Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collections
Publication
Fawcett Crest (1987), Edition: Reissue, 277 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. HTML: 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..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member chinquapin
At a remote orthodox Jewish yeshiva in the hills near Los Angeles, a young married woman is raped leaving the mikvah, a bathhouse for performing ritualistic cleansing. Rina Lazarus, a math teacher at the yeshiva who also cares for the mikvah, finds the woman and calls the police. Police Detective
I really enjoyed this mystery. It was informative and engaging, and I was very drawn to the two main characters, Rina and Decker. I also loved the setting of the yeshiva in the foothills. I have the next book in the series already, and I look forward to seeing where this relationship is heading.
Show More
Peter Decker arrives to investigate and seems almost immediately to be drawn to Rina. While the rape investigation is continuing, Rina and Decker begin to draw closer to one another and Rina is conflicted about her growing feelings for Decker, a man who is not Jewish. I really enjoyed this mystery. It was informative and engaging, and I was very drawn to the two main characters, Rina and Decker. I also loved the setting of the yeshiva in the foothills. I have the next book in the series already, and I look forward to seeing where this relationship is heading.
Show Less
LibraryThing member debavp
At times I felt I needed a Hebrew dictionary. You get a sort if micro Judaism 101 so to speak with this one. I felt the author was authentic in purpose with the religious aspect and it definitely added to the story. Despite my lack of knowledge for some of the terminology, that didn't slow the pace
Show More
down. It moved along quickly and as it was first in a series it briefly introduced some characters without plugging in all the details to leave way for future encounters. I think Decker will become an even more complicated character in the future, but I do hope that Kellerman does write Rina with a bit more depth and personality in the future. Even the character admits she was a bit of a wimp in this installment. Show Less
LibraryThing member NWADEL
I really enjoyed this one. My new favorite author :)
LibraryThing member KingaBrit
The Ritual Bath is usually categorized as a mystery novel (it even won a prestigious award in this field, the Macavity Award for Best First Mystery Novel in 1987), but is rather a contemporary romance novel in a whodunit environment. (And I am telling so without ever reading a so called main stream
On her way home from a ritual bathhouse ('mikvah') a young woman is brutally raped in a small, strict Orthodox Jew community, near Los Angeles. One of her friends, recently widowed Rina Lazarus, calls the police and she is also the only one among the religious villagers who seems to be willing to cooperate with the authorities. No wonder that the dashing, 6+ foot, freshly divorced policeman, who is in charge of the case, feels closer and closer to Rina. With some twisting and turning the story unstoppably and pretty calculably rushes towards its happy ending (that includes solving the rape plus murder case on the sidelines as well).
One of the the good things of the novel is its environment of course: it is trying to destroy a common prejudice that the followers of any orthodox religion must be weirdos but at least totally self-centered people rejecting other religions and outsiders. The community of Jewtown (as it is called in the story) is pretty confident but friendly and relatively open; boys are playing with G.I Joe action figures, their parents buy stuff in Target, a lot of them subscribe to 'secular' magazines and newspapers, they watch regular TV channels, drink Coke, and so on. True enough, if they go to a ball game, they are strictly banned to eat a good ol' hot dog (instead, they carry their kosher snacks), observe Sabbath very seriously (no electricity use, no work), follow a precisely described dress code anywhere they go, and of course keep the regulations of the ritual bath.
The title ('The Ritual Bath') can have several meanings, among them some symbolic as well: first of all of course the actual central element of the story, but we can take it as a symbol for Peter Decker on different levels: it is this case that puts him out of his past's misery (the residues of a divorce), but also, it is this case that connects him with his real spiritual self as well. The events also help Rina to understand what she wants from the rest of her life - as so far she has beeb burdened with her past too.
Kellerman writes good dialogs most of the time (for instance there is some mannerism in the beginning when Marge - one of the police officers - talks, etc), approaches her topic quite tactfully and empathetically and develops the Peter-Rina relationship very nicely and realistically (OK, 75% realistically...) With this being said, the novel is hardly more than a plain, although well-written romantic (romance?) story. The mystery part is forgettable but page-turningly (is there such a word?) enjoyable (I figured out the rape incident at about the 50th page or so, and it is not getting better later). For me the most annoying parts are when the text becomes an encyclopedia entry on the kollel life or on other orthodox Judaic cultural issue.
The Ritual Bath is fun to read, easy to read and easy to forget. Perfect beach book.
