“Sanctuary” By Faye Kellerman

Review #159

A Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus Novel

Orthodox Jewish housewife Rina Lazarus and her husband, LAPD Detective Sergeant Peter Decker have their hands full in this adventure. While Peter and his partner, Det. Marge Dunn, investigate the disappearance of prosperous diamond dealer, Arik Yalom, his wife and their 2 teenage sons, Rina plays hostess to Honey Klein, visiting from New York with her children and obviously escaping problems with her Hasidic diamond-dealer husband, Gershon.

When the bodies of the older Yaloms are found buried on a local mountainside, their sons are seen as possible suspects or potential victims fleeing for their lives. The Yalom case leads Peter to L.A.'s diamond center; to elegant Kate Milligan, a power in the South African diamond trade; and eventually to Israel, with Rina along as interpreter.

After Gershon Klein is found dead, Honey and her kids vanish too, further complicating this investigation. Scouring the environs of Jerusalem in their search for the missing Yalom boys, turning up bomb plots as they go, Peter and Rina get a fix on the killer and take an inside look at some Israeli institutions

As usual, the author has combined fine writing, spirited characters, and a suspenseful, original plot; has woven in enlightening facts and anecdotes about modern Judaism; has added heartwarming glimpses of Jewish family life; and has capped it all with a stunning climax!