The False Prophet by Faye Kellerman

This is an earlier book from Peter Decker series. Decker is still a sergeant and his wife is pregnant with their first baby, a welcome addition to their children from pervious relationships. There is a pretty horrific rape and robbery at the well-known high end spa. The victim is the owner, who is also the daughter of an old Hollywood diva. There is pressure to find the perpetrators fast and avoid any adverse publicity. There are too many people in the suspect list even when one only counts the males who would have a motive and access to the house and the codes to the safes. The items robbed were jewellery and memoirs of her father which were due to be opened and read soon. Who would want the memoirs? Why the rape, if this was a burglary? 

The family seems strange from the start. There is an adopted brother and of course the mother. They do not seem close. As the investigation proceeds they discover there are 2 more brothers, again not close, as one is estranged and another just keeps away from the family. The victim appears to be cooperative but is not entirely credible. She is trying very hard to latch on to Decker and rings his home in spite of being told to call the station if she needed to talk. When he changes his number she actually barges into his house. It all appears to be a demand for attention. Was the whole incident just a demand for attention? But then how did her horse spook and run wild putting her in real danger of being killed.

What is it that a brother and sister, employees in the spa, are trying to hide? How does the Hollywood diva fit into the picture as she does not appear very maternal and seems to be manipulating everyone around her? Then there is another murder and finding out the secrets in this family brings out more and more skeletons from the closet. Will they ever be able to untangle the various strands of the investigation which eventually covers 2 other teams as the crimes spread out to other areas? Will anyone ever be brought to justice for the rape and burglary as well as the later murders?

I enjoyed reading the book. The plot is well woven and the characters I feel are being introduced as this appears to be earlier in the series. The introduction of who these detectives are as people is well dovetailed into the story. It keeps you engaged right to the end as it is intriguing with twists in the plot.