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Alex Delaware #18
Ψυχοθεραπεία
Ο ψυχολόγος Αλεξ Ντέλαγουερ συνοδεύει για μια ακόμη φορά τον φίλο του, υπαστυνόμο Μάιλο Στέρτζις, στον τόπο ενός ειδεχθούς εγκλήματος.
Σε μια ερημική τοποθεσία στους λόφους του Λος Άντζελες, ένα νεαρό ζευγάρι βρίσκεται δολοφονημένο μέσα σ’ ένα αυτοκίνητο. Έχουν και οι δύο πυροβοληθεί στο κεφάλι, αλλά η γυναίκα έχει επιπλέον ένα αιχμηρό σίδερο καρφωμένο στο στήθος. Ένα τόσο κτηνώδες χτύπημα δεν μπορεί παρά να είναι έργο ενός ψυχοπαθούς δολοφόνου, γι’ αυτό και ο Μάιλο λέει στον Άλεξ «μάλλον μπαίνουμε στη δική σου περιοχή».
Και είναι μια πολύ σκοτεινή περιοχή... Η ταυτότητα της γυναίκας τούς είναι άγνωστη, αλλά ο σύντροφός της αναγνωρίζεται. Λέγεται Γκάβιν Κουίκ και το προβληματικό παρελθόν του τον είχε οδηγήσει στην ψυχοθεραπεία. Εκεί ακριβώς πιστεύει ο Άλεξ ότι θα βρει την άκρη του νήματος.
Όμως η ψυχολόγος του Κουίκ, η δόκτωρ Κόπελ, πασίγνωστη από τις εμφανίσεις της στην τηλεόραση, φυλάει πεισματικά τα μυστικά των ασθενών της –ακόμα και μετά το θάνατό τους…
Ένας επόμενος φόνος με μακάβριες ομοιότητες, πείθει τον Άλεξ ότι βρίσκεται στο σωστό δρόμο. Ωστόσο, καθώς ανασυνθέτει τις τελευταίες, βασανιστικές μέρες του Κουίκ, αυτό που ανακαλύπτει δεν είναι τρέλα αλλά ένα ψυχρά εκτελεσμένο σχέδιο. Και πίσω απ’ αυτό, ένα πυκνό δίκτυο απληστίας, διαφθοράς και προδοσίας, που χλευάζει την ίδια την πίστη του στο λειτούργημά του…
Σε μια ερημική τοποθεσία στους λόφους του Λος Άντζελες, ένα νεαρό ζευγάρι βρίσκεται δολοφονημένο μέσα σ’ ένα αυτοκίνητο. Έχουν και οι δύο πυροβοληθεί στο κεφάλι, αλλά η γυναίκα έχει επιπλέον ένα αιχμηρό σίδερο καρφωμένο στο στήθος. Ένα τόσο κτηνώδες χτύπημα δεν μπορεί παρά να είναι έργο ενός ψυχοπαθούς δολοφόνου, γι’ αυτό και ο Μάιλο λέει στον Άλεξ «μάλλον μπαίνουμε στη δική σου περιοχή».
Και είναι μια πολύ σκοτεινή περιοχή... Η ταυτότητα της γυναίκας τούς είναι άγνωστη, αλλά ο σύντροφός της αναγνωρίζεται. Λέγεται Γκάβιν Κουίκ και το προβληματικό παρελθόν του τον είχε οδηγήσει στην ψυχοθεραπεία. Εκεί ακριβώς πιστεύει ο Άλεξ ότι θα βρει την άκρη του νήματος.
Όμως η ψυχολόγος του Κουίκ, η δόκτωρ Κόπελ, πασίγνωστη από τις εμφανίσεις της στην τηλεόραση, φυλάει πεισματικά τα μυστικά των ασθενών της –ακόμα και μετά το θάνατό τους…
Ένας επόμενος φόνος με μακάβριες ομοιότητες, πείθει τον Άλεξ ότι βρίσκεται στο σωστό δρόμο. Ωστόσο, καθώς ανασυνθέτει τις τελευταίες, βασανιστικές μέρες του Κουίκ, αυτό που ανακαλύπτει δεν είναι τρέλα αλλά ένα ψυχρά εκτελεσμένο σχέδιο. Και πίσω απ’ αυτό, ένα πυκνό δίκτυο απληστίας, διαφθοράς και προδοσίας, που χλευάζει την ίδια την πίστη του στο λειτούργημά του…
496 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 20, 2004
696 people are currently reading
3300 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Kellerman
199 books5,797 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews
September 15, 2020
Uneven Delaware story -- almost too complex a plot...
Kellerman fans (the people that really know all his books), as opposed to the "professional" reviewers, will find this latest psychologist Alex Delaware novel, as usual featuring co-star gay detective Milo Sturgis, somewhat puzzling. If we didn't know Alex and Milo well, we might well find their characters enigmatic, with inconsistent action and a pursuit of the clues that borders on hobbyist. When a young couple is found murdered, with an unnecessary impalement of the female victim, Milo and Doc Delaware pick up the case almost on a whim since they were nearby. [Apparently Sturgis can partner with Alex almost at will -- how his presumably high bills get paid is conveniently never addressed...] While the male is quickly ID'd, it takes much of the book to discover who the female is, generating much of what true suspense there was. The rest of the plot gets embroiled with a loosely knit firm of three psychologists specializing in private patient therapy (hence the title) who, as the plot unfolds, seem to be involved in a highly shady billing scheme involving ex-cons as both patients and, well, patient pimps. Before it's over, one of the three gets offed, the murdered boy's father disappears, and the storyline twists and turns in the wind. The ending is unusually inconclusive, with our stars making some very interesting value judgments about which bad guys to pursue and which not, an outcome we perceived as ridiculously unrealistic.
