What do you think?
Rate this book
The incomparable team of Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis embark on their most dangerous excursion yet. Dylan Meserve and Michaela Brand, young lovers and fellow acting students, vanish on the way home from a rehearsal. Three days later, the two of them are found in the remote mountains of Malibubattered and terrified after a harrowing ordeal at the hands of a sadistic abductor. But before long, doubts arise about the couples story, and as forensic details unfold, the abduction is exposed as a hoax. The case is closedonly to be violently reopened when Michaela is savagely murdered. Casting their dragnet into the murkiest corners of L.A., Delaware and Sturgis unearth more questions than answersincluding a host of eerily identical killings. What really happened to the couple who cried wolf? And what bizarre and brutal epidemic is infecting the city with terror, madness, and sudden, twisted death?
12 pages, Audiobook
First published March 28, 2006
752 people are currently reading
3685 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Kellerman
203 books5,822 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 553 reviews
August 21, 2020
I had planned to read this series in order but I was having trouble locating the oldest ones and this one just fell into my lap so I read it anyway. The world did not stop turning and nothing radical had changed in the characters since book one so all was well.
The story line was very involved with lots of murders and missing people which may or may not be related. Alex and Milo end up running all over the place, interviewing every possible link, until eventually sheer perseverance scores them a result. I did wonder why they kept overlooking the most obvious culprit but then there were so many possibilities and they got there in the end.
This was an entertaining and enjoyable read if a bit too wordy at times. Kellerman loves to explain everything in detail as though he does not trust his reader to draw the correct conclusions. A small price to pay though for reading a good book.
The story line was very involved with lots of murders and missing people which may or may not be related. Alex and Milo end up running all over the place, interviewing every possible link, until eventually sheer perseverance scores them a result. I did wonder why they kept overlooking the most obvious culprit but then there were so many possibilities and they got there in the end.
This was an entertaining and enjoyable read if a bit too wordy at times. Kellerman loves to explain everything in detail as though he does not trust his reader to draw the correct conclusions. A small price to pay though for reading a good book.
November 30, 2025
This is book 20 in the Alex Delaware series and I am slowly reading them as I come across them. Alex and Milo are investigating a missing acting student who turns up dead. It quickly becomes clear to the two of them that this isn’t the first victim of this killer. I liked the steady investigation and found it to be a bit better paced than some of the ones in this series. It was mostly predictable, but there were a couple of gruesomely fun surprises. This is a quick read and a perfect beach read.
November 10, 2011
I struck it lucky here. Kellerman's strength is his dialogue and the books I like best are those ones with strong dialogue. A near perfect match I would say.
It has been many years since I was right into this Alex Delaware series and that brought me to GONE with fresh eyes. Maybe this helped to appreciate the book more.
It did nothing wrong by my tastes. Good plot, great pair of main characters who work well off each other, Delaware and Sturgis, humorous, very humorous, not too much rambling or focusing on anything external to the crime solving. Yet it probably missed a little bit of heartbeat. And this makes my 5 star loosely given. I would prefer to have given 4.5 stars.
It has been many years since I was right into this Alex Delaware series and that brought me to GONE with fresh eyes. Maybe this helped to appreciate the book more.
It did nothing wrong by my tastes. Good plot, great pair of main characters who work well off each other, Delaware and Sturgis, humorous, very humorous, not too much rambling or focusing on anything external to the crime solving. Yet it probably missed a little bit of heartbeat. And this makes my 5 star loosely given. I would prefer to have given 4.5 stars.
August 17, 2010
A pair of young, would-be movie stars, Michaela and Dylan, stage a publicity stunt, hoping to garner attention and film offers. Both attend the drama school run by a wealthy, eccentric older woman who never made it as an actor herself. Psychologist Alex Delaware is hired to evaluate Michaela in preparation for her trial for wasting police resources. When, weeks later, Michaela is murdered, Alex assists the cops with the investigation. The school, it seems, is a very dangerous place to enroll.
As a thriller, Gone simply never takes off. The investigation is a plodding, rather dull one, and the upshot of the case is less than surprising. Alex's clinical skills are way underutilized. This novel's OK, but if you're looking for better, better look elsewhere.
