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Alex Delaware #8
Bad Love
It came in a plain brown wrapper, no return address - an audiocassette recording of a horrifying, soul-lacerating scream, followed by the sound of a childlike voice chanting, "Bad love. Bad love. Don't give me the bad love." For Alex Delaware, the tape is the first indication that he is about to enter a living nightmare. Others soon follow: disquieting laughter echoing over a phone line that suddenly goes dead, and a chilling act of trespass and vandalism.
Dr. Delaware has become the target of a carefully orchestrated campaign of vague threats and intimidation which rapidly build to a crescendo as harassment turns to terror, and mischief to madness.
With the help of his friend, LAPD detective Milo Sturgis, Alex uncovers a series of violent deaths that may follow a diabolical pattern. But if he fails to decipher the twisted logic of the stalker and his or her mind games, Alex will be the next to die.
Dr. Delaware has become the target of a carefully orchestrated campaign of vague threats and intimidation which rapidly build to a crescendo as harassment turns to terror, and mischief to madness.
With the help of his friend, LAPD detective Milo Sturgis, Alex uncovers a series of violent deaths that may follow a diabolical pattern. But if he fails to decipher the twisted logic of the stalker and his or her mind games, Alex will be the next to die.
386 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1994
1203 people are currently reading
3109 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Kellerman
160 books5,847 followersJonathan Kellerman was born in New York City in 1949 and grew up in Los Angeles. He helped work his way through UCLA as an editorial cartoonist, columnist, editor and freelance musician. As a senior, at the age of 22, he won a Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award for fiction.
Like his fictional protagonist, Alex Delaware, Jonathan received at Ph.D. in psychology at the age of 24, with a specialty in the treatment of children. He served internships in clinical psychology and pediatric psychology at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and was a post-doctoral HEW Fellow in Psychology and Human Development at CHLA.
IN 1975, Jonathan was asked by the hospital to conduct research into the psychological effects of extreme isolation (plastic bubble units) on children with cancer, and to coordinate care for these kids and their families. The success of that venture led to the establishment, in 1977 of the Psychosocial Program, Division of Oncology, the first comprehensive approach to the emotional aspects of pediatric cancer anywhere in the world. Jonathan was asked to be founding director and, along with his team, published extensively in the area of behavioral medicine. Decades later, the program, under the tutelage of one of Jonathan's former students, continues to break ground.
Jonathan's first published book was a medical text, PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CHILDHOOD CANCER, 1980. One year later, came a book for parents, HELPING THE FEARFUL CHILD.
In 1985, Jonathan's first novel, WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS, was published to enormous critical and commercial success and became a New York Times bestseller. BOUGH was also produced as a t.v. movie and won the Edgar Allan Poe and Anthony Boucher Awards for Best First Novel. Since then, Jonathan has published a best-selling crime novel every year, and occasionally, two a year. In addition, he has written and illustrated two books for children and a nonfiction volume on childhood violence, SAVAGE SPAWN (1999.) Though no longer active as a psychotherapist, he is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology at University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
Jonathan is married to bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman and they have four children.
Like his fictional protagonist, Alex Delaware, Jonathan received at Ph.D. in psychology at the age of 24, with a specialty in the treatment of children. He served internships in clinical psychology and pediatric psychology at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and was a post-doctoral HEW Fellow in Psychology and Human Development at CHLA.
IN 1975, Jonathan was asked by the hospital to conduct research into the psychological effects of extreme isolation (plastic bubble units) on children with cancer, and to coordinate care for these kids and their families. The success of that venture led to the establishment, in 1977 of the Psychosocial Program, Division of Oncology, the first comprehensive approach to the emotional aspects of pediatric cancer anywhere in the world. Jonathan was asked to be founding director and, along with his team, published extensively in the area of behavioral medicine. Decades later, the program, under the tutelage of one of Jonathan's former students, continues to break ground.
Jonathan's first published book was a medical text, PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CHILDHOOD CANCER, 1980. One year later, came a book for parents, HELPING THE FEARFUL CHILD.
In 1985, Jonathan's first novel, WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS, was published to enormous critical and commercial success and became a New York Times bestseller. BOUGH was also produced as a t.v. movie and won the Edgar Allan Poe and Anthony Boucher Awards for Best First Novel. Since then, Jonathan has published a best-selling crime novel every year, and occasionally, two a year. In addition, he has written and illustrated two books for children and a nonfiction volume on childhood violence, SAVAGE SPAWN (1999.) Though no longer active as a psychotherapist, he is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology at University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
Jonathan is married to bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman and they have four children.
