| "The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights," by | | | | collaboration between Faye Kellerman and her son, |
| Faye Kellerman, is a collection of mostly crime fiction | | | | Jesse, for its tone, voice, style, and dark humor. |
| short stories, each having a brief introduction by the | | | | "Bonding" is one of my favorites because of its |
| author. Published by Warner Books, ISBN: | | | | ending and its hard-boiled edge. "Mr. Barton's Head |
| 978-0-446-53039-2, the book is likely to appeal to | | | | Case" entertained me with its cross genre appeal and |
| readers who enjoy mystery and suspense fiction. | | | | its well done blend of crime fiction and speculative |
| Known for her crime fiction novels featuring L. A. | | | | fiction. "Holy Water" is a favorite because I found it |
| homicide detective Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, | | | | unique and imaginative. |
| Decker's Orthodox Jewish wife, Kellerman includes | | | | My least favorites of the collection are "Free Parking," |
| two previously unpublished Decker/Lazarus short | | | | "The Luck of the Draw," "Small Miracles," and "The |
| stories within her collection. The sleuthing pair is as | | | | Summer of My Womanhood." The reason I liked |
| interesting and complex in "The Garden of Eden" and | | | | them less was because they were not crime fiction |
| "Open House" as they are in the novels. Kudos to | | | | stories. They were all well-written, but they appeared |
| Faye Kellerman for maintaining Decker and Lazarus's | | | | out of place to me in this particular collection. |
| characterizations in the short stories. The story | | | | However, the book's blurb did mention that the |
| "Bull's-Eye" is another short story that features the | | | | collection contained other writing that offered |
| Decker clan, only this time readers are also | | | | "readers glimpses into Kellerman's private life." Still, I |
| introduced to Cindy Decker as she and her father | | | | would have enjoyed the collection even more if the |
| work to solve a case. Again, Kellerman succeeds in | | | | book had only contained crime fiction short stories. |
| keeping Peter Decker true to his fictional self and to | | | | Overall, I do not regret having bought the book. I like |
| readers by maintaining his character of being a | | | | supporting good fiction, especially good short fiction |
| concerned, supportive father in "Bull's-Eye." | | | | as the short story can sometimes seem like it is |
| My other favorites among the stories that comprise | | | | becoming a vanishing literary art form. Despite my |
| the collection are "The Stalker," "Mummy and Jack," | | | | slight disappointment that the book did not contain a |
| "Bonding," "Mr. Barton's Head Case," and "Holy Water." | | | | few more crime fiction stories, I think the collection |
| While I actually enjoyed all of the crime fiction, these | | | | was worth reading, and recommend that readers, |
| stories stood out for several reasons. The twist at | | | | particularly those who enjoy short crime fiction, read |
| the end of "The Stalker" is one of the best that I | | | | "The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights. |
| have recently read. I enjoyed "Mummy and Jack," a | | | | |