Rating: 
Summary: Working through a distorted mind is the key to this thriller
Review: Diversity, in all kinds of ways, makes Kellerman's writing voice exciting to read. The reader is taken quickly to the scene of a brutal murder. The author introduces a bright young character, Billy Straight, as the child listens to the "chuck chuck" of the murder weapon. Billy's love of reading leaves behind clues, which cause detectives to believe he may have witnessed the crime. Petra is a clever and strong-minded LAPD homicide detective, with her own personal traumas. She asks the right questions and continues to try and formulate a motive using astounding reasoning. While her partner Stu projects leadership and insight, he has to deal with a life-threatening situation within his own family. However, the work must go on, and he manages to handle what comes his way. Murders, lots of blood, and missing persons, along with the high profile suspect, keep the heat on this case. Every page is full of urgency. This suspenseful mystery-thriller brilliantly incorporates fear, morality, hate, hurt and love, bringing the reader at some personal level, into the story, where he remains captivated until the very end and beyond. This is not just a who-done-it novel, but also a complex series of character development, making Kellerman's creative thriller a must read.
Rating:
Summary: Murder/Cruelty/Pathos/a 12 year old and Petra Connor
Review: Want to find out about Kellerman's newest sleuth? Pick up this book and enter the terrifying world of a runaway boy who has witnessed a murder. It is a refreshing change from Alex Delaware. This is not to imply that I am the least bit tired of Alex.I have read all Kellerman's novels and could read about Delaware forever. It is altogether different from his former novels-so it a change of pace and a cleverly woven mystery that wins my applause. That Kellerman can change his tack and produce as equally scintillating a mystery as he has, is mind boggling to me. Petra Connor is refreashingly different, not all brain, not all beauty but an astonishing mixture of both. Her thought processes in solving the many involved aspects of this mystery are fascinating to follow. And Billy Straight is right behind her. He is an intelligent, moral kid whose background does nothing to help him become a survivor, but somehow he manages his day-to-day life in a scary adult world.His character is very believable: if one is a survivor his/herself (and Kellerman has a very good handle on that).A terrific read: no, the killer is not obvious- you just THINK you know. And the ending is slam-bang! Kellerman is the consumate mystery writer. I particularly am impressed, in all his novels, by the descriptions of people, places and things. He does it in such a way that you do not realize it and suddenly the entire picture is in your mind-down to the color of a man's tie and the shape and color of flowers on the hillside.How interesting that he managed to insert Alex and Milo(from his Delaware novels) in between the cracks of his new mystery. I am curious if they will all be together one of these days. All of his books are great-I have already ordered his next book on Delaware "Monster" due out soon-but I am looking forward to more of Petra Connor,also. Kudos to Kellerman for giving something new and different a try - and succeeding.
Rating: 
Summary: As good as the best of the Alex Delaware series!
Review: Having read all of Kellerman's Alex Delaware series, and enjoying most of them very much (except The Web), I was very pleasantly surprised by Billy Straight. I couldn't put this book down. Billy Straight and Petra Connor were both great characters. Good plot development and characterization. I loved the idea of a kid actually sneaking into a school to steal books! I'll look forward to seeing more of Petra in other Kellerman novels. It was neat that he worked in Alex and Milo too. I would definitely recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Great book...very entertaining
Review: I enjoyed this book very much..it kept me up nights - couldn't put it down. I've read all of Kellerman's books and didn't rush out and buy this one for a while because it wasn't an Alex Delaware book but I enjoyed it just as much as those. Always will look forward to the next book by Kellerman - whether a Delaware mystery or not now!
Rating: 
Summary: All in all an entertaining book.
Review: I must say, this is the first Jonathan Kellerman novel that I have ever read. The book was quite entertaining, although I find his writing style somewhat awkward (so is Stephen King's - and he sells millions of books!), even at times boring. The ending was definately not a surprise, and it happened so quickly I was left wondering: "Is that it! " There were too many references to O.J., which wasn't really needed (once was enough - but to go on and on about the case, come on, we've had enough!). Billy's character was strong and the writer made you care for him, as he went through his homeless life through the mean urban streets of LA - although I found Kellerman's characterization of Petra kind of flawed, especially the overuse of references to her past. I also found it bothersome and annoying all of the very simple character thoughts throughout the book (she thought, he thought, I thought, etc. etc.). All in all the book was entertaining - although I don't recommend it as the book of the year. But I'll read some other of Kellerman's work and see if it'll change my mind about his writing style and lack of "depth" in the characterization.