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December 30, 2019This book is still set in the 90s and there are still no mobile phones, but beepers, and no internet, but professional directories. And lots of indoor smoking.
Another book where terrible psychologists mess up kids in a way that makes them come back years later and take revenge. If I were a detective and my friend the psychiatrist kept stumbling over bodies like this one does, I'd start to wonder. That's a trope I don't like about lots of thrillers where civilians investigate. I prefer the later books where this doesn't happen.
I've read enough of the books of the series in one go, that I started to wonder how I'd be described if the hero met with me: would it be dumpy, frumpy or heavy but pleasant looking? I usually gloss over these descriptions but after a few of the books in a row they start to grate on my nerves.
Another book where terrible psychologists mess up kids in a way that makes them come back years later and take revenge. If I were a detective and my friend the psychiatrist kept stumbling over bodies like this one does, I'd start to wonder. That's a trope I don't like about lots of thrillers where civilians investigate. I prefer the later books where this doesn't happen.
I've read enough of the books of the series in one go, that I started to wonder how I'd be described if the hero met with me: would it be dumpy, frumpy or heavy but pleasant looking? I usually gloss over these descriptions but after a few of the books in a row they start to grate on my nerves.
February 22, 2017
Another case of a multi-layered conspiracy for the powerful to take advantage of youth, in which Alex and Milo discover and bring to justice. Unfortunately, not before Alex and Robin's house is burnt down in retaliation. At least they find a dog that they adopt at their temporary home. So my question is- why does the doctor continue to see patients in his home? Because of his involvement in sensitive cases, often with fragile or temperamental people, I would think he should rent an office for he has plenty of money. But then the author couldn't wax poetic about the beauty of the doctor's home, his elaborate meals and his koi pond.
December 7, 2024
4 Stars. A good one with gripping suspense. Unlike other Kellermans, I had a general idea where this was heading. But that didn't hurt my read. We open with Dr. Delaware receiving an anonymous audio tape with a terrifying scream on it and a child-like voice proclaiming "Bad love." It seems to point back to a conference Alex attended years ago when he was an assistant professor at Western Pediatric. Relatively junior in 1979, he was coerced into being co-chair. It was held in honour of Dr. Andres de Bosch; the other co-chair was Andres' daughter Katerina. De Bosch had a school for children in difficulty and in need of 'correction' in Santa Barbara up the coast from L.A. He was known for his theory, 'Good love, bad love.' Tenuous but do you see the connection? Back to the present, the school still exists but the threads beyond that seem to melt away. Then some of the people from '79 are found dead. It's very tense. On the other side is the amusing fact that Alex and his significant-other Robin have accidently become responsible for a lovable French Bulldog. Name? The dog's not saying! He drools and snorts - Milo can't stand him but I loved him. (De2024)
November 30, 2021
The back cover blurb sounded good, but with a title like Bad Love I wondered if it would be as trashy as Silent Partner. Thankfully, it wasn't.
This was a much more linear, logical investigation compared to most other Delaware novels I've read. In this one, Alex receives an audio tape in the mail containing bloodcurdling screams and at the end, a child's voice calmly repeats, "Bad love. Bad love. Don't give me the bad love." Around the same time, a sequence of nurses, psychologists and teachers are all murdered with "bad love" somehow incorporated in each crime.
The most worrisome element was the dog. Alex finds a runaway French Bulldog and takes care of it while searching for its owner, and I just kept hoping Jonathan Kellerman would keep it safe.
One of the good-to-follow-along-with Alex Delaware novels.
This was a much more linear, logical investigation compared to most other Delaware novels I've read. In this one, Alex receives an audio tape in the mail containing bloodcurdling screams and at the end, a child's voice calmly repeats, "Bad love. Bad love. Don't give me the bad love." Around the same time, a sequence of nurses, psychologists and teachers are all murdered with "bad love" somehow incorporated in each crime.
The most worrisome element was the dog. Alex finds a runaway French Bulldog and takes care of it while searching for its owner, and I just kept hoping Jonathan Kellerman would keep it safe.
One of the good-to-follow-along-with Alex Delaware novels.