Kellerman has always been a good story teller, but it seems his quality varies more widely as his quantity increases. Delaware's love life, frequently a tiresome thing with "ex" Robin, is a little more normal with new lover Allison, but their shop talk gets to be a bit much. A token cameo by Robin and her dog was just silly filler, and the scenes with Delaware playing "good cop / bad cop" with Sturgis went down poorly. We were more than tired of the multiple bad guys, and by the end barely cared who did what.
This strikes us as a book that needed to be edited better -- improve the professionalism of the principles; shorten the billing fraud thing which should be contained to the sub-plot that it is (we can figure out ourselves it provides motive); and humanize the dead boy's family by opening up the true facts sooner; and we might have something here. As it is, it's a lukewarm entry in the series.
Kellerman fans (the people that really know all his books), as opposed to the "professional" reviewers, will find this latest psychologist Alex Delaware novel, as usual featuring co-star gay detective Milo Sturgis, somewhat puzzling. If we didn't know Alex and Milo well, we might well find their characters enigmatic, with inconsistent action and a pursuit of the clues that borders on hobbyist. When a young couple is found murdered, with an unnecessary impalement of the female victim, Milo and Doc Delaware pick up the case almost on a whim since they were nearby. [Apparently Sturgis can partner with Alex almost at will -- how his presumably high bills get paid is conveniently never addressed...] While the male is quickly ID'd, it takes much of the book to discover who the female is, generating much of what true suspense there was. The rest of the plot gets embroiled with a loosely knit firm of three psychologists specializing in private patient therapy (hence the title) who, as the plot unfolds, seem to be involved in a highly shady billing scheme involving ex-cons as both patients and, well, patient pimps. Before it's over, one of the three gets offed, the murdered boy's father disappears, and the storyline twists and turns in the wind. The ending is unusually inconclusive, with our stars making some very interesting value judgments about which bad guys to pursue and which not, an outcome we perceived as ridiculously unrealistic.
Kellerman has always been a good story teller, but it seems his quality varies more widely as his quantity increases. Delaware's love life, frequently a tiresome thing with "ex" Robin, is a little more normal with new lover Allison, but their shop talk gets to be a bit much. A token cameo by Robin and her dog was just silly filler, and the scenes with Delaware playing "good cop / bad cop" with Sturgis went down poorly. We were more than tired of the multiple bad guys, and by the end barely cared who did what.
This strikes us as a book that needed to be edited better -- improve the professionalism of the principles; shorten the billing fraud thing which should be contained to the sub-plot that it is (we can figure out ourselves it provides motive); and humanize the dead boy's family by opening up the true facts sooner; and we might have something here. As it is, it's a lukewarm entry in the series.
August 23, 2024
A great psychological thriller that avoids psychological techno-speak!
When a young couple parked for a little late night loving beside an empty house on Mulholland Drive are found murdered with what appears to be sexual overtones, LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis is stumped. While the woman eludes identification completely, Milo and his consulting psychologist sidekick, Alex Delaware, identify the male as Gavin Quick, a troubled young man undergoing psychotherapy as a result of behavioural changes attributed to a severe head injury he received in a car accident. The chance discovery that Quick's therapist, Mary Lou Koppel, had another patient who was murdered only a year earlier seemed like a coincidence until Koppel herself was found murdered with an MO that resembled the first double killing. The game is on as Sturgis and Delaware track the killer on a convoluted trail that crosses prison reform, group therapy, fraudulent billing and insurance scams, Rwandan genocide (yes, you read that one right) and mercenary killers for hire!
That may all seem a little far-fetched, to be sure, but the story rests on a firm foundation of clues and, as always, thought-provoking analysis and deductions that rely on Delaware's understanding of the human condition as a psychologist. But, unlike RAGE, a story which was a near incomprehensible thicket of psycho-babble, THERAPY is a straightforward police procedural but set firmly and predictably in Kellerman's well-known psychology environment.
Much of the story is told in the form of a give-and-take brainstorming dialogue between Delaware and Sturgis in which they bounce their ideas about the case off one another. While this technique may prove wearisome and perhaps difficult to follow in a regular book format, Rubenstein's scintillating performance on the audio book presentation brought Kellerman's command of realistic dialogue to life and made this form of story-telling straightforward and marvelously entertaining!
There was also a moment toward the end of the novel that deserves special recognition. Of course, the Jane Doe from the opening chapters was ultimately identified. When her brother arrived to confirm the identification and claim the body, the conversation that he had with Delaware was so bleak, so poignant and so gut-wrenching, it almost broke my heart. Frankly, I've always thought of Kellerman as a thriller writer and I never thought that he had writing at that level in him.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
When a young couple parked for a little late night loving beside an empty house on Mulholland Drive are found murdered with what appears to be sexual overtones, LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis is stumped. While the woman eludes identification completely, Milo and his consulting psychologist sidekick, Alex Delaware, identify the male as Gavin Quick, a troubled young man undergoing psychotherapy as a result of behavioural changes attributed to a severe head injury he received in a car accident. The chance discovery that Quick's therapist, Mary Lou Koppel, had another patient who was murdered only a year earlier seemed like a coincidence until Koppel herself was found murdered with an MO that resembled the first double killing. The game is on as Sturgis and Delaware track the killer on a convoluted trail that crosses prison reform, group therapy, fraudulent billing and insurance scams, Rwandan genocide (yes, you read that one right) and mercenary killers for hire!
That may all seem a little far-fetched, to be sure, but the story rests on a firm foundation of clues and, as always, thought-provoking analysis and deductions that rely on Delaware's understanding of the human condition as a psychologist. But, unlike RAGE, a story which was a near incomprehensible thicket of psycho-babble, THERAPY is a straightforward police procedural but set firmly and predictably in Kellerman's well-known psychology environment.
