Rating: 
Summary: Faye Kellerman is losing her touch
Review: I also have been a BIG fan of the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus series since the beginning --- I have eagerly awaited and devoured each book and recommended them to many other people but the last three books in the series have left me feeling let down. This one was the worst of all. In this book, Rina Lazarus goes from being a strong & determined woman to becoming a bimbo seemingly obsessed with shopping. Crack detective Peter Decker is suddenly unable to see what is clear to me as a reader early on in the book. Worse, he starts willingly cavorting with criminals, something that this character, as developed through the series, simply would not do for the reasons the author half-heartedly provides. The plot plods and is confusing. The switches in point of view are just maddening. To have a very minor character suddenly appear in the middle of the book speaking in first person and then disappear again after only a few pages is something one would expect of an amateur writer, not someone with Ms. Kellerman's proven skills and experience. I think it is time for Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus to retire to a cozy condominium in Florida. Sorry Ms. Kellerman, but you've lost the terrific writing, quick pacing, unique characterization, and edge-of-your-seat suspense that made your earlier books so wonderful. I am one very disappointed fan and I know I will not be alone.
Rating: 
Summary: A Powerful Kiss of Darkness
Review: Stone Kiss is one of Kellerman's darker tales and takes place in New York City rather than Decker's L.A. Characters from Justice reappear in this novel: Terry and the enigmatic Chris Donatti. As Decker looks into his half brother's brother-in-law's death, he turns to Donatti, 'one of the most notorious criminals in mob history', for leads. Decker says, "the man is a stone-cold killer and a pathological liar. You work with whatever you can get." The search for the killer as well as Decker's interactions with Donatti provide suspense, plot twists and a darker journey into the soul than do many of Kellerman's other reads. Donatti is not an admirable character by any means, he casually talks of "popping" someone as tho it was the same as munching a potato chip. However, Stone Kiss, shows a vulnerable side of Donatti through the one person that cares about him, Terry, through the pact he and Decker have made and through Rina's encounter with him. As much as you don't care for Donatti's actions, you want to see him redeemed somehow. It is a rare author that can take a character like him and show his dark soul, yet have you, the reader, hoping he somehow is redeemed and finds a measure of "happiness" or peace. The book was light on character development for both Peter and Rina, which was a little disappointing since they are two of mystery fiction's best characters. However, this book can be read as a stand alone mystery without the others in the series including Justice which originally featured Donatti and the reader would not be aware of missing any details. This book may also disappoint some hardline Peter and Rina fans by being light on Rina's involvement in the story. This is one of the best mystery books I've read this year. You will also like this novel if you read Carol O'Connell's Mallory series (Kathryn Mallory--NYPD dective and sociopath). The novel has the same push-pull of good vs. evil with Donatti as with Mallory. It also has the same kind of push-pull with the reader as you both condemn yet cheer on the darker character, for although bad, Donatti plays good in many situations and although he does it for self-centered reasons, you sense if you can pry far enough into his psyche, there is more than selfishness motivating his actions. Decker is conflicted, always aware that Chris would "pop" him in the same manner the 'half wolf/half dog' turns on its owners when the mood hits. This internal conflict and the cat and mouse game Donatti and Decker are playing, elevates this book above normal mysteries. In fact, the Donatti-Decker game is as much of a mystery as who killed the brother-in-law of his half brother.
This was a great story filled with twists and turns as well a good mystery.
Rating:
Summary: FINALLY!
Review: THIS BOOK HAS RESTORED MY FAITH IN POPULAR AUTHORS! TODAY, SO MANY WRITERS CAPITALIZE ON THEIR EARLY FAME BY PUMPING OUT NEW BOOKS IN SUCH RAPID FIRE SUCCESSION THAT THE READER IS CHEATED BY THIN PLOTS AND HASTILY THROWN TOGETHER CHARACTERS. FORMER FAVORITES OF MINE NOW USE "CO-AUTHORS" AND THERE ARE EVEN A COUPLE WHO STILL WRITE, ALTHOUGH IT IS FROM THE GRAVE. FAYE KELLERMAN HAS GIVEN US A RICH, FULL STORY WITH CHARACTERS WHO HAVE BEEN SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY DEVELOPED. THE PLOT MOVES SO DELIBERATELY THAT THE INTENSE ENDING LEAVES THE READER VERY HAPPILY UNSETTLED. MS. KELLERMAN IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR GIVING THE BUYERS OF STONE KISS THEIR MONEY'S WORTH!