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March 15, 2025DNF - started strong, middle sooo boring
April 27, 2020
Alex Delaware & Milo Sturges book No. 8: In Bad Love, an incident involving an anonymous cassette tape with the sound of a screaming child and chants of "bad love" sets Delaware off on an often convoluted, but intriguing investigation which really began when he first heard the phrase at a psyche seminar. This book introduces his pet 'Spike' who turns up out of the blue at his home. As the case progresses Alex realises that not only is he under threat, but so is his home and partner. 5 out of 12.
July 21, 2017
This one escalates the in-your-face suspense and bloodshed. There is more wanton death and destruction in this book and in any previous installment. Delaware and Sturgis are quickly becoming my newest favorite crime solving duo. Also, this is the first book where I really cared for Robin's character. Time to pick "Self-Defense".
May 11, 2021
I NEITHER HIDE, NOR FEED, MY REVIEWS. THEY MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
This is my second Kellerman novel. I' m really liking his work!
I love the device of seeing criminal investigation through the eyes of a child psychologist, Alex Delaware. All the criminal forensics are there, but the crimes at times are secondary to Delaware's puzzling through the relationships and motivations from which the crimes arise.
It's nice that Delaware is well-adjusted -- handsome and educated, but with a reasonable ego as he's aware of his frailties and limitations.
In the sense that Alex has a lot of feminine "yang," his good friend, police detective Milo Sturgis provides some "yin." However, Alex is plenty yin, too, evidenced by his awesome, supportive girlfriend, Robin, who would never go for a jerk. Delaware is now in private practice, but does a certain amount of consulting with the justice system, evaluating child custody situations, etc., which is his nexus to crime.
In this book, "bad love" has two meanings. At the first level, it refers to a certain celebrity child counselor's view that bad parenting is "bad love." Turns out the celebrity (deceased now for eight or so years) had a hidden meaning for the phrase, too.
In the celebrity's private "corrective" residential school for disturbed children back in the '60s or '70s, he mistreated his charges, some of whom were not even disturbed per se, but dealing problems such as bed-wetting, dyslexia, absentee parents or domineering parents. The counselor gave secretive one-on-one sessions in which he emotionally abused the kids.
To the public, this counselor, Dr. de Bosch (called "Dr. Botch" by one of his alumni) is a paragon of virtue, giving lectures and writing magazine columns on how to rear children, never disclosing his closeted abuse. To his alumni, he embodies evil.
No wonder that when his "graduates" reach adulthood, some are very damaged -- one to the point that he undertakes to kill all the school's former faculty and key supporters. The sicko considers Delaware -- who never worked for de Bosch, and in fact thinks his theories are superficial and heavily borrowed -- to be part of the de Bosch travesty simply because Delaware, early in his career, was forced by a hospital supervisor to organize a psych conference that pretty much deified De Bosch.
Th words "bad love" are also a clue that the perp leaves at some of the murder scenes. Alex is the one to figure out what the phrase refers to. He identifies the pattern in several seemingly unrelated deaths leading to the hurting, disgruntled former student of DeBosch's school of terror.
Of course Alex does have an incentive to figure it all out -- he starts receiving cryptic threats (in writing and in the form of serious property damage), from which he concludes he's on the killer's hit list.
There's a subordinate plot that offers relief from the grimness of the de Bosch saga -- Alex finds a stray French bulldog, to which he and Robin become attached as they search for its owner. When the owner finally shows up (the middle-aged daughter of the actual owner, who recently died of natural causes), she sees the dog is well cared for, and invites Alex plus Robin to keep "Spike." (The daughter's hubby is allergic to dogs).
They enthusiastically accept.
Book is way more complex than I've described. Many wonderful, clever touches and insights.
One quibble -- and I felt this, too, with this first Delaware book I read, "Survival of the Fittest" -- I don't get why Delaware sees patients at his home address. When a professional is dealing with people who are innately unbalanced, or unhinged by life events, why would he-she want clients or their relatives to know where he lives?
It's a point, however, on which I'm willing to suspend my disbelief.
This is my second Kellerman novel. I' m really liking his work!
I love the device of seeing criminal investigation through the eyes of a child psychologist, Alex Delaware. All the criminal forensics are there, but the crimes at times are secondary to Delaware's puzzling through the relationships and motivations from which the crimes arise.
It's nice that Delaware is well-adjusted -- handsome and educated, but with a reasonable ego as he's aware of his frailties and limitations.