Much of the story is told in the form of a give-and-take brainstorming dialogue between Delaware and Sturgis in which they bounce their ideas about the case off one another. While this technique may prove wearisome and perhaps difficult to follow in a regular book format, Rubenstein's scintillating performance on the audio book presentation brought Kellerman's command of realistic dialogue to life and made this form of story-telling straightforward and marvelously entertaining!
There was also a moment toward the end of the novel that deserves special recognition. Of course, the Jane Doe from the opening chapters was ultimately identified. When her brother arrived to confirm the identification and claim the body, the conversation that he had with Delaware was so bleak, so poignant and so gut-wrenching, it almost broke my heart. Frankly, I've always thought of Kellerman as a thriller writer and I never thought that he had writing at that level in him.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
April 18, 2012
I've been finding many of the Alex Delaware novels somewhat 'meh' lately, but this novel redeemed the series a bit for me.
Sometimes I wonder why I keep up with the series because there are some things that grate on me:
The minute details of what a person wears, how they look, what they're eating, etc., etc., after 18 books of this, it feels a little over done sometimes.
Also, even though Alex Delaware is the protagonist of the series I actually don't feel a compelling connection with him as a character. The other players in the series feel more alive than Delaware himself. Alex often comes off as disconnected from the emotion of everything, almost non-feeling, empty, emotionally boring. It's hard to explain, but I can say it is frustrating as a reader. I suspect this won't change, and I probably will continue with the series (I've made it this far, after all).
What I liked about this latest entry was the depth of the plot - it was very well-done and didn't feel as 'out there' as some of the others did. Recommended for any Delaware fan.
Sometimes I wonder why I keep up with the series because there are some things that grate on me:
The minute details of what a person wears, how they look, what they're eating, etc., etc., after 18 books of this, it feels a little over done sometimes.
Also, even though Alex Delaware is the protagonist of the series I actually don't feel a compelling connection with him as a character. The other players in the series feel more alive than Delaware himself. Alex often comes off as disconnected from the emotion of everything, almost non-feeling, empty, emotionally boring. It's hard to explain, but I can say it is frustrating as a reader. I suspect this won't change, and I probably will continue with the series (I've made it this far, after all).
What I liked about this latest entry was the depth of the plot - it was very well-done and didn't feel as 'out there' as some of the others did. Recommended for any Delaware fan.
March 21, 2021
3.5*
Ωραίο βιβλιαράκι, με λιγάκι μπερδεμένη υπόθεση και αρκετή έρευνα (αλλά και ένα σημαντικό λάθος από τον επικεφαλής ντετέκτιβ!) μέχρι να βρεθεί η αιτία πίσω από τις δολοφονίες!
Μου άρεσε το τέλος!
Ωραίο βιβλιαράκι, με λιγάκι μπερδεμένη υπόθεση και αρκετή έρευνα (αλλά και ένα σημαντικό λάθος από τον επικεφαλής ντετέκτιβ!) μέχρι να βρεθεί η αιτία πίσω από τις δολοφονίες!
Μου άρεσε το τέλος!
March 21, 2022
i. Το βιβλίο γνωριμίας μου με τον Άλεξ Ντέλαγουερ και ξεκίνησα όχι από την πρώτη, όχι από την τρίτη, όχι από την πέμπτη, ούτε έστω από την δέκατη περιπέτειά του· αλλά από την δέκατη όγδοη (μπράβο, είσαι η καλύτερη και μπράβο, έκανες την τύχη σου, Έρση), πληροφορία ωστόσο που ενδεχομένως δικαιολογεί την κάπως χλιαρή κατακλείδα της ιστορίας, δεδομένου ότι, μετά από τόσα μυθιστορήματα, ο Τζόναθαν Κέλερμαν δεν θα έχει πια κάτι πραγματικά πρωτότυπο να δώσει (χωρίς αυτό βέβαια να είναι κακό, σε ορισμένες περιπτώσεις, όπως εδώ, απλώς όχι τόσο εντυπωσιακό).
i. Μου άρεσαν πολύ η γρήγορη γραφή (βλ. και γραφή αλά ποπ κορν), η απέριττη αφήγηση, η ανεπιτήδευτη μα καλοδουλεμένη γλώσσα, οι λιτές και εμπεριστατωμένες περιγραφές, η πολυπλοκότητα της υπόθεσης του Γκάβιν Κουίκ με τις στροφές και τα αδιέξοδά της, και η εμπλοκή των τόσων μεγάλων μετώπων στο φινάλε.
iii. Η Άλισον, ο Άλμπιν Λάρσεν και ο Σόνι Κόπελ νομίζω πως είναι πολύ ενδιαφέροντες χαρακτήρες, αλλά ο έμπειρος μα κατά βάθος ευαίσθητος Μάιλο, αρκετά διαφορετικός από τους προβληματικούς λογοτεχνικούς αστυνομικούς που έχουμε συνηθίσει, μου έκλεψε την καρδούλα.
iv. Πέρασα άψογα διαβάζοντας αυτό το βιβλίο, ελαφρύ και γρήγορο με ζωντανούς διαλόγους και πολύ ωραίους χαρακτήρες, αλλά στο τέλος δεν ήτανε κάτι πολύ ιδιαίτερο. Τον Μάιλο όμως θα τον αποζητώ, οπότε απ’ την σειρά του Άλεξ Ντέλαγουερ θα πιάσω πολλά, πολλά ακόμη.
