Monster : a Novel

Rating:
Summary: So-so book
Review: As for the plot and attractiveness of the book, I agree with the review that suggested Kellerman was mainly "filling the pages."
In particular, if an author is going to set a book in California, the author should be familiar with California. It is illegal for an employer to ask an employee's marital status, yet the hospital requires its employees to update resumes which include a "marital-status blank."
One of the victims dies survived by two parents, but without a will. Kellerman incorrectly states, "With no will, the state takes most of it and [her] parents get the rest."
One gets the impression that editors either don't care to, or don't dare to, point out the mistakes of well-known authors.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but not up to Kellerman's usual work.
Review: I am a big fan of Jonathan Kellerman, and have enjoyed all of his books to date. I enjoyed Monster, but did not think that it was up to the standard of his other books. The story seemed to take unpredictible twists and turns, and the crime seemed to be resolved purely through psychological guesses by Alex Delaware, rather than through a combination of his insight and Milo's police work. In addition, there was little in the way of relationship development between Delaware and Robin. Worst of all, while the ending was climactic, I found that it reminded me too much of one of Faye Kellerman's earliest books, the Sacred and Profane. Despite these drawbacks, I did find the book an interesting read.

Rating:
Summary: Not Kellerman's best effort
Review: I am a huge fan of Jonathan Kellerman and have read practically all of his books. However, this one, while okay, was not up to his usual standard. It starts out a bit slow, for one thing...always a negative in a mystery novel. And while we did have the comfortable usual "cast of characters" of the Alex Delaware series, I guess that I'd like to see some new aspects of these characters. Finally, I'd like to see some more "realistic" portrayals of the criminals in the series - reinforcing the public's mind that "all people in prison are instrinsically evil sociopaths" is not really serving the public good. I'm still a fan of Alex Delaware and Jonathan Kellerman...but hopefully his next effort will have a new spark.

Rating:
Summary: Certainly not Kellerman's best work!!
Review: I am a huge Kellerman fan and greatly enjoy the Alex Delaware novels, but this is not one of Kellerman's best works. The story starts off slow, as does many of Kellerman's novels, but never seems to really pick up. The plot is a sort of rollercoaster ride (the kind that seems to only go up and down and makes you sick) with many peaks and valleys. The highs of the story never last long enough to make this a can't put it down novel. Also, the way Sturgis and Delaware seem to almost stumble onto many of the clues does not do justice to the characters. That and the way Delaware paints the portrait of Peake's (the Monster) mind is almost as if he is grasping at straws and comes across that needle in a haystack. While this is a serviceable book, I would recommend any of his earlier works first. Particularly Self Defense or The Web.

Rating:
Summary: Monster is a good, dark read!
Review: I enjoy Jonathan Kellerman's writings. He leads you step by step through his thrillers like finding bits of treasure clues through a very dark forest. I really like the relationship between Alex Delaware & Milo Sturgis. Kellerman gives them each the freedom to be their own person; they're allowed to think & be. Meanwhile all around them hell is breaking loose in the form of an insane inmate who seems to be predicting murders! For my full review please see [my website] 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: Addicting
Review: I really enjoyed this book, I had not read Jonathan Kellerman before ( Only Fay) and thought the book was well written, and a great story that kept the reader wanting to read more. Now I want to read more Alex Delaware.

Rating:
Summary: great fun but predictable ending!
Review: I wish everyone would get involved into the mode of understanding where some authors get their ideas! Kellerman isa great but this book is not as good as "Silence" was.

Rating:
Summary: I am now a fan.
Review: I have been hearing good things about Jonathan Kellerman's work. Many people have recommended his books, so I thought I would give this one a chance. And you know what, I liked it. It reminded me of a cross between Law & Order and The Silence of the Lambs. I especially enjoyed his in-depth look at the behavorial workings of a lunatic. Dr. Delaware and Det. Sturgis are not new characters in this book. But because of the way this book was written I never felt at a loss for starting with this one. The plot unfolds right before your eyes and just when you think you have a handle on it, it shifts gears. I liked that. It kept me wanting to read-on.

Rating:
Summary: Kellerman again focuses on what he does best
Review: I'd just about given up on Jonathan Kellerman's novels, because after reading at least 10 of them, I found his forays into character development to be annoying at best, ludicrously poorly written at worst (but hey, I was stuck in an airport, and the choices were limited!). Like, the tension between Alex and Robin a few books back--who cares? This is not why I read Kellerman. I am a fan of his better books for the same reason I enjoy earlier Patricia Cornwell novels: because he gives us an insight into one particular area of technical expertise in crime/mystery. In "Monster", he does almost no character development. So for that reason, I enjoyed this book immensely. I thought the psychological drama was very exciting, and in fact I wished there had been more technical discussion of psychopathology.

I should note that Alex's role in Milo's investigations is stretching my ability to suspend disbelief more than ever here. I mean, he has no real reason to be on this case, except that Milo is his best friend. In fact, I'd say Alex comes close to impersonating a police officer! To compare to Cornwell again, after awhile they both seem to need to inject their heroes further and further into every aspect of criminal investigation. Nonetheless, I became so engrossed in the action that several times I almost missed my stop on my morning train commute, which is one of my major criteria for a good read!

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing storyline, definitely worth a read
Review: I adore this sort of plot! Maniac, mad, dumb killer inside a mental institution somehow is able to eerily predict details of a series of brutal murders which take place out on the street. How does it all tie together? How does this guy know this stuff? I defy you as the reader not to be intrigued from page one!

Whilst it is kind of annoying how Alex manages to involve himself in every detail (he is not a cop, after all), nevertheless this is a great story and will keep you entertained. A perfect holiday read.

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