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Alex Delaware #10
The Web
Librarian’s note: This is a previously-published edition of
Kindle ASIN: B000FBFN9C.
Psychologist-detective Dr. Alex Delaware finds terror in the heart of paradise in this relentlessly sinister novel by America's premier writer of psychological suspense, the author of ten successive New York Times bestsellers. Three months in paradise, all expenses paid. It's an invitation Alex Delaware can't refuse. Dr. Woodrow Wilson Moreland, a revered scientist and philanthropist on the tiny Pacific island of Aruk, has invited Alex to his home to help him organize his papers for publication-- a light workload leaving Alex plenty of time to enjoy a romantic interlude with Robin Castagna.
Quickly, however, secretive house guests, frightening nocturnal visitors, and the elusive Dr. Moreland himself dim the pleasures of deep blue water and white sand.
The cases Moreland chooses to share--a patient driven to madness by a cruel, unspeakable act; a man who succumbed forty years ago to radiation poisoning after a nuclear blast; a young woman, brutally murdered, whose mutilated body was found on the beach just six months before-- seem unconnected. And yet Alex can't help wondering what the good doctor is trying to tell him...and what Moreland's real reason for inviting him to Aruk is.
As Alex probes--with a little long-distance help from his friend LAPD detective Milo Sturgis--he comes to believe the answer lies hidden somewhere on Moreland's vast estate. Yet when he finally discovers the truth, the revelation will be more shocking than he could have imagined. And it will come too late to stem the tide of violence that threatens guilty and innocent alike on the lovely lost island of Aruk.
Once again, with his brilliant characterizations and rapid-fire pace, Jonathan Kellerman has redefined the boundaries of suspense, probing real-life horrors and innermost fears in a novel that transfixes from first page to last.
Kindle ASIN: B000FBFN9C.
Psychologist-detective Dr. Alex Delaware finds terror in the heart of paradise in this relentlessly sinister novel by America's premier writer of psychological suspense, the author of ten successive New York Times bestsellers. Three months in paradise, all expenses paid. It's an invitation Alex Delaware can't refuse. Dr. Woodrow Wilson Moreland, a revered scientist and philanthropist on the tiny Pacific island of Aruk, has invited Alex to his home to help him organize his papers for publication-- a light workload leaving Alex plenty of time to enjoy a romantic interlude with Robin Castagna.
Quickly, however, secretive house guests, frightening nocturnal visitors, and the elusive Dr. Moreland himself dim the pleasures of deep blue water and white sand.
The cases Moreland chooses to share--a patient driven to madness by a cruel, unspeakable act; a man who succumbed forty years ago to radiation poisoning after a nuclear blast; a young woman, brutally murdered, whose mutilated body was found on the beach just six months before-- seem unconnected. And yet Alex can't help wondering what the good doctor is trying to tell him...and what Moreland's real reason for inviting him to Aruk is.
As Alex probes--with a little long-distance help from his friend LAPD detective Milo Sturgis--he comes to believe the answer lies hidden somewhere on Moreland's vast estate. Yet when he finally discovers the truth, the revelation will be more shocking than he could have imagined. And it will come too late to stem the tide of violence that threatens guilty and innocent alike on the lovely lost island of Aruk.
Once again, with his brilliant characterizations and rapid-fire pace, Jonathan Kellerman has redefined the boundaries of suspense, probing real-life horrors and innermost fears in a novel that transfixes from first page to last.
448 pages, ebook
First published November 25, 1995
655 people are currently reading
2846 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Kellerman
203 books5,823 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 411 reviews
September 16, 2021
In this 10th book in the 'Alex Delaware' series, the psychologist/sleuth is in the Marshall Islands for a working vacation. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
I've been a fan of Jonathan Kellerman's 'Alex Delaware' series for a long time, but the recent ones have gone downhill in my opinion. For that reason I decided to go back and read an old Alex Delaware novel, thinking I'd enjoy it.
