Stalker

A Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus Novel, Book 12

By: Faye Kellerman

Narrated by: Mitchell Greenberg

Length: 13 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

L.A. Homicide Detective Peter Decker never wanted the perils of his job to touch his family. But now his two worlds have collided.

A first year rookie with the LAPD's Hollywood Division, Cynthia Decker became a cop against her father, Peter Decker's, wishes. But police work is in her blood, and she's determined to make it on her own -- even now, when her razor sharp instincts for danger are telling her that something is very wrong....

The signs are impossible to ignore: things being moved around in her apartment, the destruction of personal effects. But it's a harrowing trip down a dark canyon road that confirms Cindy's worst fears. Someone fiendishly relentless, and with decidedly evil intentions, is stalking her. And with Peter Decker isolated from her troubles by his own investigation into a disturbing series of car-jackings, it's up to Cindy alone to find out who in her personal and/or professional life wants her frightened or harmed... or dead.

©2000 Faye Kellerman (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Cindy's a Twit

I am a big fan of this series and I am so happy to have about dozen more books to go! I’ll be entertained for a long time to come.

This twelfth installment was great and I liked that it was mostly told from Cindy’s point of view, it was an interesting change of pace.

Surprisingly, I discovered I don’t really like her that much! Her attitude was infuriating and borderline illogical – why would a cop deny strange happenings and rationalize away events that are obviously directed at her? It didn’t ring true.

I also had A LOT of trouble following the case as it unwound because there were just too many moving pieces and I am terrible at remembering names.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to more.

I liked it

What did you love best about Stalker?

The story kept going throughout. Decker, the dad, showed a very human side when his daughter was in danger.

What about Mitchell Greenberg’s performance did you like?

He does character voices well.

Any additional comments?

I saw some bad reviews and did not expect much. Not sure what drove others away from the book, but I enjoyed it. Certainly, it was a better listen than Jupiter's bones, in my opinion.

Good, except...

the Scott Oliver cop character having sex with young Cindy, Decker's daughter. Decker, who is usually always super protective of her, even though she's an adult now, and even a cop, just casually justifying it, is definitely not "kosher". I would have read Oliver the riot act, and told Cindy that the man is not only old enough to be her father, i.e., an old man, but also utterly irresponsible. As a young woman, that's what both my parents told me, when an old-enough-to-be-my-father man was calling me at their house (I was in College and still living with them). The way they said that to me, made me feel ashamed to even be tempted to start anything with that man, deeply feeling that it was just not kosher. The same feeling came to me when I listened to part. My point, as an author, I would not want to give the impression that such behavior is ok.

Peter Decker Out of Character

I love all F Kellerman’s novels, and I liked this one very much as well. However, I don’t believe that Peter would have overreacted so violently as he did here. Still, a good story and Mitch Greenberg’s usual wonderful performance.

Tension par Excellence

Cindy Decker is smart, sharp, clever, and, to my perception, extremely likable. The officers with whom she works find her Ivy League smarts and Lieutenant Decker father intimidating. They often do not like her. She can be unaware of how she is off putting. She has a scary enemy. Kellerman weaves the plot like a grand tapestry. Mitch Greenberg continues his superb narration. Cheers👍

Love this series!!

This was another great installment to the Peter Decker series. It started a tiny bit slow but once it picked up I loved it. One of the better ones in a few books.
Slight spoiler ....... stop if you don't want to know something.
When Scott and Cindy first started flirting I was completely against that relationship. However, as the book went on I found myself really wanting to see them together. I'm hoping that that is something that might continue in future installments of this series.
I can't wait to start the next one but that will have to wait till I drive to work on Monday morning.

good read

I like the slow unraveling of the mystery, but I have to say I like the mysteries by this author that have several subplots involving other family members, not all in any particular threatening situation to give the story more depth. I like the development of Cindy as an adult and she and her dad's relationship both at work and home.

Can't listen with kids in car.

I enjoy the decker series, not it seems like the language gets worse. The "f" word adds length to the reading but detracts from the over all production -- that's the reason for only 4 stars.

agree with reviewer Babs -- disappointing!

I agree with every word written by Babs in her review. This book was extremely disappointing. I was actually excited to see Cindy follow in her dad's footsteps and was hopeful that this would provide even more reasons to like the Decker/Lazarus family. But in this book I found Cindy thoroughly unlikeable and at times rather stupid. On top of this, because the book revolved around Cindy, there wasn't enough of Peter and Rina to save it.

First time have NOT finished a Faye Kellerman book

What disappointed you about Stalker?

I usually love the Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus novels, and am always anxiously awaiting the next installment. I know that this one is from earlier in the series, but it's not one that I had read or listened to.

In a nutshell, there's not enough Decker and Lazarus and WAY too much Cindy Decker, who is an extremely unpleasant and unsympathetic character at this stage in her life and career. Every pig-headed, short-sighted, stubborn and childish option that crosses her path, she pursues.

Someone's tailing her -- naturally, she doesn't report it to anyone (don't worry, I'm not spoiling much). Drive drunk? Sure. An apartment's been broken into? Don't call backup, just barge in there! Have a hunch on a case? Why would you even think about calling your colleagues?

I got halfway through and decided life was too short to finish it -- made my blood pressure rise.

The other thing that was really irritating about this novel was Kellerman's level of detail about insignificant events. She devoted huge amounts of space to things like a discussion among three women at a restaurant about who would order what. Who cares?

I hate to be so hard on Ms. Kellerman, who is a brilliant writer. And I love nothing more than to be immersed in the world of Peter and Rina and their rich and observant Jewish life, and the way the cases come together.

But this one is worth a pass.

Has Stalker turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, I love the series and I will read or listen to future books. And I love the genre.

What about Mitchell Greenberg’s performance did you like?

He's an excellent reader -- captures nuances of voices and conversational rhythms, can convey different male and female characters without forcing the female voices. I've always enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, his readings/performances.

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

Anger -- I found myself talking back to the book because Cindy's behavior was just so irritating and immature.

I know that this is something of a coming-of-age novel for the character, but I didn't have the patience to experience it.