Bestselling Authors Jonathan and Faye Kellerman
I love to read. I love to eat. I love crime novels. Is it any wonder that one of the items at the top of my bucket list is to have dinner with Jonathan and Faye Kellerman? These two married authors have been entertaining me for years with Jonathan’s “Alex Delaware” novels and Faye’s “Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus” novels. Both of the authors write great plots, both base their stories in Los Angeles and both provide a vast array of dark, nasty villains in their series. But, there is a unique difference between the novels by these two authors. Their main characters are as different as night and day.
Jonathan Kellerman uses his experiences as a Ph.D. in Psychology to shape his protagonist, Alex Delaware into a sharp, savvy and highly intelligent psychologist. He adds in Milo Sturgis, an overweight gay LAPD police detective who not only battles crime but battles discrimination on a daily basis from his fellow cops and top brass. These two sleuths mix their investigative talents with rapier wit and they both share a penchant for eating out at fine restaurants. These are characters a reader would like to sit down and share new cuisine with while listening to Alex and Milo attempt to uncover the newest psycho in town.
Faye Kellerman pushed aside a career in dentistry for the life of a mother and eventually an author. Her books incorporate her Jewish heritage into her main characters, Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus. Rabbi Decker (who embraced Judaism for love of Rina) is a lovable, consummate family man who fights crime but still tries to make it home in time for Seder. Rina observes the traditional Jewish woman’s role with finesse and serves as Peter’s rock when he finds it difficult to understand his fellow humans or his children. These are characters that one would like to sit down with and sample some of Rina’s kosher dishes while listening to the story of how these two met and how they share the success for bringing criminals to justice.
Although Jonathan Kellerman’s modern day characters use a psychological approach to crime solving, Faye’s homespun characters center on common sense and family values to unveil culprits. Both authors have created protagonist’s that continue to keep readers entertained throughout their many novels. You can grab a glass of fine wine and enjoy Jonathan’s newest thriller, “Victims” or sit back with a cup of tea to enjoy Faye’s newest Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus novel “The Beast” to enjoy these different characters.
So, yes, I would love to have dinner with the Kellerman’s to take a peek at what their characters will be up to in their next adventure. Maybe Faye will even send me on my way with a container of delicious Matzo balls. Yum!
Sources:
Kellerman, F. (2013). The Beast. [Kindle DX version]. Available from Amazon.com.
Kellerman, J. (2012). Victims. [Kindle DX version]. Available from Amazon.com.
