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Summary: LIFELESS SAGA STARRING THE MONSTER, ALEX, AND MILO
Review: I am beginning to think that Jonathan Kellerman should retire Dr. Alex and Milo except in cameo appearances (BILLY STRAIGHT). His main characters are lifeless anymore, and to be honest, by the end of the book, I only wanted to be done with it and couldn't have cared who was doing what to whom. I have read everyone of his fiction books, and more and more I think his stories involving Dr. Alex are boring. The characters do not come to life. I know Jonathan Kellerman is an excellent writer but I'm beginning to think his best books were THE BUTCHER'S THEATER AND BILLY STRAIGHT, non Dr. Alex Delaware sagas.
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Summary: The usual serial killer whodunit.
Review: Kellerman breaks no new ground in his new thriller "Monster". The books starts interestingly enough with our heroes Milo Sturgis and Alex Delaware trying to solve a series of grisly murders. They have a hard time figuring out how the murders are connected and whether or not a pathetic mental patient who has been locked up for many years has some connection to the killings. Milo and Alex are likeable enough, but the book has some big weaknesses. It is too long. The descriptions of the mental hospital/prison (Starkweather) are lengthy and tedious. Every scene is described in exhaustive detail. The middle of the book is slow-moving and the ending is convoluted and not particularly suspenseful. If Kellerman's writing had been tighter, the book would have packed a greater wallop. As it is, my interest waned at least 100 pages before the long-awaited end.
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Summary: Too monstrous
Review: Having read and loved all the Jonathan Kellerman/Alex Delaware novels, I rate Monster several stars beneath his other offerings. Too violent, characters too crazy to be believable (I hope). Story line a little too far out. Finishing the last 6 or 7 chapters was a chore.
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Summary: Not Kellerman's Best
Review: Kellerman is a fantastic writer. His Alex Delaware novels, in particular, have always impressed me. This one, however, was missing a lot. There was no action in the book. Milo and Alex spent most of the book hypothesizing. Eventually, their hypothesizing and a small amount of leg work helped them solve the crime. The mental interplay between Milo and Alex seemed too contrived. There was too much 'lucky' guesswork. In addition, Milo and Alex's attention to Peake's 'predictions' (for most of the book) seemed unrealistic in the contect of a real homicide investigation. Milo, Alex and Robin, in the past, had been given texture and life over the course of Kellerman's novels. Here, they were one-note characters: Robin cooked meals. Alex came up with brilliant observations and Milo was grouchy. I have faith (and hope) that Jonathan Kellerman listens to his critics and learns from them, because I still believe he is one of the best out there. Every word I write here is meant as constructive feedback to a great artist.
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Summary: Another Winner from Kellerman!
Review: I really enjoyed this latest entry in the Alex Delaware series! Jonathan Kellerman's characters are always well-developed, and, thankfully, not your picture-perfect-I-can-do-no-wrong smug heroes. Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis are a wonderful duo - always professional, yet sensitive to the foibles of human nature. This book deals with the dark side of human nature - the VERY dark side- and there were some parts that were horrifying - a true indication of just how much we human beings can hurt one another.if you want to be taken seriously as a reader and enjoy startling plot twists, read this book. I don't think that you'll be disappointed.
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Summary: always amazing Kellerman
Review: I have just finished reading this novel and am so pleased that there has been no lapse in the creativity of J.Kellerman. About 3/4 of the way through the book, I just kept thinking isn't amazing that he could plot this out so carefully--a rather intricate plot at that. While I thought the book was a bit over long and I wasn't completely convinced we were prepared for Hedy, I still feel that the mystery genre does indeed belong to Kellerman and his comfortable recurring characters.
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Summary: The Kellermans need a sabbatical!
Review: The plot was comparable to Kellerman's other plots - interesting and attention grabbing. However, many of the touches that breathe life into Alex, Robin, Spike and Milo were gone. From page one, Alex was on the case, full time. How'd that happen? Usually Milo has to coax him in. And the police department was terribly tolerant of Alex from Jump Street. Also missed anything about Milo's life, and Robin, who's usually a little freaked out by Alex's activities was the perfect little hausfrau cooking meals and orering pizza. Even Spike was one dimensional. Kellerman got too wrapped up in the plot, ignoring the very qualities that make his books so readable. After reading his wife's Moon Music, can only conclude they're working WAY too hard and need some time away from the old word processors. The plot of this book may have benefitted from protagonists other than Alex and Milo. New heroes, maybe?
Rating:
Summary: Not his best but still very good
Review: J Kellerman is one of my favorite authors. Alex Delaware and Milo are two of my favorite characters. I was not disappointed in any of them upon reading this book. I especially like the way JK gives detailed descriptions of the characters and the psychological dialogue and hypothesis between Delaware and Milo.
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Summary: Vintage Kellerman
Review: After a couple of stumbles (The Web, Billy Straight) Kellerman is back with his classic formula. The key to unravelling the murder(s) requires a view into the psyche of the perpetrator and/or his associates, something only our hero can do. I know by now that the revelation will come about through understanding some minor character(s) I've overlooked, but damned if I didn't miss the character(s) again in this one. I always learn something from his novels; this time it was a look inside hospitals for the criminally insane. No doubt this was pretty tame compared to the real McCoy, but it did focus my attention on legitimate problems like the difficulty of recruiting competent physicians to work in such institutions.
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Summary: I liked "Monster" but missed the usual surprises
Review: I thought "Monster" was one of Kellerman's better efforts, but I missed the usual surprises he has at the end of his books. Another thing I've noticed(and I'd like to get some feedback from other fans)is that Dr. Deleware never seems to get a good meal at a restaurant. Anyone else ever notice this? It cracks me up. Also, he never can seem to get a decent cup of coffee. Overall, I thought the book was good. I always find myself having to restrain the urge to peek at the ending and end the suspense of 'whodunnit'. I guess that's just a sign of a good writer. Buy it. Read it. It's worth the money.
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