In 'The Web', published in 2003, psychologist/LAPD consultant Dr. Alex Delaware is on an extended visit to the tiny South Pacific island of Aruk (in the Mariana Chain) with his girlfriend Robin Castagna and their French bulldog Spike. Alex has been hired by the isle's resident physician, Dr. Bill Moreland - who's been there since the end of WWII - to help organize his medical files and write a book. The nearby Bikini Atoll was used to test a hydrogen bomb in 1954, and the fallout from that had terrible medical consequences.
Moreover, Moreland tells stories about a local cat-woman (a female who behaved like a cat) and an unsolved case in which a woman on the island was horribly killed and cannibalized.
Moreland provides an office for Alex, an art studio for Robin, and a run for Spike. He also serves delicious food and drinks and arranges for recreational activities like swimming and snorkeling. During a tour of Moreland's very extensive estate, he shows Robin and Alex his lovely gardens as well as his 'invertebrate zoo', populated with giant hissing cockroaches, huge tarantulas, and other scary creatures.
Hissing cockroach
Giant tarantula
As they settle in, Alex and Robin become acquainted with other people spending time on the estate, including Moreland's divorced daughter Pam - who's also a physician; Moreland's assistant Dennis - who's a trained nurse; and a married couple who are PhD scientists. Robin and Alex also meet some of the local residents of Aruk, including the chief of police; a couple of merchants; a pushy journalist; and two ominous creeps who ogle Robin and make rude remarks.
Before long there are more suspicious deaths on Aruk; scary bugs get loose; Spike is infuriated by badly behaving humans; Moreland is seen sneaking around at night; an entitled U.S. Senator visits and throws his weight around; and Alex starts to suspect that Moreland lured him to the island under false pretenses. And of course Alex is right!!
As the story unfurls there are some big surprises, and I'd categorize them as unbelievable, lurid, and crass. There's also a lot of non-graphic romance between Alex and Robin - which isn't surprising because they're still at it fifteen years later. ❤
LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis, who's a regular character in this series, makes a brief appearance via phone calls - and I missed his big personality (and big appetite). 😊
The book has a 'horror' vibe, but it's in sync with other books in the series where Alex meets dangerous people. The story moves too slowly to be a gripping thriller - and Kellerman describes his characters' appearance and clothing in too much detail (as always) - but this is a serviceable mystery to pass a few hours with....and I cheered at the end.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
December 6, 2022
Alex Delaware & Milo Sturges book No. 10: Delaware and his girlfriend Robin travel to an island where he assists a doctor with collecting and organising his works. A complicated plot, concerning murder, and a weird experiment gone awry is worked through with pretty uneven writing, uncharacteristic for Kellerman. It's almost as if someone else wrote the book! A lonesome One Star, 2 out of 12!
2011 read
2011 read
January 9, 2019
"Look at this," he said. "I'm sure you've never seen a web like this."
Mystery readers who like their stories compartmentalised and samey will probably frown upon what Kellerman has done here. It’s an Alex Delaware novel, but it is also quite unlike any of the other novels in the series (or at least those that I have read, which, admittedly aren’t that many).
For starters: the story takes place on a remote and obscure Micronesian island. Consider: a large mansion filled with house guests; a gruesome past murder; a gruesome present murder; red herrings; strange people. It does sound like this might be the best novel Agatha Christie never wrote… but it’s not quite that either.
Shining the penlight into a dark tank, he revealed something half covered by leaves.
It crawled out slowly and my stomach lurched.
This novel brings a bit of the old bizarre factor to the table, which is saying quite a lot, considering the nature of the Alex Delaware novels. Let me put it this way, I read The Web on the back of a spate of Horror novels and it didn’t feel out of place.
The Web is a fairly cryptic book, quite literally filled with riddles. To be honest, there’s a bit of over-indulgence on the author’s part in turning the whole thing into something not completely unlike a dramatic reality show, but it works… somehow.
"It's something, isn't it? You come to an out-of-the-way place, think you're escaping big-city crime, and it runs after you like a mad dog."
Mystery readers who like their stories compartmentalised and samey will probably frown upon what Kellerman has done here. It’s an Alex Delaware novel, but it is also quite unlike any of the other novels in the series (or at least those that I have read, which, admittedly aren’t that many).
