dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 174
|
|
THE RITUAL BATH Faye Kellerman
As a crime novel I thought this book was worth reading. I love this sort of case – at first it seems there are no leads at all but eventually there are so many clues that the picture is a confused mess. Then suddenly the pieces of the puzzle fall into place and the mystery is solved! The initial non-cooperation of the witnesses in the isolated Jewish community made this case particularly difficult for the detectives.
Sergeant Peter Decker showed great expertise, determination and patience. I found him a likeable character and I had enormous sympathy for him from the start – he is a warm hearted, humorous, intelligent person who has seen life and suffered a few knocks along the way. I also liked the other detective, Marge Dunn; the www factor (warmth, wit and wisdom!) makes her the perfect partner for Peter Decker.
As for Rina Lazarus. . .
I would like to hear what others thought about the book (and especially about Rina Lazarus) before I say any more!
|
saraw
member
Reged: 08/03/2007
Posts: 272
|
|
I choose this book for people to read because I have read other books with Peter Decker and Dunn, and Lazarus in them. I really enjoyed reading the first of the series how they all met and worked together. I have now read a couple of the later ones. I particularly like stories that keep you guessing with lots of clues, this had many. I thought Rina character was a bit harsh in this story but in future books her story comes out which suddenly makes sense. It was also different reading about another community ie the jewish, often I feel this side of community is not known about, ie, rituals and customs that personally I did not know go on. I have know read more books of hers, her husbands and now son the whole family are writers. All in all I enjoyed reading this book and am sure if you liked it, well worth reading more of Faye Kellerman's books.
|
billie
member
Reged: 21/11/2007
Posts: 85
Loc: Derbyshire
|
|
Would definately read more of Faye Kellerman's books as i enjoyed this one. I like who dunnit's and like to try and guess the ending even though i'm often wrong. I really enjoyed learning a little bit about a different culture although i have to admit that when i first looked at the title on the front cover i thought it might have been a bit gruesome for me ( it conjured up thoughts of somebody being put in an acid bath or being sacrificed in a horrific way ). So i was surprised to learn why it was called The Ritual Bath. As for the characters Peter Decker was just how i like my detectives,to have loads of patience and he came across as a gentleman to me. His side kick Marg Dunn i imagined her as an all round good person with loads of common sense. As for Rina not sure,i felt her character had bits missing and thought she jumped to quick into her relationship with Peter. Have to say jdm you are making me think a whole lot more about what i'm reviewing and i'm not sure i'm entirely putting across what i feel about the characters rightly but am enjoying taking part. Thanks to saraw for the recommendation.
|
ElaineThomas
member
Reged: 29/03/2008
Posts: 15
Loc: South Cheshire
|
|
I really enjoyed reading this book. Who dunnits aren't my usual reading. I too was put off by the title thinking things very similar to billie! The jewish community with its rituals gave the story a richness and only occasionally did I feel I was in a lecture hall (some explanations were a bit long!) Thank you for choosing it and I shall certainly look out for more.
|
Emerald
member
Reged: 27/08/2007
Posts: 311
Loc: Greater Manchester
|
|
I too enjoyed this story, echoing what others have said. A good read, and look forward to reading more of Faye Kellerman.
--------------------
|
dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 174
|
|
I read The Ritual Bath a few years ago and, because of Faye Kellerman’s talent for writing detective fiction, next I read Sacred and Profane and then Milk and Honey . . . then I stopped reading this author. Why? The reason was Rina Lazarus! By the end of the third book I have to admit that I had developed an intense dislike for this person.
I remember discussing The Ritual Bath with a friend. She said: ‘Why are you getting so worked up? This Rina person isn’t real! It’s only a story!’ But surely this reaction is the measure of ‘a good book’? And surely it is to Faye Kellerman’s credit that she can create a character with the power to elicit such a strong reaction from the reader? (Me!) However, I suspect that the intended reaction from the reader was not dislike.
