The Lost Boys

I'm always ready for a new installment in the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series. The Lost Boys involves three different strands of mysteries: one gets resolved by the end of the novel; the other two remain open. Some readers might find this frustrating, but I really embrace this incompleteness as a gift from Faye Kellerman. I don't know when the next novel will arrive, but meanwhile I can picture the characters in action: pursuing mysteries, embracing new opportunities, and caring for their always-expanding family. They have things to do—and they're doing them. And I trust Kellerman to give me entry back into the series in her own good time.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via EdelweissPlus; the show more opinions are my own. show less

I thought I’d missed no more than a handful of the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series but this is Kellerman’s 26th book featuring the couple and I’ve only read just over half, the last of which was book #22, Murder 101. Thankfully however this seems to matter little, aided in part because Kellerman ages her characters in real time.

In The Lost Boys, Decker and his partner Tyler are called in when a man disappears while on a field trip with a group from a local care home. In searching the woods nearby, a body is found in a shallow grave, but this man has lain there for at least a decade.

With his customary doggedness, Decker attacks both investigations. The missing man is his initial priority, with growing concerns that he has been show more targeted by because of his parent’s wealth. When blood is found at the home of a nurse that may be connected, Decker fears the worst, but despite his best efforts the case soon stalls. Unexpectedly Kellerman employs a cliffhanger of sorts in this instance, though the missing man is eventually located, the circumstance spawns another mystery.

In the second investigation, the remains prove to belong to one of three young college men who disappeared while on a camping trip. The damage to his skeleton suggests that he had been shot, and Decker wonders if he is looking for the bodies of his two companions, or if the two men may have killed the third and gone on the run. Investigating a ten year old cold case is a difficult task, but thorough police work results in an important break. In general I liked how this case played out, however one flaw I had difficulty overlooking was an emphasis on a shovel being out of place on a camping trip. Perhaps Faye has never been camping because I wouldn’t consider it at all strange that campers have a shovel, a digging implement is essential when there are no bathrooms.

While Decker is busy with police work, Rina is offering moral support to their foster son, Gabe whose biological mother has suddenly returned to the States with Gabe’s half siblings. It’s clear Terry is in trouble and Gabe is torn when she asks for his help, but it seems inevitable he will be drawn into the mess she has got herself into.

With this, and the unanswered questions of the first investigation, Kellerman has laid the foundation the next book in the series, though I think it’s clear that it’s end is creeping closer. Peter is seventy or thereabouts and is making plans for his retirement from the force, but there are hints, I think, that Tyler could take up the mantle.

Kellerman offers up two well paced, and involving mysteries in The Lost Boys, but as a fan it’s the opportunity to catch up with Peter, Rina and their family that I enjoy the most. show less

Peter Decker and his Greenbury, NY team investigate a missing man who resides in a facility for the developmentally disabled. Soon after human bones turn up in the woods which may be connected to a 10-year old cold case of 3 missing college students.

Both cases are complex and require lots of man hours for interviews, calls, research and physical searching. As usual, Rina, is helpful by doing research, anticipating needs, providing food, moral support, and offering her critical wisdom on the cases. Rina's confidence, sensitivity and kindness radiates outwardly to Peter, his colleagues, their family, and others offering calm, positivity, and rational thinking.

Seems Kellerman has decided to move the series forward in a new direction. show more Because of this, and some cliffhangers, I am excited to see what's next.

Very good read. show less

4.5 Stars

I haven't read this author or this series in years sod I jumped at the chance to read this ARC. I remembered how much I loved the earlier books in this series. With this book, I swear I'm going to re-read the ones I own and buy the rest!

It is nice to see an author who has written 26 books in a series show that her characters age. So with this book, Peter is (I think) 70. His character has slowed down, but that doesn't mean the mysteries have become less complicated. I was amazed at how much went on in this book. It was more footwork and questioning and less action, but that is okay with me.

This book deals with one ten-year-old killing, one missing person case, and an issue with Peter and Rina's foster son and his mother.

I show more thought for sure that this would be the last book in this series, for reasons I won't go into because they would be spoilers. But the last few pages make me think this is not so, and this book actually ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. Because I've been away from this series for so long, this may be the norm for Ms.Kellerman now.

I really enjoyed this book, and as I said at the beginning of this review, I am now going to take the time to read the books I have and buy and read the ones I don't have. show less

A lot of unexpected twists and turns here, combined with Decker and Lazarus aging and continuing on their lives' paths. Loved the sensitive and respectful depiction of developmentally delayed adults. Really intrigued to see where the series goes from here.

advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.

Tucker Wayne is kind of wandering around (a la Jack Reacher) when a former military girlfriend asks him to check on a former, close colleague, who has disappeared. Turns out, she is one of many missing, working for a shady military firm and Tucker and his military war dog (Kane) are attacked by drones. There is a lot of craziness, as tests are conducted, leading up to full deployment. I miss the longer POV sections belonging to Kane, which were more prevalent in the short story Tracker than in Book #1 The Kill Switch. Also, there was too much action and too little character development, which is attributable to Wayne being a loner, but unsatisfying to the reader.

Well now up-to-date on my James Rollins books. Was a bit skeptical on this one after finishing Innocent Blood as this was also a coauthored book. The good news, I was wrong! Found this a very interesting story and one appropriate for the times. The writing was solid, not great, they story was very interesting and the character development was a mixture of good and adequate. One thing about the Tucker Wayne stories one of the principal characters is a 'military war dog' and not just an incidental character to the story but critical to the story. The way it was handle was, in my opinion, excellent and better than in the first book of this series. Frankly, without the very good development of Kane (the war dog) the story would loose some show more of its flavor.

Overall found this a very interesting adequately written story with decent character development. Would recommend this for anyone who enjoys a good thriller. show less