For starters: the story takes place on a remote and obscure Micronesian island. Consider: a large mansion filled with house guests; a gruesome past murder; a gruesome present murder; red herrings; strange people. It does sound like this might be the best novel Agatha Christie never wrote… but it’s not quite that either.
Shining the penlight into a dark tank, he revealed something half covered by leaves.
It crawled out slowly and my stomach lurched.
This novel brings a bit of the old bizarre factor to the table, which is saying quite a lot, considering the nature of the Alex Delaware novels. Let me put it this way, I read The Web on the back of a spate of Horror novels and it didn’t feel out of place.
The Web is a fairly cryptic book, quite literally filled with riddles. To be honest, there’s a bit of over-indulgence on the author’s part in turning the whole thing into something not completely unlike a dramatic reality show, but it works… somehow.
"It's something, isn't it? You come to an out-of-the-way place, think you're escaping big-city crime, and it runs after you like a mad dog."
September 4, 2020
Δεν νομίζω πως ταιριάξαμε με τον Άλεξ.Κι έψαχνα και τόσον καιρό να το βρω-προς το τέλος απέκτησε λίγο ενδιαφέρον, αλλά όχι τόσο ώστε να αναζητήσω και την υπόλοιπη σειρά.
3⭐
3⭐
March 29, 2021
Oh boy. So this was a random pick at a used book store-I liked the shiny cover, and when I see something shiny, it immediately has my undivided attention! I’ve never read any Kellerman so I had no idea what to expect, and I was beyond pleasantly surprised. This is a thriller so bizarre it borders on a horror novel.
Alex Delaware is a psychologist called to a remote tropical island in the South Pacific to help a strange and mysterious doctor sort out some things at the end of his life. Gruesome murders with potential cannibalism begin-but this is not just a murder mystery. This area is close to Bikini Atoll, where nuclear bombs were tested years before, and this begins to come in to the story as well....anymore would be a spoiler.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, in fact I have already grabbed another Kellerman book offline! There were many strange twists and turns that I never would’ve seen coming in this book, and the ending was satisfying and appropriately strange. I think this book would be good for fans of both the murder mystery and horror fans, as there are some really dark things going on. And have I said STRANGE enough yet?
Kellerman himself is a child psychologist, and this comes through in the writing. The perspective is really interesting and I think this added to my interest in it. Details are not spared and there may be a little extra analysis than other authors of the genre like John Sandford. This perspective in fiction was fresh and something I haven’t really read before so it was more than welcome.
4/5. Will be spending more time with Jonathan Kellerman and Alex Delaware in the future for sure!
Alex Delaware is a psychologist called to a remote tropical island in the South Pacific to help a strange and mysterious doctor sort out some things at the end of his life. Gruesome murders with potential cannibalism begin-but this is not just a murder mystery. This area is close to Bikini Atoll, where nuclear bombs were tested years before, and this begins to come in to the story as well....anymore would be a spoiler.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, in fact I have already grabbed another Kellerman book offline! There were many strange twists and turns that I never would’ve seen coming in this book, and the ending was satisfying and appropriately strange. I think this book would be good for fans of both the murder mystery and horror fans, as there are some really dark things going on. And have I said STRANGE enough yet?
Kellerman himself is a child psychologist, and this comes through in the writing. The perspective is really interesting and I think this added to my interest in it. Details are not spared and there may be a little extra analysis than other authors of the genre like John Sandford. This perspective in fiction was fresh and something I haven’t really read before so it was more than welcome.
4/5. Will be spending more time with Jonathan Kellerman and Alex Delaware in the future for sure!
November 24, 2009
I like Kellerman's characters, but I'm starting to get a bit tired of his detailed descriptions of whatever area he's either entered, or who's wearing what. This took place on a little island (I think it's fake) in the S.Pacific. Alex Delaware & his partner (Robin)get an unexpected "vacation" as he does research for a Dr. there, who is about to retire. Has to do w/nuclear bombs being discharged under water years ago...and the fallout from those tests. Now, the dear Dr. has a cavefull of "aliens" who must be taken care of as he...well...you've got to read it. Sorry...the "vacation" gets called short when things starting falling apart on the secret, isolated little island.
