Monster

Rating:
Summary: Just relax and read
Review: The story of the book is a good one, but the book is not an easy reading book, the way that the movie maker takes out of jail a prisoner to do his last job is a little bit out of reality if you see that is a maximum security prison combined with a psychological prison, it is not the best book, but you can read it in a flight or at the pool while resting.

Rating:
Summary: If you like some gore of Psychology...
Review: First off, I really like the main character of this book. This was the first Kellerman book I have ever read but after doing so, I would read another one with Dr. Delaware. He's a smart character and I am totally enthralled with psychological thrillers. This was a good one. I have read better, I must say, but Mr. Kellerman did a great job keeping me interested and coming up with my own theories. I have to agree, though, that Milo being a top detective, was not very...I dunno what the word is...quick thinking. As far as theories and stuff go. But, it is just a book, I must remember, and I will read another one of this series eventually. So, for a thought provoking book with many psychologically damaged characters and a smart doctor, read this book. I doubt you'll be too dissappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Not his best
Review: This is not the best Kellerman book I have read. It is slow to get into and Milo and Alex are not as compelling in this novel.

Rating:
Summary: The well has run dry on this series.
Review: I've been a fan of the Alex Delaware series since the beginning, having read each novel as they were published in paperback. I have to admit, though, that my interest began to wane 3 or 4 novels back. But I'm a faithful reader, I am, so I decided to give MONSTER a chance. I believe it will be my last one.

What problems did I have this book? Well, I guess that I really have to say that my problems are with the author, Kellerman, and not this particular book itself. But they are glaring in MONSTER.

Number 1;

The story is told entirely from the perspective of the psychologist, Dr. Delaware. All of the action, i.e., murders, etc. are done 'off-screen', so to speak, so the narrative is very, very dry, with no action whatsoever. We don't even meet the true monster of the story until the last 25 pages or so. By that time, I had pretty much lost interest.

Number 2;

Why did Kellerman decide to have Delaware's cop friend, Milo, be gay? I mean, it serves no purpose to the story except as a plot device to create a reason that no other cops will work with Milo. That's how Dr. Delaware gets involved with Milo's cases, as a consultant. Can't Kellerman delve more into this aspect of the story? Do something with it!

Number 3:

Detective Milo Sturgis is supposed to be a top cop, with the best solve rate on the force. So why does Dr. Delaware practically have to lead him by the hand from clue to clue? All of the intuitive leaps that propel the investigation forward come from the psychologist. When's Milo gonna start earning his pay?

Reason number 4;

Kellerman spends WAY too much time describing the details of every house he visits, every room he walks into, and every bit of clothing that every damn character is wearing! God, it is so tiring. At one point, Delaware goes to visit someone in a gated community. He describes the cars in the driveway, the color of the window awnings, the plants in the garden and the front door knocker "was a brass cocker spaniel. Around its neck hung a garland of tiny cowries." THEN he finally knocks on the door. Geez! What did any of that description have to do with the plot? Absolutely nothing! Boring!! Anyway, I have no idea what cowries even are. It all contributes to the dryness of the narrative.

Kellerman's gotta find some way to get some action into his stories. I find the psych stuff very interesting but it's not enough to carry the story along anymore.

Rating:
Summary: First and hooked
Review: I have recently read monster and loved it. It is the first book I have read by JK and am hooked. I have already gone out and bought other books in the series. I like the twist and turns in this book even though I kinda had an idea of how it would play out and loved the erie ending. Cant wait to read another in the series.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, good plot twist but a little dry....
Review: I liked this book that I picked up while at the airport. It kept me interested and that's hard to do albeit it had it's very very dry moments. I didn't care for the detached manner in which the author addressed the love relationship between Alex and Robin. Geez... he described love making the same way he described mailing a letter. It was obvious he just wasn't into it but felt, for some reason, it should be included.

But I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns the story took. I especially liked the fact that while the story took these strange turns the author didn't hide information to pull out at the last minute. That's important. You learn everything at the same time Milo and Alex learn it and you can all draw your own conclusions.

So if you want a good page turner this is one.

Rating:
Summary: I Really Enjoyed It!
Review: This was the third book I read of his, and I thought it was wonderful. I couldn't put it down, and the ending was a surprise to me! I rate it 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Not quite the perfect mystery.
Review: I'm a big fan of Stephen White, who, like Kellerman, writes mysteries with a psychologist main character who helps the police track down the bad guy. I really hoped that I would like Mystery as much as I like White's books, and as much as I have liked Kellerman's other books, but this one wasn't quite up to that level. For one thing, I failed to understand why Dr. Delaware was involved in the investigation; by all accounts, he really shouldn't have been a part of the process. The premise of the book is that a heavily medicated psychotic who is locked up in a secure mental hospital is able to predict horrific murders. Dr. Delaware and Det. Sturgis are called in to solve the crimes. It becomes clear that the murders are part of a pattern, and apparently involve snuff films, but it isn't until the end of the book that we learn how it is that the inmate (the Monster) is involved in the crimes. It's a race against the clock as Dr. Delaware tries to uncover the truth before more people are murdered. The jacket describes the book as "incomparably deft characterizations and dazzlingly dark plot twists." I didn't see any of that in this book, which was too bad, but for long-time Kellerman fans, you shouldn't pass this one up.

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!