Order of Faye Kellerman Books

Born on July 31, 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri, Faye Kellerman was never the type to be boxed into one identity. Growing up, she wasn’t the dreamy girl penning secret poems in the margins of her schoolbooks. No, Faye was the one conquering the iron walls of logic and numbers, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from UCLA. But the story doesn’t stop there—and neither did she. Armed with an insatiable curiosity, Kellerman went on to achieve her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of California, Los Angeles, a profession rooted in precision, detail, and discipline. Sounds like the makings of a dentist for life, right?

Think again.

In a twist worthy of her own novels, Faye Kellerman never practiced dentistry a single day. Somewhere between the cold gleam of dental instruments and the endless calculus of molars, she realized her true calling wasn’t in fixing smiles—it was in crafting crimes, unraveling human darkness, and turning cold cases into white-hot fiction.

And so, the woman who could've become your local orthodontist instead became the creator of the brilliant, emotionally complex Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus mystery series—a literary journey that would span decades and captivate millions. In fact, her 1986 debut, The Ritual Bath, didn’t just introduce readers to Orthodox Judaism-infused mysteries; it kickstarted a phenomenon. Her work cleverly blends religious introspection with the gritty realities of homicide investigations, making her novels more than just whodunits—they are psychological dissections dressed as crime thrillers.

Married to fellow bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman, and mother to novelist Jesse Kellerman, Faye is part of a literary dynasty where storytelling runs thicker than blood. In a household filled with plots, subplots, and a fierce love for characters who refuse to stay quiet, she carved out her own niche—a unique voice that explores faith, family, and the often messy collision between moral obligation and human desire.

As of today, Faye Kellerman is very much alive, vibrant, and still writing, leaving a trail of unforgettable stories—and fans eager for the next chilling revelation. If you think her career arc is impressive, just wait until you step into her labyrinth of crimes, where even the most innocent-looking situations can spiral into a descent of breathtaking twists.

Epic? Absolutely. Unexpected? Completely. Ironic? You bet.
The mathematician who could have calculated cavities chose instead to expose the cavities in the human soul.

And if you think you’ve solved all her mysteries, think again—Faye Kellerman is just getting started.