February 26, 2017
Dr. Alex Delaware and his girlfriend leave LA for a three month sabbatical and head to a Micronesia island to help Dr. Moreland organize his research and papers for publication. They believe this light work load will give them a much needed vacation. But no! The tropical paradise is anything but as Alex discovers a conspiracy (as he does in every book) that Dr. Moreland is complicit in that is so preposterous that it strained credibility.
March 17, 2024
2...I don't want to say this one is bad, for it's time, it would have been a three, possibly four...Unfortunately, this storyline has been down, overly!!! What saved this one for me was the unraveling of SEVERAL cases...that's right...events aren't always linked my friends!!
October 21, 2008
(Book 10 of author's Alex Delaware/Milo Sturgis series.) Alex Delaware is dimmer than I thought. Delaware is lured to an isolated, tropical island by a wealthy scientist -- whom he has never met nor heard of - with flattery and the promise of an underwritten, 6-month vacation. From the beginning of the book, the words "If it sounds to good to be true..." echoed in my head. Then, coincidentally, Delaware's Barbie-girlfriend, Robin, needs a break from her work as well and is able to tag along for months of love-making in between spiders, giant cockroaches, murder, and a bit of horror. Even their dog travels with them. But Milo only has a cameo appearance (via phone) - which reminded me of the old television plot technique. Delaware was frankly dull outside his partnership with Milo. To his credit, Kellerman has scattered, short passages with good descriptions of various supporting character, etc. However, if you are not a Kellerman fan committed to reading through the Delaware series, I recommend skipping this book.
November 9, 2011
This is not one of the more recent books in the Delaware series. I didn't realize until after I started, that one of my favorite features of this series - the intelligent repartee that goes on between Alex and his usual cohort in crime sleuthing, Lt. Milo Stugis, would not be there. For me, this is what sets The Delaware books apart from all the others. So I was somewhat disappointed.
Kellerman still writes interesting books. This time Alex is invited to join a doctor Moreland living on a romote island in Micronesia to join him in collaborating on some research he is doing there. since Alex's home is being rebuilt and Robin is on physical leave from her musical instrument crafting business, the two decide to mix business with a little pleasure in paradise.
It doesn't take long for them to discover that there are strange goings on in the home of the doctor and it starts to take on the complexion of "The Island of Dr. Morneau" (perhaps Kellerman's tongue and cheek reference to Dr Moreland?). The plot does become a little bizarre with cannibalistic murders and involvement with atomic test victims. Also, the fact that Alex would even consider the doctor's proposition to stay on the island to continue his work stretches credability.
All in all, not my favorite in this series.
Kellerman still writes interesting books. This time Alex is invited to join a doctor Moreland living on a romote island in Micronesia to join him in collaborating on some research he is doing there. since Alex's home is being rebuilt and Robin is on physical leave from her musical instrument crafting business, the two decide to mix business with a little pleasure in paradise.
It doesn't take long for them to discover that there are strange goings on in the home of the doctor and it starts to take on the complexion of "The Island of Dr. Morneau" (perhaps Kellerman's tongue and cheek reference to Dr Moreland?). The plot does become a little bizarre with cannibalistic murders and involvement with atomic test victims. Also, the fact that Alex would even consider the doctor's proposition to stay on the island to continue his work stretches credability.
All in all, not my favorite in this series.
March 5, 2015
Kellerman departs significantly from his pattern in this book. Instead of the LA area, the action takes place on a remote tropical island. Robin accompanies Dr. Deleware for a relaxing time, while he confers with Dr Moreland, a scientist who wants Dr Deleware to perhaps collaborate on articles or a book. But there are some other strange people staying at the hotel-like house where the scientist lives. There are some creepy episodes as the scientist collects rare spiders, and also has other creepy things going on. It makes for a an interesting read, but I'll be glad to get them back to LA.
February 19, 2015
This might be a terrific book, but I will probably never know. Early scenes with disgusting people and even more disgusting spiders led me to return the book to a safe place on the shelf.
