The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights

ALTHOUGH Kellerman does not really have the gift of the short story, she is always reliable, and this collection seldom fails to entertain and enlighten. Most stories feature Lieutenant Pete Decker’s family in settings horticultural and spiritual, but always criminal. For goyim like me, the Orthodox Judaism at the heart of Kellerman’s work is more fascinating than most of her plots. Holy Water is both food for thought and laugh-out-loud funny

My favorite stories were the first ones about Rina and Peter Decker. But.I didn't care for Peter being gruff and critical of Rina in these. In Faye's novels, Peter is very devoted, and supportive of Rina, never critical.

I may have read Malibu Dog before; it was very familiar. This collection of stories contains a few mediocre ones but many were good, not outstanding.

The last one, The Summer of My Womanhood, is actually non-fiction. Its a wonderful story about the close relationship between Faye and her father, and the summer she spends working at his bakery and deli.

Humorous, macabre, bizarre--this diverse collection of short stories from the ever reliable Faye Kellerman is as the title suggests, delightful. The accomplished narrators whose voices complement the various stories amuse, ensnare, and mesmerize, leaving the listener riveted. In particular, Danielle Ferland's rendition of "Bonding," a story of incest, is fascinating, repulsive, and ultimately hypnotic, while her reading of "Malibu Dog," the story of a pit bull with an abusive owner, manages to combine humor and suspense, leaving the listener grimly satisfied as a swift, ironic justice is dispensed. This fascinating collection of engaging performances will captivate listeners and have them clamoring for more. M.H.N. ©

I picked up this collection of short stories at a bag sale, having become acquainted with Kellerman through her Decker/Lazarus series. Which is a shame... because only three of the stories within actually feature Pete Decker. That's not to say that it's not worth a try, I just wanted to warn those of you thinking (as I did) there would be more. One story features a female detective, Andrea Darlng, and some are not really mysteries at all. It's a pretty scatter shot collection. I don't particularly think that the short story is Kellerman's strength but I've read worse short fiction. If you're a Kellerman fan, have at.

The Garden of Eden is a collection of 18 short stories, most of which have nothing to do with the Decker/Lazarus series. The ones that do aren't given in chronological order. (We can tell that by Hannah's stated ages in them.) George Guidall is the most frequently used among the seven narrators for the audio version.

'Garden of Eden': *** This is a Decker/Lazarus story, but only two days after I listened to it, I had to think in order to remember the plot. I did like the solution to the mystery of the missing money. I suspect the main heirs are going to be angry when they find out what Peter discovers at the end. Too bad.

'Open House'*** How did that body get in the house for sale between two showings days apart? Will the corpse affect show more sales?

'Bull's Eye'**** Cindy Decker is now a rookie at the police academy. The target shooting instructor is so unpopular that the students in Cindy's class joke about wanting to kill her. Cindy and her Dad solve the case -- with the best ideas coming from Cindy. Pete gets to teach her a trick or two, though.

'Woman of Mystery' ***1/2 One of Rina's students comes to her with an unusual problem. She and Pete find what might be the answer.

'The Stalker'**** Our heroine has a problem with her controlling ex-husband. This is fiction, so I feel free to thoroughly enjoy the solution. Dog lovers should brace themselves during this one.

'Mummy and Jack'**** is the one co-authored by Ms. Kellerman's son, Jesse. Although I was a tad puzzled by the use of Annie rather than Polly, this one had me slying smiling as soon as I caught on. Heh.

'Bonding'***The adopted teen in this story didn't luck out with either of her adoptive parents. Hope she can find better ways to avoid boredom.

'Discards'**** Andrea Darling, detective, deals with the case of a missing housekeeper and a missing diamond ring. The death of homeless fixture Malibu Mike is mentioned more than once. The woman's employer is quite sure the lady is honest, which is why she's worried that her housekeeper didn't show up for work. Will her faith be justified or misplaced?

'Tendrils of Love'*** We learn early on thatg Ophelia's venture into cyber romance was a big mistake, but I didn't see the end coming.

'Malibu Dog'**** I remembered reading this one in an issue of my mom's mystery magazines back when it was published. I felt very sorry for the dog. What a fitting fate at the end, though.

'The Back Page'*** The reporter who keeps scooping all other reporters is telling the truth about the secret of his success. No one believes him, though.

'Mr. Barton's Head Case'**** Mr. Barton has ordered a hit. The hitman is reluctant about the target. Then he starts getting good advice from two unusual complanions... (The bit about Balaam and his she-ass at the beginning comes from the Biblical book of 'Numbers'.)

'Holy Water': What does a cola magnate need from a rabbi? I'm 61, so I'm in sympathy with the rabbi's solution to the problem. (I would have thought that the story of the martyred woman and her 10 sons that the rabbi tells is the one from chapter 7 of the Second Book of Maccabees in [the Catholic version of ] the Bible, but Biblical story has only seven sons, the youngest of which is probably older than six.)

'Free Parking'*** A 12-year-old girl, her mother, grandmother, and great-aunts are playing a board game with great-grandma. There's more going on than the girl understands. No mystery, but the family dynamics aren't dull.

'Luck of the Draw'*** Another one of the non-mysteries, this story presents a mother with the problem of how to keep Dad's good fortune from turning their daughters into brats.
The second and third bits each present one of the daughters' view. Ms. Kellerman's daughters, Rachel and Ilana, co-authored this one with their mother.

'Small Miracles': I listened to it today and I can't remember a thing about it. I'm sure I'd remember if I disliked or hated it.

'The Summer of my Womanhood'*** Young Faye is only 11 when she insists on helping at her father's deli and bakery kiosks. I enjoyed listening to how she went from inept nuisance to good assistant.

Some of the stories are good, others not so much. Is it worth listening to? I think so. If not for its ending, I'd recommend that dog lovers skip 'Malibu Dog'. show less

I love her novels, but had never read any short work by her before. This is a good way for people to see the many different sides of Ms. Kellerman as an author--suspense, humor, crime & personal essays are all included in this volume

I didn't particularly like the stories - but then, I'm not a fan of short stories in general.