As a thriller, Gone simply never takes off. The investigation is a plodding, rather dull one, and the upshot of the case is less than surprising. Alex's clinical skills are way underutilized. This novel's OK, but if you're looking for better, better look elsewhere.
February 10, 2018
This novel opens with a young, naked girl running out of a forest in front of an old farmer's truck claiming she was kidnapped. When it turns out to be a hoax perpetrated by two wanna be actors/actresses, Alex is asked to evaluate Michaela to see if she is mentally stable. Shortly after meeting with her, he is told the case has been settled. Shortly after that, it all come to an ugly head when she is found murdered and left in a vacant lot. Milo is on the case and immediately calls Alex. The two fo them take on the case. Alex is a psychologist, but he is more like a detective the way he works with Milo to solve this case. One question leads to another and another. One suspect leads to another and another. Lots of suspects, more victims, missing persons, questionable property owners and a helpful neighbour all populate this story. Once again Milo plays the big yet unassuming detective that people talk to and Alex plays his role as sidekick and shrink to the tee. This is not a novel full of action, it is a slow, dramatic story that relies a lot on dialogue between Alex, Milo and those they are interviewing. It was not the best Alex Delaware novel I have read, but it was still enjoyable.
May 24, 2015
Let the party begin! Break out the snow globes? Number 20 in the Delaware series begins with the usual red herrings, bizarre suspects and perhaps the return of Robin (exit Allison)!
Dr. Alex Delaware, psychologist sleuth, is once again partnering with Milo Sturgis, Los Angeles police detective, in solving a tricky icky case of serial murder, although, at first, nobody is certain that is what is happening.
Dylan Meserve and Michaela Brand seem to vanish from the world. Three days later, the would-be actors are discovered in the hills of Malibu, beaten and shaken, telling the police they had been kidnapped by a horrible monster who assaulted and starved them. But forensics does not support any of their story, and soon the duo are under orders to see a psychologist.
Enter Delaware. He soon discovers their kidnapping was a hoax. Dylan and Michaela were attending an actor’s training school, the Playhouse, whose director, Nora Dowd, had urged them to be creative in getting themselves noticed by the media, and thus by agents, directors and producers. They had no idea it might be illegal to falsely claim a kidnapping when none had occurred. Michaela, disgusted at the failure of their scheme, also declares she hates Dylan as well.
Ridiculously, Dylan and Michaela disappear again. Not so ridiculously, Michaela’s body is discovered, and Dylan seems to be really missing. Milo, almost as an afterthought, decides to access computer records about past disappearances of actors - and it turns out quite a few young, and reputedly stupid, aspiring beautiful people are listed as missing. Even more ominously, they all seem to have attended Nora Dowd’s school of acting.
They spot Nora on the porch of her house, which is also the Playhouse, carrying around and talking to a white object, which she briefly sets down as she walks away. On inspection, it is a dead dog, evidently professionally prepared by a taxidermist. Looking at its glass eyes, Delaware and Sturgis figure out where they should start their investigation…
Dr. Alex Delaware, psychologist sleuth, is once again partnering with Milo Sturgis, Los Angeles police detective, in solving a tricky icky case of serial murder, although, at first, nobody is certain that is what is happening.
Dylan Meserve and Michaela Brand seem to vanish from the world. Three days later, the would-be actors are discovered in the hills of Malibu, beaten and shaken, telling the police they had been kidnapped by a horrible monster who assaulted and starved them. But forensics does not support any of their story, and soon the duo are under orders to see a psychologist.
Enter Delaware. He soon discovers their kidnapping was a hoax. Dylan and Michaela were attending an actor’s training school, the Playhouse, whose director, Nora Dowd, had urged them to be creative in getting themselves noticed by the media, and thus by agents, directors and producers. They had no idea it might be illegal to falsely claim a kidnapping when none had occurred. Michaela, disgusted at the failure of their scheme, also declares she hates Dylan as well.