I do have sympathy for Rina’s situation – a young widow with two children – and I appreciate the fact that she works hard in her home and in the Orthodox Jewish community. I acknowledge that she finds herself in a dilemma when she sets eyes on Peter Decker. What I question is the way she deals with the situation and above all I question her attitude towards Peter – I think she treats him unfairly.
Poor Peter is understandably confused and frustrated by the mixed messages from Rina. She insists she has religious values and cannot contemplate a relationship but then drags him out of the police station and feeds him lunch in the park. When Peter asks why – she could have given the information on the phone – she replies she was ‘just trying to be nice’. I was not a bit surprised that the outcome of all this was . . . a relationship!
Thanks, saraw, for giving me the opportunity to read The Ritual Bath a second time. As I said earlier, it is an excellent detective story. I realised that I was approaching the book with preconceived ideas and I was prepared to give Rina a second chance. However, to use an American term, ‘she blew it’ . . . and I haven’t changed my mind!
Edited by jdm (08/07/2008 20:35)
|
nannyconnie
member
Reged: 05/03/2008
Posts: 482
|
|
I had some trouble getting this book,wasn't too sure about anyway(didn't like the sound of it from the title)but after a bit of initial encouragement,I am so glad I did.
I enjoyed the book from the start,found it a really gripping story,and it gave quite an insight to the Jewish faith---about which I know nothing.However I am never too sure about American Who Dunnits,as I find the terminology somewhat confusing.
The two (or maybe three,if you count Marge)central characters,I really liked and had a particular fondness for Rina.I felt quite sorry for her as she undoutably seemed to battle with her feelings for Peter and her faith.
I am going to now read Milk and Honey or any other Faye Kellerman that one of you would care to reccomend.Meanwhile saraw thanks for the recomendation and the opportunity to get to know yet another author.
--------------------
|
dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 174
|
|
Hi nannyconnie,
I was interested to read your comments on The Ritual Bath, particularly your reaction to Rina. I was waiting for someone to say the opposite to me! I agree with you that there is evidence for Rina battling with her feelings for Peter and her faith. However, I don’t think she battled very hard or for very long! I tend to share billie’s view that Rina jumped into the relationship with Peter too quickly.
If you want to read another Faye Kellerman novel, I suggest you read Sacred and Profane as this is the next in the series. Here the reader has the opportunity to see the development of the Rina-Peter relationship and to enjoy another excellent detective story. Milk and Honey is the third in the series. Perhaps forumers can recommend other titles for you - as I said, I stopped after reading three!
Edited by jdm (11/07/2008 18:29)
|
nannyconnie
member
Reged: 05/03/2008
Posts: 482
|
|
Thanks a lot jdm for pointing me in the right direction of the next book in "The Ritual Bath" trilogy.I shall certainly get the two of them and give them both a try.Then,like yourself ,I will probably have had enough.
I do find,however much I enjoy an author,two or three is usually enough,at least for some time.(But I do fancy seeing how the Peter/Rina relationship progresses.)
--------------------
|
dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 174
|
|
I understand that Faye Kellerman has written 17 novels in the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series! The 17th - A Cold Case - is published in hardback in September.
|
snoopy56
member
Reged: 28/08/2007
Posts: 88
Loc: Norfolk
|
|
I'm sorry to say that I haven't got round to reading this month's choice due to other commitments but also because i wasn't sure the book appealed to me. However, having read the reviews I have now decided to download it as an audiobook so I will be able to report on it in due course.
--------------------
|
snoopy56
member
Reged: 28/08/2007
Posts: 88
Loc: Norfolk
|
|
As promised I listened to this and as I suspected it wasn't the sort of book I would normally read. However, the setting was interesting. I didn't find the relationship between Decker and Rina particularly believeable so I was suprised to see that there are 16 more books featuring them ! Also, listening to the audio version I found the narration slightly irritating - Rina, in particular, came across as rather simpering which didn't endear me to her.
--------------------
|
dryad
member
Reged: 11/02/2008
Posts: 174
|
|
Hi snoopy56,
I was interested in your response to the audiobook for The Ritual Bath, especially your comment about Rina. As you probably guessed, reading about her didn't endear me to her!
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
