Faye Kellerman Books in Order (Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus) – Updated February 22, 2026

Faye Kellerman is an American crime novelist best known for the long-running Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus series. The books combine police procedural structure with detailed portrayals of Orthodox Jewish life in Los Angeles.

Reading order matters. The central marriage, family developments, and recurring colleagues evolve steadily from book to book. Later entries assume familiarity with earlier personal events.

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Quick Answer: Where to Start

• Best starting point: The Ritual Bath (Book 1)
• Best for modern pacing: The Lost Boys (Book 26), though this will reveal major life developments from earlier books.
• Standalone option: Straight Into Darkness (separate historical mystery, no Decker/Lazarus continuity)

For most readers, publication order is the correct order.

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Peter Decker & Rina Lazarus Series (Publication Order)

1. The Ritual Bath (1986): Introduces LAPD detective Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus through a case inside an Orthodox Jewish community, establishing the cultural and relational foundation of the series.
2. Sacred and Profane (1987): A double homicide at a yeshiva school deepens Decker’s connection to Rina and further explores religious tensions within a criminal investigation.
3. Milk and Honey (1990): A murder tied to an extremist sect tests Decker’s professional judgment and his growing attachment to Rina’s world.
4. Day of Atonement (1991): Set partly in Israel, this installment expands the series internationally while advancing Decker and Rina’s personal commitments.
5. False Prophet (1992): A cult investigation blends psychological manipulation with escalating violence.
6. Grievous Sin (1993): A case involving a manipulative woman accused of killing her parents focuses on motive and moral ambiguity.
7. Sanctuary (1994): Political scandal and murder intersect, widening the series’ institutional scope.
8. Justice (1995): A hate crime investigation places Decker at the center of community unrest and legal pressure.
9. Prayers for the Dead (1996): A ritualized killing raises questions about religious extremism and inherited guilt.
10. Serpent’s Tooth (1997): Family secrets surface during a murder case tied to hidden identity.
11. Jupiter’s Bones (1999): A high-profile disappearance case collides with media exposure and academic politics.
12. Stalker (2000): A celebrity harassment case escalates into homicide, blending fame with danger.
13. The Forgotten (2001): Cold case elements uncover buried crimes with contemporary consequences.
14. Stone Kiss (2002): A gang-related shooting draws Decker into Los Angeles street violence.
15. Street Dreams (2003): The murder of a rap producer exposes industry rivalries and shifting loyalties.
16. The Burnt House (2007): An apparent domestic tragedy reveals a layered mystery involving hidden pasts.
17. The Mercedes Coffin (2008): Also published as Cold Case, this entry centers on skeletal remains discovered in a submerged car, reopening long-buried secrets.
18. Blindman’s Bluff (2009): A missing persons case involving a wealthy family turns into a complex kidnapping investigation.
19. Hangman (2010): A prison interview leads to a new murder, forcing Decker to reexamine an old conviction.
20. Gun Games (2011): Also published as Blood Games, this novel investigates a shooting spree that may be linked to military-style training.
21. The Beast (2013): Also published as Predator, a case involving a disturbed young man explores violence and psychological inheritance.
22. Murder 101 (2014): A college campus homicide connects academic rivalry with lethal consequences.
23. The Theory of Death (2015): A staged murder scene puzzles investigators as personal stressors press on Decker’s family life.
24. Bone Box (2017): Human remains discovered in a wooded area unravel a decades-old disappearance.
25. Walking Shadows (2018): A supposed suicide reveals deeper conspiracies and questions of manipulation.
26. The Lost Boys (2021): A cold case involving missing teenagers intersects with transnational crime and long-standing trauma.
27. The Hunt (2022): A former colleague’s death draws Decker into an international pursuit involving diamonds, deception, and organized crime.

Continuity note: These novels form a single, continuous arc. Major life events, marriage, children, career transitions, carry forward permanently.

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Standalone Novels (Separate Continuity)

These books do not connect to the Decker/Lazarus storyline.

• The Quality of Mercy (1989): A courtroom-centered drama examining moral responsibility after a child abuse accusation.
• Moon Music (1998): A psychological suspense novel about a woman whose troubled past resurfaces during a violent confrontation.
• Straight Into Darkness (2005): A historical mystery set in 1920s Munich, following an American detective navigating post-World War I instability.
• Killing Season (2017): A teen thriller about social media, jealousy, and escalating violence in a suburban high school.

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Collaborations (Separate from Decker/Lazarus)

With Jonathan Kellerman

1. Double Homicide (2004): Two novellas set in Boston and Santa Fe, each written in the style of one Kellerman.
2. Capital Crimes (2006): Two politically themed novellas exploring corruption and power in different U.S. cities.

With Aliza Kellerman

• Prism (2009): A young adult novel centered on identity, secrecy, and high school social pressures.

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Recommended Reading Order

For clarity and full character development:

1. Read all Decker/Lazarus novels in publication order.
2. Insert standalones anytime, they will not interrupt continuity.
3. Treat collaborations as entirely separate works.

There is no meaningful alternative chronological sequence; publication order already follows the characters’ lives step by step.

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Latest Release Status

• Most recent confirmed Decker/Lazarus novel: The Hunt (2022).
• No new installment has a firmly scheduled publication date at the time of writing this.

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FAQ

Can I read a later book first?
Yes for the mystery plot, but not for the personal arc. You will encounter established family dynamics without context.

Are alternate titles different books?
No. Some entries were retitled for different markets but contain the same story.

Is the series finished?
No formal conclusion has been announced.

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Final Recommendation

Start with The Ritual Bath and continue forward. The long-form character development is central to the experience, and publication order preserves both emotional progression and investigative evolution.