Show More
'romance' work of any kind...)On her way home from a ritual bathhouse ('mikvah') a young woman is brutally raped in a small, strict Orthodox Jew community, near Los Angeles. One of her friends, recently widowed Rina Lazarus, calls the police and she is also the only one among the religious villagers who seems to be willing to cooperate with the authorities. No wonder that the dashing, 6+ foot, freshly divorced policeman, who is in charge of the case, feels closer and closer to Rina. With some twisting and turning the story unstoppably and pretty calculably rushes towards its happy ending (that includes solving the rape plus murder case on the sidelines as well).
One of the the good things of the novel is its environment of course: it is trying to destroy a common prejudice that the followers of any orthodox religion must be weirdos but at least totally self-centered people rejecting other religions and outsiders. The community of Jewtown (as it is called in the story) is pretty confident but friendly and relatively open; boys are playing with G.I Joe action figures, their parents buy stuff in Target, a lot of them subscribe to 'secular' magazines and newspapers, they watch regular TV channels, drink Coke, and so on. True enough, if they go to a ball game, they are strictly banned to eat a good ol' hot dog (instead, they carry their kosher snacks), observe Sabbath very seriously (no electricity use, no work), follow a precisely described dress code anywhere they go, and of course keep the regulations of the ritual bath.
The title ('The Ritual Bath') can have several meanings, among them some symbolic as well: first of all of course the actual central element of the story, but we can take it as a symbol for Peter Decker on different levels: it is this case that puts him out of his past's misery (the residues of a divorce), but also, it is this case that connects him with his real spiritual self as well. The events also help Rina to understand what she wants from the rest of her life - as so far she has beeb burdened with her past too.
Kellerman writes good dialogs most of the time (for instance there is some mannerism in the beginning when Marge - one of the police officers - talks, etc), approaches her topic quite tactfully and empathetically and develops the Peter-Rina relationship very nicely and realistically (OK, 75% realistically...) With this being said, the novel is hardly more than a plain, although well-written romantic (romance?) story. The mystery part is forgettable but page-turningly (is there such a word?) enjoyable (I figured out the rape incident at about the 50th page or so, and it is not getting better later). For me the most annoying parts are when the text becomes an encyclopedia entry on the kollel life or on other orthodox Judaic cultural issue.
The Ritual Bath is fun to read, easy to read and easy to forget. Perfect beach book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jlouise77
I love these books! I hadn't ever read the first one, so it was really interesting to see how it all began. I also love the Jewish factor. It is SO interesting to read about all the rituals involved in the Jewish faith, since I know nothing about it. And as always, it is a great detective novel.
Show More
The characters are so likable, too. Great book! Show Less
LibraryThing member jepeters333
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
Show More
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. Show Less
LibraryThing member allthesedarnbooks
This is the first book in yet another mystery series, starring LAPD Detective Peter Decker, and his romantic interest, Orthodox Jewish widow Rina Lazarus. I absolutely loved this book. Peter and Rina are both well developed, as is the description of life in a yeshiva. The plot (involving rape and
Show More
murder in a place where Rina and other women feel most safe) is disturbing, but the chemistry between Peter and Rina is light and natural in the most dark and unnatural of circumstances. Highly recommended, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Four and a half stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member fishhook7
I really like her writing. I like mysteries but I particularly like the bits of religion and hints of morality thrown in.
LibraryThing member verenka
The first in a series of mysteries set in a yeshiva. It was very interesting to read about the community, find out about Jewish culture and customs. And besides it made a good page turner. I don't know if I will read the rest of the series, but the I have the second part at home for releasing and I
Show More
will read it before that. Show Less
LibraryThing member miyurose
The only other book I've read in this series was #9 or #10, so it was nice to see how Peter and Rina's relationship started. I found myself sucked into this pretty quickly, and Kellerman kept me guessing until the end! I did find myself wishing for a glossary from time to time, as my knowledge of
Show More
this form of Judaism is pretty lacking. Show Less
LibraryThing member catmommie
My first Faye Kellerman read, another author recommended to me. I've read several of her husband's - Jonathan Kellerman - books and decided it was time to try her's. This is the first book in the Peter Decker detective series by Faye Kellerman. Definitely enjoyed it and will read the others as I
Show More
find them. I liked that she added a little about the Jewish traditions of a yeshiva. I enjoy learning about other religions and cultures. Was a mover and kept my interest. I pictured David Caruso as Decker. Show Less
LibraryThing member emhromp2
I liked this book a lot, but, it must be said, I guessed 'who did it' halfway through the book. And I never guess who did it. But I like the mix of detective and jewish life. Kellerman is a good writer and I bought another title immediately after finishing this one.