In the sense that Alex has a lot of feminine "yang," his good friend, police detective Milo Sturgis provides some "yin." However, Alex is plenty yin, too, evidenced by his awesome, supportive girlfriend, Robin, who would never go for a jerk. Delaware is now in private practice, but does a certain amount of consulting with the justice system, evaluating child custody situations, etc., which is his nexus to crime.
In this book, "bad love" has two meanings. At the first level, it refers to a certain celebrity child counselor's view that bad parenting is "bad love." Turns out the celebrity (deceased now for eight or so years) had a hidden meaning for the phrase, too.
In the celebrity's private "corrective" residential school for disturbed children back in the '60s or '70s, he mistreated his charges, some of whom were not even disturbed per se, but dealing problems such as bed-wetting, dyslexia, absentee parents or domineering parents. The counselor gave secretive one-on-one sessions in which he emotionally abused the kids.
To the public, this counselor, Dr. de Bosch (called "Dr. Botch" by one of his alumni) is a paragon of virtue, giving lectures and writing magazine columns on how to rear children, never disclosing his closeted abuse. To his alumni, he embodies evil.
No wonder that when his "graduates" reach adulthood, some are very damaged -- one to the point that he undertakes to kill all the school's former faculty and key supporters. The sicko considers Delaware -- who never worked for de Bosch, and in fact thinks his theories are superficial and heavily borrowed -- to be part of the de Bosch travesty simply because Delaware, early in his career, was forced by a hospital supervisor to organize a psych conference that pretty much deified De Bosch.
Th words "bad love" are also a clue that the perp leaves at some of the murder scenes. Alex is the one to figure out what the phrase refers to. He identifies the pattern in several seemingly unrelated deaths leading to the hurting, disgruntled former student of DeBosch's school of terror.
Of course Alex does have an incentive to figure it all out -- he starts receiving cryptic threats (in writing and in the form of serious property damage), from which he concludes he's on the killer's hit list.
There's a subordinate plot that offers relief from the grimness of the de Bosch saga -- Alex finds a stray French bulldog, to which he and Robin become attached as they search for its owner. When the owner finally shows up (the middle-aged daughter of the actual owner, who recently died of natural causes), she sees the dog is well cared for, and invites Alex plus Robin to keep "Spike." (The daughter's hubby is allergic to dogs).
They enthusiastically accept.
Book is way more complex than I've described. Many wonderful, clever touches and insights.
One quibble -- and I felt this, too, with this first Delaware book I read, "Survival of the Fittest" -- I don't get why Delaware sees patients at his home address. When a professional is dealing with people who are innately unbalanced, or unhinged by life events, why would he-she want clients or their relatives to know where he lives?
It's a point, however, on which I'm willing to suspend my disbelief.
May 6, 2019
Not my favorite of this series but very entertaining still the same. How does Alex a Dr for children always get tied up with psychological crazy adults? Maybe they were the children first.
May 6, 2025
Meh.
This started strong with a suitably creepy and cryptic set up. The author is clearly an animal lover. There's a great subplot about Alex taking in a stray dog and it might be the best writing Kellerman has ever done.
Other than that, the story petered out pretty quickly. This was 300 pages longer than it needed to be. For all the jet setting Alex did, precious little happened. Every potential lead was a dead end. I skimmed the back half hoping for an interesting conclusion but it was all very forgettable.
Except for the dog. The dog was great.
This started strong with a suitably creepy and cryptic set up. The author is clearly an animal lover. There's a great subplot about Alex taking in a stray dog and it might be the best writing Kellerman has ever done.
Other than that, the story petered out pretty quickly. This was 300 pages longer than it needed to be. For all the jet setting Alex did, precious little happened. Every potential lead was a dead end. I skimmed the back half hoping for an interesting conclusion but it was all very forgettable.
Except for the dog. The dog was great.
December 4, 2025
Years ago I read the 1st and 2nd book in this series. I came across this book at a library book sale. Was just as good as the beginning of the series. I’ll be reading more of this series. I just love Milo.
March 16, 2020
I've read so many Delaware books indeed, but never in order so I never really knew how his first house burnt down - Now I know. It's in this Bad Love book that many things find their origin, like Alex and Robin's little French bulldog coming into their life. I like this Spike, because later he gets more hostile towards Alex and protective of Robin. This dog, here in Bad Love, this little foundling, is loving and protective towards both Alex and Robin.
