Rating: 
Summary: Monster
Review: Jonathan Kellerman used to be one of my very favorite authors. There was a time when i couldn't wait for his newest novel to be released. Actually, I have quite a collection of his books in my library. But, unfortunately i believe Mr Kellerman is slipping. The last two novels of his which i have read (Monster being the most recent) were not up to his usual standard. My biggest complaint was that I did not care enough about the characters to wonder what was going to happen in the end. I also was dissappointed that Milo and Robin were barely mentioned. I enjoy reading about them almost as much as I do Alex Delaware. I sincerely hope that his next book reminds me of why I used to be one of his biggest fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad at all, for my first Kellerman
Review: This was my first Kellerman...while I'm not "wowing" in amazement, it was enjoyable enough to give Kellerman another try! (I know, you will sleep better at night with this knowledge, Kellerman!). (Note: I would've given it 3.5 stars if I could...)So, the basic premise that kicks this whole story off is: If a woman who worked as a therapist at an insane asylum is murdered, there's got to be an easy solution, right? It must be connected to the insane asylum, called "Starkweather." The two heroes (Delaware and Sturgis) show up at Starkweather to question the employees and hope for that easy solution. But, there are other pieces to the puzzle. The woman's murder is eerily similar to a young man's murder a couple of months later, a young man seemingly unconnected to the asylum. And all employees at Starkweather claim that it simply CAN'T be any of the psychos there; nobody ever gets out! So, Deleware and Sturgis leave puzzled. As the plot develops, their investigation goes in two directions: One focuses on a patient at Starkweather who the murdered woman took an interest in helping just before she died; the other focuses on some clues that point to the possibility of an underground Indie film that is being produced, called "Bloodwalk." For a while, it seems to move slow, but it's been a while since I've read a mystery; I now see it as being deliberate! Kellerman builds the case slow but sure, to a satisfying ending, not earth-shaking, but exciting. You go the whole time wondering if the two directions of the investigation will intersect eventually. I won't say how, but of course they do, in a very well thought-out way. At first I thought a little far-fetched, but it seems I've heard of stranger things happening in reality, so why not? I thought the patient at Starkweather was a particularly interesting character (Ardis Peak, nicknamed "Monster." He was known for having butchered a family on a farm about twenty years earlier). I couldn't wait to find out what role he would have in the solving of the mystery, and in the end, I was satisified! So, I'd recommend this book if you're looking for a mystery, and will try another Kellerman soon!
Rating: 
Summary: Monster does NOT make this first time Kellerman reader a fan
Review: I had not read any of Kellerman's books before and I was disappointed. Normally, a great book has you read more and more of it each day. It seemed that by the time I got to what should have been the climatic moment(where the "monster" is on the loose), I was reading less and less where even the conclusion seemed slow paced. Sometimes, the tediousness of investigating a case adds to the suspense. In this case, it seemed as though the book was fluffed up just to justify the retail price. I'm sure Kellerman is a great author who is prone to the "hit or miss" syndrome as others are. Monster, to me, is one of his misses.
Rating: 
Summary: Hungry for more of the kind!
Review: We enter a bizarre world when we visit the institution for insane criminals with Alex and Milo. And Kellerman planned his plot carefully when he made this setting the main background to his novel. We are as frustrated as Milo and Alex at first when they know this world must play a decisive part in the solution of their case, but they cannot find it. When the author is slowly unravelling his story we do not find its supense in the ordinary whodunnit but in how will the two detectives find out what was really happening. Guessing at who the real monster is is not really difficult and it is not the intention of the novel to keep us in the dark à la Agatha Christie. The way, the methods how to close a case is much more interesting. And here the author did a great job. In addition there is also some remarkable political criticism in this book: in showing that institutions like this usually develop their own dynamics and separate themselves from the real world we must ask ourselves if they are in any way helpful or necessary. Might there be other solutions? Kellerman shows when depicting the director and his colleagues that even the "sane" people in this institution no longer belong to the real world. At the same time we know - and it is demonstrated in the novel - that the real monsters often run free. I will certainly read more Kellerman novels.
Rating:
Summary: Alex Delaware Solves Another One
Review: Alex Delaware is a psychologist who consults with the police department in solving crimes. Dr. Claire Argent has been brutally slain and her eyes gouged out, and the M.O. is similar to another recent murder, so Delaware is put on the case along with his sidekick Detective Milo. Dr. Argent's place of employment, the Starkweather prison for the criminally insane, is of course the first place they decide to look for clues. One of the lowest functioning inmates, Ardus Peake, was convicted of killing his mother and the family she worked for in a brutal, inhumane manner, and the eyes of some of the victims were also gouged out. However, Peake is barely alive and hasn't left the hospital for 15 years. Delaware and Milo begin their search in the workings of the hospital and other hospital employees to try to unlock this mystery. The detective work and psychological analysis is interesting and fast-moving as they dig for clues long buried in the past. The pace quickens near the end of the book as they hone in on the suspected killer and try to prevent him from killing any more victims. The depictions of crime scenes are gruesome and the inner workings of the killer chilling, but the reader is left satisfied with the conclusion in that Delaware and Milo get another killer off the streets.
