The new location allows for the introduction of new and interesting characters that may be able to take the series into the next generation. I could see Tyler McAdams easily developing into his own spin-off series. And Rina! Rina takes her place as a professional as well as personal helpmeet for Peter. The new location, new characters, and unpredictable plot make this a must-read for F. Kellerman fans.

Excellent read. A new start to Decker and Rinas life. Can't wait for the next one,must check when or if it's out.

Very good mystery. I learned a lot about Russian art.

I really enjoyed the storyline in this one; a different type of crime to start with: art forgery. Very interesting.

Peter and Rina leave California and relocate to Greenbury New York. Peter is now a detective with the Greenbury police department. Up until now it's been a quiet experience for Peter, but a robbery of Tiffany plates from a Mausoleum leads him to two murders and international intrigue involving stolen art.I liked the fact that Rina played a bigger role and I also liked the introduction of Peter's partner on this case, Tyler McAdams . I hope that this character appears in future books.

Peter Decker and Rena Lazarus have moved to Greenbury in upper New York State to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Lazarus has gotten very involved in the Hillel program at the consortium of five liberal arts colleges. Decker has joined the Greenbury Police Department whose main activities are much quieter than those at his former job as a detective lieutenant with the Los Angeles Police Department. While he was looking forward to the simpler life (the village hasn’t had a murder in more than twenty years), Decker is having second thoughts especially when he meets his new partner, Tyler McAdams. McAdams, fresh out of Harvard and making sure that everyone knows how smart and privileged and independent he is, has alienated all the other members of the force. His main reason for joining the force is to aggravate his wealthy and well-connected father who is demanding that he graduate from Harvard Law School. (Later on, we learn there are reasons for both of their attitudes.) McAdams doesn’t want to learn CPR or shoot a pistol or do much of anything involved with actual police work. He thinks it’s too far below his status. But things change when the department gets a call about a new lock on a mausoleum in the local cemetery. It turns out that two of the four original Tiffany windows in the structure have been replaced with not-very-good reproductions. As they try to determine what happened to the windows, they are faced with the brutal murder of a student in one of the colleges. They look to see if she has any connection to the theft and, eventually, discover another brutal murder and connections with other thefts both nearby and internationally. Lazarus’s observations along with the help of two of Decker’s former associates, help him solve the crimes. MURDER 101 discusses a lot about art theft, a rather popular subject in recent literature, particularly what happens to the items after they are stolen. While this book is one of a series, it is not necessary to have read the previous ones to appreciate it. Kellerman is back in her usual fast-paced, informative, well-written form with interesting characters and situations, though McAdams would not be able to be part of any police department in a larger environment.