i. Μου άρεσαν πολύ η γρήγορη γραφή (βλ. και γραφή αλά ποπ κορν), η απέριττη αφήγηση, η ανεπιτήδευτη μα καλοδουλεμένη γλώσσα, οι λιτές και εμπεριστατωμένες περιγραφές, η πολυπλοκότητα της υπόθεσης του Γκάβιν Κουίκ με τις στροφές και τα αδιέξοδά της, και η εμπλοκή των τόσων μεγάλων μετώπων στο φινάλε.
iii. Η Άλισον, ο Άλμπιν Λάρσεν και ο Σόνι Κόπελ νομίζω πως είναι πολύ ενδιαφέροντες χαρακτήρες, αλλά ο έμπειρος μα κατά βάθος ευαίσθητος Μάιλο, αρκετά διαφορετικός από τους προβληματικούς λογοτεχνικούς αστυνομικούς που έχουμε συνηθίσει, μου έκλεψε την καρδούλα.
iv. Πέρασα άψογα διαβάζοντας αυτό το βιβλίο, ελαφρύ και γρήγορο με ζωντανούς διαλόγους και πολύ ωραίους χαρακτήρες, αλλά στο τέλος δεν ήτανε κάτι πολύ ιδιαίτερο. Τον Μάιλο όμως θα τον αποζητώ, οπότε απ’ την σειρά του Άλεξ Ντέλαγουερ θα πιάσω πολλά, πολλά ακόμη.
May 19, 2015
The idea that a double killing has occurred because of some 'unknown perp's' jealousy is turned upside down when the dead girl is not who everyone thought. Who was she? But the activities of the young dead man, Gavin Quick, identified by ID in his wallet, and the follow-up with his family has Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis and Dr. Alex Delaware soon running down a dozen possible suspects. Not only is the Quick family devastated by Gavin's murder, they all were messed up from an earlier incident.
Last year Gavin was in a car accident and suffered a brain injury which had a drastic effect on his life. He had to drop out of college and he developed an obsessive compulsive disorder. His shallow Beverly Hills girlfriend left him, but he could not stop thinking about sex.
Everyone agrees Gavin became slightly deranged and out of control. His formerly neat room is now messy with reams of paper he has been filling with observations, along with general garbage and dirty clothes. There was something definitely wrong with Gavin.
His estranged father, mysterious metals-dealer Gerry, and his alcoholic mother Sheila have been trying to help Gavin find a new life and psychiatric care. Unfortunately, the recommended psychologist Mary Lou Koppel is a popular radio and television personality first, a therapist second, and she has secrets that Gavin apparently was beginning to unravel. Koppel is one of three psychologists partnering together on a variety of linked enterprises to help ex-cons become more stable, or so they say. Some criminals have been hired by the partnership to work around their building and a variety of halfway houses, but they do not appear to work very often or effectively, and there does not appear to be much therapy happening.
It is a good thing Milo and Alex are working together on this mystery as its intricate designs demand every resource the two of them can muster. Their contacts and the wearing down of shoe leather are more important to solving the case - or is it cases? - as well as their puzzled debates over the mounting evidence, than any revelations either of them have. There are too many suspects and too many signs of chicanery and illegal wrongdoing. Which of them are responsible for Gavin and his unknown friend being killed?
I kept thinking of the Grand Master of the Mystery, Agatha Christie, while reading this. There are dozens of suspects and a lot of nefarious webs of crime strung all over this case! I found the book highly entertaining, but this is a real puzzler. Fans of 'The Ice and Fire' series will think it a snap to read, but others may find the huge cast of characters annoying.
Last year Gavin was in a car accident and suffered a brain injury which had a drastic effect on his life. He had to drop out of college and he developed an obsessive compulsive disorder. His shallow Beverly Hills girlfriend left him, but he could not stop thinking about sex.
Everyone agrees Gavin became slightly deranged and out of control. His formerly neat room is now messy with reams of paper he has been filling with observations, along with general garbage and dirty clothes. There was something definitely wrong with Gavin.
His estranged father, mysterious metals-dealer Gerry, and his alcoholic mother Sheila have been trying to help Gavin find a new life and psychiatric care. Unfortunately, the recommended psychologist Mary Lou Koppel is a popular radio and television personality first, a therapist second, and she has secrets that Gavin apparently was beginning to unravel. Koppel is one of three psychologists partnering together on a variety of linked enterprises to help ex-cons become more stable, or so they say. Some criminals have been hired by the partnership to work around their building and a variety of halfway houses, but they do not appear to work very often or effectively, and there does not appear to be much therapy happening.
It is a good thing Milo and Alex are working together on this mystery as its intricate designs demand every resource the two of them can muster. Their contacts and the wearing down of shoe leather are more important to solving the case - or is it cases? - as well as their puzzled debates over the mounting evidence, than any revelations either of them have. There are too many suspects and too many signs of chicanery and illegal wrongdoing. Which of them are responsible for Gavin and his unknown friend being killed?
I kept thinking of the Grand Master of the Mystery, Agatha Christie, while reading this. There are dozens of suspects and a lot of nefarious webs of crime strung all over this case! I found the book highly entertaining, but this is a real puzzler. Fans of 'The Ice and Fire' series will think it a snap to read, but others may find the huge cast of characters annoying.
February 4, 2023
I found this book at the office under "grab it for free". I read the cover with the synopsis and it immediately grabbed my attention, so I thought lets give it a try and give this book a home!
I spent couple of weeks in California in April 2022. The first half of the book reminded me on the sunny streets of California with the sandy beaches with threatening rocks, light breezes, perfect sunsets and State Route 1, where I was driving my rented Mustang a lot and was enjoying the life. I really enjoyed the first part of the book. It starts with a double homicide of a 20 something boy and an unidentified young girl. Milo, the lead investigator starts to work on the case with the support of the consultant Alex Delaware. The more they found out, the more we did not know.
