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Alex Delaware #7
Devil's Waltz
The doctors call it Munchausen by proxy, the terrifying disease that causes parents to induce illness in their own children. Now, in his most frightening case, Dr. Alex Delaware may have to prove that a child's own mother or father is making her sick. Twenty-one-month-old Cassie Jones is bright, energetic, the picture of health. Yet her parents rush her to the emergency room night after night with medical symptoms no doctor can explain. Cassie's parents seem sympathetic and deeply concerned. Her favorite nurse is a model of devotion. Yet when child psychologist Alex Delaware is called in to investigate, instinct tells him that one of them may be a monster. Then a physician at the hospital is brutally murdered. A shadowy death is revealed. And Alex and his friend LAPD detective Milo Sturgis have only hours to uncover the link between these shocking events and the fate of an innocent child.
From the Paperback edition.
From the Paperback edition.
578 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 1993
About the author
Jonathan Kellerman
144 books6,029 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 388 reviews
May 7, 2023
I have only read a couple of the Alex Delaware novels and while there are references to previous stories and characters I found this easy to follow as a standalone. Munchausen by proxy is a disorder that is fascinating to me. I thought this book did a really realistic look at the struggle to diagnose it and also the symptoms and red flags. I really like Dr. Delaware and found this story to be really interesting. I will admit it didn’t move as fast as I would have guessed for a Kellerman book, but I thought this investigation that was solely his and focused on the psychology fit that slightly slower pace.
March 26, 2019
One of my favorite earlier Alex Delaware mysteries.
Alex is called in by someone else other than Milo this time - his past with the hospital has earned him an in with another mystery, this time at first investigating to protect a child rather than investigate an actual crime. Much of the plot is dedicated to preventing a potential horror rather than bringing justice to something already accomplished. Munchausen by proxy is a horrific mystery of psychological taboos, and it was a cerebral treat to read a thriller focused on the possibility of it.
Throw in Kellerman's skill in creating layered characters who are as convincing in their dysfunctions as much as their innocence, and it gets even better. I stood on my toes wondering who was guilty, if anyone was, and unsure which side I should really be rooting for. On one hand, my mother's side was wanting to protect the child at all costs if there's any doubt, but on the other hand, nosy doctors who sometimes overreach grated my mother's security.
It ended up with a treat that not only covered the unusual psychological ailment, but added twists to make it something even more unique. The resolution satisfied my uncertainty on who I should have been rooting for. I can't ruin the ending, but it worked with my doubts about characters I liked during the investigation.
Devil's Waltz digs into the psychological and medical side of thrillers more than the police procedural, reversing the roles of the story - with Alex bringing in Milo after awhile instead of the other way around. I enjoyed this change of pace.
Alex is called in by someone else other than Milo this time - his past with the hospital has earned him an in with another mystery, this time at first investigating to protect a child rather than investigate an actual crime. Much of the plot is dedicated to preventing a potential horror rather than bringing justice to something already accomplished. Munchausen by proxy is a horrific mystery of psychological taboos, and it was a cerebral treat to read a thriller focused on the possibility of it.
Throw in Kellerman's skill in creating layered characters who are as convincing in their dysfunctions as much as their innocence, and it gets even better. I stood on my toes wondering who was guilty, if anyone was, and unsure which side I should really be rooting for. On one hand, my mother's side was wanting to protect the child at all costs if there's any doubt, but on the other hand, nosy doctors who sometimes overreach grated my mother's security.
It ended up with a treat that not only covered the unusual psychological ailment, but added twists to make it something even more unique. The resolution satisfied my uncertainty on who I should have been rooting for. I can't ruin the ending, but it worked with my doubts about characters I liked during the investigation.
Devil's Waltz digs into the psychological and medical side of thrillers more than the police procedural, reversing the roles of the story - with Alex bringing in Milo after awhile instead of the other way around. I enjoyed this change of pace.
