Rating: Summary: Alex is going downhill.... Review: I'm a pretty big Alex Delaware fan -- the first one I read was Monster, then Dr. Death, then I started from the beginning and read them all in order. Here's what I think about this book: okay, but not one of Kellerman's better ones. In fact, his last three have not been great. It took me a while to get into it, and I kept reading only because I am a fan of the series. The plot was just not interesting to me. What I disliked most about it, though, is how the older Alex gets, the more he acts like he is in junior high. Being a psychologist, you would think that he would be able to figure out and fix his relationship with Robin. But he rejects her, then kisses her, then rejects her, then has sex wtih her, then rejects her. His new girlfriend Allison is nice, but she is definitely no Robin. I think he has damaged the relationship too much to go back, though. Hopefully we will still hear from Robin in the future. Another way he acts like he is in junior high is how horny he is -- all the time!!! I read Kellerman's books for mystery, intrigue, and surprise, but it seems like in this book every other chapter talks about Alex's erection. Yuck!!! The main positive point of the book is the return of Petra Connor and her new partner Eric Stahl -- reading about them was refreshing after having to wade through Alex's inability to deal with his issues. There is definitely more to find out about Eric, and it would be interesting to have Petra's character more developed also. Hopefully we will read more about them in future books. To sum up, I give this book 3 stars -- read it if you are a fan, but if you have never read one of Jonathan Kellerman's books then start with a different one.
Rating: Summary: Anything but a "cold" heart Review: Alex Delaware continues to find his own professional decision to become a psychologist frustrating as he get drawn into another series of murders that only he picks up early clues. When he convinces Milo Sturgis, his friend and LAPD detective, that the tie between murder victims is that they are performers trying to make a comeback, they begin to work the case together with Alex usually a step ahead of Milo. Alex's personal life in Cold Heart makes him look a little wimpy. Robin walked out on him because he keeps looking for trouble (read previous Alex Delaware books). She gave up Alex for a dull but safe performer and then finds herself involved in this case and needing Alex. Dr. Delaware continues to be an old literary friend to work forward to seeing in action as the series continues. I do wish he could get his personal life figured out. Maybe the new love who is also a psychologist can help Alex with his cases in the future. Cold Heart is another good to buy; good to read thriller.
Rating: Summary: Not in the same class as ¿The Murder Book¿¿ Review: Kellerman's 17th installment in the Alex Delaware series keeps you guessing, keeps you entertained, but hasn't the elements of true suspense that kept "The Murder Book" on pace with some of his earliest work. Unlike Michael Connelly, Kellerman just can't seem to take the risks with Delaware that he needs to take to keep the series fresh and compelling. Still, I'm giving the book four stars... Delaware is the one who makes the leap in this mystery to connect seemingly unrelated homicide cases. He draws old friend Milo Sturgis and another former character, Petra Connor, (who makes a welcome return) into the mix, along with Connor's new and unusual partner. Focused on the arts and music, the victims of the killer have their lives taken from them mysteriously, by a killer who may just be jealous of their recent successes. Sadly, Delaware, who has a new love in his life, can't seem to draw away from Robin Castagna, both personally and professionally, although many Delaware fans are hoping that Kellerman will "Give it up!" on their troubled romance. Robin's new love is a bit of an oddity, as well, who keeps getting in Delaware's way. The mystery is just compelling enough, and the action realistic, to hold your interest, although Kellerman, who has now completed the last four books in the series with some of the style and characterization he had in the early going of the series, falls short of "The Murder Book". It may be time for Delaware to return to the field of crimes against children, where his original psychological skills best focused. You'll not regret the read, and you'll finish quickly, but unlike some of his earlier work, it won't leave you with regrets that it will be awhile before Alex's next outing.
Rating: Summary: A twisted plot but entertaining Review: Trying to keep track of all the characters and the murders was a chore, but the book was well worth reading. It grabs you from the beginning, loses the reader in details in the middle and ends with a gut-wrenching twist. If you're a Kellerman fan, you won't be disappointed!
