• Grievous Sin

  • A Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus Novel
  • By: Faye Kellerman
  • Narrated by: Mitchell Greenberg
  • Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (502 ratings)

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Grievous Sin  By  cover art

Grievous Sin

By: Faye Kellerman
Narrated by: Mitchell Greenberg
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Publisher's summary

The birth of their baby girl has filled Rina Lazarus and her husband, LAPD Homicide Detective Peter Decker, with joy mingled with sorrow, since complications have ensured that they can have no more children. But the situation is grim at the hospital, which has been devastated by severe budget cutbacks and staff shortages. And when a respected nurse vanishes along with a newborn from the nursery, Peter and Rina fear for the safety of their own precious child - especially when the missing nurse's car is found at the bottom of a cliff... with a corpse inside.

A most grievous sin has been committed. In pursuit of justice, Decker - with the help of his tough-as-nails partner, Marge, and an able assist from his teenage daughter, Cindy - follows a twisted path that winds through a sinister maze of hospital politics, misplaced passions, and torturous mind games that can all too easily lead to murder.

Solve another case with Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus.
©1993 Faye Kellerman (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

What listeners say about Grievous Sin

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    216
  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
    78
  • 2 Stars
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Performance
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  • 4 Stars
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    25
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
    126
  • 3 Stars
    58
  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Shallow plot, dragged out

Difficult to listen to this entire book. Didn't require any concentration at all. I put this book in the category of a "dime mystery novel" - Narration was good. If you listen to books while doing other tasks requiring concentration, then go ahead and burn a credit. Book seemed to drag on forever. Was sooooooooooo glad when I finished it.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

you get your money's worth

I bought this book using the $5.00 sale audible had going on and though I've read plenty of books worse I still have to give it a low rating but only due to the numerous characters that popped up out of nowhere. I guess being a detective novel i maybe should have expected that but so many different ones entered the story out of the blue that I got completely confused at times all the way to the very end. I kept asking myself what have I missed during the first few chapters to not undrestand how this character got involved and "who the heck are they anyway?" The narrator did a good job though.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Best One Yet!

Going in, I knew I would enjoy this 6th instalment in the series because up until now I haven’t been disappointed.

I think it was the best yet! It was the perfect mix of “work” and “home” in Decker’s story. Interesting developments in both, and specifically on the work-side the gutter talk was gone. Thank God.

I have to say that I did find the ending a little confusing, but that’s my reoccurring problem of having difficulties keeping track of many characters at one time. It didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the book at all, and I can’t wait to keep going with the series.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Narrator sucks

What did you like best about Grievous Sin? What did you like least?

I like the story but the narrator does not accurately portray the characters. His sing song delivery of dialog doesn't match the intent and detracts from the book.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

His sing song delivery of dialog doesn't match the intent and detracts from the book.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Not for me

The family life is contrived, kind of cheesy and gets boring. The actual plot of the story was pretty good, but there was too much other fluff and nonsense to listen to in order to get it.

The lead characters are Jewish. Nothing wrong with that...interesting and informative somewhat, but there was a lot of derogatory remarks about Christians and Jesus. Totally unnecessary and offensive to me. I would not appreciate a book that makes fun of any religion. Seems kind of a foolish thing for an author to do...offended readers won't buy your books again At least I won't.

Narrator's voice just doesn't appeal to me.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Contrived, Padded, and Relatively Pointless

Would you try another book from Faye Kellerman and/or Mitchell Greenberg?

Probably not.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The search for the point of the title provided motivation to continue reading, but while there were loads of "sins," none is highlighted as the "grievous" sin.The least interesting part of the book was the relentless ethnic/religious padding.

Which character – as performed by Mitchell Greenberg – was your favorite?

I'm sorry, no one stands out. I really didn't much like or identify with anyone

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Any additional comments?

I found the characters stereotypicall and did not really believe the emotions attributed to them. Probably I identified most with Decker's impatience to get it over with.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Padding Galore

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Too much material that dragged the story out needlessly. A real bore and disappointment given Kellerman's reputation. It felt like someone had taken a short story and puffed it up until it could be sold as a novel.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not Kellerman!

What about Mitchell Greenberg???s performance did you like?

His articulation is excellent, as is his pacing. Too bad he didn't have better material to work with.

You didn???t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Concept was good, but the execution, in my opinion, turned it into a poor potboiler.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Narator not to my taste

I have read and enjoyed Faye Kellerman for years. This book is one of my favorites, but was very disappointed with the narration. Reminded me of a parent reading to a child. Not up to professional standards.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Nursery Nightmare

This is a good book in the series, A Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus Novel. The narroator, Mitchell Greenberg, does a great representation of all of the characters voices. His inflections are in sync with the feelings that are being projected. Greenberg has narrated all of the books in this series that I have read. Therefore, when I start to listen to another book, I can tune in and know who is who. There is drama and action. It's a light mystery and can be read in one sitting. The characters are well developed, especially if you have been reading the series in sequential order. I've come to like the main character's personalities. Decker, the Sergeant Detective, works vigorously until the crime is solved. This book deals with the kidnapping of a three day old infant from the nursery. The supervision of the nursery was, without question, negligent. There are many sincere emotions being felt by quite a few of those inside and outside of the on-going investigation. Peter is now an Orthodox Jew, having converted for his wife Rina. He was adopted and did find out many years later that his mother is Jewish. They refer to him as the, Rabbi, at the police station. He is not a crusader who attempts to push his views on others. His friends and relatives are of various faiths and nationalities. Not being Jewish myself, I have found the books a source of learning about the Jewish faith, perhaps the descriptions are superficial in some ways but for someone who knew nothing, it has been useful. The book is an easy listen, so if you want to sit back and relax, purchase the books in the series and you many find that you will enjoy them as much as I have.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Awful narration, simpleton story

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

A five year old

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The almost non-existant mystery of the missing nurse was somewhat interesting but the constant religious instruction was a bore. The characters don't react like real people or speak like real people but more like Cinderella in a Disney movie. Ick.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator reads like a kindergarten teacher reading to 5 year olds....very pollyanna like style. ANd definitely not appropriate to the story making it difficult to determine if the story itself was that childish or just the reader's tone.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

My constant thought...and I'm still listening to it.. is "Oh, PLEASE! Really?" Not sure I can finish it.

Any additional comments?

Not likely I'll buy this author again.

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