Following the brutal rape of a woman returning from the bathhouse, where Jewish women perform their cleansing ritual. Sergeant Decker of the LAPD id called to investigate. But this is only first in a series of crimes perpetrated in the quiet Orthodox Jewish Community in the California Hills.
Not surprisingly Decker doesn’t receive much cooperation - the community like closes ranks, even after a murder takes place. The only exception is a widow, Mrs Rina Lazarus. With Rina’s help he picks his way carefully through the maze of religious laws. As the story progresses nothing adds up, and Decker wonders if there could be more than one perpetrator.
This is the first in the series where Rina Lazarus and Peter Decker meet. I have read several of the later books so the beginning of their relationship was interesting, as was information about Decker’s past that comes to light. There is a great deal about the rituals and the beliefs pertinent to the Jewish faith. I am not interested in any religions so I found most of this tedious, but a reader who may be interested in regions would find this book fascinating.
If I am truthful I might have given up on this book, but as Jeff Harding was reading it I didn’t, as ever his marvellous range of voices kept me listening, and I am glad that I finished it, as the solution was a surprise.
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Lizzie Hayes