The Golem of Paris

By: Jonathan Kellerman, Jesse Kellerman

Narrated by: John Rubinstein

Length: 15 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

From two number-one best-selling masters of crime fiction comes an extraordinary thriller about family, murder, and the secrets that refuse to stay buried.

It’s been more than a year since LAPD detective Jacob Lev learned the remarkable truth about his family, and he’s not coping well. He’s back to drinking, he’s not talking to his father, the LAPD Special Projects Department continues to shadow him, and the memory of a woman named Mai haunts him day and night.

And while Jacob has tried to build a bridge to his mother, she remains a stranger to him, imprisoned inside her own tattered mind. Then he comes across the file for a gruesome unsolved murder that brings the two halves of his life into startling collision. Finding the killer will take him halfway around the world, to Paris - the city of romance, but also of gritty streets, behind the lights. It’s a dangerous search for truth that plunges him into the past.

And for Jacob Lev, there is no place more frightening.

Jonathan Kellerman has long been known for his mastery of criminal psychology and his ability to create thrilling novels of nuanced drama and suspense. But in The Golem of Paris, he and Jesse Kellerman raise that suspense to a whole new level.

©2015 Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman (P)2015 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"The Golem of Hollywood transcends genre. It’s a whole that exceeds the sum of its very considerable parts, creative and otherwise...a story so wonderfully told that your bookshelf must have it." (Bookreporter.com)

"One of the craziest, wildest, and most compelling works of popular fiction in years." (Commentary)

"A witty, propulsive, and frequently chilling read...as ambitious as it is entertaining." (Kirkus Reviews)

Riveting

This was an excellent read... Exciting plot, creatively imagined, and a pretty thrilling mystery... I will say that those not having read the preceding entry may be a little lost at points, but who starts a series w/ the 2nd book... Great characters w/ absolutely superb narration... This book clears up some of the questions from the 1st installment, and brings up others, likely to be investigated in the next book, and there's most certainly a 3rd coming... I found it riveting, and read it in a couple of sittings... Worth the credit... Kellermans are awesome at the page turner...

Enjoyable sequel

I very much enjoyed this book. However, it definitely relies heavily on the first book so I don't recommend reading it out of order. The narrative unfolds on two main timelines (one in Prague in the early 80s and one in present day L.A./ Paris). The mystery is a little less compelling this time, but I enjoyed spending time with the characters and I appreciated the use of Jewish traditions and stories. The ending felt a little abrupt, but still complete. I wish there was more dialogue between Mai and Jacob about their relationship or Jacob and a third party. Their relationship doesn't entirely make sense (in regard to Jacob's reactions to her actions).

A weeker second effort

You would have to read the fist book in this series to follow most of the action in this book. Like allot of second books in a series this book has issues as a stand alone novel. It spends too much time with the back story then it does with the main plot line. This makes the read a start- stop affair. I would have been nice if a little more editing allowed for a smoother flow. all and all; The book acquitted itself as a good read. The Narration was as always excellent

What an excellent book

If you are a Kellerman fan this book is for you. I could not put it down

Only good thing was performance

I found this story to be so bad that I am moved to warn others. Books with Kellerman name on them should not be awkward and should not be a listening endurance contest.

Well performed. Lousy story

Disjointed story. Not one of his best. Best lev stories much better. Hope this is not a trend

Such a slow moving book. I have read just about ever single story written from all three of the Kellermans

I found this story to be very slow and disjointed. I was extremely very disappointed in this book. For only the second time in over three hundred titles, I will be asking for a refund as I did not enjoy this book in the least little bit

Stick to writing Alex Delaware.

Any additional comments?

I found the book to be boring beyond all comprehension.
I kept hoping it would get better but after 2 hours, I bailed and started listening to something else

Totally Boring

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

I love Jonathan Kellerman books and I am disappointed that this one did not come close to hitting the mark.

What could Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not Publish it.

Which scene was your favorite?

They all bored me to tears. In fact I was so confused and mis-directed that I almost doesed off while driving listening to this book.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

If there were any redeeming qualities, my mind wandered and I missed them.

Any additional comments?

Kellerman usually hits it out of the park but this one is a totally a foul ball. Don't let this book discourage you from listening to the exceptional catalog of Kellerman's Delaware novels.

Don't bother...

Would you try another book from Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman and/or John Rubinstein?

I "listened" to the first 2 hours of this book and realized that it never grabbed my attention and just had it running in the background of my mind. I tried rewinding and starting again, but it was just too bad to listen to.

What was most disappointing about Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman ’s story?

Everything

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator is not at all exciting