The Ritual Bath (The Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus Series - Book 01 - 1986)

Detective Peter Decker of the LAPD is stunned when he gets the report. Someone has shattered the sanctuary of a remote yeshiva community in the California hills with an unimaginable crime. One of the women was brutally raped as she returned from the mikvah, the bathhouse where the cleansing ritual is performed. The crime was called in by Rina Lazarus, and Decker is relieved to discover that she is a calm and intelligent witness. She is also the only one in the sheltered community willing to speak of this unspeakable violation. As Rina tries to steer Decker through the maze of religious laws the two grow closer. But before they get to the bottom of this horrendous crime, revelations come to light that are so shocking that they threaten to come between the hard-nosed cop and the deeply religious woman with whom he has become irrevocably linked.

detective Peter Decker Of The Lapd Is Stunned When He Gets The Report. Someone Has Shattered The Sanctuary Of A Remote Yeshiva Community In The California Hills With An Unimaginable Crime. One Of The Women Was Brutally Raped As She Returned From The Mikvah, The Bathhouse Where The Cleansing Ritual Is Performed.

the Crime Was Called In By Rina Lazarus, And Decker Is Relieved To Discover That She Is A Calm And Intelligent Witness. She Is Also The Only One In The Sheltered Community Willing To Speak Of This Unspeakable Violation. As Rina Tries To Steer Decker Through The Maze Of Religious Laws The Two Grow Closer. But Before They Get To The Bottom Of This Horrendous Crime, Revelations Come To Light That Are So Shocking That They Threaten To Come Between The Hard-nosed Cop And The Deeply Religious Woman With Whom He Has Become Irrevocably Linked.

beverly Hills Today

just What Cupid Ordered!

Detective Peter Decker investigates a rape at the yeshiva in the hills of his Los Angeles police district. He is both helped and hindered in the case by Rina Lazarus, a young widow who found the victim, as she tries to explain the religious practices that prevent the detectives from following the necessary investigative procedures A report of rape in a Los Angeles yeshiva brings police detective Peter Decker into an insular Orthodox Jewish community, but the strict religious practices and customs of the community prevent him from following his standard investigative procedures Title from PDF title page (viewed on Dec. 5, 2007).