Rating: 
Summary: Psycho murders
Review: LAPD Homicide detective Milo Sturgis involves his friend, criminal psychologist Dr.Alex Delaware inwhat seems to be a case of serial murders where artists and musicians are killed, with their bodies carefully arranged after death to suggest that the killer is deliberately the fact to boast to police.Alex and Milo fear that they've come across a new kind of celebrity killer, one who sets out to kill artists and musicians who have either become successful or who are on the brink of financial success.It's a very fast paced story, one of those which becomes a quick read because it's virtually impossible to put down.
Rating: 
Summary: FREEZE AND READ THIS BOOK!
Review: This is an extraordinarily well written and well crafted mystery. Kellerman has once again outdone himself.A brilliant guitarist has been found stabbed to death in an alley. The only witness cannot provide an adequate description of the killer. A young punk rock wannabe star is also murdered. Her connection to Dr. Delaware other than a heated verbal exchange is that his then live in love Robin built a guitar for her. Several more people are murdered - a ballerina in Boston; a musician in Southern California; a homeless woman and possibly others. A young writer whose whereabouts cannot be accounted for seems a likely suspect; his e-magazine is rife with nihilism and 1980s style punk fueled venom some 20 years later. Delaware, his friend LAPD Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis and two Sturgis' colleagues, Petra Connor and Eric Stahl make for a very unlikely quartet indeed. The quartet work in separately and in pairs (Delaware/Sturgis and Connor/Stahl) tracking down all possible leads. What if any connection could there possibly be to a homeless woman and a group of artists living in different parts of the United States? The e-magazine leads the sleuths to a small private university where its creator graduated; a trip to the university fails to uncover any possible leads or links. Who killed these people and why? Once again, Jon Kellerman has presented a masterpiece of a mystery with plenty of plot twists to keep readers riveted. His use of names and descriptions is clever; for example, a minor character aptly named Christian BANGSley is described as "Beatle mopped." I loved that. I also liked Dr. Delaware's new girlfriend Allison. Robin more or less was relegated to a minor role and I didn't like it when she tried to seduce Dr. Delaware when he came to see how she was doing. I also found it interesting that Robin wound up with the French bulldog she and Alex Delaware had owned. I still don't care for Robin. I loved Elizabeth Martin, the brilliant department chair at the mysterious Charter College. A committed academic, she is interesting and believable and I really found her to be a strong character who made a good story even better.
Rating:
Summary: A fast read - very enjoyable
Review: A COLD HEART by Jonathan Kellerman I want to preface this review by saying that this is only my second novel in the entire Alex Delaware series. My first and only Jonathan Kellerman book was read ten years ago; it was a book titled BAD LOVE, also an Alex Delaware series. I enjoyed that book, and there is no excuse why there was a gap of 10 years between that book and A COLD HEART. My excuse is that I was only reading a book a year at that time, and therefore did not even know there was a series built around this character. A COLD HEART features, of course, psychologist Alex Delaware, who helps solve crimes with his detective friend Milo Sturgis, who works for the LAPD in homicide. The two of them find themselves involved in a series of crimes that seem to be centered on a common theme: the victims are somehow related to the arts. The clues are vague, and there does not seem to be an obvious connection to any of these crimes. Alex, Milo, and detective Petra O'Connor (who was introduced in BILLY STRAIGHT) work together to find the serial killer. Clues point to one young adult, a loner named Kevin Drummond, but some of the clues don't add up. It isn't until the very end that the reader, and Alex and the detectives figure out who-done-it. A side story about Alex and his ex-girlfriend Robin also ends up connected to the serial killer, with an exciting finish as they figure out who the murderer is. I enjoyed A COLD HEART as much as I enjoyed BAD LOVE. From the amazon reviews I have read here, I was probably at an advantage since I have not read the entire series of books, and therefore did not find this one "tired". It was all "new to me". I did have a problem with the new character introduced in this book, Eric Stahl, who I thought at one point of the book was the killer. I am going to guess he may be used as a continuing character in future books. I will find out soon enough. And on that note, I do recommend A COLD HEART.
Rating:
Summary: It All Comes Together In the End!
Review: In this latest Alex Delaware novel, Alex breaks up with his longtime girlfriend, Robin, and takes up with a sexy woman psychologist named Allison. He assists pal Milo Sturgis and Detective Petra Connor (the heroine from 'Billy Straight') on two seemingly unrelated murders - which become more related when he discovers similar unresolved crimes elsewhere in the nation using the internet. For some reason, Petra is given a zombie-like partner; a former Army investigator, Eric Stahl, who arrives with unseen skeletons tucked in his closet. He has the uncanny ability to spot stolen cars on the street just by looking at them. He has a disdain for women and conversation; yet he's the one to get the girl - and to become a hero at the story's end. A suspect emerges; an underachieving music groupie with homosexual tendencies. But, as in every Alex Delaware novel, the obvious isn't always what it seems. The murders, which accelerate, envelop artists just as their stalled careers are about to blossom, as if the killer is jealous of their anticipated success. The modus operendi for each crime appears to vary. Alex unlocks the murderer's thoughts. We get to see LA's glitzier and sleazier sides. And the team eats Indian food numerous times as they espouse and expand upon ever more gruesome theories. Robin falls into Alex's arms, crying at the conclusion. And, no, they don't get back together. (But there's always the next novel, right?) The paucity of early clues only serves to make the crime's solution seem more sagacious. 'A Cold Heart' is a work as satisfying as any in the series. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Critic...