Rating: 
Summary: Very enjoyable
Review: I enjoyed the story very much and Ms. Kellerman has developed such rich characters. It is nice to see that an author has options with characters, this is both a positive and a negative. If you are expecting the usual, (Marge, Oliver, Cindy and even the city of LA) they barely even get mentioned, which is the negative. However, we get reaquainted with Decker's New York relatives and we get to know a little more about Randy, which is a positive. In this novel you also get an idea of the fine line between cop and criminal.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Her Best
Review: Let me preface this review with the admission that I LOVE this series. I always anticipate the next installment and can't wait to begin reading. Usually I'll wait for the weekend and just read straight through until I've finished.
Now for the bad news. This is definitely the least satisfying of the entire Decker/Lazarus series. I believe that when an author writes about recurring characters each book should stand alone as well as offer new insights into those characters. I don't think that someone reading this as their first Kellerman book will understand the whole Donatti thing. I read the book Chris came from, and I was sometimes confused.
Additionally, there wasn't enough of Rina. And while we're on the subject of missing characters, I guess I don't like the switch to New York as a setting. I enjoy the detectives Decker supervises, and we don't get to see them when the action shifts from L.A.
I suppose I wouldn't tell other die hard fans to skip this, but I would encourage any new readers to hold off and begin at the beginning, with "Ritual Bath." You'll be hooked for sure.
Rating:
Summary: Another hit for Faye Kellerman
Review: Fast paced, exciting - this is a wonderful addition to the series. Peter feels out of his depth in New York trying to help solve the murder of a distant relative. After a short time, even his family wants him to leave even tho their 15 year old daughter is still missing. Soon he finds himself dealing with an old foe who he may or may not be able to trust. It's riveting and hard to put down. Faye Kellerman definitely hasn't lost her touch.
Rating: 
Summary: The WORST in the series!
Review: A brutal homicide three thousand miles away rocks the Decker household, and has Peter and Rina on a plane headed for New York City. Peter receives the phone call from his half brother whose brother in-law has been found naked in a motel room in Manhattan, and even worse is the fact the man was with his fifteen year-old niece who has since disappeared. Decker knows this case will get worse before it's over, but still he gets on a plane and heads for New York to help the frantic family of the missing girl. As Decker begins looking into the crime he finds layer upon layer of lies and as he peels away each layer he finds he will have to question all that he believes in, and the closer he gets to uncovering the evil responsible he finds he is at risk of losing the things he holds dear...including Rina. 'Stone Kiss' is a bad mystery. Actually, it's not much of a mystery at all but more a study of Judaism. The ground-work for the mystery is set by the murder, but the deeper the plot goes the less the suspense and mystery are there. There is way too much Jewish back-ground in this novel, too many Jewish references, and Judaism plays too heavy a part in the plot. Fans of the Decker/Lazarus mysteries will be hard pressed to finish this novel because it gets confusing, boring, and just plain messy. Faye Kellerman has had a string of great mysteries, but lately she has been putting the Jewish faith at the forefront of her novels, and it is taking away from the mystery. Ms. Kellerman should re-think her plots, and with so many other best-selling mystery writers out there, she should do so quickly before she loses her fans.
Rating:
Summary: I'm a Fan. . .
Review: ...of the Decker/Lazarus series and I started at the beginning. However, I don't think you'd want to read the series in succession. I now mix it up and when I returned to Stone Kiss it was like visiting with old friends. I enjoyed the story and always enjoy learning more about the Jewish faith. This is light, fast moving and easy reading. Christopher Donatti is a daunting character with good interaction between the characters. I, too, am sure he will turn up again as have a few others.
Rating:
Summary: Huh ?
Review: Yes, this is what I kept saying throughout what I've read so far...I have been working on this book for a month. I am a Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb fan. I thought this book would match those of Roberts. Boy was I wrong. I have to agree with other reviewers, this book was confusing. No, I did not start at the beginning of the series. Readers shouldn't have to. We should be able to pick right up on the characters and plot. The next time I see a cheap hardcover at the checkout in Walmart I will leave it there.
Rating:
Summary: GRITTY SMOOCH
Review: Uh-oh, looks like I'm in the minority, but the return of Christopher Donatti, to me, is the real spark in this well-written, dark, brodding novel. Oh, yes Chris is definitely sadistic, egocentric, psychopathic, childish, brutal and conscienceless. However, Kellerman has been smart enough to show his "good" side. Maybe he obssesses and uses Terry and others to achieve his own goals, but somewhere in all the brooding good lucks, his buff body, there is a soul of a man abused as a child, reaching out to find someone to love. His cruelty to Decker only masks his intense hate/love relationship. The ending is quite unexpected, and obviously leaves room for Donatti's return.
Elsewhere, Kellerman has fleshed out Jonathan Levine more, and his relationship with Decker grows in admiration and respect. The mystery actually gets overshadowed by the complexity of the relationships and the fiery Donatti. Suffice to say, it's easy to see who the real culprits are...it's just a lot of fun getting there.
ONE OF THE BEST IN THE SERIES.
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