November 15, 2024
4 Stars. A true psychological thriller. But once again I complain of early Kellerman's being too long. But it's good. It unfolded like an onion; just when you begin to think you've got a handle on the case, another layer is revealed. The book starts with Dr. Delaware being called to a meeting, this time not by his friend, Detective Sturgis, but Dr. Stephanie Eves. It's about a patient of hers, a 21-month-old child named Cassie Jones who keeps being rushed to emergency with serious but puzzling symptoms. Seizures and the like. Could Alex have a look? He's still on staff at Western Pediatric (aka 'Peeds') in L.A., so Dr. Eves' suspicions about the little girl's parents won't become apparent too quickly. Very soon a complication arises. Chip and Cindy Jones are the son and daughter-in-law of the all-powerful Chair of the hospital board, Chuck Jones. And then a second. A doctor on staff, Laurence Ashmore, is found murdered in the parking lot. Is it related? If the issue is, as Dr. D. suspects, Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, a parent, usually the mother with mental issues, hurting their child, then this specific family is going to be a problem. And so it is. (No2024/Se2026)
September 14, 2026
Another strong entry in the Alex Delaware series—and one that proves psychology can be just as dangerous as a murder weapon. I’m still impressed by how effortlessly Jonathan Kellerman blends psychological suspense, police procedure, and the darker realities of human behaviour with this seventh book. It may be one of the more disturbing yet, because the central mystery isn't simply about who is committing the crimes—it’s about why someone would deliberately make a child sick.
Cassie Jones is only twenty-one months old, yet she repeatedly ends up in the emergency room with baffling symptoms. Her parents appear loving and concerned. Her favourite nurse seems devoted. On the surface, everyone appears to be exactly who they claim to be. But Delaware’s psychological instincts tell him that something is seriously wrong. Then a physician is murdered and suddenly, the mystery surrounding Cassie takes on an entirely different dimension.
What makes this story particularly effective is the parallel Kellerman creates between the medical mystery and the homicide investigation. Both require Delaware and LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis to look beneath appearances. Both involve people whose outward behaviour doesn't necessarily match what is happening underneath. In both cases, the truth is buried beneath layers of fear, manipulation, trauma, obsession, and dysfunction.
That is where Kellerman really shines, as he shows behaviour is evidence. Fingerprints and physical clues matter, of course, but Delaware understands that the way people behave—and the reasons behind that behaviour—can reveal just as much. The investigation becomes an exercise in psychological excavation. Every relationship, reaction, contradiction, and seemingly insignificant detail potentially means something. For the attentive reader, those details matter.
Kellerman doesn't simply hand over the answers. He plants behavioural clues and psychological parallels throughout the story, rewarding readers who pay attention to what people say, what they avoid saying, and how they react when pressure begins closing in. The mystery becomes less about collecting clues and more about understanding damaged people. That distinction gives this book its bite.
Alex Delaware continues to grow as a protagonist. He isn't some infallible psychological genius who walks into a room and immediately diagnoses everyone. His observations are thoughtful, but he is also flawed, curious, and occasionally forced to confront uncomfortable truths about himself. His professional ability to understand other people's minds doesn't necessarily make navigating his own any easier. The Delaware/Sturgis partnership remains one of my favourite elements of this series. A child psychologist and an LAPD homicide detective should be an unlikely investigative duo, yet their differences are precisely what make them effective. Milo approaches the case through police work and instinct; Delaware approaches it through psychology and behaviour. They challenge each other, question assumptions, and occasionally get under each other's skin. Their banter also provides welcome relief in a story that ventures into some exceptionally dark territory.
What I appreciate most about these early Delaware novels is how Kellerman keeps expanding the series without abandoning what made it compelling in the first place. The investigations remain firmly rooted in police procedure, but the psychological component gives them another layer. The question isn't merely “Who did it?” It's “What kind of person would do this—and what happened inside that person to make it possible?” That question lingers long after the individual clues begin falling into place.
There are, inevitably, elements that feel dated when reading an older crime novel. Some language, attitudes, and details reflect the era in which the story was written. But that didn't diminish the central mystery for me. The psychological themes remain surprisingly potent, and Kellerman's fascination with human dysfunction has aged considerably better than some of the surrounding material.
Seven books in, I'm increasingly convinced that the real strength of the Alex Delaware series isn't simply the crimes Kellerman creates. It's his willingness to explore the minds behind them. Psychology isn't just an accessory to the investigation—it is the investigation. The more I read this series, the more I want to see what Kellerman digs out of the next troubled mind.
Kudos, Mr. Kellerman, for a story with a new level of spine chilling revelations.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Cassie Jones is only twenty-one months old, yet she repeatedly ends up in the emergency room with baffling symptoms. Her parents appear loving and concerned. Her favourite nurse seems devoted. On the surface, everyone appears to be exactly who they claim to be. But Delaware’s psychological instincts tell him that something is seriously wrong. Then a physician is murdered and suddenly, the mystery surrounding Cassie takes on an entirely different dimension.