LibraryThing member marsap
The first of Kellerman's Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus series this book involves the investigation of a rape at closed Jewish community and school in California outside the mikvah, the bathhouse where women perform their cleansing ritual. Detective Peter Decker of the LAPD is called upon to
Show More
investigate with the help of a young widow Rina Lazarus. She helps guide him through the religious laws that hinder him from finding the truth. Though the investigation was interesting, the best part was the exploration of Orthodox Judiasm and its impact on the case. 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member -Eva-
In the first book in the Decker/Lazarus-series, a woman is raped on her way home from the mikveh and Detective Peter Decker teams up with the witness, Rina Lazarus, to find the assailant. As far as the mystery-part is concerned, this is business-as-usual; the stakes are high and the characters
Show More
interesting. Where this story really stands out, though, is in the locale - it takes place on the grounds of a Yeshiva and the main characters are Orthodox Jews, which is a world that is probably unfamiliar to most readers. Kellerman does a great job explaining the various religious and cultural concepts, but some of the lines (in transliterated Yiddish and Hebrew) are left untranslated so that we can emphasize with the bemused Detective. All in all, a very decent beginning of a potentially very decent series. Show Less
LibraryThing member antiquary
Considered as an introduction to life in a Jewish Orthodox (Hasidic) yeshiva, this is very interesting; considered as a romance between a goy policeman and an Orthodox bath-keeper, it is mildly agreeable. Considered as a mystery it is so-so. The initial crime is a rape (of a woman returning after a
Show More
ritual at the bathhouse) , not a murder, which is a good variant; however, a brutal murder (of a woman security guard)which follows is both uglier than the general tone of the story and also a red herring, as the criminals involved turn out not to be involved in the first crime. I could have done without the killing. Spoiler warning: a plot twist in which the goy policeman turns out to be ethnically Jewish by birth (though adopted by Baptists and raised as Baptist) seems to stretch the bounds of probability and appears as an unlikely way of potentially resolving the problem that he and the bath-keeper are falling in love but she would not marry a non-Jewish man (though as the story ends he has not officially converted.) Show Less
LibraryThing member olegalCA
Really enjoyed this - far more than I originally thought. I'll look into the entire series by Kellerman. Very well written and nice balance of mystery vs. personal lives of the people involved.
LibraryThing member sleahey
The first in the series about Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, this novel introduces the two to each other when there is a rape at the religious enclave where widowed Rina lives with her two sons.
LibraryThing member yhgail
This was an enjoyable read. I'd say it is more romance than crime novel, but not an insipid romance. In general, I do not consider most romances to be acceptable even to the point of calling them novels.
I'm not sure if I will read another in the series. If I am just looking for entertainment I
I'm not sure if I will read another in the series. If I am just looking for entertainment I
Show More
might. Show Less
LibraryThing member beckyhaase
THE RITUAL BATH by Faye Kellerman
I learned a lot about Orthodox Judaism from this exciting murder mystery. When a rape takes place outside a Mikvah in an isolated Orthodox community, Rina, who takes care of the Mikvah, meets Detective Peter Decker. An unlikely friendship begins and intensifies with
Good characterizations, interesting setting, and an intriguing plot that moves at just the right pace make this a great mystery. It is the first book in a series but can be read as a stand-alone.
4.5 of 5 stars
I learned a lot about Orthodox Judaism from this exciting murder mystery. When a rape takes place outside a Mikvah in an isolated Orthodox community, Rina, who takes care of the Mikvah, meets Detective Peter Decker. An unlikely friendship begins and intensifies with
Show More
a murder.Good characterizations, interesting setting, and an intriguing plot that moves at just the right pace make this a great mystery. It is the first book in a series but can be read as a stand-alone.
4.5 of 5 stars
Show Less
LibraryThing member lbswiener
The Ritual Bath is the story of how Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus met each other. The ritual bath discusses the importance of the ritual bath or mikvah is in Judaism. There is a crazed man raping women at the Yeshiva where Rina Lazarus lives. The book received four stars because it is a believable
Show More
story and the characters are believable as well. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Anthony Award (Nominee — First Novel — 1987)
Crime Writers' Association Awards (Shortlist — 1987)
Macavity Award (Winner — First Novel — 1987)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1986
Physical description
277 p.; 4 inches
ISBN
0449213730 / 9780449213735