February 21, 2025
I did not find this one of Kellerman's best stories - characters are interesting but get "bogged" down with so much description - story is interesting with murder, a radiation explosion from years past, a mysterious Dr. trying to rebuild a remote island -
August 13, 2018
Not one of my favorite books from this author. Even thought story was good I missed the rapport that Alex has with Milo. It was good that you got to know Robin a little better but other than that this book was just mediocre.
May 22, 2019
I hate spiders! And all bugs alike! So this book is going to show you how these things are helpful and I still hate! This is a good Alex book but not one my favorite. Life it tries to show is all of worth....not just bugs.
April 11, 2024
More like a 3.5 ⭐️’s
March 17, 2024
I’d never read a Kellerman novel and I’m disinclined to read another. But my neighbor loaned me sackfuls, so I may try a second. I found this book morbid and scary —and I’m a huge Nesbo fan, The plot was all over the map and the gruesome murders were awful.
October 15, 2012
The story was actually... ok. It was good up until the end, and then it seemed like a cheap stage production. And the writing style? I don't like it.
fragmants.
floating.
around.
redundantly.
and needlessly.
just say it.
don't spray it.
Probably won't read any more of this author's work and it is because of the style. I know he probably means it to be some sort of unique art form, but just when you get in the rhythm of the story, this crap (see above) pops up and slows everything down.
oh, and he went on and on too much about the decor of every damn room the characters went into. Who cares! It had nothing to do with the story.
fragmants.
floating.
around.
redundantly.
and needlessly.
just say it.
don't spray it.
Probably won't read any more of this author's work and it is because of the style. I know he probably means it to be some sort of unique art form, but just when you get in the rhythm of the story, this crap (see above) pops up and slows everything down.
oh, and he went on and on too much about the decor of every damn room the characters went into. Who cares! It had nothing to do with the story.
January 2, 2018
Twelve years since I last read an Alex Delaware book, and this one is different in terms of its setting - a very remote island in Micronesia as Alex and Robyn take advantage of an interesting short-term job offer. A fascinating plot really only unfolds in the last eighth of the book, making the earlier sections seem a little slow moving. Encouraged to take up the series again.
September 9, 2021
This book was a real departure for me from the other books in the series prior to it. Alex and Robin’s getaway to the South Pacific as a working vacation for Alex is anything but that when his host fails to tell the truth on why he really hired him to come there. Alex and Robin did pretty good solving the crimes without Milo being there.
October 19, 2020
Alex gets a letter from a Dr. Moreland asking him to come to his island, Aruk, to help Moreland get his papers in order. Alex and Robin go there and find that paradise is not what it seems to be.
October 16, 2012
Kellerman's Delaware mysteries always teeter towards soap opera and occasionally fall in. This is one that fell. Depending on you, the reader, that can be either good or bad. For me, the other elements either make the book good or bad. I like 'The Web'.
Another element is that Kelleman's plots always contain Truth - of historical facts or recent headlines on CNN - which he heavily fictionalizes. Since I read the news as obsessively as I do novels, and I have done so for 50 years, plus my memory is not yet decaying, I am always feeling that sense of déjà vu whenever I read a Delaware mystery. As fantastic as they might seem to less informed readers, the only things fictionalized are that these events happen to one guy in his life as a California therapist. Kellerman also conflates events that might have actually occurred decades apart by putting them into the same time era in one location, and of course while these events happened to different real people once, in these books all of the characters are imaginary people. Kellerman also obviously imagines what the real people who lived might have felt going through the actual events in history, as well as constructing heroic behaviors for his fictional characters.