What makes this story particularly effective is the parallel Kellerman creates between the medical mystery and the homicide investigation. Both require Delaware and LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis to look beneath appearances. Both involve people whose outward behaviour doesn't necessarily match what is happening underneath. In both cases, the truth is buried beneath layers of fear, manipulation, trauma, obsession, and dysfunction.
That is where Kellerman really shines, as he shows behaviour is evidence. Fingerprints and physical clues matter, of course, but Delaware understands that the way people behave—and the reasons behind that behaviour—can reveal just as much. The investigation becomes an exercise in psychological excavation. Every relationship, reaction, contradiction, and seemingly insignificant detail potentially means something. For the attentive reader, those details matter.
Kellerman doesn't simply hand over the answers. He plants behavioural clues and psychological parallels throughout the story, rewarding readers who pay attention to what people say, what they avoid saying, and how they react when pressure begins closing in. The mystery becomes less about collecting clues and more about understanding damaged people. That distinction gives this book its bite.
Alex Delaware continues to grow as a protagonist. He isn't some infallible psychological genius who walks into a room and immediately diagnoses everyone. His observations are thoughtful, but he is also flawed, curious, and occasionally forced to confront uncomfortable truths about himself. His professional ability to understand other people's minds doesn't necessarily make navigating his own any easier. The Delaware/Sturgis partnership remains one of my favourite elements of this series. A child psychologist and an LAPD homicide detective should be an unlikely investigative duo, yet their differences are precisely what make them effective. Milo approaches the case through police work and instinct; Delaware approaches it through psychology and behaviour. They challenge each other, question assumptions, and occasionally get under each other's skin. Their banter also provides welcome relief in a story that ventures into some exceptionally dark territory.
What I appreciate most about these early Delaware novels is how Kellerman keeps expanding the series without abandoning what made it compelling in the first place. The investigations remain firmly rooted in police procedure, but the psychological component gives them another layer. The question isn't merely “Who did it?” It's “What kind of person would do this—and what happened inside that person to make it possible?” That question lingers long after the individual clues begin falling into place.
There are, inevitably, elements that feel dated when reading an older crime novel. Some language, attitudes, and details reflect the era in which the story was written. But that didn't diminish the central mystery for me. The psychological themes remain surprisingly potent, and Kellerman's fascination with human dysfunction has aged considerably better than some of the surrounding material.
Seven books in, I'm increasingly convinced that the real strength of the Alex Delaware series isn't simply the crimes Kellerman creates. It's his willingness to explore the minds behind them. Psychology isn't just an accessory to the investigation—it is the investigation. The more I read this series, the more I want to see what Kellerman digs out of the next troubled mind.
Kudos, Mr. Kellerman, for a story with a new level of spine chilling revelations.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 15, 2020
too slow ... meandering ... 75 pages and no story yet ... I am a big fan of Kellerman but not this book
January 17, 2023
Devil's Waltz by Jonayjan Kellerman is the 7th book in the Alex Delaware Mystery series. Child psychologist Alex Delaware is asked to consult on a child with mysterious illnesses where Munchausen by proxy is suspected. I am enjoying this series more and more. I love that Alex and Robyn are back together again and their relationship seems to be growing. I enjoyed the mystery with all its twists and surprises. A captivating medical thriller with plenty of suspense.
May 27, 2010
Here's what I learned from this book.
I don't like boring formulaic stories that make references to other books in the series that sound WAY more interesting than the one that I am currently reading.
This book was the equivalent of buying a decent car and as you are leaving the dealership you find out that there was a much cooler car that you didn't see...for the same price as the one you just bought.
I got buyer's remorse...and the book was GIVEN to me.
I don't like boring formulaic stories that make references to other books in the series that sound WAY more interesting than the one that I am currently reading.
This book was the equivalent of buying a decent car and as you are leaving the dealership you find out that there was a much cooler car that you didn't see...for the same price as the one you just bought.
I got buyer's remorse...and the book was GIVEN to me.
August 20, 2015
This book dragged on a bit for me. While a wealthy mogul is destroying the county hospital, his granddaughter is dying in it. Alex is brought in because Cassie's doctor suspects Munchhausen by proxy.
We will go through many pages of suspecting the Mom, the nurse, the grandfather and other doctors. The CIA will get involved at one point because they are trying to take down the Grandfather, Chuck Jones, for embezzling the hospital's pension fund.
