Title:	The Theory of Death
	Author:	Faye Kellerman
	Published:	2015, William Morrow
	No. of Pages:	384
	Cover Price:	$26.99 Hardcover, $9.99 Kindle

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Fans of Fay Kellerman’s series featuring Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus will welcome The Theory of Death, the 23rd installment. Peter, who retired from LAPD is now working in a small town in upstate New York for the Greensbury Police, and there isn’t much going on as far as crime in the town. However, the body of a student from the nearby college is found in the woods, and it looks like suicide. The student, Elijah Wolf, was a brilliant mathematician working on his doctorate. No one can see a reason for the suicide, since things seemed to be going well. While investigating, Decker, along with Tyler McAdams who has returned from Harvard to study for his finals, delves into the world of academia; there is much competition, and it is serious enough that someone has murdered a professor.

As is usual for Kellerman, this book is well written; she is an adept storyteller, and has the ability to create suspense throughout and make readers actually think. The ending, of course, is a surprise, and there are dozens of twists and turns throughout. Those readers who don’t have math-type brains will not understand everything, and the references to math theories that are above most laymen’s thinking tend to be a bit tedious. Some of this information is necessary, however, since it helps validate the academic competition at the college, and the pressure put on the students and professors.

All told, this is another fascinating thriller by an experienced and excellent author. Kellerman’s characters are old friends, and those who have read her previous novels in the series will consider this novel just another set of new events that have happened in their lives. The story is very believable, and will open reader’s eyes to the fact that corruption is everywhere, even in the unassuming area of academia; it brings attention to what goes on behind the scenes and the rivalry that occurs at the highest levels of academia.

While this isn’t Kellerman’s best book in the series, those who like the characters will definitely need to read it to keep up with the Deckers.

This book was purchased with personal funds and no promotion of the book was solicited by the author or publisher.

This book may be purchased at Amazon:
The Theory of Death: A Decker/Lazarus Novel (Decker/Lazarus Novels) Hardcover
The Theory of Death: A Decker/Lazarus Novel (Decker/Lazarus Novels) Kindle