PLOT: 2.5⭐
the investigation starts with a nice space, there are more and more questions and lots of tiny twist throughout the storyline to a point, where the reader starts to ask: who was XY again? What did he has to do with that? I enjoyed that there was 1 main line and 4-5 supporting lines which were running parallel, however, it became too much at a certain point. Some of the supporting story line did not provide any added value to the characters or to the story, did not really fit into the main concept and were not built up nicely.
WRITING STLYE: 5⭐
The amount of the dialogues and narratives are well balanced. Not too complex but not too shallow writing, nice writing skills! I enjoyed the style of Jonathan Kellerman. I was able to really participate in the story and could not wait what happens next, how Milo and Alex react, what are their next steps, what they find out - until the first half of the book.
ENDING: 1⭐
"oh, is it over? What was again the motive? I did not realize the book came to an end." - that is how I felt. What a pity! I really enjoyed the first 300-350 pages!!
There were so many twists and characters that the main storyline at some point got lost and the reader became confused. I had the feeling that some of the supporting parallel storylines were built in, artificially designed to have more pages. Sorry to say that. The first part of the book was really 5 start without doubt.
That was presumably my first and last book from Jonathan Kellerman.
I spent couple of weeks in California in April 2022. The first half of the book reminded me on the sunny streets of California with the sandy beaches with threatening rocks, light breezes, perfect sunsets and State Route 1, where I was driving my rented Mustang a lot and was enjoying the life. I really enjoyed the first part of the book. It starts with a double homicide of a 20 something boy and an unidentified young girl. Milo, the lead investigator starts to work on the case with the support of the consultant Alex Delaware. The more they found out, the more we did not know.
PLOT: 2.5⭐
the investigation starts with a nice space, there are more and more questions and lots of tiny twist throughout the storyline to a point, where the reader starts to ask: who was XY again? What did he has to do with that? I enjoyed that there was 1 main line and 4-5 supporting lines which were running parallel, however, it became too much at a certain point. Some of the supporting story line did not provide any added value to the characters or to the story, did not really fit into the main concept and were not built up nicely.
WRITING STLYE: 5⭐
The amount of the dialogues and narratives are well balanced. Not too complex but not too shallow writing, nice writing skills! I enjoyed the style of Jonathan Kellerman. I was able to really participate in the story and could not wait what happens next, how Milo and Alex react, what are their next steps, what they find out - until the first half of the book.
ENDING: 1⭐
"oh, is it over? What was again the motive? I did not realize the book came to an end." - that is how I felt. What a pity! I really enjoyed the first 300-350 pages!!
There were so many twists and characters that the main storyline at some point got lost and the reader became confused. I had the feeling that some of the supporting parallel storylines were built in, artificially designed to have more pages. Sorry to say that. The first part of the book was really 5 start without doubt.
That was presumably my first and last book from Jonathan Kellerman.
October 20, 2012
Ugh...really? I just wasted the last week on this. Entertaining...yes...sort of. Preposterous...yes ma'am. Absolutely ridicurous... Not the most ridicurous i've ever read (that's still The Langdon base jump from a helicopter and using his jacket as a parachute in Angels and Demons - although I actually liked that book). But come on...psychologists in a Rwanda-tied terror plot. Seriously? And does every character need a motive? Can't we meet one person (other than the strip club manager - who knew?) who doesn't have some reason to be involved? And do we really need to be so OCD to detail every turn of the car... Seriously, this was a 497 page book that could have been 450 if simply took out the detailed directions. And is the LA PD really paying this psychologist to tag along for all this. Is this a good use of taxpayer dollars.
Good read if bored and you need something farcical. However, I'm pretty sure I lost brain cells here. The most frightening concept here is "NY Times Bestseller." Really people? There's nothing else out there? Sad part is there are some good authors out there that will never crack that list.
For disclosure purposes, this is apparently the 18th "Alex Delaware" book. But it's the first for me. Maybe the characters develop more in the first few. Dunno. Maybe the others are less ridiculous. Dunno. Not sure I want to find out...
No idea where this one came from. Picked it up when living in PA...I think it was being thrown out by someone and I claimed it. If only providence had let me leave it to the rubbish collectors. The only value this has to me at this point is a trade in at a book swap.
Editor's note: On March 7, 2013 I noticed I had marked this as 2-stars. This is an oversight of mammoth proportions. I have updated to 1-star, although zero would be much more appropriate.
Good read if bored and you need something farcical. However, I'm pretty sure I lost brain cells here. The most frightening concept here is "NY Times Bestseller." Really people? There's nothing else out there? Sad part is there are some good authors out there that will never crack that list.
For disclosure purposes, this is apparently the 18th "Alex Delaware" book. But it's the first for me. Maybe the characters develop more in the first few. Dunno. Maybe the others are less ridiculous. Dunno. Not sure I want to find out...
No idea where this one came from. Picked it up when living in PA...I think it was being thrown out by someone and I claimed it. If only providence had let me leave it to the rubbish collectors. The only value this has to me at this point is a trade in at a book swap.
Editor's note: On March 7, 2013 I noticed I had marked this as 2-stars. This is an oversight of mammoth proportions. I have updated to 1-star, although zero would be much more appropriate.
April 26, 2022
"Η αρετή, αγαπητό μου παιδί, δε χρειάζεται ανταμοιβή, είναι ανταμοιβή από μόνη της."
Η "Ψυχοθεραπεία" είναι το 18ο βιβλίο σε μια μεγάλη σειρά βιβλίων του Κέλερμαν με πρωταγωνιστές τον υπαστυνόμο Μάιλο Στέρτζις και τον ψυχολόγο-ντεντέκτιβ Άλεξ Ντέλαγουερ.