Review: Jonathon Kellerman continues to try to find new approaches to his long-running Alex Delaware series. Last time he spent half the book on a 3rd person profile of Alex's friend Det. Milo Sturgis, with the other half the regular 1st person Alex Delaware narrative. This time out he again uses 3rd person narrative for part of the book, this time delineating the activities and further exploring the personality of Petra Connor the Hollywood detective of Kellerman's "Billy Straight". Petra has a new partner, the enigmatic Eric Stahl, and they are involved in working a murder case that becomes linked to one Milo & Alex are working. Someone is killing creative types, a musician & painter for openers, in acts that can only be described as ultimate criticism (and Jonathon gets to take a swipe or two at the mentality of the talentless wannabe). No offense to us Amazon critics, I hope. This time out, I found the mystery revealed to me earlier than usual, but it may not be for everyone. Nevertheless, the details of the unraveling are still worthwhile, and Kellerman is still busy fleshing out his characters. Alex has lost his Robin, but has a new love interest. We are becoming more familiar with Petra and new dimensions are being added and her new partner presents a new character with depths and secrets that will probably mean some new Petra book down-the-line. Hope so anyway. Always a pleasurable read, Kellerman doesn't break new ground here, but continues the life of his characters with some new wrinkles. And while this isn't his best, I always look forward to the new Delaware and hope to see a new Petra/Eric book sometime in the future. 3-1/2 for this one.
Rating:
Summary: Predictable, but Still a Good Read
Review: Petra Connor returns in this Alex Delaware novel, this time helping Milo and Alex track a serial killer who murders artists on the rise. Although it didn't take long to figure out who the serial killer was, this is an interesting read. The first person/third person switches throughout the book are distracting. Alex and Robin have split, and Alex's new girlfriend does not seem to have much depth. As in the last few novels by Kellerman, the book reads "depressing". I'd like to see a happier Alex, more relaxed Alex, not so arrogant Alex. Would love to see more of Petra. She's a great character.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing Point in Series
Review: As it is published, I purchase, save, and reread each Kellerman.
It's fiction; it's his vision/talent/genius. But the serial murder schtick was carried too far. The plot became cluttered. The writing is always stimulating; Alex and Milo are engrossing characters. But why write out Robin? Allison's positive reinforcement to Alex must comfort him but she's too much a clone; I find her boring. Robin was an interesting and worthy partner with Alex and Milo. Please, J.K., figure a way to bring her back as Alex's love interest
Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: I've bought and read Kellerman's whole Alex Delaware series, but this is one I truly regret spending the money on. Maybe I'm a traditionalist, but I totally resent the first-person/third-person switch--especially to this extent. It gives off the odor of a trashy, lazy effort. This story came to a screeching halt every time it switched into third. I liked Petra Connor in Billy Straight, but her partner was disgusting. I realize that was the point, but I nearly didn't care enough to finish the book. The plot moved very slowly, very standard stuff. Much as I like the series, I think I'll borrow the next one from the library before buying outright. I'd like to see Kellerman recapture the depth and emotion of Silent Partner.
Rating:
Summary: His Best
Review: This installation of Kellerman's series on Alex Delaware has
to be the best of the bunch. His usual book is full of complexity
that most readers enjoy, but this one brings to full light the
additional work and personality of detective Petra Connor, who,
along with long-time pal detective Milo Sturgis, work with Delaware's psychological insights to find the killer of rising
artists.
At first, no one notices the connection among a handful of murders, which have happened in different districts, and even
far-flung jurisdictions, but someone finally notices that a series of
killings have involved victims who were all either rising young artists, or long-suffering artists finally on the brink of success.
But who would want to kill such a diverse bunch of artists, including a concert pianist, a blues guitar player, a drugged, out-of-control modern singer (who is more of a screamer, really), and
others who never knew each other and who never traveled in the
same circles, either artisticallly or physically?
The story realistically involves some false starts and phony leads, all of which the police (and Alex) must pursue, so the reader can
share the real frustration of police and detective work which requires them to work with insufficient information, reluctant witnesses and outright liars while trying to track down a relentless
killer who is getting more bold and lethal.
All the characters are fully developed, and the author has made
each of them interesting to the point where we want to know more
about them and to share their thought processes.
Of course, as in the Alex Delaware books in general, the hero
himself is in a personal turmoil, and he suddenly finds that he might be the target of the killer himself; but worse, he shockingly
realizes the fear that the next target may be someone very near
and dear to him.
So Alex has to help the police unravel a complex series of murders, all the while dealing with his own inner conflicts.
His psychological insights are helpful to the police, but the insights into himself are more elusive.
For anyone with any interest in this type of psychological thriller
or mystery, this is a must. And most readers will find it very
difficult to put down, as the story rolls forward with intensity.
Rating:
Summary: Kellerman makes a great comeback...
Review: I just finished this book and I thought the story was great, much better than some of the author's more recent ones like Flesh and Blood, Dr. Death. We had plenty of action, interesting characters, characters from other novels by the author, and new characters that show promise. Putting Alex in a new relationship is also refreshing. The plot was intricate, and I didnt guess who the killer was until Milo and the others did. Kellerman must read these reviews, because he cut out a lot of the monotonous and pointless driving around LA, Alex mooning over Robin, descriptions of what the dog and the fish were fed for dinner, and so on. The book never dragged, and the ending had a few surprises and a good set up for the next novel. The reason I didnt give this 5 stars was because it contained a horrible gaffe that is really inexcusable. The 1920s blues artist on page 185 was Blind Lemon JEFFERSON, not Blind Lemon Jackson! This kind of carelessness with details tends to taint the author's credibility somewhat.
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