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9. Sacred and Profane (Decker/Lazarus series, book 2) - Faye Kellerman
Official author site: 🔗 https://fayekellerman.net/book/sacred-and-profane/
More info at: 🔗 https://www.tlbranson.com/faye-kellerman-books-in-order/
And at: 🔗 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/104093.Sacred_and_Profane
It didn't take me too long to finish the second book in the series. I needed to relax a bit, and this book helped me a lot. I DuckDuck-ed some bits and bops and made another book review with info and all, as I have done with the previous books that I read this year.
If you’re a fan of the "opposites attract" trope but find yourself bored with the usual rom-com clichés, let me introduce you to Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus. Faye Kellerman’s Decker/Lazarus series is one of the longest-running and most beloved procedural series out there, and the second book, Sacred and Profane, is where the series really finds its heartbeat.
Here is the lowdown on why this book—and this duo—is worth your time.
The Setup: Worlds Colliding
To understand Sacred and Profane, you have to know how these two met. In the first book, The Ritual Bath, Peter Decker—a tough, slightly cynical LAPD detective—is called to investigate a crime at an Orthodox Jewish enclave. There, he meets Rina Lazarus, a young widow living a deeply traditional, religious life.
By the time we get to Sacred and Profane, the "will-they-won't-they" tension is thick enough to cut with a brisket knife. Peter is a guy who lives in a world of grit, crime, and chaos; Rina lives in a world of ancient laws, modesty, and ritual. The series isn't just a "whodunit"; it’s a "how-do-they-make-this-work?"
The Plot (No Spoilers!)
While vacationing in the mountains, Peter stumbles upon a grisly discovery: the charred remains of two teenagers. The investigation pulls him back into the dark underbelly of Los Angeles, dealing with some pretty heavy themes involving exploitation and the loss of innocence.
What makes this specific book stand out is the contrast:
• The Profane: The investigation. It’s gritty, dark, and reminds you that Decker’s job is often soul-crushing.
• The Sacred: The burgeoning relationship between Peter and Rina. As Peter gets deeper into the case, he finds himself drawn more to Rina’s world—not just to her, but to the sense of peace and order her faith provides.
Why It’s Unique?
Most crime novels have a "lonely wolf" detective who drinks too much scotch and has no home life. Kellerman flips that.
1. Cultural Immersion: You don't just read about a crime; you learn about Jewish law, holiday traditions, and the nuances of the yeshiva (religious school) world. It’s handled with such authenticity that you feel like an insider.
2. Character Growth: Peter isn't just a static character. He starts questioning his own identity and heritage, leading to a journey of self-discovery that spans dozens of books.
3. The Chemistry: The romance is a slow burn. Because of Rina’s religious boundaries (like the laws of tzniut, or modesty), their physical connection is secondary to their intellectual and emotional bond. It makes every look and conversation feel high-stakes.
Should You Read It?
If you like Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch but wish there was more focus on family, faith, and complex relationships, this is your new favorite series. Sacred and Profane does a masterful job of balancing a "ripped-from-the-headlines" crime story with a deeply human story about two people from different planets trying to build a bridge between them.
Fun Fact: Faye Kellerman is married to Jonathan Kellerman, another titan of the mystery genre (the Alex Delaware series). They are basically the royal family of psychological thrillers and procedurals!
When Sacred and Profane hit the shelves in 1987, it had a lot of pressure on it. Its predecessor, The Ritual Bath, had just won the Macavity Award for Best First Novel, and readers were eager to see if Faye Kellerman could maintain that momentum.
Overall, the reception was overwhelmingly positive, and the book is largely credited with cementing the "Decker and Lazarus" duo as icons of the genre. Here is how the audience and critics reacted:
1. Critical Acclaim: "The Most Refreshing Couple"
Critics were immediately taken with the chemistry between Peter and Rina. People Magazine famously called them "hands down, the most refreshing mystery couple around."
• The Chicago Sun-Times praised Kellerman as a "talented writer," noting that the characters were deep and well-drawn.
• Kirkus Reviews described the book as "entertaining" and appreciated the sprawling nature of the story, though it noted the shift toward a darker tone than the first book.
2. The Fan Verdict: High Stakes and Heavy Hearts
Among fans, the book holds a solid reputation (maintaining around a 3.9/5 star average on platforms like Goodreads).
• The "Bashert" Factor: Readers were particularly invested in the romantic progression. In Jewish tradition, bashert means "destiny" or "soulmate," and fans loved watching Peter navigate the massive hurdles of Rina’s Orthodox world to prove he was her bashert.
• The Gritty Reality: While fans loved the romance, many readers noted that this book is significantly darker than the first. The plot involves violence against teenagers, which some found "soul-crushing" and "intense," though most agreed it served the purpose of highlighting the "Profane" side of the book's title.
3. A Focus on Authenticity
One of the most common pieces of feedback from the audience was appreciation for the cultural depth. Readers who knew nothing about Judaism felt they were learning something new, while Jewish readers often praised Kellerman (who is herself Orthodox) for her authentic, non-preachy portrayal of the community.
4. Minor Critiques
Not every review was glowing. Some "hard-boiled" mystery purists felt the detective work took a backseat to the relationship drama. A few readers mentioned that the mystery itself was a bit "standard" compared to the unique cultural and romantic elements that made the book stand out.
The Bottom Line: Sacred and Profane was received as a "sophomore success." It proved that the series wasn't a one-hit-wonder and that Peter and Rina had enough complexity to carry a long-running saga.
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