Anyway, Bad Love, is again all about Alex's job as psychologist and not police consultant - Here we find people who've gone into therapy or "reform" school with the worst of the worst and come back to get revenge indiscriminately, and Alex is just another casualty.
First, I thought this book quite boring, but then, it started to pick up in intensity. In any case, I was happy to finish the book; in order to get a full picture of Alex's bio.
Anyway, Bad Love, is again all about Alex's job as psychologist and not police consultant - Here we find people who've gone into therapy or "reform" school with the worst of the worst and come back to get revenge indiscriminately, and Alex is just another casualty.
First, I thought this book quite boring, but then, it started to pick up in intensity. In any case, I was happy to finish the book; in order to get a full picture of Alex's bio.
March 3, 2015
My feelings are mixed about this one. I liked the introduction and characterization of the French bull dog, Spike. Kellerman is either a true dog person, or his research was thorough. Spike’s actions at the end were implausible, probably physically impossible, but the reader doesn’t mind. It would be nice if a dog of that size and build could have done what he did, so suspension of disbelief is set aside in favor of willing the dog success.
I liked the descriptions of the tape. They lend tension and an overall eerie tone to the entire piece. Very frightening.
I liked the occasional humor. In fact, I think that, of all the books in this series, this one has the most appealing dialogue between good friends Detective Sturgis and Dr. Delaware. When Sturgis is fingerprinting Delaware and asks him a question, Delaware responds with “I’m not saying a word without my lawyer, pig.” When Spike comes between Delaware and his on-and-off-again squeeze, Robin, Milo comments, “Oedipus Rover.”
I didn’t like the uptight character given Dr. Delaware in this one. His sanctimony in previous books was a turn off but acceptable in a character brimming with confidence and chutzpah. Turning him into a whiny, jump-at-shadows wimp may have been an attempt to humanize the protagonist. If so, it backfired, merely making him contemptible and, on occasion, annoying.
I didn’t like the use of two disparate storylines for the purpose of misdirects, shades of Blood Test. Parallel storylines work in Kellerman’s books only when the two plots are interrelated. When they don’t have anything to do with each other, the minor plot feels obstructionistic, more like one is being used to pad the work. It gets in the way of the real story and is wasted reading.
More wasted reading was the detail invested on the homeless camp. This is my second time reading this book, and I skipped dozens of pages addressing the plight of the homeless in the Los Angeles area. I got the sense I had stepped out of a novel and into an advocate’s cause célèbre. Admittedly, homelessness is an issue worth tackling, but it didn’t advance the story, not one iota, and should have been filed for a future novel emphasizing homelessness.
Kellerman had to work hard to weave all his loose threads together in this one, and I didn’t find the ending convincing. I think sometimes he falls in love with characterization and setting and, at the eleventh hour, has to force himself to consider plot. If I re-read this one again, it will be selectively, revisiting only the parts I liked.
I liked the descriptions of the tape. They lend tension and an overall eerie tone to the entire piece. Very frightening.
I liked the occasional humor. In fact, I think that, of all the books in this series, this one has the most appealing dialogue between good friends Detective Sturgis and Dr. Delaware. When Sturgis is fingerprinting Delaware and asks him a question, Delaware responds with “I’m not saying a word without my lawyer, pig.” When Spike comes between Delaware and his on-and-off-again squeeze, Robin, Milo comments, “Oedipus Rover.”
I didn’t like the uptight character given Dr. Delaware in this one. His sanctimony in previous books was a turn off but acceptable in a character brimming with confidence and chutzpah. Turning him into a whiny, jump-at-shadows wimp may have been an attempt to humanize the protagonist. If so, it backfired, merely making him contemptible and, on occasion, annoying.
I didn’t like the use of two disparate storylines for the purpose of misdirects, shades of Blood Test. Parallel storylines work in Kellerman’s books only when the two plots are interrelated. When they don’t have anything to do with each other, the minor plot feels obstructionistic, more like one is being used to pad the work. It gets in the way of the real story and is wasted reading.
More wasted reading was the detail invested on the homeless camp. This is my second time reading this book, and I skipped dozens of pages addressing the plight of the homeless in the Los Angeles area. I got the sense I had stepped out of a novel and into an advocate’s cause célèbre. Admittedly, homelessness is an issue worth tackling, but it didn’t advance the story, not one iota, and should have been filed for a future novel emphasizing homelessness.
