Blood Test

Rating:
Summary: Fastpaced. Couldn't put it down!
Review: An excellent read! Once again Jonathon Kellerman has outdone himself. The book has very interesting characters, a fast pacd plot, and suspense. I couldn't put it down.

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting, Quick Read
Review: Blood Test, while a quick read, was an interesting and well-developed book. The plot centers upon a young boy whose parents refuse cancer treatment. Dr. Delaware, the star of several of Kellerman's books, is called in by the treating physician to convince the parents to consent to treatment. Before he can meet with the parents, however, the boy is taken from the hospital. Dr. Delaware's concern with the young boy throws him into an adventure, focused on finding the boy, where he stumbles upon horticultural prowess and cultists that may be more than what they seem. There is less of a psychological twist in Blood test than in some of the other Kellerman books, but plot interest will keep you reading until the end.

Rating:
Summary: FRUITFUL VENTURE
Review: Dr. Alex Delaware is still on a high from having successfully solved a series of interlocking mysteries from "As The Bough Breaks." In this installment, set in 1986, Alex must beat the clock to save a 5-year-old boy with treatable cancer.

The boy, Heywood "Woody" Swope appears to be the one normal foil for his reclusive, fruit obsessed parents and hostile 20-year-old sister, Nona. Named for an apple, Annona Blossom Swope is described in almost feral terms.

Matters come to a painful head when Woody is kidnapped from the hospital. The boy's parents and sister also disappear, and Dr. Alex Delaware is immediately in pursuit of this mysterious family.

Dr. Delaware and his long time friend, Officer Milo Sturgis travel down some very seedy and unsavory roads in Southern California. A cult called the Touch is high on the list of suspects. Members of the cult would visit Woody's family in the hospital and were bringing fresh, organic fruits. A doctor who sympathized with the Touch was high on the list of suspects as were a disgruntled male model/escort who worked with Nona at a messenger/escort service.

The clever detective work and the chapters detailing Dr. Delaware's expose of the Touch and their compound, a converted monastery in the fictitious border town of La Vista make for very compelling reading. The theme of bearing fruit is rampant throughout the book and is very effectively used. Dr. Delaware's live in girlfriend, the selfish and tiresome Robin is barely mentioned in this story, which is also good. I never cared for her.

Questions still abound. Where are the Swopes? And what of Woody? How was the Touch involved? And what of the doctors who worked at the hospital where Woody was being treated? A well crafted mystery that will certainly leave a lasting impression.

Rating:
Summary: FRUITFUL VENTURE
Review: Dr. Alex Delaware is still on a high from having successfully solved a series of interlocking mysteries from "As The Bough Breaks." In this installment, set in 1986, Alex must beat the clock to save a 5-year-old boy with treatable cancer.

The boy, Heywood "Woody" Swope appears to be the one normal foil for his reclusive, fruit obsessed parents and hostile 20-year-old sister, Nona. Named for an apple, Annona Blossom Swope is described in almost feral terms.

Matters come to a painful head when Woody is kidnapped from the hospital. The boy's parents and sister also disappear, and Dr. Alex Delaware is immediately in pursuit of this mysterious family.

Dr. Delaware and his long time friend, Officer Milo Sturgis travel down some very seedy and unsavory roads in Southern California. A cult called the Touch is high on the list of suspects. Members of the cult would visit Woody's family in the hospital and were bringing fresh, organic fruits. A doctor who sympathized with the Touch was high on the list of suspects as were a disgruntled male model/escort who worked with Nona at a messenger/escort service.

The clever detective work and the chapters detailing Dr. Delaware's expose of the Touch and their compound, a converted monastery in the fictitious border town of La Vista make for very compelling reading. The theme of bearing fruit is rampant throughout the book and is very effectively used. Dr. Delaware's live in girlfriend, the selfish and tiresome Robin is barely mentioned in this story, which is also good. I never cared for her.

Questions still abound. Where are the Swopes? And what of Woody? How was the Touch involved? And what of the doctors who worked at the hospital where Woody was being treated? A well crafted mystery that will certainly leave a lasting impression.

Rating:
Summary: A good, workmanlike mystery
Review: I absolutely loved WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS, so I was naturally eager to pursue more of Jonathan Kellerman's books. BLOOD TEST is good, but not as good as its predecessor. JK's ability to draw interesting characters is intact: the doctors and cult members in this book are memorable, and the resolution is thrilling. He really knows how to get the reader's adrenaline pumping! However, I thought the side plot regarding the divorce case was somewhat of a fifth wheel. It didn't seem to have anything to do with the main action, so why include it? Overall, though, I found myself wishing I lived a few more bus-stops away from work so that I could finish reading it before walking home from the corner, and am looking forward to reading OVER THE EDGE. Jonathan Kellerman is like a bag of potato chips: one is never enough

Rating:
Summary: Superb thriller from Kellerman.
Review: I find myself loathing the Delaware series and I only read this book after the urging of a close friend.Thank God I did.This book is great throughout with the best ending I have ever read.So shocking and unpredictable.Usually in reviews I give a quick synopsis of the plot.However I feel anyone giving the plot of this book away is a fool.Its superb.Buy this and ignore the rest of the rather disappointing Delaware series...oh and also buy the Butchers Theater.Its another superb book from Kellerman and is a little better than Blood Test.

Rating:
Summary: Another good one
Review: I think that this book has less of a psychological aspect. I like mysteries/suspense that deal with positive relationships. I missed Robin in this book. and if you are a Delaware reader, then you know who I am talking about. Milo didn't even have much struggle in this book. Not too bad overall though. quick and easy to read

Rating:
Summary: A Let Down
Review: I was enthralled by the writing style of Kellerman in his previous book, When the Bough Breaks. I was completely let down by this one. I wanted so much for him to stick to the primary storyline with Woody, but instead, he concentrated on Woody and the Moodys. I hope the next one is better.

Rating:
Summary: COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!
Review: I'VE READ SEVERAL OF KELLERMAN'S ALEX DELAWARE NOVELS AND HAVE NOT BEEN DISAPPOINTED YET. BLOOD TEST IS NO EXCEPTION. IT GRABS YOUR ATTENTION FROM THE START AND IS DIFFICULT TO PUT DOWN. I DIDN'T WANT IT TO END.

Rating:
Summary: Religious Cult Again
Review: If I am not mistaken,this is Jonathan Kellerman's third book involving a suspect religious cult. It gets a little tiresome. The plot was not as suspenseful as his books usually are. But it is easy reading, and the writing is entertaining enough to read if you are a Jonathan Kellerman fan.