Το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο θα το αποκαλούσα "βιβλίο πάζλ". Πολλά γεγονότα, πολλές περιγραφές (σε σημείο που να καταντά κουραστικό και να χάνεσαι), πολλές αναλύσεις πάνω στο ο,τιδήποτε. Και όλα αυτά πρέπει να τα παρακολουθείς και να τα συνδέσεις για να λύσεις το μυστήριο.
Όλα ξεκινούν από τον φόνο ενός νέου παιδιού και μιας κοπέλας. Μόνο που η φάση δεν μένει εκεί. Ουσιαστικά είναι 3 δολοφονίες/υποθέσεις που η καθεμία έγινε για τους δικούς της λόγους αλλά τα πρόσωπα συνδέονται μεταξύ τους, σαν αλυσίδα.
Τα βιβλία του Κέλερμαν τείνουν να ακολουθούν ένα συγκεκριμένο μοτίβο. Καθώς προχωράει η ιστορία ανοίγεται σαν βεντάλια (το σημειωματάριο δεν το γλιτώνετε 😂). Οι ύποπτοι γίνονται περισσότεροι όπως και τα ζητήματα που πρέπει να βρεθεί/-ούν λύση/-εις.
All in all, ναι μεν είναι ένα crime βιβλίο που σου κρατάει το ενδιαφέρον γιατί έχει ιστορία που εξελίσσεται και δράση αλλά άρχισε να γίνεται πολύ περίπλοκο και κουράστηκα από ένα σημείο και μετά.
Η "Ψυχοθεραπεία" είναι το 18ο βιβλίο σε μια μεγάλη σειρά βιβλίων του Κέλερμαν με πρωταγωνιστές τον υπαστυνόμο Μάιλο Στέρτζις και τον ψυχολόγο-ντεντέκτιβ Άλεξ Ντέλαγουερ.
Το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο θα το αποκαλούσα "βιβλίο πάζλ". Πολλά γεγονότα, πολλές περιγραφές (σε σημείο που να καταντά κουραστικό και να χάνεσαι), πολλές αναλύσεις πάνω στο ο,τιδήποτε. Και όλα αυτά πρέπει να τα παρακολουθείς και να τα συνδέσεις για να λύσεις το μυστήριο.
Όλα ξεκινούν από τον φόνο ενός νέου παιδιού και μιας κοπέλας. Μόνο που η φάση δεν μένει εκεί. Ουσιαστικά είναι 3 δολοφονίες/υποθέσεις που η καθεμία έγινε για τους δικούς της λόγους αλλά τα πρόσωπα συνδέονται μεταξύ τους, σαν αλυσίδα.
Τα βιβλία του Κέλερμαν τείνουν να ακολουθούν ένα συγκεκριμένο μοτίβο. Καθώς προχωράει η ιστορία ανοίγεται σαν βεντάλια (το σημειωματάριο δεν το γλιτώνετε 😂). Οι ύποπτοι γίνονται περισσότεροι όπως και τα ζητήματα που πρέπει να βρεθεί/-ούν λύση/-εις.
All in all, ναι μεν είναι ένα crime βιβλίο που σου κρατάει το ενδιαφέρον γιατί έχει ιστορία που εξελίσσεται και δράση αλλά άρχισε να γίνεται πολύ περίπλοκο και κουράστηκα από ένα σημείο και μετά.
November 21, 2018
I’ve been reading Kellerman’s Alex Delaware novels in order for a little while now and they are all very solid suspense-mysteries.
They get a little slow and confusing midway, but they are well plotted and start and end well.
They get a little slow and confusing midway, but they are well plotted and start and end well.
March 22, 2017
This book strained credibility for a few reasons: Milo can just pick and choose his cases, just because he was nearby eating dinner? Alex can partner up with him any time he wants to? Is Alex getting paid by the police department? Alex's sleuthing never conflicts with any other work obligations? The murders tied back to a connection in Rwanda? Really?
October 25, 2021
2.8 stars?? Frankly, I don’t think it really deserves this low of a rating, but I gave the last one in the series I read, 3 stars and I liked it less than that so 🤷🏻♀️
October 14, 2010
There are some great and surprising characters in this book who unfortunately do nothing surprising. I think the reason I rated it so low is because the end disappoints. Prior to the ending, it is a page turning smart mystery. But you've got to have an ending.
May 29, 2017
I found this book in the series seemed to drag on and had a plot that was unnecessarily complicated. I felt he was filling pages a lot of the time. I still love the characters and will continue on in the series hoping this book is an anomaly.
June 15, 2018
Somehow I got away from reading Jonathan Kellerman. This book reminded me why I liked him. Really good read.
August 18, 2020
Good as usual but not one of the best. There is a lot of twists with people in Alex's field, and the ending is especially well done, loved the show-down between the villains. Full review to come. The family especially stands out in this one
November 10, 2020
3...I finally figured it out, it the lull in the middle of the novel, it just drags down these novels for me...though this one was better than the last one! Still my love for the character's is getting me through these...
October 5, 2018
This was a let down. And that's hard to say. I used to devour Alex Delaware novels when I was younger and I loved the characters of Alex, Milo, and Robin (and even Spike). Maybe now that I'm older and more well-read, the plot holes have become more evident. Or at least, more difficult to overlook.
First of all... Rawanda? Really? Second of all: too many coincidences falling neatly into place for this dynamic duo. Third of all: I could actually live without the pages-long, detailed descriptions of every character's facial nuances down to the pore level, and clothing and outfit descriptions that were nearly down to the underwear and washing label level. (Not to mention the details on where every building is located, and the highways and streets and traffic conditions on each trip.) It was just too much detail and felt like filler. Some of that can be useful in setting the tone and in giving a sense of personality and style. But here it was just overkill, sorry. (And interesting that we don't really ever get a good description of Alex, the narrator.)
