The Golem of Hollywood

July 21, 2014
Both Kellermans, father (Killer) and son (Potboiler), have written better books than this muddled supernatural thriller, which may disappoint their fans as well as readers fond of paranormal mysteries. In the spring of 2011, a “hard-domed insect” attacks a serial killer in Prague as he stalks a victim. A year later, Det. Jacob Lev, a wise ass who has been relegated to analyzing data in an LAPD traffic unit, catches a break when he’s assigned to a bizarre murder case. At a house high in the Hollywood Hills, a severed head has been found on the living room floor; a burn mark on a kitchen counter spells out the Hebrew word for justice. In the course of the ensuing murder investigation, Lev repeatedly encounters a strange beetle. Eventually, his search for the truth takes him to Prague. Those looking for profound religious insights will have to seek elsewhere.

Here's a winning blend of narrator and material. John Rubenstein is a perfect choice to portray Jacob Lev, a rabbinical school dropout turned alcoholic police detective. Lev, an expert at burning bridges, gets recruited for a special unit that is investigating a severed head found at a crime scene, which ties into a longtime serial killer. With his deliberate pacing, Rubenstein captures the dogged yet confused Lev, and, in equally adept performances, brings alive those around him, including his father (a rabbi) and the many people he meets during his investigation. Rubenstein and the authors create an exciting journey, not just across the globe, but through time as well. D.E.M. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine