Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus Reading Order
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Ritual Bath | 1986 | Buy |
| Sacred and Profane | 1987 | Buy |
| Milk and Honey | 1990 | Buy |
| Day of Atonement | 1991 | Buy |
| False Prophet | 1992 | Buy |
| Grievous Sin | 1993 | Buy |
| Sanctuary | 1994 | Buy |
| Justice | 1995 | Buy |
| Prayers for the Dead | 1996 | Buy |
| Serpent’s Tooth | 1997 | Buy |
| Jupiter’s Bones | 1999 | Buy |
| Stalker | 2000 | Buy |
| The Forgotten | 2001 | Buy |
| Stone Kiss | 2002 | Buy |
| Street Dreams | 2003 | Buy |
| The Burnt House | 2007 | Buy |
| The Mercedes Coffin / Cold Case | 2008 | Buy |
| Blindman’s Bluff | 2009 | Buy |
| Hangman | 2010 | Buy |
| Gun Games / Blood Games | 2011 | Buy |
| The Beast / Predator | 2013 | Buy |
| Murder 101 | 2014 | Buy |
| The Theory of Death | 2015 | Buy |
| Bone Box | 2017 | Buy |
| Walking Shadows | 2018 | Buy |
| The Lost Boys | 2021 | Buy |
| The Hunt | 2022 | Buy |
The Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series is one of the longer-running mystery franchises in American crime fiction, spanning 27 books from 1986 to 2022. Written by Faye Kellerman, the series pairs an LAPD homicide detective with his wife, an Orthodox Jewish woman, creating a partnership that is both professional and deeply personal.
What distinguishes these books from many police procedurals is the detailed portrayal of Jewish life and culture. Decker, who discovers his own Jewish heritage during the series, and Rina, who grew up in the Orthodox community, bring different perspectives to both their relationship and their cases. The mysteries themselves range from murders within insular religious communities to more standard LAPD cases, but the cultural texture remains consistent throughout.
The series has followed Decker’s full career arc, from his active years on the force through later books where he has retired from the LAPD and works cases in a smaller jurisdiction. Fans of character-driven mystery series with strong interpersonal dynamics will find plenty to appreciate across the 27 installments.