Can we also talk about how both Alex and Milo are seemingly employed, professional adults, but have all the freedom in the world to explore every whim at any time of day or night without repercussions? Alex is allegedly a psychologist, but how does he make any money if he's always Milo's side kick? Do police detectives really get to partner up with non police employees at this level? It's never clear if Alex actually gets paid as a "freelancer" by the police, but considering he spends almost all his waking hours with Milo solving cases, it would seem that he must. I know you have to suspend some level of belief when reading a fiction story, but this book just reads like two "gumshoes" who are off doing their own thing — real life be damned!
Maybe it's just because I've read other Alex Delaware stories, but I'm just so sick of the descriptions of how gross Milo is. He's described like he's one step away from being the love child of Oscar the Grouch and the Hunchback of Notre Dame. He's grouchy and fat and unkempt, and it's never really clear why he and Alex are even friends. I think I liked him better in the older books where at least Milo was more relatable because he had a "significant other." There's no mention of him in this book.
And also, sorry Mr. Kellerman, I don't like Alison. I liked Robin. They had better chemistry. I miss the woodworking. But maybe I'm just old fashioned like that.
Therapy just didn't do it for me. Back in the day I enjoyed Jonathan Kellerman novels, but moved on for some reason — I can't remember why. Now that I've delved back in, I can't say I enjoyed this at all. Two stars, one each for Alex and Milo who sorta feel like old buddies. Even tho I can't remember why we were friends.
First of all... Rawanda? Really? Second of all: too many coincidences falling neatly into place for this dynamic duo. Third of all: I could actually live without the pages-long, detailed descriptions of every character's facial nuances down to the pore level, and clothing and outfit descriptions that were nearly down to the underwear and washing label level. (Not to mention the details on where every building is located, and the highways and streets and traffic conditions on each trip.) It was just too much detail and felt like filler. Some of that can be useful in setting the tone and in giving a sense of personality and style. But here it was just overkill, sorry. (And interesting that we don't really ever get a good description of Alex, the narrator.)
Can we also talk about how both Alex and Milo are seemingly employed, professional adults, but have all the freedom in the world to explore every whim at any time of day or night without repercussions? Alex is allegedly a psychologist, but how does he make any money if he's always Milo's side kick? Do police detectives really get to partner up with non police employees at this level? It's never clear if Alex actually gets paid as a "freelancer" by the police, but considering he spends almost all his waking hours with Milo solving cases, it would seem that he must. I know you have to suspend some level of belief when reading a fiction story, but this book just reads like two "gumshoes" who are off doing their own thing — real life be damned!
Maybe it's just because I've read other Alex Delaware stories, but I'm just so sick of the descriptions of how gross Milo is. He's described like he's one step away from being the love child of Oscar the Grouch and the Hunchback of Notre Dame. He's grouchy and fat and unkempt, and it's never really clear why he and Alex are even friends. I think I liked him better in the older books where at least Milo was more relatable because he had a "significant other." There's no mention of him in this book.
And also, sorry Mr. Kellerman, I don't like Alison. I liked Robin. They had better chemistry. I miss the woodworking. But maybe I'm just old fashioned like that.
Therapy just didn't do it for me. Back in the day I enjoyed Jonathan Kellerman novels, but moved on for some reason — I can't remember why. Now that I've delved back in, I can't say I enjoyed this at all. Two stars, one each for Alex and Milo who sorta feel like old buddies. Even tho I can't remember why we were friends.
October 19, 2019
Most of the Alex Delaware books are like a great meal I look forward to. It's part comforting because it's a known entity, but it also holds surprises, which I certainly welcome, like spices you add here and there, still fully knowing what you are getting.
As a reader, I am first of all a human being, who's currently influenced by sad circumstances (death of a beloved parent), and that leads me to focus on reading plots with all things factual, logical and away from breaking my heart, away from emotionally moving me too deeply. So yes, reading police procedural fiction, which already ran high on my favorite genre list, has become my number 1 get-to literature these weeks. Hopefully, I will be able to balance that out with time.
Anyway, Therapy, by Jonathan Kellerman, is a very interesting installment in the Alex Delaware series, with an intricate plot. What I liked best was that the emphasis was not on the repetitive horrendous violence, but more on logical thinking and investigating, as is mostly the case in the Delaware books. Both, Milo and Alex, at their best. I truly enjoyed it. It's a 3,75 stars ****
As a reader, I am first of all a human being, who's currently influenced by sad circumstances (death of a beloved parent), and that leads me to focus on reading plots with all things factual, logical and away from breaking my heart, away from emotionally moving me too deeply. So yes, reading police procedural fiction, which already ran high on my favorite genre list, has become my number 1 get-to literature these weeks. Hopefully, I will be able to balance that out with time.
Anyway, Therapy, by Jonathan Kellerman, is a very interesting installment in the Alex Delaware series, with an intricate plot. What I liked best was that the emphasis was not on the repetitive horrendous violence, but more on logical thinking and investigating, as is mostly the case in the Delaware books. Both, Milo and Alex, at their best. I truly enjoyed it. It's a 3,75 stars ****
February 24, 2022
Complex mystery regarding the murder of a young couple and therapists with less than honorable intentions regarding their patients/practices.
May 29, 2024
This was not my favorite Jonathan Kellerman. Recurring character, criminal psychologist Alex Delaware, feels flat. This is a basic gumshoe police procedural but could have used a stronger editing hand. The basic plot needed work and the characters were not strong. Even Milo, Alex's sidekick and insider in the police department, did not feel as quick-witted in his banter.
