Decker and Lazarus Books in Order

How to Read the Decker and Lazarus Series in Order

For readers looking to dive into Faye Kellerman's acclaimed detective series, the best path is simple: follow the publication order. Because the characters age, marry, raise children, and experience major life changes in real-time, reading the books chronologically as they were published is the only way to fully appreciate the rich character development that spans over three decades.

The series can be naturally divided into two distinct eras based on where Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus reside: the gritty streets of Los Angeles, and the quieter (but still deadly) fictional college town of Greenbury in upstate New York.

Phase 1: The Los Angeles LAPD Years (Books 1 to 21)

This initial, massive phase of the series is set in Southern California, where Peter Decker works as a detective (and eventually lieutenant) for the Los Angeles Police Department. Here, we witness the beginning of his romance with Rina, their marriage, their family life, and his partnership with detective Marge Dunn.

• The Ritual Bath (1986): The award-winning debut that introduces LAPD detective Peter Decker and yeshiva teacher Rina Lazarus during an investigation at a secluded Orthodox community.
• Sacred and Profane (1987): A camping trip with Rina's sons goes awry when Peter discovers human remains, testing his developing faith.
• Milk and Honey (1990): Peter becomes obsessed with finding the family of a blood-covered toddler, pulling Rina and his LAPD partner Marge Dunn into a dark crime web.
• Day of Atonement (1991): While visiting Rina's family in Brooklyn for the high holidays, a young boy disappears, dragging Peter into a localized, tense investigation.
• False Prophet (1992): Peter investigates a brutal assault at a health spa, uncovering toxic family dynamics.
• Grievous Sin (1993): Following the birth of their daughter, Rina's newborn and nurse disappear from the hospital.
• Sanctuary (1994): A double murder in LA leads Peter to trail a missing family all the way to Israel.
• Justice (1995): Peter investigates the murder of a popular high school student, dealing with wealthy, rebellious teenagers.
• Prayers for the Dead (1996): The murder of a prominent heart surgeon leads Peter into a complex web of family secrets and religious questions.
• Serpent's Tooth (1997): A mass shooting at a trendy restaurant leads Peter to a conspiracy involving a troubled heiress.
• Jupiter's Bones (1999): The death of a former prominent scientist turned cult leader forces Peter to investigate a secretive commune.
• Stalker (2000): Though part of the main series, this novel shifts focus to Peter's daughter, Cindy Decker, who has joined the LAPD and finds herself targeted by a dangerous stalker.
• The Forgotten (2001): Peter and Rina deal with a hate crime at a synagogue and a murder involving Rina's teenage son.
• Stone Kiss (2002): A family tragedy calls Peter and Rina to New York City to help Rina's rabbi uncle.
• Street Dreams (2003): The second book focusing on Cindy Decker as the primary protagonist, as she discovers an abandoned baby and gets dragged into a murder investigation.
• The Burnt House (2007): A commuter plane crash in Los Angeles conceals a sinister murder mystery that Peter must solve.
• The Mercedes Coffin (2008): (Published in the UK as Cold Case) A decades-old unsolved murder of a teacher mirrors a fresh homicide, bringing Peter back to a cold case.
• Blindman's Bluff (2009): Peter investigates the brutal massacre of a wealthy family in their high-security mansion.
• Hangman (2010): A home invasion and a bizarre hanging lead Peter to cross paths again with a sociopathic criminal from a past case.
• Gun Games (2011): (Published in the UK as Blood Games) Peter is caught between a high school suicide pact and taking in a brilliant, troubled teenager named Gabe Whitman.
• The Beast (2013): (Published in the UK as Predator) The murder of an eccentric billionaire and the escape of a predatory beast keep Peter and his team on high alert.

Phase 2: The Greenbury, Upstate New York Years (Books 22 to 27)

Following Peter's retirement from the LAPD, the couple relocates to the fictional college town of Greenbury, New York, to enjoy a slower pace of life. However, Peter is quickly hired as a detective by the local police force, partnering with a brilliant young Harvard law student, Tyler McAdams.

• Murder 101 (2014): Peter starts his new job in upstate New York, investigating the theft of valuable art pieces and the murder of a college student.
• The Theory of Death (2015): A complex case involving the apparent suicide of a math prodigy at the local university.
• Bone Box (2017): The discovery of human remains in a local park uncovers a serial killer operating over decades.
• Walking Shadows (2018): The murder of a man with a mysterious past pulls Peter and Tyler into a conspiracy stretching back to the city.
• The Lost Boys (2021): Peter searches for a missing foster child with developmental issues, leading to a grim discovery in the woods.
• The Hunt (2022): The final novel in the series brings Peter and Rina back to Los Angeles on a personal emergency that connects to a terrifying kidnapping case.

Chronological and Narrative Caveats

While the publication order is the definitive way to read the series, there are a few narrative details and format shifts to keep in mind:

• Cindy Decker Focus Novels: While Stalker (2000) and Street Dreams (2003) are technically numbered as books 12 and 15 in the main sequence, they focus heavily on Cindy Decker, Peter's daughter from his first marriage. These books serve as excellent police-procedural spin-offs that highlight the generational transition of police work in the Decker family.
• Short Story Collections: Faye Kellerman released The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights in 2006. This anthology is not a main series novel but contains several short stories featuring Peter and Rina (including "The Garden of Eden," "Open House," and "Bull's-Eye"). It is best read after Street Dreams to appreciate the character dynamics.
• Alternative Titles: Readers in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth regions should note that three of the novels were published under different names. The Mercedes Coffin is known as Cold Case, Gun Games is known as Blood Games, and The Beast is known as Predator.

What to Know Before You Start

Faye Kellerman's Decker and Lazarus series is highly regarded for its unique intersection of gritty, procedural police investigations and deep, respectful explorations of Orthodox Judaism. When the series begins in The Ritual Bath, Peter Decker is a Baptist-raised detective who knows little about Judaism. Throughout the series, Peter discovers his own Jewish heritage, undergoes a formal conversion, and adapts to the strict lifestyle of his devout wife, Rina Lazarus.

The books do not shy away from the day-to-day realities of Orthodox life. Readers will find characters observing Shabbat, keeping kosher, celebrating Jewish holidays, and visiting the mikvah (ritual bath). This cultural backdrop is not just set dressing; it directly informs how the characters solve crimes, make moral decisions, and grow as a family. While each book features a self-contained mystery that is resolved by the final page, the underlying family saga is continuous, making sequential reading highly recommended.

Clarifying Co-Authored Works

Faye Kellerman has co-authored two books with her husband, the fellow bestselling mystery novelist Jonathan Kellerman: Double Homicide (2004) and Capital Crimes (2006). It is important to note that these collections of novellas do not feature Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus as primary characters. While there are very minor cameo references in Capital Crimes, these stories are separate from the main Decker and Lazarus universe and do not need to be read as part of the series.