Ridiculously, Dylan and Michaela disappear again. Not so ridiculously, Michaela’s body is discovered, and Dylan seems to be really missing. Milo, almost as an afterthought, decides to access computer records about past disappearances of actors - and it turns out quite a few young, and reputedly stupid, aspiring beautiful people are listed as missing. Even more ominously, they all seem to have attended Nora Dowd’s school of acting.
They spot Nora on the porch of her house, which is also the Playhouse, carrying around and talking to a white object, which she briefly sets down as she walks away. On inspection, it is a dead dog, evidently professionally prepared by a taxidermist. Looking at its glass eyes, Delaware and Sturgis figure out where they should start their investigation…
November 18, 2007
Alex is asked by the courts to evaluate a young girl who helped plan an elaborate kidnapping hoax. When she turns up dead after her session with Alex, Alex and Milo investigate the case. Suddenly there are many aspiring actors turning up missing and the duo must find where they are disappearing to. In the meantime, Robin reappears in Alex's life. This caper was fun, but it followed the usual course of a Kellerman mystery - Alex and Milo theorizes for 80% of the book and then finally come to the right conclusion when they have enough clues. These two would never make it on "Name That Tune." They need far too many notes to figure out the song. I do love Milo, though, and his sarcasm is as funny as ever. I'm hoping this will be the last time we have to deal with Robin's inability to decide whether or not she wants to stay with Alex. I listened to this book on the unabridged audio book and John Rubenstein does an excellent job imo.
October 11, 2016
Well I almost finished it. I only had 80 pages to go and I gave up. I should have given up after the first 80 pages. This was a complete waste of my time. I didn't know who the murderer was and I DIDN'T CARE!! I've got to find some better books to read. Help me!
April 30, 2022
2.3 stars. I didn’t really care what happened
November 24, 2019
We’ve felt a little differently about these Dr. Alex Delaware mysteries after learning that his role as an amateur sidekick to LAPD Lt. Milo Sturgis is tolerable, since he either doesn’t bill or doesn’t get paid for his “services” except in the mostly early entries in the set featuring the doctor’s skills in child psychology. Alex and Milo have an interesting relationship – epitomized in “Gone” in which they practically run ragged trying to solve the cases of some missing theater actors, and then a couple of related murders. A rather complicated plot featuring a free acting school, its owners, and its students puzzles the pair virtually all book-long, before their dogged policing finally pays off.
A few detours concern Alex and his former live-in Robin – a tiresome component of many of the tales. Otherwise, Kellerman’s writing is always fine; and the mysteries per se are dependably entertaining and satisfying, if not necessarily particularly spectacular.
We’ve now read over half the 34 novels in the set – that number attesting to their popularity. At this point, we plan to resume reading them all.
A few detours concern Alex and his former live-in Robin – a tiresome component of many of the tales. Otherwise, Kellerman’s writing is always fine; and the mysteries per se are dependably entertaining and satisfying, if not necessarily particularly spectacular.
We’ve now read over half the 34 novels in the set – that number attesting to their popularity. At this point, we plan to resume reading them all.
August 20, 2011
This is another great Alex Delaware mystery by Jonathan Kellerman. When two drama students turn up missing, it's ends up a hoax. When they're later do turn up missing, it's up to Alex and the police to pick up the pieces of their lives, with eclectic cast of characters, including the Dowds. When other cold cases turn up with missing people, they wonder if it's connected to the same crime or not. Not only that, Alex's relationship with Robin gets closer, when winds up hurt by a disgruntled psychologist. In the end, they turn up a shocking discovery of where the missing went, and why. This would keep you really guessing to the end.
October 19, 2013
I haven't read Jonathan Kellerman in a few years, but read many of his books before that. I'm looking forward to becoming re-acquainted with an old friend.
UPDATE 10/19 ... Dr. Delaware and Milo doing their thing. Maybe not the strongest in the series, maybe a little too gruesome for my taste, maybe some contorted detecting ... but still a good read.
UPDATE 10/19 ... Dr. Delaware and Milo doing their thing. Maybe not the strongest in the series, maybe a little too gruesome for my taste, maybe some contorted detecting ... but still a good read.
November 30, 2020
3...This one read just like a Criminal Minds episode for me, and I loved that! But I have to say, Robin and Allison both bug me! Come and go, come and go! It really just bogs down the novel, for me!