In the end, Cassie's father was poisoning her because she wasn't his biologically, he is a psychopath and he hates his wife. He killed their first child also. Why he just didn't get a divorce and/or use birth control is beyond me.
We will go through many pages of suspecting the Mom, the nurse, the grandfather and other doctors. The CIA will get involved at one point because they are trying to take down the Grandfather, Chuck Jones, for embezzling the hospital's pension fund.
In the end, Cassie's father was poisoning her because she wasn't his biologically, he is a psychopath and he hates his wife. He killed their first child also. Why he just didn't get a divorce and/or use birth control is beyond me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2008
This novel made me embarrassed to call myself a writer.
April 21, 2022
Devil’s Waltz (#7 in the Alex Delaware series), Jonathan Kellerman, 2006
(MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS)
My favorite quote: The opening line: “It was a place of fear and myth, home of miracles and the worst kind of failure.” (I didn’t know what Jonathan Kellerman was describing right away, but soon realized it wasn’t my underwear drawer after all. Anyway, the moment I read that first line, I was like, here is a man who knows how to hook readers. And by readers, I mean me)
Most interesting characters: Alex Delaware, a forensic psychologist; Milo Sturgis, his sidekick; Cassie Jones, a child who keeps getting inexplicably ill
Opening scene: Devil’s Waltz begins with Alex Delaware being called to the hospital he used to work at. His friend and former colleague, Stephanie, has a young patient who’s suffering from continuous illnesses, and while she doesn’t like to think it, she’s beginning to suspect that the child’s mother is causing the sicknesses. She asks Alex Delaware to help her get to the bottom of things
The gist: Alex Delaware is called upon to prove that a mother is causing her twenty-one month old daughter’s mysterious illnesses -- like I just said. Sometimes I feel like you’re not even listening to me
Greatest strengths: Few writers can spend as much time on descriptions as Jonathan Kellerman and get away with it. The difference, I think, between those who can pull it off and those who can’t depends on what information they’re giving and why. Personally, I appreciate being placed firmly in the scene I’m reading, and Devil’s Waltz accomplished that throughout. I felt like I was there -- and since hospitals and sick children and nasty nurses aren’t the kinds of things I’m immediately familiar with, I liked being fully steeped in that world
Standout achievements: With little Cassie’s overly-devoted nurse, a stern-faced indignant woman who takes an instant dislike to Alex Delaware, Jonathan Kellerman creates a whole new kind of tension. On one hand, I felt bad for Nurse Nelly (or whatever her name was -- I can’t for the life of me remember it), but on the other, I wanted push her down a flight of stairs and blame it on the mother who was probably heading to prison anyway
Fun Facts: I’ve never met Jonathan Kellerman, but I have had the pleasure of meeting his wife, Faye -- a lovely woman and fine thriller writer herself
Other media: N/A -- although films have been made from other Alex Delaware books
Additional thoughts: Unlike most books which I pick up on account of the attractive covers, I picked this one up for its name. Devil’s Waltz. It just sounds cool. I had no idea it was about Munchausen by proxy or that it was part of a series -- I just liked the title. Come to find out, judging a book by its title is as effective as judging a book by its cover -- Devil’s Waltz turned me into a Jonathan Kellerman fan
Hit or Miss: Hit
Haunt me: alistaircross.com
Read Devil’s Waltz: https://tinyurl.com/3zxe7t24
(MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS)
My favorite quote: The opening line: “It was a place of fear and myth, home of miracles and the worst kind of failure.” (I didn’t know what Jonathan Kellerman was describing right away, but soon realized it wasn’t my underwear drawer after all. Anyway, the moment I read that first line, I was like, here is a man who knows how to hook readers. And by readers, I mean me)
Most interesting characters: Alex Delaware, a forensic psychologist; Milo Sturgis, his sidekick; Cassie Jones, a child who keeps getting inexplicably ill
Opening scene: Devil’s Waltz begins with Alex Delaware being called to the hospital he used to work at. His friend and former colleague, Stephanie, has a young patient who’s suffering from continuous illnesses, and while she doesn’t like to think it, she’s beginning to suspect that the child’s mother is causing the sicknesses. She asks Alex Delaware to help her get to the bottom of things
The gist: Alex Delaware is called upon to prove that a mother is causing her twenty-one month old daughter’s mysterious illnesses -- like I just said. Sometimes I feel like you’re not even listening to me
Greatest strengths: Few writers can spend as much time on descriptions as Jonathan Kellerman and get away with it. The difference, I think, between those who can pull it off and those who can’t depends on what information they’re giving and why. Personally, I appreciate being placed firmly in the scene I’m reading, and Devil’s Waltz accomplished that throughout. I felt like I was there -- and since hospitals and sick children and nasty nurses aren’t the kinds of things I’m immediately familiar with, I liked being fully steeped in that world
Standout achievements: With little Cassie’s overly-devoted nurse, a stern-faced indignant woman who takes an instant dislike to Alex Delaware, Jonathan Kellerman creates a whole new kind of tension. On one hand, I felt bad for Nurse Nelly (or whatever her name was -- I can’t for the life of me remember it), but on the other, I wanted push her down a flight of stairs and blame it on the mother who was probably heading to prison anyway
Fun Facts: I’ve never met Jonathan Kellerman, but I have had the pleasure of meeting his wife, Faye -- a lovely woman and fine thriller writer herself
Other media: N/A -- although films have been made from other Alex Delaware books
Additional thoughts: Unlike most books which I pick up on account of the attractive covers, I picked this one up for its name. Devil’s Waltz. It just sounds cool. I had no idea it was about Munchausen by proxy or that it was part of a series -- I just liked the title. Come to find out, judging a book by its title is as effective as judging a book by its cover -- Devil’s Waltz turned me into a Jonathan Kellerman fan
Hit or Miss: Hit
Haunt me: alistaircross.com
Read Devil’s Waltz: https://tinyurl.com/3zxe7t24
November 10, 2009
Just another book I'm reading for the purpose of clearing shelf space. Frustratingly, I can't seem to just chuck it off the bat. It is written in a pleasant enough style, and so I keep reading in hopes that the dragging search for evidence for Munchausen by proxy will eventually become exciting. This isn't the first book in the series, which doesn't make me any happier. There are oblique references and reoccurring characters that I know nothing about.
ETA: Meh. I was getting pissy enough with being strung along that I considered just skipping to the end. Muscled through it and was rather dissatisfied, though I can't exactly explain why. Will not try any more books from this author.
ETA: Meh. I was getting pissy enough with being strung along that I considered just skipping to the end. Muscled through it and was rather dissatisfied, though I can't exactly explain why. Will not try any more books from this author.
December 31, 2021
Not my favorite book by Jonathan Kellerman, but a good one none the less. I thought I had identified the perpetrator more than once, only to be surprised at the end. You can't improve too much on that!
December 9, 2025
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
This is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. In this one Alex is called back to his old stomping grounds to help consult on a case. This case concerns an infant child that keeps landing in the hospital for various ailments and the doctors have no idea what is going on with this child.
This is early in the series and I believe it to be one of the better ones from the early works. This one starts to really showcase what this series becomes in my eyes. Alex playing detective with help from Milo. I have read some of the later works and what draws me into these books is the look into various disorders. That was the case with this one. I loved the look into it as it was completely new to me. I enjoy when I learn from a book while being entertained. There were two reasons why I could not give this a full four stars. The sub plot never interested me and felt like an add on. The second and which affected me the most was the twist. The author tried so hard to steer us in a specific direction that it was easy to figure out what really was going on. It was obvious.
Like I said this is early in the series and it shows. I believe if the author wrote this book now it would easily be five stars. If one is reading these in order one can see his development in his writing skills. It isn't completely there yet but definitely an improvement of the books before this one. I also thought the topic was fascinating and I wanted to know more about it. This book piqued my interest throughout.
This is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. In this one Alex is called back to his old stomping grounds to help consult on a case. This case concerns an infant child that keeps landing in the hospital for various ailments and the doctors have no idea what is going on with this child.
This is early in the series and I believe it to be one of the better ones from the early works. This one starts to really showcase what this series becomes in my eyes. Alex playing detective with help from Milo. I have read some of the later works and what draws me into these books is the look into various disorders. That was the case with this one. I loved the look into it as it was completely new to me. I enjoy when I learn from a book while being entertained. There were two reasons why I could not give this a full four stars. The sub plot never interested me and felt like an add on. The second and which affected me the most was the twist. The author tried so hard to steer us in a specific direction that it was easy to figure out what really was going on. It was obvious.
