Faye Kellerman
Encyclopedia
Faye Kellerman is an American
author
of mystery
novels, in particular the "Peter Decker
/Rina Lazarus
" series, as well as three non-series books, The Quality of Mercy, Moon Music and Straight into Darkness.
. She attended UCLA where she earned a B.A. in mathematics
in 1974. Four years later she received her Doctorate of Dental Surgery
degree. At that time she "fully intended to pursue a career as a dentist". Despite her intention, she has never practiced dentistry
and was a housewife
before publishing her first novel. In a 1997 essay she says she can't pinpoint the metamorphosis from oral hygienist to writer of detective fiction, but several factors that steered her toward mystery writing were: "a desire for justice, a suspicious nature, an overactive imagination, and, of course, a penchant for the bizarre."
, as is her husband, the novelist Jonathan Kellerman
. Her writing frequently deals with Jewish themes and characters, incorporating them into the framework of the traditional mystery. The Peter Decker
books, for example, center on a police detective raised as a Southern Baptist
who returns to his Jewish roots after falling in love with Rina Lazarus, an Orthodox Jew, while investigating a rape
that took place near a yeshiva
.
The Kellermans are the only married couple ever to appear on the New York Times bestseller list simultaneously (for two different books). They have four children and live in Los Angeles
, California
. She is also the mother of novelist and playwright Jesse Kellerman
.
(Source: Bookreporter.com - Author Bibliography - Faye Kellerman Bibliography)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of mystery
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
novels, in particular the "Peter Decker
Peter Decker
Peter Decker is a fictional character in a series of mystery novels by Faye Kellerman. A lieutenant in the LAPD, Decker is assisted in solving crimes by his Orthodox Jewish wife Rina Lazarus....
/Rina Lazarus
Rina Lazarus
Rina Lazarus is a fictional character in a series of mystery novels by Faye Kellerman. The novels in the series include The Ritual Bath , Sacred and Profane , Milk and Honey , Day of Atonement , False Prophet , Grievous Sin , Sanctuary , Justice, , Prayers for the Dead , Serpent's Tooth ,...
" series, as well as three non-series books, The Quality of Mercy, Moon Music and Straight into Darkness.
Early life
Kellerman was born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. She attended UCLA where she earned a B.A. in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
in 1974. Four years later she received her Doctorate of Dental Surgery
Doctor of Dental Surgery
There are a number of first professional degrees in dentistry offered by schools in various countries around the world. These include the following:* Doctor of Dental Surgery * Doctor of Dental Medicine * Bachelor of Dentistry...
degree. At that time she "fully intended to pursue a career as a dentist". Despite her intention, she has never practiced dentistry
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
and was a housewife
Housewife
Housewife is a term used to describe a married woman with household responsibilities who is not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household...
before publishing her first novel. In a 1997 essay she says she can't pinpoint the metamorphosis from oral hygienist to writer of detective fiction, but several factors that steered her toward mystery writing were: "a desire for justice, a suspicious nature, an overactive imagination, and, of course, a penchant for the bizarre."
Personal life
Kellerman is a practicing Orthodox JewOrthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
, as is her husband, the novelist Jonathan Kellerman
Jonathan Kellerman
Jonathan Kellerman is an American psychologist, and Edgar and Anthony Award winning author of numerous bestselling suspense novels....
. Her writing frequently deals with Jewish themes and characters, incorporating them into the framework of the traditional mystery. The Peter Decker
Peter Decker
Peter Decker is a fictional character in a series of mystery novels by Faye Kellerman. A lieutenant in the LAPD, Decker is assisted in solving crimes by his Orthodox Jewish wife Rina Lazarus....
books, for example, center on a police detective raised as a Southern Baptist
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
who returns to his Jewish roots after falling in love with Rina Lazarus, an Orthodox Jew, while investigating a rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
that took place near a yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
.
The Kellermans are the only married couple ever to appear on the New York Times bestseller list simultaneously (for two different books). They have four children and live in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. She is also the mother of novelist and playwright Jesse Kellerman
Jesse Kellerman
Jesse Kellerman is an American novelist and playwright. He has published four novels: Sunstroke , Trouble , The Genius , and The Executor...
.
The Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus series
- The Ritual Bath (1986)
- Sacred and ProfaneSacred and ProfaneSacred and Profane is a 1987 novel by Faye Kellerman. It is second in the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series.A Fawcett Crest Book published by Ballantine Books.Timeline: About six months after The Ritual Bath, starts Christmas Eve, Decker is 39....
(1987) - Milk and HoneyMilk and Honey (novel)Milk and Honey is a 1990 novel by Faye Kellerman, Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series, William Morrow and Company. It takes place about eighteen months after Sacred and Profane, when Decker is 41, in Los Angeles, in the Foothill Division of the LAPD....
(1990) - Day of Atonement (1991)
- False Prophet (1992)
- Grievous Sin (1993)
- Sanctuary (1994)
- Justice (1995)
- Prayers for the Dead (1996)
- Serpent's Tooth (1997)
- Jupiter's Bones (1999)
- Stalker (2000)
- The Forgotten (2001)
- Stone Kiss (2002)
- Street Dreams (2003)
- The Burnt House (2007)
- The Mercedes Coffin aka Cold Case (2008)
- Blindman's Bluff (2009)
- Hangman (2010)
- Gun Games (to be released 01/03/2012)
Other novels
- The Quality of Mercy (1989)
- Moon Music (1998)
- Double Homicide (2004) - written with Jonathan KellermanJonathan KellermanJonathan Kellerman is an American psychologist, and Edgar and Anthony Award winning author of numerous bestselling suspense novels....
- Straight Into Darkness (2005)
- The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights (2006)
- Capital Crimes (2006) - written with Jonathan KellermanJonathan KellermanJonathan Kellerman is an American psychologist, and Edgar and Anthony Award winning author of numerous bestselling suspense novels....
- Prism (2009) - written with Aliza Kellerman
(Source: Bookreporter.com - Author Bibliography - Faye Kellerman Bibliography)