February 11, 2022
I'm ashamed at how much I enjoyed this. It is not a well written book. Case in point: "The same golden dermis sheathed a drum-tight abdomen." And that's just in the first 20 pages. The main character is a psychologist playing detective. He's the kind of guy who only drinks black coffee and women are constantly throwing themselves at him, telling him how wet he makes them. AKA a total gary stu.
What, you ask, is there possibly to enjoy in this travesty of a novel? Honestly, the plot was a banger. I have read way too many thrillers lately where I know who did it and it's all about watching the detectives figure it out. Which is fine. Sometimes that's fun too. But what's more fun is having no idea who did it, why they did it or even how. I had some hunches, some right, some not, but mostly, I liked discovering things along with characters.
What, you ask, is there possibly to enjoy in this travesty of a novel? Honestly, the plot was a banger. I have read way too many thrillers lately where I know who did it and it's all about watching the detectives figure it out. Which is fine. Sometimes that's fun too. But what's more fun is having no idea who did it, why they did it or even how. I had some hunches, some right, some not, but mostly, I liked discovering things along with characters.
May 4, 2018
I’m surprised that I can’t remember any of this book now. At the time I read it, nine years ago, I wrote> Two young acting students vanish on the way home from acting class, and she is found naked on a road, claiming they were abducted. It turns out to be a hoax, but shortly afterward, the girl is murdered. Milo and Alex are on the case, and it’s a ghastly one. Rated it 8/10.
August 6, 2024
Gone but not forgotten
Whilst I have enjoyed every single book in this series, Gone definitely stands out as one of JK’s best works. Gives me enthusiasm for the next Alex Delaware adventure!
Whilst I have enjoyed every single book in this series, Gone definitely stands out as one of JK’s best works. Gives me enthusiasm for the next Alex Delaware adventure!
November 9, 2024
Very slow and boring. With so little suspects the conclusion is easy to guess. So the author just fills in pages with Alex’s personal life. He could have avoided that and brought out a fast paced story.
October 30, 2019
To be honest, the longer I read the Delaware books, the more I get hooked to these main characters: I enjoy the more bland and polished Dr. Delaware, and often adore the more colorful Milo Sturgis, Lieutenant in the LAPD, Hollywood division. These books for me are comforting because I know what I'm getting. The plots may be less interesting from book to book, like here in Gone. Still, the reading experience remains entertaining. For me that entertainment factor is also much thanks to narrator, John Rubinstein (for the audio versions), who can incarnate the multiple characters that Alex and Milo interview in order to gather the facts (witnesses, neighbors, family members, and so many more. These can be a young Jewish family, or an elderly African American tenant - each character comes across as very unique and compelling. Totally believable. Also, Rubinstein has the knack to bring humor with his characterizations - and I love that.
I'd give the narration always 4 to 5 stars. The story-line from "Gone" only gets a 2.5 to 3 stars.
I'd give the narration always 4 to 5 stars. The story-line from "Gone" only gets a 2.5 to 3 stars.
September 21, 2021
LOVED the ending!
February 27, 2022
The murder of a acting student turns into a house of horrors for Milo and Alex with a family that is beyond dysfunctional. Robin is back in Alex’s life along with a new pup.
December 12, 2025
I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would.
December 29, 2023
My favourite observation was 'The seatbelt cut diagonally across her breasts'
January 7, 2021
Good read as usual I like this author and series.
September 2, 2017
Alex Delaware and his pal Milo Sturgis find themselves involved in missing acting students. All the wanna be's come to Hollywood with visions of stardust. Two actors go missing, they have been taking acting lessons, first they did a hoax, that got their names into the papers, and then the young female student Michaela, turns up dead, but where is her friend Dylan? As Alex and Milo delve into the case they find the acting school has had other missing students over the years. They delve into the owners past and find a very unusual family with lots of quirks, who dun it and why? Milo and Alex, always a good team get to the bottom of the mystery.