Like I said this is early in the series and it shows. I believe if the author wrote this book now it would easily be five stars. If one is reading these in order one can see his development in his writing skills. It isn't completely there yet but definitely an improvement of the books before this one. I also thought the topic was fascinating and I wanted to know more about it. This book piqued my interest throughout.
September 30, 2018
Como todos los libros de la serie protagonizada por el psicólogo Alex Delaware, me ha enganchado. Son tramas duras, ya que siempre afectan a niños. En este caso, una pediatra le pide ayuda, ya que sospecha de maltrato a una niña por parte de un pariente afectado del síndrome de Münchhausen por sustitución, provocándole enfermedades.
Narrada en primera persona por el propio Alex, conocemos todos los hechos al mismo tiempo que él, así como las deducciones a las que llega y los análisis psicológicos que va realizando a las personas que rodean a la niña.
El autor también aprovecha para realizar una dura crítica a las políticas sanitarias de esa época (años 90).
Otro personaje recurrente en esa serie, al que se le llega a tomar mucho cariño, es Milo; un detective de homicidios homosexual. Gracias a Milo, el autor toca otro tema muy sensible en ese país y esa época.
Tengo que repasar toda la bibliografía, para ver que otros libros me quedan pendientes de leer de esta serie!!!
Narrada en primera persona por el propio Alex, conocemos todos los hechos al mismo tiempo que él, así como las deducciones a las que llega y los análisis psicológicos que va realizando a las personas que rodean a la niña.
El autor también aprovecha para realizar una dura crítica a las políticas sanitarias de esa época (años 90).
Otro personaje recurrente en esa serie, al que se le llega a tomar mucho cariño, es Milo; un detective de homicidios homosexual. Gracias a Milo, el autor toca otro tema muy sensible en ese país y esa época.
Tengo que repasar toda la bibliografía, para ver que otros libros me quedan pendientes de leer de esta serie!!!
September 23, 2021
I do not care that Kellerman is long winded with his descriptions. I love it that way and it is the way a character like Deleware would notice things.
It seems a random way to start a review...but many people complain about this aspect of Kellerman's writing. I find all of these books to be amazing. I have a Psych degree that I do not use and I am living vicariously through Dr. Deleware.
I will continue until I have read the whole series.
It seems a random way to start a review...but many people complain about this aspect of Kellerman's writing. I find all of these books to be amazing. I have a Psych degree that I do not use and I am living vicariously through Dr. Deleware.
I will continue until I have read the whole series.
January 16, 2022
I so Love Alex and Milo, did not know when him and Robin broke up going to have to find that one , so glad they are back. This book was so intense and just plain sad in there really a Devil in disguise Alex and Milo are such a good team, I'm so glad Milo is a cop again ... this book is soo good. Thank you once again Mr. Kellerman. My budget won't allow for these often, hance th reason I have to catch up.....
August 7, 2021
Just when I think this series couldn’t get any better, it does with a focus on a sick child at a hospital with a tie in to a murdered toxicologist and his assistant at the same hospital. Of course the backstory ties it all together and just unbelievable what people will do. Good to see Alex getting back with Robin and Milo back on the force.
October 30, 2019
I am giving this book 1 star for Milo. I am also not going to read anymore of Kellerman's books. They just are not enjoyable reads for me.
August 7, 2012
Phew! By the hair of my chinny-chin-chin I finished this in time for book group. Woo! And after hearing why E chose this book (because of her own personal experiences with a relative who suffers from Munchausen disorder, as well as the fact that she didn't realize it was in a series), I can even embrace her choice. I was pleased to find that, like book 6, this book featured a more tightly-woven plot than the earlier titles in the series. It really had a "whodunnit" feel to it, which was fun... plenty of red herrings to keep me entertained and interested.
I am so glad I took the time to read up to this book, because I think it made my reading experience much richer than it otherwise would have been. I could appreciate the references to earlier books (always fun!), and knowing the backstory of the characters really helped inform my perspective of the action. No one else in book group had read the previous books, and while they definitely seemed to get into the story, I kind of got the feeling that they thought the character development of the main players was lacking.
A lightbulb went off for me as we were discussing this one. Kellerman himself is a psychologist. Maybe a part of what drives his conspiracy-ridden plots is a desire to make sense of the senselessness of child abuse and the challenges mental illness. Real life rarely ends cleanly. But in a book, he can tie up all of those loose ends and have a sense of closure. When I started thinking about his crazy conspiracies in those terms, I felt a little less exasperated by them.
