The Mercedes Coffin: A Decker and Lazarus Book
by Faye Kellerman
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Book Reviews of The Mercedes Coffin: A Decker and Lazarus Book
Book Review: Blah Blah Blah
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm a fan of Fay Kellerman. I've totally enjoyed her Decker Lazarus books in the past. This one should have come with a map. A real big map. This story grabs you from the beginning, the first third meets and greats the characters. BUT, there are TOO many characters, (sometimes referred to by their first names and sometimes their last that I had trouble keeping them straight) so many plots discussed over and over that I really can't even begin to explain the plot. I wanted to like this book, however I just wanted it to end. Tear out the middle third and you might enjoy it! Book Review: The Mercedes Coffin is a solid effort Faye Kellerman
Summary: 3 Stars
Drug dealing and the underbelly of the music industry set the stage for Faye Kellerman's new thriller, THE MERCEDES COFFIN. Detective Peter Decker finds himself not only in the middle of a case of murder but working simultaneously on a cold case. He also must deal with an eccentric benefactor, the suicide of a retired cop and a dangerous hostage situation. Luckily, he manages to make it home every night to his family --- his teenage daughter, Hannah, and his smart and supportive wife, Rina.
When a punk rock musician turned record producer is found dead, shot execution style in the back of his Mercedes, reclusive billionaire Genoa Greeves finds the crime to be all too familiar. Fifteen years earlier, a teacher at her high school, one of the only people to show the young genius any kindness, was killed in exactly the same way. Greeves cannot imagine what the link was between the teacher, Ben Little, and the musician, Primo Ekerling, but she is willing to pay big bucks for the police to figure it out. With Greeves's promises of money for the police department, they reopen the Little murder case, and Decker is on the job.
At first, there seems to be nothing to connect the two men and the two crimes. But as Decker, along with detectives Marge Dunn and Scott Oliver, begin to work, they find more and more to suggest that there is a connection after all. The investigation takes Decker and the others back into the heyday of the Los Angeles punk scene when Ekerling played with a hard-living and popular band. Drugs, drinks and groupies kept the four band members busy until they all moved on several years later. Going back even further, they find a school drug ring busted by Little, ending in the expulsion of several young men. Where are they now, and did they know Ekerling as well?
With several well-crafted plot twists and a few shifty suspects, Kellerman's latest is an entertaining thriller, although at times it's a bit flat. THE MERCEDES COFFIN is her 17th book featuring Peter Decker, and he remains a likable and intriguing character, even when he isn't --- as in this case --- set in the most exciting story. Rina Lazarus and her children have very little action in this novel, though their presence in the tale is welcome. There are good reasons why Kellerman's books are so popular: interesting characters, baffling crimes, good detective work and the relationship between Decker and Lazarus, to name a few. All of that is present here, although they are not as compelling as they are in many of her other titles. But dedicated readers and those new to her work will find much to admire here as the writing is always sharp and the stories are well thought out.
THE MERCEDES COFFIN is far from her finest work (the earliest Decker and Lazarus novels being the most dynamic and unique), but it is still a solid effort from the talented and original Faye Kellerman.
--- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman
Book Review: This Book Was A Class-A Disappointment From Start To Finish
Summary: 2 Stars
I am a huge Faye Kellerman fan, and have read every book in the Peter Decker - Rina Lazarus series, but I have to say that this is probably the last walk I'll take with these characters. After reading the last book, 'The Burnt House,' I held out hope that this next book would be better, but it wasn't. I'm glad I checked it out from the library instead of paying for it.
I was so incredibly disappointed! Definitely not recommended.
Book Review: FAYE YOU HAVE DISAPPOINTED ME
Summary: 2 Stars
Sorry to have to be negative. But I have read everything that Faye Kellerman has ever written and she is allowed
to have her off days. This book finishes it for me. I couldn't keep track of all the characters. The family life of Rina and Decker was not flushed out as I used to enjoy (forget the picnic basket contents). It wasn't worth the effort this time and I am beyond disappointed. Seems she is writing to the new generation and I am certainly and happily not one of them. Could not recommend this book. I wonder did she really write it or was it a surrogate???
Book Review: Not terrible -- not her best by far
Summary: 3 Stars
This book was mildly engaging --yet the logic and characterizations are weak. I continue to be a bit disappointed overall in the quality of the plots as well. Maybe more family interaction would help. My over all impression -- bleh. Wait for the paperback if you are a fan.