The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights

by: Faye Kellerman

Published by: Warner Books

Reviewed by Sharron Stockhausen

Most think of the husband and wife team of Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus when they see a book authored by Faye Kellerman. But in this mixture of seventeen stories, Kellerman offers so much more.

Keeping the family involved in this publishing effort, Kellerman writes a family-themed story, "Luck of the Draw," with her two daughters, Rachel and Ilana. She also writes with playwright son, Jesse, the dark thriller, "Mummy and Jack."

Two of the offerings in the book have not been previously published--"The Garden of Eden," featuring Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus working to solve the mystery of a neighbor's death, and "Bull's-eye," debuting Cindy Decker teaming with her father to figure out who shot a police academy instructor. Although the other fifteen stories are previously published, getting them in one place is a remarkable treat.

Each story shows Kellerman's talent in a new way. The brief comment she offers the reader before each story brings the reader closer to Kellerman's thinking about how the story came to be.

Although I won't pick a favorite, I will say my heart raced as I read "The Stalker" and felt the horror of being the victim of another's obsession.

You'll find the one that gets to you most among "The Garden of Eden," "Open House," "Bull's-eye," "A Woman of Mystery," "The Stalker," "Mummy and Jack," "Bonding," "Discards," "Tendrils of Love," "Malibu Dog," "The Back Page," "Mr. Barton's Head Case," "Holy Water," "Free Parking," The Luck of the Draw," "Small Miracles," and "The Summer of My Womanhood."

Sharron Stockhausen served two terms as president of Twin Cities (Minnesota) Sisters In Crime.

Armchair Interviews says: Faye Kellerman fans will want to add this to their collection for sure.