Whatever. The fact remains is that as far out as these plots seem to be, they actually have happened on some level to real people at some point in the past somewhere in the world and you can go online to read the real story, or a least find several real stories that match many of the plot bullet points, despite it maybe actually happening to Black-Americans and mental hospital patients in the American south instead of on Aruk, or being a conflation of actual intentional radiation poisoning of soldiers in American deserts and Pacific Islanders in WWII so that there are still islands out there in real life no one can live on today due to the nuclear bombing America did in the name of scientific experimentation. There are also 'hot' spots in American wastelands today, too. Lastly, the recent attempt by the corporations that backed George W. Bush's Iraq war to steal markets and businesses in Iraq for international corporate profit only demonstrate that business rape is an ongoing enterprise today as well. Without the light of journalism and government without corruption, business is selfish, mean, murderous and psychopathic, and when coupled with a military partnership, it is tripled in effect against common human decency. There are thousands of examples of business/military partnerships throughout human history up through current times where entire countries are raped and/or destroyed for the strictly monitory benefits of the few people, the 1% if you will, at the top. These places are easy to spot - despite millions and billions of dollars going into a country or geographical area, there are few schools, clinics, business opportunities or infrastructure like roads and electricity and clean water on tap.
So, no, I don't feel these mysteries border on fantasy, only soap opera. Sometimes.
Another element is that Kelleman's plots always contain Truth - of historical facts or recent headlines on CNN - which he heavily fictionalizes. Since I read the news as obsessively as I do novels, and I have done so for 50 years, plus my memory is not yet decaying, I am always feeling that sense of déjà vu whenever I read a Delaware mystery. As fantastic as they might seem to less informed readers, the only things fictionalized are that these events happen to one guy in his life as a California therapist. Kellerman also conflates events that might have actually occurred decades apart by putting them into the same time era in one location, and of course while these events happened to different real people once, in these books all of the characters are imaginary people. Kellerman also obviously imagines what the real people who lived might have felt going through the actual events in history, as well as constructing heroic behaviors for his fictional characters.
Whatever. The fact remains is that as far out as these plots seem to be, they actually have happened on some level to real people at some point in the past somewhere in the world and you can go online to read the real story, or a least find several real stories that match many of the plot bullet points, despite it maybe actually happening to Black-Americans and mental hospital patients in the American south instead of on Aruk, or being a conflation of actual intentional radiation poisoning of soldiers in American deserts and Pacific Islanders in WWII so that there are still islands out there in real life no one can live on today due to the nuclear bombing America did in the name of scientific experimentation. There are also 'hot' spots in American wastelands today, too. Lastly, the recent attempt by the corporations that backed George W. Bush's Iraq war to steal markets and businesses in Iraq for international corporate profit only demonstrate that business rape is an ongoing enterprise today as well. Without the light of journalism and government without corruption, business is selfish, mean, murderous and psychopathic, and when coupled with a military partnership, it is tripled in effect against common human decency. There are thousands of examples of business/military partnerships throughout human history up through current times where entire countries are raped and/or destroyed for the strictly monitory benefits of the few people, the 1% if you will, at the top. These places are easy to spot - despite millions and billions of dollars going into a country or geographical area, there are few schools, clinics, business opportunities or infrastructure like roads and electricity and clean water on tap.
So, no, I don't feel these mysteries border on fantasy, only soap opera. Sometimes.
June 18, 2018
Good Read
Well developed characters, multiple plots and subplots, with astute attention to details. A little conflagrated. I enjoy most Alex Delaware novels.
Well developed characters, multiple plots and subplots, with astute attention to details. A little conflagrated. I enjoy most Alex Delaware novels.
December 17, 2019
I have read probably all of Kellerman's novels, not necessarily because he's a good writer, though he's fair, but because, one, I like the character Milo Sturgis, and, two, his books put me to sleep. Yes, that's right; they put me to sleep. As a result, it takes me forever to read one, whereas some other writers get me so engrossed in their tales, and their writing is so outstanding, that I find it impossible to put their books aside.
As for "The Web," I had read it once before and seemed to recall that I hadn't really cared for it all that much. Upon "attempting" to reread it, I recall why. The plot is totally implausible, for one. Plus, Milo Sturgis has a minimal role, only heard from via international calls and then rarely. Worse perhaps, Alex and Robin are even more irritating than usual. How can two people be that perfect? They would be far more interesting and far more likable if they had at least a few flaws. Still, in spite of everything, I kept reading until I came to the ridiculous part about the "slug" people living underground on the island. I wish, though, I'd laid it aside long before then. Granted, Kellerman is a best-selling author, yet sometimes I cannot help but wonder why, and this was one of those times.