Kellerman had to work hard to weave all his loose threads together in this one, and I didn’t find the ending convincing. I think sometimes he falls in love with characterization and setting and, at the eleventh hour, has to force himself to consider plot. If I re-read this one again, it will be selectively, revisiting only the parts I liked.
October 15, 2012
This book was totally awesome! I'd have given it five stars except for one plot device that ultimately was all wrong - the tape of screaming that Delaware is sent at the beginning of the book. As the plot knits together chapter by chapter - did I mention how awesome this story is? - I realized by the very exciting, adrenalin drenched, action ending that this beginning is the single wrong note for how this murderer would have begun his contact with the good doctor. However, I think most readers won't care or notice. For me, this is the best of the series, so far (I'm reading the series in order.)
I love Jonathan Kellerman. In each book he never shies away from speaking truth, even if the plot or writing sometimes does not quite live up to his ideals. It's usually good enough, but I'm happy to recommend this one as almost perfect. Tolerating child abuse is like spitting into the wind. All of society pays for not doing more about helping people with mental illness or having an ignorance-based education.
I want a French Bulldog!
I love Jonathan Kellerman. In each book he never shies away from speaking truth, even if the plot or writing sometimes does not quite live up to his ideals. It's usually good enough, but I'm happy to recommend this one as almost perfect. Tolerating child abuse is like spitting into the wind. All of society pays for not doing more about helping people with mental illness or having an ignorance-based education.
I want a French Bulldog!
July 15, 2020
2...What is happening??? This one started off ridiculously slow, and by the time the case was revving up, I just wanted it to be over! I'm going to try the next one in hopes this series picks up, but I may have to throw in the towel...which is a damn shame because I enjoy the characters!
August 3, 2024
Bad Love by Jonathan Kellerman is the 8th book in the Alex Delaware series. Child psychologist, Alex Delaware, receives a cassette tape recording of a terrifying scream followed by chanting referring to Bad love, which is shortly followed by further taunts and attacks making him realise he is in danger. A terrifying suspenseful thriller delving into the field of child psychology and how it can be abused leading to devastating consequences. A very twisty and multi layered mystery. This is the book where we meet Spike and learn how he becomes part of the household.
July 15, 2022
Dit boek speelt zich af in de jaren 90 toen er nog geen mobiele telefoons en dergelijke waren. De hoofdpersonen zijn echter leuk en het boek leest vlot. Ik heb het boek mee op vakantie genomen en daarvoor is het zeker geschikt.
July 21, 2018
This is one of the better ones of these I've read in a while. And the events of this one affect the plots of many of the books that come after it.
January 24, 2021
Typical Kellerman book, nothing overly fascinating or special about it, just getting it off my shelf!
August 5, 2021
3.5 stars
April 12, 2022
2.95 stars?? Probably deserves higher but it was disturbing so 🤷🏻♀️
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February 1, 2013In this one, Alex Delaware receives a tape in the mail with a horrific scream on it, and then a child’s robotic voice repeating: “bad love, bad love, don’t give me that bad love.” Alex is horrified by the tape which comes in a plain envelope with no identifying names, addresses or even fingerprints, but he then remembers that back in 1979 he was involved in a conference which he co-chaired, unwillingly, including in its title, the words “bad love”. It involved the theories of a particular psychologist about children receiving “bad love” and growing up to be criminals. He ferrets out an old program and starts trying to track down the other psychoogists on the program and finds that he either can’t find them, or, in at least one case he initially finds, the man is dead. Additionally, people who are staff in a particular “corrective school” for children are being murdered horribly. As Alex investigates, he becomes aware that he is one of the only remaining panel members from the “Bad Love” conference left alive. He and Robin are definitely put in harm’s way and Milo Sturgis has to protect him and help figure out what is going on. It was okay but not one of his best.
July 26, 2013
Alex Delaware/Milo Sturgis series.) Psychologist Alex Delaware receives an envelope, with no return address, containing an audiocassette recording of a blood-curdling scream followed by a child's voice flatly saying: Bad love, Bad love. Don't give me the bad love. In his efforts to discover who sent the tape and what these words mean, Delaware soon suspects he is being stalked by a psychopath and, with the help of his friend LAPD detective Milo Sturgis, works to discover who it is and why. As Delaware investigates, he discovers that this person has been killing psychotherapists and now is stalking him. He finds himself in a dangerous race to discover the truth and save his own life. The path to the truth has many unexpected twists and turns with a deadly ending.
