Rating: 
Summary: Pschologist/Action Hero
Review: This is Jonathan Kellerman's first novel featuring Dr. Alex Delaware, an over-achieving child psychologist who suffered from burnout in his early 30's and dropped out. The novel reads as though Kellerman is just having some fun writing. Fortunately, he takes his readers along for the ride. Dr. Delaware goes from mild-mannered chid psychologist to psychologist/sleuth to psychologist/action hero as the story progresses. Not all of the characters are as fully developed as I might have liked, but there were just too many characters to develop them all fully. The characterization provided, however, were fairly good. Check Kellerman's later works to see how he expands and develops this talent. The pacing was good, but there was a little too much deux ex machina to make the story truly believable. It's such a good read, however, I didn't really mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Very impressive debut
Review: This is my first book by Kellerman. And i was very impressed. It's a very good debut novel. The plotting is tight and the writing is sharp. The book is, basically, incredibly fun to read. (As another reviewer has said, you get the sense that all Kellerman was doing was writing for his own amusement and fun, and it really comes across in the writing. Very fun, enjoyable story, despite its focus on child-abuse.) Alex Delaware is a great character. He is well drawn and realistic. instantly likeable, immediately an everyman who most readers will be able to identify with. He is supported by some other great characters. Milo, his police-detective friend. And Robin, his partner. (A likeable character at first, but if she carries on as she is, she may get a tad annoying in a few books time) The plotting is clever, and the climax great. I see a strength in the series, available in his ability to portray likeable children very well. Unfortunately, in this book little Melody Quinn (the child in this book) seems to drop out of the story about a quarter of the way through, only to re-appear in a privotal role at the end. The child-abuse is depicted well, the plotting is strong and realistic. The effects of the child abuse are also described well. Peadophillia is dealt with tactfully, and this book does not sensationalise it. In the end, the villains all get their commupeance, and Milo Strugis really shows his true colours. This is a very good debut novel. A fast paced pageturner, with an addictive writing style, i fairly raced through this book. I am hugely looking forward to getting my teeth into other books by Kellerman.
Rating: 
Summary: My first by this author.....
Review: This is my first book by this author so I will have to be fair.. It is well written but very predictable.... It dragged on a bit in some areas, but I did manage to finish the book... I am still up in the air about trying another book of his... After reading several other reviews I notice that my complaint was very similiar to that of other reviewers.
Rating:
Summary: 1st Alex Delaware novel, don't miss it!
Review: This is the first novel featuring Alex Delaware, child psychologist and it is a stunner. I don't know why I have resisted reading Jonathan Kellerman for so long, but I sure do regret it. When Dr. Morton Handler and Elena Gutierrez are found mutilated in Handler's apartment, Det. Milo Sturgis recruits Dr. Delaware to help unlock the mind of the only witness, 7 year old Melody Quinn. As Dr. Delaware tries to help this child, he unwittingly unlocks a deeper secret, one that has existed for over 40 years. This novel is a fine debut for Jonathan Kellerman. We now know he goes on to write many more Dr. Delaware novels and I will be reading all of them
Rating:
Summary: Actually 3 1/2 stars....
Review: This is the first of the series and it is a decent read, but at times looks like a first novel. It drags a bit but like I have said before Kellerman is not capable of writing a bad book. His average one's are better than 50 percent of what is being published today! Kellerman does a superb job of detailing a 7-year old who is the possible only witness to a crime and her down-and-out mother, who should take parenting classes. I won't give away much, but this shows enough to get u hooked on Kellerman, Delaware (the main character), and Milo (his friend). A worthy debut! Kellerman exhibits charcterization, smooth storytelling, and fantastic plotting. The only draw-back is lengthy conversations and parts that are a little slow. Nothing to convince u NOT to PURCHASE the BOOK! Good job, Jon!
Rating:
Summary: NEATLY WRAPPED PACKAGE
Review: This mystery starts and ends as a very neatly tied bow on the package. There are no loose ends. Psychologist Alex Delaware and his sidekick, Officer Milo Sturgis crack their first cases together as a sleuthing duo. A Dr. Morton Handler is killed and the only person with keys to unlock that first mystery is 7-year-old Melody Quinn. An overmedicated child, Melody lives with her single mother in a run down apartment with a ban on children. Fearful of being evicted, Melody's mother feeds her tranquilizers and reduces Melody into a druggy stupor. Dr. Delaware is called in to consult with Melody and take the first step in cracking a Chinese box of mysteries. His detective trail takes him from Southern California to Washington State. He and Sturgis discover a child-porn ring, murder, deception and extortion. The end is a tad anticlimatic because all the loose ends are neatly tied up with a perfect bow. I didn't care for Dr. Delaware's live in girlfriend, Robin. An accomplished luthier, Robin is described as fiercely independent. She does some pretty inane things, though. I didn't like it when she wore a picture of Lassie around her neck to atone for offending Alex. I thought that was stupid. I never really cared for Robin in the first place. Note the names: Handler, for the psychiatrist. Handler of psyches and in his case, matters less than wholesome or above board.
Rating:
Summary: NEATLY WRAPPED PACKAGE
Review: This mystery starts and ends as a very neatly tied bow on the package. There are no loose ends. Psychologist Alex Delaware and his sidekick, Officer Milo Sturgis crack their first cases together as a sleuthing duo. A Dr. Morton Handler is killed and the only person with keys to unlock that first mystery is 7-year-old Melody Quinn. An overmedicated child, Melody lives with her single mother in a run down apartment with a ban on children. Fearful of being evicted, Melody's mother feeds her tranquilizers and reduces Melody into a druggy stupor. Dr. Delaware is called in to consult with Melody and take the first step in cracking a Chinese box of mysteries. His detective trail takes him from Southern California to Washington State. He and Sturgis discover a child-porn ring, murder, deception and extortion. The end is a tad anticlimatic because all the loose ends are neatly tied up with a perfect bow. I didn't care for Dr. Delaware's live in girlfriend, Robin. An accomplished luthier, Robin is described as fiercely independent. She does some pretty inane things, though. I didn't like it when she wore a picture of Lassie around her neck to atone for offending Alex. I thought that was stupid. I never really cared for Robin in the first place. Note the names: Handler, for the psychiatrist. Handler of psyches and in his case, matters less than wholesome or above board.
Rating:
Summary: Good story, but violent
Review: This was my first J. Kellerman book. I found it to be smartly written, though the subject matter was depressing. It included sexual abuse of children, chronic drug abuse, and much violence and murder. My next book by this author, in chronoligical order, will be Blood Test. If I find the subject matter to contain similar amounts of violence and atrocities, it will be the last book I will read by this author. I would have awarded more stars to this interesting story had it not contained so much violence.
Rating:
Summary: A gut-wrenching, heart wrenching drama. Well done.
Review: This was the first book I read by Kellerman, and I still feel it's his best. The author spins a well-woven drama, with important characters and a steady build. It was at times difficult, but really more sad, only because of what happens to a child. The tale is gripping. It got me hooked on Alex Delaware novels. I've read most of them since reading "When The Bough Breaks". If you haven't read any of Kellerman's Alex Delaware novels, and read but one, make it this one. Then you'll find you've made a liar out of yourself. It'll hook you.
Rating:
Summary: he's great
Review: this was the first of his books that i read, as soon as it was in paperback....got me hooked!!
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