I don't know if I'll be reading any more Alex Delaware novels. But I'm leaving the door open.
I am so glad I took the time to read up to this book, because I think it made my reading experience much richer than it otherwise would have been. I could appreciate the references to earlier books (always fun!), and knowing the backstory of the characters really helped inform my perspective of the action. No one else in book group had read the previous books, and while they definitely seemed to get into the story, I kind of got the feeling that they thought the character development of the main players was lacking.
A lightbulb went off for me as we were discussing this one. Kellerman himself is a psychologist. Maybe a part of what drives his conspiracy-ridden plots is a desire to make sense of the senselessness of child abuse and the challenges mental illness. Real life rarely ends cleanly. But in a book, he can tie up all of those loose ends and have a sense of closure. When I started thinking about his crazy conspiracies in those terms, I felt a little less exasperated by them.
I don't know if I'll be reading any more Alex Delaware novels. But I'm leaving the door open.
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March 19, 2021Το 2021 είναι η χρονιά που θα διαβάσω τα αδιάβαστα μου και αν μέχρι την μέση δεν με έχει κερδίσει θα τα αφήνω. Έχω γεμάτες 3 βιβλιοθήκες με αδιάβαστα. Στην κατηγορία αυτή ανήκει και αυτό.
Το πρόβλημα είναι ότι πραγματικά δεν ενδιαφέρε τι συνέβαινε. Ούτε οι ήρωες με ενδιαφέραν ούτε η πλοκή προχωρούσε με ικανοποιητική ταχύτητα. Διάβασα το μισό και φτάνει, επίσης δεν βάζω βαθμολογία.
Το πρόβλημα είναι ότι πραγματικά δεν ενδιαφέρε τι συνέβαινε. Ούτε οι ήρωες με ενδιαφέραν ούτε η πλοκή προχωρούσε με ικανοποιητική ταχύτητα. Διάβασα το μισό και φτάνει, επίσης δεν βάζω βαθμολογία.
August 27, 2017
This is my favorite of the Alex Delaware series books. I've read about a dozen of them. Great character development, suspenseful until the end, and true to the authors purpose of continuing to educate the reader on the cause and effect of tortured and traumatized childhoods.
May 7, 2022
Milo and Alex...Cop and Shrink..
The cases they solve always seem to be so plausible....and real..
This one is horrible! And deadly..but they get the evil one..
Love the fact that Robin is back home.
The cases they solve always seem to be so plausible....and real..
This one is horrible! And deadly..but they get the evil one..
Love the fact that Robin is back home.
January 30, 2020
A great whodunit, medical drama. I like Alex Delaware as the main character. Think I may try out more of his
February 27, 2016
In this book in the series Alex Delaware and Jonathan Kellerman takes on hospitals and the administration while trying to find an issue with a 2 year old little girl. I found this book very fast paced and enjoyable to listen to. I find that I am not enjoying the relationship that Alex is having with his main squeeze as much as I once did. I do find Detective Sturges very likeable still and very believable. Character development of that character is very well done as Sturges finds himself relegated to a desk job for an issue that happened in the prior book in the series. I do find that the books tie closely together and although you don't have to read them in order, I would find it hard to go backwards in order. Each book gives you enough background on the prior books without ruining the story but I find myself thinking back on prior books and it brings a more fleshed out story.
March 11, 2019
I loved this book! I can’t wait to read more from this series. This book is about a child who is in the hospital many times for different illnesses but the underlying problem can never be found. There is a sibling who died years before of crib death. Munchausen by proxy? Who can tell? The Dr called in is a psychiatrist involved with children who is the lead character of this series! Great story line and great twist!
April 4, 2022
Still winding my way through the Jonathan Kellerman Alex Delaware books … another engaging who dun it and why? Most questions answered by the end, though not all … but as a human, I'm not sure there is any way to ever understand Munchausen's by proxy …
July 14, 2020
2...Looking like my least favorite, thus far...Not only, is the plot line written into the ground already, the outcome was too easily guessed...what a drag!
January 4, 2019
The book started off slow, but about halfway through it really took off. It was a good read, however, I wish the ending would have been tighter. I wanted to know how the trial ended and not just who done it.
January 28, 2023
I listened to the audio version during walks and drive times over the past week or so. It more than merely held my interest. The who/how dunnit plot was intricate and exceptionally well developed. One of the best JK novels I've encountered recently. I guess I should be glad I missed it when it first came out.
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