As for "The Web," I had read it once before and seemed to recall that I hadn't really cared for it all that much. Upon "attempting" to reread it, I recall why. The plot is totally implausible, for one. Plus, Milo Sturgis has a minimal role, only heard from via international calls and then rarely. Worse perhaps, Alex and Robin are even more irritating than usual. How can two people be that perfect? They would be far more interesting and far more likable if they had at least a few flaws. Still, in spite of everything, I kept reading until I came to the ridiculous part about the "slug" people living underground on the island. I wish, though, I'd laid it aside long before then. Granted, Kellerman is a best-selling author, yet sometimes I cannot help but wonder why, and this was one of those times.
February 7, 2023
The Web was an interesting book that I read in three sittings. It was my first Kellerman book and therefore my first Alex Delaware also. I didn’t realise until after that it was number ten in a series. It did keep me reading so I have given it 3 stars. In many ways though I found it puzzling. From early in the book there seemed to be a theme of “bugs” but in the end it wasn’t relevant at all. I thought it was crazy how the Dr lured Alex to the island on false pretences, and then left all these bizarre and cryptic clues for him to find in order to figure things out. In reality he would never have found these hidden clues, let alone figure out their meaning…but of course he did. The Dr trusted him and was looking for his help, why not just sit down and explain everything and ask him to get involved? I thought it interesting how almost every character was somehow involved or intertwined in the story somewhere along the line. I am getting a little tired though of stories where the villain is either a greedy politician or a wealthy corporation, or a combination of both. It is beyond my belief that these unscrupulous villains would really resort to the murder of innocent civilians on a mass scale for the sake of profits/money.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2019
Talk about a boring book. It was an ever so slow build, not towards suspense, but to develop a mystery, that when you finally learn what is going on, your disappointed as a reader. The plot was as trite as it gets, and over used among many authors. Kellerman is capable of telling a good story, this was not one of them. Alex Delaware goes on vacation to an isolated island in Micronesia. Too much time is then spent on describing the place, introducing the various characters, and nothing that is happening seems related. 300 pages into the story, and things finally get going and hurtle the reader towards a big disappointment. At least the ending was feel good. I don't recommend this one, even if you're a die hard Kellerman fan. It just plain is not a very good story.
January 8, 2025
Well, this was a surprise, an Alex Delaware novel that just totally disinterested me. I guess the premise COULD seem exciting - Alex & Robin go away to a secluded island at the behest of a possibly mad scientist - but it just felt ... a bad fit for this series? Like, it feels like an episode of Magnum, PI, where everyone's in Boston. Possibly some chances for good character beats, but ... he has no jurisdiction there, and ... it just feels "off."
I searched in my Kindle to find the bits with Milo (couple of phone calls), read my requisite 20% to see if it grew on me, then called it a day.
I searched in my Kindle to find the bits with Milo (couple of phone calls), read my requisite 20% to see if it grew on me, then called it a day.
March 30, 2019
I have read, and enjoyed, other books in the Alex Delaware series. But this one didn't do it for me. Perhaps it was the transplanting of Alex and Robin to a setting with echoes of The Island of Dr Moreau. I found the entire plot, and the underlying premise for the actions of Dr Moreland, excessively far-fetched. Suspension of disbelief has its limits, and this book went beyond the limits of mine.
September 16, 2017
This book had a much different feel than all of the other Delaware books I have read. It started out seeming as if it would become a grade B horror movie, with killer mutant bugs. Storyline was slowish and it didn't come together for me. I really struggled to get through it. Alex's final discovery was ridiculous and completely unbelievable. Really did not like this one at all.
April 21, 2021
Did not enjoy this book at all. I love Jonathan Kellerman's books but did not enjoy this one Very different to his other novels. Too much about Alex & Robin and not enough of about Sturgis. A sad, miserable tale with no redeeming features. Sorry Jonathan. But this will not stop reading more of your books, and even re-reading many others!!
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