Rating:
Summary: Murder/ cruelty/ pathos/a 12 yr. old & Petra Connor
Review: Want to find out about Kellerman's newest sleuth? Pick up this book and enter the terrifying world of a runaway boy who has witnessed a murder. I disagree with a lot of statements in the reviews I have read. First of all, it is not a refreshing change from Alex Delaware. That implies that I am tired of Alex Delaware. I have read all Kellerman's novels and could read about Delaware constantly. It is altogether different from his former novels - so it IS a change and a cleverly woven mystery that wins my applause. That Kellerman can just change his tack and produce as equally scintillating a mystery as he ever has is mind boggling to me. Petra Conner IS refreshing, different, not all brain, not all beauty but an astonishing mixture of both. Her thought processes in solving the many involved aspects of this mystery are fascinating to follow. And Billy Straight is right behind her. He is an intelligent, moral kid whose background does nothing to help him become a survivor, but somehow he manages his day to day life in a scary adult world. His character is very believable - if one is a survivor his/herself and Kellerman has a very good handle on that. A terrific read - no, the killer is not obvious - you just THINK you know. And the end is slam-bang! Kellerman is the consummate writer. I particularly am impressed, in all his novels, by the desciptions of people, places and things. He does it in such a way that you do not realize it - and suddenly the entire picture is in your mind-down to the color of a man's tie and the shape of flowers on the hillside. How interesting that he managed to insert Alex and Milo in between the cracks of his new mystery. I am curious if they will all be together one of these days. All of his books are great- I have already ordered his next book on Delaware: MONSTER - but I am looking forward to more of Petra Connor. Kudos to Kellerman for giving something different a try - and SUCCEEDING!
Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: Authors always seem to take a lot of heat from readers when they take a break from a popular recurring character. I thought this was a refreshing break from the Alex Delaware books. I was getting a little bored with him. The characters in this book were believable (if somewhat slimy in some cases). It was pretty obvious from the start who the killer was, but there were enough twists and red herrings to keep it interesting. An enjoyable read. I would like to see the character Petra Conner in future stories. Maybe even teamed up with Milo and Alex.
Rating:
Summary: This book was an unexpected surprise.
Review: I have read all of the Kellerman books when they first came out in hardback but when he drifted from the Alex D. books I figured that this would be another one of those off beat books that authors write because they get tired of writing the same characters all of the time. I also had my doubts about a 12 year old outwitting adults and living on his own on the street. So I didn't buy it. I was finally given a copy in paperback and read it. Was I surprised. The book held my interest from start to finish and I think it ranks up there with some of his best books. The book isn't just about a 12 year old but has a wealth of characters. Throughout the book you get to know all of these characters and how they interact. I recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing peice of work
Review: This is the first book that I've read by Kellerman and after reading it I want to read more! Each new chapter had me guesing on who the killer was and my first guess turned to be the right one. I loved it when he'd{Kellerman} skip to a new character, making you think that that new person had a part in Lisa's murder. Although the ending kind of dissapointed me by what happenes to Billy, but all in all...Excellent!!
Rating:
Summary: A refreshing change
Review: I have also read all of Kellerman's books and found this one to be a refreshing change from his Alex Delaware characters. While I enjoy them, I feel that we know very little about them except in the context of their work. I often find myself wishing I know more about relationships. Why are they still together after all of these years? The characters in Billy Straight were fleshed out much more and in a shorter time. I want to know more about them. I think there is plenty of unfinished business for another book. On another note- Isn't it interesting that both Faye and Jonathan Kellerman chose to depart from their familiar casts of characters in their last books? Makes one wonder if it was a mutual decision or just serendipity.
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