For those reading through the Delaware/Sturgis series: This book introduces Alex and Robin's new dog - a french bulldog. Additionally, Delaware's home is burned to the ground by an arsonist - which is referenced in later books. And, to my amazement, this may be the only Kellerman book I've read in which Delaware girlfriend, Robin, is the
For those reading through the Delaware/Sturgis series: This book introduces Alex and Robin's new dog - a french bulldog. Additionally, Delaware's home is burned to the ground by an arsonist - which is referenced in later books. And, to my amazement, this may be the only Kellerman book I've read in which Delaware girlfriend, Robin, is the
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2012
I never really am a fan of mystery/thriller novels. But this book, Bad Love is an exception. Because if you add - even a bit - of psychology in it, then, I will love it! LOL. And I must say, that the psychological aspect here is surprisingly great. Though, don't get me wrong. Even those people who don't have a background in psychology will not be at lost. Some of the terms are layman's. And psychology isn't really the focus here, so... XD
Anyhow, this is a great read for the mind. Like all mystery novels, this will make you think of who the perpetrator is. I keep thinking and re-thinking of what has happened in the previous chapters to look for clues which can help me know who's the perpetrator. And I got it! Ha!(I'm so great!) I had fun reading it; and it's good exercise for one's deduction skills. I recommend this for all mystery/thriller lovers out there. :)
Anyhow, this is a great read for the mind. Like all mystery novels, this will make you think of who the perpetrator is. I keep thinking and re-thinking of what has happened in the previous chapters to look for clues which can help me know who's the perpetrator. And I got it! Ha!
March 9, 2013
If you love the earlier classic Alex Delaware novels, this one is another good mystery from Jonathan Kellerman. It started with a child's voice on a tape, mentioning about "bad love." That sends Alex on a journey all over California, searching for answers, while he works on another deposition for another case, when it gets heated up. We watch when Alex discovers the connection between the symposium and the murders that happened over the years. And then he realized his life is endangered as the last targets, when someone comes after him and Robin. We're on for a wild ride, when they connect the dots in a strange line of "suspicious deaths", which it wasn't as it appears. And it's even more stranger that it looks with a wicked twist at the end.
November 14, 2017
I love Alex Delaware novels... he's a fantastic character and having him show up in different novels helps to create a real three-dimensional feeling of who he is. This novel was a typical Johnathan Kellerman novel--suspenseful, great imagery, fast-reading, characters with believability. "Bad Love" had plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing as to who the "bad love" killer was. Finding out what "bad love" meant made me cringe. "Doctors" like De Bosch are never out to actually help anyone--only fatten their wallets. De Bosch had a certain "cult-y" feel about him; very nice and charming in public, very real and unkind in private. I was very surprised when the identity of the "Bad Love" killer; I wasn't even in the area of being correct in guessing who it was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2011
This was the reason I hang around our college library during free time.
Since hardcover books can't be brought home, I remember always hiding
this book in an open-shelves area that's not frequently visited by students,
so no one gets hold of it while I'm still reading ^_^
One of the best psychological suspense books I've read with intricately woven plots.
I feel some bad love for licorice sticks.
Since hardcover books can't be brought home, I remember always hiding
this book in an open-shelves area that's not frequently visited by students,
so no one gets hold of it while I'm still reading ^_^
One of the best psychological suspense books I've read with intricately woven plots.
I feel some bad love for licorice sticks.
March 5, 2012
This one will keep you on edge. A madman has Alex in his sights, forcing Alex and Robin to move from their home. As Alex and Milo get closer to the killer they discover a series of murders that span years. This killer has been patient in his revenge, but he's excalating and now Alex fears for Robin's safety and his own life. Great read! Loveable Spike enters Alex and Robin's life, and this is the book where their home is burnt to the ground.
January 7, 2012
A very competently written book in the series. Kellerman can usually be counted on to produce a good, readable mystery and this is no exception. Good plotline with a convoluted backstory that held my interest. Also, as a dog owner, I particularly like this one as the French Bulldog who becomes a member of the Alex Delaware story is introduced in this book.
February 27, 2012
I just love all his books & the growth of the characters. Alex & Milo never get boring & they grow. I wish they would make a movie so the picturenI have in my head of how they look compared to say how the author or whomever sees them. This was so eery because of that tape... suspenseful, never boring.
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