The Ritual Bath

By: Faye Kellerman

Narrated by: Mitchell Greenberg

Detective Peter Decker of the LAPD is stunned when he gets the report. Someone has shattered the sanctuary of a remote yeshiva community in the California hills with an unimaginable crime. One of the women was brutally raped as she returned from the mikvah, the bathhouse where the cleansing ritual is performed.

The crime was called in by Rina Lazarus, and Decker is relieved to discover that she is a calm and intelligent witness. She is also the only one in the sheltered community willing to speak of this unspeakable violation. As Rina tries to steer Decker through the maze of religious laws the two grow closer. But before they get to the bottom of this horrendous crime, revelations come to light that are so shocking they threaten to come between the hard-nosed cop and the deeply religious woman with whom he has become irrevocably linked.

©1986 Faye Kellerman; (P)2007 HarperCollins Publishers

big fan

I have enjoyed all the faye kellerman books, a few CD'S and I am now collecting all the audible books for this series. Thank you for such great syories.

A little bland

Although I found the culture of the Hasidic Jew interesting I thought the story overall was a little bit bland.

An entertaining listen

Bought this on a lark and wasn't disappointed. The story kept moving and drew me in.

What a surprising place for a murder! The view into a culture that I've only "bumped into" here in Baltimore - devout, Judaism - was fascinating. The characters were all believable as well as engaging.

I'd recommend this book to a friend.

Just Fine. Nice Read. Want The Next Decker/Lazarus

Okay, "Ritual Bath" did not blow my socks off. But they're rolled down some. Enough that I want to read how the relationship between Rina Lazarus and Peter Decker grows. Kellerman gives Mitchell Greenberg a lot to work with yet he does it good, keeping the large cast of characters well defined throughout.

And this – is– a relationship novel with the chemistry between the leads a flirty magnet to readers who enjoy this sort of adventure. Frankly I don't know how Rina will become part of these continuing adventures… and that mystery's got me intrigued enough to get "Sacred & Profane", the next in this series, just to find out.

Kept my earbuds in my ears

My first Faye Kellerman and it won't be my last. Just logged on to purchase another in the Decker/Rina series. Love the insight to the Jewish Religion, the detective/mystery and the romantic twist as well.