Rating: Summary: What have you done with Alex Delaware? Review: I recently read The Murder Book and am now over half way through A Cold Heart. My question is, what the heck has happened to Alex Delaware? He's absolutely middle school in his relationship with Robin. The man's a shrink--can he not see what he is and is not doing? The Alex Delaware that has made me read every book in the series was an intelligent, intuitive, sensitive and good man. This Alex Delaware cannot seem to have a straight thought when it comes to what's going on with his personal life. I'm disgusted that every time he's alone with Robin, within minutes he's innapropriately reaching for her breast, another time, allowing her to deeply kiss him while the reader is made very aware of his manly arousal. That wouldn't be so distateful except hours later, he is hopping in bed with another woman, who seems to be cast as a dinner and sex chracter. This is a new style of writing that we are not used to from Kellerman. Kellerman never used to make sex a dirty word and in my opinion, he is suddenly just throwing sex in, seemingly just to add sex. Why not add a new character if he wanted to spice the book up with sex? I've come to strongly dislike Robin and am about twenty pages short of losing all respect for Alex Delaware. Alex Delaware is the man of most women's dreams and now he's made stupid and stereotypical. Even the last two book covers have taken on this same nuance. Kellerman, no one will deny sex sells, but please, lay off our beloved Alex Delaware as a man who can't control himself.
Rating: Summary: Not his best work Review: I think he made such an issue of Dr. Delaware's personal life (switching from Robin to Allison) that he lost track of what could have been an interesting mystery plot. He seems to do his best work when his character is firmly ensconced with his long time girlfriend (Robin) and his mind is free to concentrate on the mystery at hand. It doesn't take a "psychiatrist" to realize that upheavals in one's personal life distracts them from the work at hand.
Rating: Summary: Another Good One! Review: Another clever, convoluted,un-put-downable entry in the Alex Delaware series. Jonathan Kellerman justs keeps putting out some of my favorite reads of all time. I just love his descriptions - of characters and Los Angeles, which I suppose is a character in itself. Another thing I always look forward to is his descriptions of peoples homes. You know as certain as the sun rises that if someone lives in a dump (or dresses badly , is not as thin and toned as a ballet dancer,or God forbid ,wears "cheap jewelry") that they are going to be of low-class dubious character! I liked Petra's involvement in this case, but her new partner, Eric Stahl - what an obvious head case! I wonder that Alex Delaware didn't seem to pick up on this at all, brilliant psychologist that he is. Of course, he was spending much of his time gettin' it on with his new honey and trying to forget the old one. Good luck, doc. I also thought what a hoot it would be if Eric Stahl would, in his endeavors, run across that other well known literary character living in L.A., created by author Robert Crais - namely, Joe Pike. What a pair they would make, wouldn't they? The mind simply boggles.
Rating: Summary: Boring Review: I have read all of Jonathan Kellerman's books and this one is the most boring of the bunch. He takes forever to get to the point. His characters are bland and I don't care anymore about his love interest with Robin, which takes up half of the book. He needs to get on with his life. The mystery part and conclusion take up the last 5 chapters and even that is no mystery and not even exciting. I just wanted the book to end and it seemed like it never would. The book just kept driving around Hollywood and stopping at bars and street signs. I feel like I could drive in Hollywood according to J. Kellerman's directions. Too predictable.
Rating: Summary: On a roll Review: The author has found a way to keep these books moving. Changing narrators has added zip to the series. Good job.
Rating: Summary: Yippee! Another Kellerman! Review: Ooh, I gobble JK's books up as if they're M&Ms. What I love best is the fact that his background as a clinical psychologist lends credence to his probing expolorations and penetrating pick-pick-picking into the twisted criminal mind. In A Cold Heart (talk about a chilling title...), he extends his delving further to explore not only the criminal, but also A. Delaware and Milo Sturgis, and a cast of other characters, combining them into a melange of motivations and intricasies that somehow hold together perfectly. It is when Kellerman travels into the mind of a serial killer that he hits top stride, and that's what A Cold Heart deals with: the elaborate crime scene staging of a murder with no obvious motive. Then, of course, other murders occur, and the chase is on... Kellerman at his best. If you've liked his others, you'll love this one.
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