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diannel_04's review against another edition
1.0
I used to love this series but then they introduced this teenage prodigy who is the son of a psycho killer and had the Deckers foster him. After that it lost its appeal. I couldn't finish this book because I really don't give a damn about the characters anymore.
Sorry, Faye, it was a good run but you are off my reading list.
Sorry, Faye, it was a good run but you are off my reading list.
bougainvillea's review against another edition
2.0
I really think this series needs to end. The stories used to be so well-developed. Everything seems contrived now and the writing is horrendous. What is up with the stilted dialogue and all the typos?! And enough with the teenage romance already. No one cares! Guess I'll go back and reread some of my favorites from this once great series.
ncrabb's review against another edition
3.0
As this book opens, Gabe Whitman has returned to Los Angeles to testify in the trial of the young man who murdered a high-school student in book 20. That young man is disabled, but the trial progresses, and Gabe and Peter Decker have testified on day one.
Yasmine, the Persian Jewish girl Gabe had fallen in love with in book 20, makes contact with him early on in the book. She’s slated to testify at the trial, and the two agree to have a little tryst at a hotel near a library where Yasmine works. At least she’s able to drive in this book, so the romance is less creepy for me.
But Gabe isn’t the only one getting late-night calls. Decker gets one, too, and it involves an apartment building in which lives an 89-year-old eccentric millionaire. Neighbors are complaining of a horrific stench coming out of the place, and they’re pretty sure they can hear growls emanating from the apartment. The growls are explained by the existence of a Bengal tiger inside the place when Decker gets there. After it’s properly tranquilized and has been removed, he and his team move in and the body of the millionaire, Hobart Penny, is found. The cat did it; right? Not so fast. As the publisher’s synopsis says, Decker soon determines that the beast that killed Penny is all too human.
As the investigation continues, detectives learn that Penny had rented apartments adjacent to his own and kept any number of exotic and harmful wild animals inside. In addition to the animals, there are freezers filled with animal body parts ready for feeding to the tiger. Ah, but not all of the body parts are animal, and the horror begins.
Yasmine, the Persian Jewish girl Gabe had fallen in love with in book 20, makes contact with him early on in the book. She’s slated to testify at the trial, and the two agree to have a little tryst at a hotel near a library where Yasmine works. At least she’s able to drive in this book, so the romance is less creepy for me.
But Gabe isn’t the only one getting late-night calls. Decker gets one, too, and it involves an apartment building in which lives an 89-year-old eccentric millionaire. Neighbors are complaining of a horrific stench coming out of the place, and they’re pretty sure they can hear growls emanating from the apartment. The growls are explained by the existence of a Bengal tiger inside the place when Decker gets there. After it’s properly tranquilized and has been removed, he and his team move in and the body of the millionaire, Hobart Penny, is found. The cat did it; right? Not so fast. As the publisher’s synopsis says, Decker soon determines that the beast that killed Penny is all too human.
As the investigation continues, detectives learn that Penny had rented apartments adjacent to his own and kept any number of exotic and harmful wild animals inside. In addition to the animals, there are freezers filled with animal body parts ready for feeding to the tiger. Ah, but not all of the body parts are animal, and the horror begins.
kimberlyp's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
vaderbird's review against another edition
4.0
3.8
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
marystevens's review against another edition
3.0
Not the best Peter Decker, but it involves exotic animals and I do love tigers!
In this case a wealthy recluse who kept a tiger as a pet in an apartment building, are you with me?...is found murdered and the rest of the story is about the wild animal sanctuary whose director did the vet work and some of the maintenance, the back story on the recluse, etc. In this book, Rita Lazarus is shoved into the corner, doing her good Jewish wife stuff, and is not included in the sleuthing. That weakens the novel considerably...She's one-dimensional here, where she is so interestingly involved in other books.
In this case a wealthy recluse who kept a tiger as a pet in an apartment building, are you with me?...is found murdered and the rest of the story is about the wild animal sanctuary whose director did the vet work and some of the maintenance, the back story on the recluse, etc. In this book, Rita Lazarus is shoved into the corner, doing her good Jewish wife stuff, and is not included in the sleuthing. That weakens the novel considerably...She's one-dimensional here, where she is so interestingly involved in other books.
jennybeastie's review against another edition
3.0
The gripping next installment of the the Decker/ Lazarus series. It starts out with a dead man keeping a tiger in his apartment as a pet, and grows steadily more bizarre and twisted from there.
csprfamily's review against another edition
4.0
Love the series.This was a weird concoction of events that brought this book together. Peter, Marge and Oliver are on the case.On the mystery side-a rich recluse who keeps a tiger is shot and blugeoned. In the search for the motive and killer, the cops discover a bizarre, kinky life of the recluse, as well as a look into the animal sanctuary he supported. Twists and turns, as always.
Throughout the novel, Peter Decker's personal life appears in small sections-his relationship of his foster son, Gabe, his Jewish lifestyle, his love for his wife, and his plans for the future. I'm hoping the series will continue. Been a fan from the beginning.
Throughout the novel, Peter Decker's personal life appears in small sections-his relationship of his foster son, Gabe, his Jewish lifestyle, his love for his wife, and his plans for the future. I'm hoping the series will continue. Been a fan from the beginning.
elesamarie's review against another edition
2.0
I was all set to give it one star and a bit of unpredictability later on upped it to two stars. I miss the early decker/Lazarus pairings. This seemed like the author was bored.