In this 19th book in the 'Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus' series, Detective Decker looks for a missing woman and investigates two murders. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a bonus.
*****
LAPD Lieutenant Peter Decker first met Terry McLaughlin and Chris Whitman fifteen years ago, when they were teenagers.
At that time, Chris went to prison for a murder he didn't commit, and when things were rectified, Chris and Terry married and had baby Gabe.
Chris subsequently changed his name to Chris Donatti, and became a gangster, hitman, brothel owner, etc.
For her part, Terry went to medical school and become a doctor.
Meanwhile, Gabe was growing up to become a gifted musician.
Chris and Terry had a rocky marriage, and Chris recently beat Terry badly. Since then, Terry's been staying in a luxury Los Angeles hotel with 14-year-old Gabe, and she's asked Lt. Decker to be present as she negotiates a separation from Chris.
Terry and Chris's conversation seems to go fine, but later that evening - when Gabe returns to the hotel from piano lessons - his mother isn't there and he can't reach his father. The upshot is that Peter and his wife Rina take Gabe into their home while Decker investigates the absence of Gabe's parents.
Decker fears Chris murdered Terry and skedaddled, but there's no proof of this. Unknown to Peter, Gabe has a few brief meetings and phone calls with Chris, who insists he didn't hurt Terry. (But Chris is a psychopath, so who knows?)
Meanwhile, the body of a woman is found hanging at a building site, where a house is being renovated. The woman turns out NOT to be Terry, but rather a pediatric nurse called Adriana Blanc.
Decker and his colleagues - Detectives Marge Dunn and Scott Oliver- interview Adriana's friends, family, and acquaintances. They learn Adriana and her boyfriend Garth Hammerling had a rocky relationship; Adriana liked to party; and Adriana was very dedicated to her job.
As the homicide investigation proceeds, there are unfortunate developments. First, the police can't find Adriana's boyfriend Garth Hammerling, who was last seen in Las Vegas; and second, one of Adriana's girlfriends is the victim of a bizarre murder. Moreover, witnesses withhold information and lie.
The murder inquiries spread to Las Vegas, where Marge and Oliver spend time looking for suspects, and take the opportunity to see a Cirque du Soliel performance.
Tensions escalate until there's finally a break in the case, and the killings are solved. Sadly, there are some VERY GRIM discoveries along the way. In the midst of this, the circumstances surrounding Gabe's parents are also elucidated.
The Decker/Lazarus books always include a large dose of family life, and this story is no exception. Peter and Rina observe orthodox Jewish customs; eat kosher food - most of it deliciously prepared by Rina; and observe Shabbos (the Sabbath).
Peter's daughter Cindy (from his first marriage) is married and pregnant;
the Deckers' sons Samuel and Jacob fly in from New York to arrange a surprise party for Peter's 60th birthday;
and the Deckers' youngest daughter Hannah - a high school senior - goes to school, chorus and band practice. All this is a nice counterpoint to the murder inquiries.
I like Faye Kellerman's 'Decker/Lazarus' books but this isn't one of my favorites. The plethora of coincidences is too unrealistic, and Gabe's circumstances struck me as a bit unlikely. That said, it's always a pleasure to visit with the Decker clan.
Rating: 3.5 stars