The Garden of Eden and other Criminal Delights

The Garden of Eden and other Criminal Delights
Faye Kellerman
Warner Books
ISBN: 0-446-53039-5
Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Short Stories
Reviewed by Tanya Boudreau

Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, Faye Kellerman’s husband and wife crime-solvers, are on the case again! In the short story The Garden of Eden, a body is discovered, lost money is found, hidden money is uncovered, greed is revealed, and good people are rewarded. In Open House, an angry wife finds a way to strike back at her husband for his infidelity. These two original short stories, along with fifteen of Faye Kellerman’s other short works can now be read in one volume.

While reading this book, fans will get to know the Decker family, and Faye Kellerman herself, a little better. The Decker’s appear in two other stories. In Bull’s-Eye, Peter Decker works with his daughter Cindy to solve a case. Lynne Rigor, a very unpopular firearms instructor, becomes the target while at the shooting range. In A Woman of Mystery, glance into a dark history. Eve Miller is a student in Rina’s first year Introduction to Judaism class. Eve confesses to Rina that she has no memory of the past. Rina and Peter uncover the reasons why.

A few short stories come from Faye Kellerman’s family life. The spark for Free Parking, was a conversation the author had with her daughter Rachel. Rachel had an even bigger part to play in The Luck of the Draw. Kaye Kellerman had her daughters, Rachel and Ilana, 15 and 11 at the time, write from their point of view and she incorporated their outlook into the story. The story is about the effects of a big lottery win. The author also shares some very personal reflections and memories in The Summer of my womanhood, and in Small Miracles.

This book gives you a sampling of the author’s work. It shows how her writing can vary. She writes personal stories, mystery stories and also humor stories. Humor mixes in with the short stories Malibu Dog and Holy Water. Always intriguing, from a talking car and gun in Mr. Barton’s Head Case, to a man whose career- talents come to a halt after his tooth is pulled in The Back Page, this book will be sure to bring in new fans and entertain the established fans!