Within the story, Milo seems to include Alex as a chum. I found this odd as investigations usually involve people on the force or hired by the force. Alex has been hired in the past but seems to casually drop in on this investigation.
Within the story, Milo seems to include Alex as a chum. I found this odd as investigations usually involve people on the force or hired by the force. Alex has been hired in the past but seems to casually drop in on this investigation.
December 31, 2017
Ill never tire of this authors writing.
May 31, 2019
A young couple brutally murdered while parked in the driveway of a vacant home leads Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis to investigate a popular therapist and her partners. Greed, intrigue and more murders move this plot and keep your interest.
December 28, 2021
Άλλη μια αστυνομική περιπέτεια με τον ντέτεκτιβ Μάιλο Στέρτζις και τον ψυχολόγο Άλεξ Ντέλαγουερ.
July 18, 2024
Unbelievable ending.
September 30, 2020
This was your typical Alex Delaware mystery (though for once Alex doesn't do something foolish and gets himself in trouble). Two people are found dead in a car in a scenic location, a young man, Gavin Quick and his companion, an unknown woman. He was shot simply but she was impaled against the car seat. Milo is looking forward to a plain old fashioned whodunnit but he gets more than he was expecting.
Gavin had a rather sad history. A few years before he had survived a serious car accident that has left him with some level of traumatic brain injury and he's being seen by Dr. Mary Lou Koppel, a popular celebrity psychologist for some of the issues.
However nothing is what it seems. Quick's family has strange secrets and seem more interested in protecting them than finding out who killed Gavin. Who is his companion? A pro? a girlfriend? Even Koppel and the other two psychiatrists in her practice seem to have more secrets than ALex and Milo are expecting.
It was convoluted and interesting. I was entertained.
Gavin had a rather sad history. A few years before he had survived a serious car accident that has left him with some level of traumatic brain injury and he's being seen by Dr. Mary Lou Koppel, a popular celebrity psychologist for some of the issues.
However nothing is what it seems. Quick's family has strange secrets and seem more interested in protecting them than finding out who killed Gavin. Who is his companion? A pro? a girlfriend? Even Koppel and the other two psychiatrists in her practice seem to have more secrets than ALex and Milo are expecting.
It was convoluted and interesting. I was entertained.
December 11, 2014
I used to say that all Mary Higgins Clark books were really the same book, but that was okay because, you know, it was still a pretty good book. That's sort of how I feel about this series. At this point I am just reading to spend time with Milo and Alex. The plots are ridiculously complicated and far-fetched, but if you like Alex Delaware novel(s), this one's between three and four stars. Even as I write this, I can't decide between three and four. All I know is it's much better than two.
A propos nothing, I've noticed that Kellerman dedicates most of his books to his wife, Faye, but this one is dedicated to the memory of Warren Zevon. I found that interesting. In the sense that I kind of know what it means to dedicate a book about psycho-killers to your wife because you dedicate all your books to your wife, but I don't know what it means to dedicate your psycho-killer book to the memory of a dead guy. I hope Faye's feelings were not hurt.
A propos nothing, I've noticed that Kellerman dedicates most of his books to his wife, Faye, but this one is dedicated to the memory of Warren Zevon. I found that interesting. In the sense that I kind of know what it means to dedicate a book about psycho-killers to your wife because you dedicate all your books to your wife, but I don't know what it means to dedicate your psycho-killer book to the memory of a dead guy. I hope Faye's feelings were not hurt.
October 14, 2015
One of the worst books I've ever read.
I'd read a few Kellerman books before this and enjoyed them and I've read a few since this mess and they were fairly solid as well, so I can only assume this misstep was an exception for the author.
As previous reviewers adroitly noticed; Kellerman's writing is very formulaic: Milo and Alex solve the case whilst Milo eats, Alex uses his expertise in psychology to help and Alex's girlfriend pops up every few chapters to give the illusion that Alex is a well rounded character. The two main characters just rabbit back and forth to each other. Normally, working out who done it absolves Kellerman from the writing sins committed above but this one was so boring and nonsensical that I couldn't wait for it to end.
Add to this that Kellerman implants global political issues into the story - which in no way links into, solves or enhances the central story - and you can see just how frustrating this read is.
Terrible 1/10.
I'd read a few Kellerman books before this and enjoyed them and I've read a few since this mess and they were fairly solid as well, so I can only assume this misstep was an exception for the author.
As previous reviewers adroitly noticed; Kellerman's writing is very formulaic: Milo and Alex solve the case whilst Milo eats, Alex uses his expertise in psychology to help and Alex's girlfriend pops up every few chapters to give the illusion that Alex is a well rounded character. The two main characters just rabbit back and forth to each other. Normally, working out who done it absolves Kellerman from the writing sins committed above but this one was so boring and nonsensical that I couldn't wait for it to end.
Add to this that Kellerman implants global political issues into the story - which in no way links into, solves or enhances the central story - and you can see just how frustrating this read is.
Terrible 1/10.
April 12, 2015
His books are all so good and quite creepy too. The only problem I have with Kellerman's books is there are so very many side characters, and some of them are mentioned only briefly (ex. not from book but generic) Milo had seen Freddy Kruger eating waffles at his favorite restaurant that morning and noted he seemed unusually pleased with himself as he polished his steel claw fingernails. Well, then 100 some odd pages later LO! Freddy is - not the killer because even that would be too easy - but the brother's sister's n'er do well nephew who bought bad drugs from some other random person who had tripped over Alex & Robin's pet dog Spike while jogging oon the beach and HIS great great grandfather whom all had believed dead was the killer! I am always turning pages backwards frantically trying to find this elusive person who is suddenly crucial to the case.
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