March 6, 2017
The Delaware books are always intriguing because of the unique friendship between Alex and Milo. Kellerman draws his stories with intelligence, creating long bits of dialogue which aid in the narration of the story. And he allows his characters to be smart and stubborn and a little odd. Milo is always my favorite because I like his dogged determination and the fact that he isn't perfect. Sometimes Alex is a little too perfect for me. This installment is good -- the mystery keeps you guessing for most of the book. Robin is back and I am happy for it as I like her influence on Alex.
John Rubinstein is excellent. His voicing of Milo has so much grit and gravel and I love it. The differences between the ways he voices Milo and Alex are so distinct that there is never confusion. He deserves 5 stars without question.
John Rubinstein is excellent. His voicing of Milo has so much grit and gravel and I love it. The differences between the ways he voices Milo and Alex are so distinct that there is never confusion. He deserves 5 stars without question.
April 19, 2008
I would have to imagine that Kellerman's popularity is based on his ability to provide an airplane book, light reading for a distracting atmosphere with just enough grisly stuff to keep you from falling asleep.
Having chosen this as my first Kellerman, I couldn't get interested in whether Delaware's ex-wife moved back in with him or not, and a Dr. Hauser seemed to appear from nowhere to provide an action sequence. Was he in an earlier book?
Technically, Kellerman should get credit for the action sequences, which are good, and the characters who are distinctive even if the narrator on the audio book hams up their voices too much. For me the book slows when Delaware starts to discuss the various theories of the crime and the psychologies of the various characters. The denouement with another character who appeared from nowhere felt very artificial. Judging by Kellerman's sales, a few million other people have a different reaction.
I was amused by the reviewer here who had a reaction similar to mine and decided to give Kellerman another try. Could it be that Kellerman is selling millions of copies to people who are trying to figure out why he sells millions of copies?
Having chosen this as my first Kellerman, I couldn't get interested in whether Delaware's ex-wife moved back in with him or not, and a Dr. Hauser seemed to appear from nowhere to provide an action sequence. Was he in an earlier book?
Technically, Kellerman should get credit for the action sequences, which are good, and the characters who are distinctive even if the narrator on the audio book hams up their voices too much. For me the book slows when Delaware starts to discuss the various theories of the crime and the psychologies of the various characters. The denouement with another character who appeared from nowhere felt very artificial. Judging by Kellerman's sales, a few million other people have a different reaction.
I was amused by the reviewer here who had a reaction similar to mine and decided to give Kellerman another try. Could it be that Kellerman is selling millions of copies to people who are trying to figure out why he sells millions of copies?
June 8, 2007
Man, Kellerman caught the Dan Brown syndrome. That just pissed me off. 3 pages doesn't make a chapter. Do not presume that your readers have the attention span of a gerbil. By page 50, we were at chapter 8! 8! I persisted because I know Kellerman is good storyteller or used to be anyway. This one is better than the last one, Rage, but not by much and I didn't like the last one. I long for the older ones where the story had depth and Alex was more than this caricature of himself. I won't even go into what Milo is like now or that Robin is just, grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!! If you are a completist, like me, you'll feel the need to read anyway but don't buy it, get it from your library, much better for your wallet.
December 6, 2009
There are many books in Jonathan Kelleman’s series featuring Alex Delaware (psychologist) and Milo Sturgis (detective). I felt that “Gone” lacked the character development to keep the reader interested. I like forensic details and psychological motivations, but without connection with characters, the book begins to bore me.
Bottom line, this audio book is rather forgettable. It is a story about naive young people who go to Hollywood hoping to become stars, about a dysfunctional family who prey on these wannabes, and about Alex’s return to a former love (Robin).
Bottom line, this audio book is rather forgettable. It is a story about naive young people who go to Hollywood hoping to become stars, about a dysfunctional family who prey on these wannabes, and about Alex’s return to a former love (Robin).
October 9, 2011
This is the first book I've read by this author. I must admit that maybe I didn't give him a fair chance. The book just didn't suck me in right away, so whenever something more interesting came along, I read it first, then returned to "Gone." So I suppose that says something right there. The book did seem to improve in the last quarter, but maybe that's because I read it more or less straight through. If another of his books fell in my lap, I'd probably read it, or keep it in the car for "emergency" reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 553 reviews