Rating:
Summary: A Bit Disappointing
Review: I usually quite like the Alex Delaware novels, however, I did find this one to be not only predictable, but farfetched. This book finds Alex and Milo investigating the death of a young psychologist who worked at a hospital for the criminally insane. Early on Alex begins tossing out theories that seem to be reaching at best and has you guessing at who the "players" might be, and who are, in fact, painfully obvious. This is definately up to the Kellerman's usual standards.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: I have read or listened to the majority of the Delaware series, and I just keep coming back for more. I listened to an unabridged version of this book. Unlike the majority of reviews, I really enjoyed it. This novel was focused less on relationship issues, and put emphasis on the unfolding of the mystery. I found myself becoming more and more involved as the story progressed. In the final chapters of the book, my heart was pounding, my hands were clenching the steering wheel and I couldn't get out of the car until it was all over. Milo has drawn another impossible case, and Alex is called upon for advice. The only lead they can come up with, is a connection with a murderer from the past - Ardis Peak. Peak was convicted of a hideous crime and is presently serving his sentence in a high security psychiatric hospital. He has inside information on the current investigation, and no one can figure out why. There are suspects and victims everywhere. The story was well developed and highly entertaining.
Rating: 
Summary: Lot's of mixed reviews. Perhaps.....
Review: the explanation could be found around exactly why we read this genre in the first place. The very beginning of the detective/buddy genre is often credited to Edgar Allen Poe in "The Murder in the Rue Morgue". Others came along of course, including Sherlock and Dr Watson, Nero Wolfe and Archie, Perry Mason and Della....There is seemingly no end to the list and should be alive and well for years to come. As Raymond Chandler pointed out, there is no ultimate (the novel to end all novels in this genre) and that, for us readers, is good news as many writers will try to come up with it for years to come and we will read happily on. Most readers, again according to Mr Chandler's essay, read less for the mystery and more for the interaction between the main characters. The "mystery" itself is actually secondary and a great book in this genre is one that you enjoy even if you miss the ending for any reason. Many authors seem to deviate from this sucess formula and "go down hill" in the eyes of the readers. I do not put all the onus on the author. As Stephen King pointed out jokingly once, "My publishers would have me print my laundry list right now and because I'm hot, it would sell." (something to that effect) Mr Kellerman is not alone in producing a book not up to what he is capable. To wit: Koontz's "Seize the Night", King's "Desperation" etc It seems strange that the ES Gardner's Perry Mason never deviated from its basic theme and became the most recognized (worldwide) series that has ever been produced. Indeed, I have read about fifty of them without tire. But I guess it's like they say, quantity over quality, money over fame etc, As to this book itself, I actually thought it ok. Maybe it could have been titled something like, "Monster Turns Fall Guy" or something like that (just kidding). My Dad was a doc and worked in a mental institution. He gave me a tour once and we encountered the poor souls on Thorazine treatment. It is sad indeed, but he did explain that many respond to this treatment and go back to functionality after one episode. Mr Kellerman's empathy and descriptions were just about perfect, so for me, from that point of view, the book was worth the read. ("True art verifies the beholders real life experience" is another component of the sucess formula) Let's hope for more great works in the future, I'm off to the Library to return "Silent Partner" and will grab another. God bless all, Andy
Rating:
Summary: Some Parts Just Don't Connect
Review: The basic story here is fairly interesting. You wonder through the first half of the book who is behind all these terrible murders. Then there seems to be several possibilities behind the grisly terrors but the one main suspect still stands out two thirds of the way through. However many of the connections from scene to scene are not introduced too well. It is never really clear if Heidi Ott had any evil intentions or not. Frank Dollard seems to be evil as well but why was he killed off? Maybe because he talked too much to the investigators. Kellerman describes Ardis Peak, Milo, Dr. Delaware, and Derrick Crimmins fairly well but many of the other people he fails to add anything very gripping, Therefore, when you are introduced to a new suspect, it is really a fifty fifty shot if they are part of the rampant murders. The ending is fairly interesting but many of the connections could have been established with greater clarity.
Rating:
Summary: Decent read but seemed to be missing something
Review: This is the first book by Kellerman that I have read. I love to read mystery/suspense novels so when I came across this one, I picked it up. The pace of the book was good but it seemed to have too many characters involved. I found myself constantly trying to remember all of the characters as I picked up the book each time. The ending was a little flat but the twists in the story made it worthwhile.
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