Meet the series character: Faye Kellerman's Rina Lazarus and Peter Decker

Faye Kellerman is the author of the Rina Lazarus and Peter Decker, the husband and wife team with a difference. With over thirty books under her belt, Kellerman has been nominated and won various literary awards since the start of her writing career in the 1980's.

Characters’ Background

Rina Lazarus and Peter Decker first met in The Ritual Bath in

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1986.  Peter Decker, a homicide detective is tasked with solving a rape within the Jewish community in Los Angeles.  There he meets orthodox Jew, Rina Lazarus who is widowed with two young sons.  Decker, himself divorced and father to a young daughter, is attracted to Rina and now, books later, the two are still as captivating a team as they were in 1986.

What makes them enduring characters?

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For me what works with Rina and Decker is the way Kellerman introduces me to a world with which I have had no previous contact.  I love learning about different cultures and world views and the Lazarus/Decker series teaches much about the variety and diversity of Jewish communities and Judaism itself as a religion.   She weaves their lifestyle into their investigations in a balanced way.

Over the years both characters have developed as Rina and 

Decker have grown older and faced many personal challenges.  The way their personal lives are

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threaded through each storyline keeps me invested.  Yet, don’t be lulled into thinking Kellerman veers away from the dark and gritty because she doesn’t.  Decker’s investigations as a police officer make him face the worst aspect of human nature and Rina, balances the horror he faces in his day job.

Rina and Decker as parents are a delight to behold.  They complement each other, yet they still make mistakes… thank goodness!  I couldn’t be doing with a too sickly sweet, perfect set of parents, but the enduring love (albeit peppered with the odd disagreement and difference of opinion) feels natural to me.

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Their Journey

Over the series, they have overcome many obstacles, making them much more adaptable and united as a team.  Rina has confronted and resolved issues that she faced with her religion and Decker has become more tolerant and open-hearted.

Seeing their children grow up and move on with their lives has felt good over the years and when they pop up in books from wherever they now are it’s like a family member popping in for tea and a chat. 

Not giving anything away but, as you’d expect over the 30 year span the Decker/Lazarus family has extended… not only n predictable ways but in other intriguing and very satisfying ways.

With Decker and Lazarus we have visited many different environments from traditional Jewish communities to Israel to Los Angeles and New York.

Character Traits

Rina Lazarus:  rational, empathetic, loyal, and nurturing

Peter Decker: Brave, tries to confront his failings in terms of being slightly sexist. Organised, a good people person and very family orientated