The Murder Book

An Alex Delaware Novel

By: Jonathan Kellerman

Narrated by: John Rubinstein

Length: 15 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

In his 17 consecutive best selling novels, Jonathan Kellerman has distinguished himself as the master of the psychological thriller. Now, in Kellerman's most compelling and powerful novel yet, LA psychologist-detective Alex Delaware confronts a long-unsolved murder of unspeakable brutality - an ice-cold case whose resolution threatens his survival and that of longtime friend, homicide detective Milo Sturgis.

The nightmare begins when Alex receives a strange package in the mail with no return address. Inside is an ornate album filled with gruesome crime-scene photos - a homicide scrapbook entitled The Murder Book. Alex can find no reason for anyone to send him this compendium of death, but when Milo views the book, he is immediately shaken by one of the images: a young woman, tortured, strangled, and dumped near a freeway ramp.

This was one of Milo's first cases as a rookie homicide cop: a vicious killing that he and his partner failed to solve because the department closed them down. Being forced to abandon the young victim tormented Milo. But his fears prevented him from pursuing the truth, and over the years he managed to forget.

Now someone has chosen to stir up the past. As Alex and Milo set out to uncover what really happened twenty years ago, their every move is being followed, and their lives are placed in jeopardy. While peeling back layer after layer of ugly secrets, they discover that the murder of one forgotten girl has chilling ramifications that extend far beyond the tragic loss of a single life.

©2002 Jonathan Kellerman (P)2002 Random House Inc., Random House Audio, a Division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

"A hoot of a whodunit...This may be the best Kellerman in years." (Publishers Weekly)

Really enjoyed this one

I enjoy John Rubenstein. I think The Murder Book is one of Kellerman’s best. I couldn’t leave it alone.

Refreshing in the sequels

I appreciate Mr Rubinstein’s performance, the delivery etc. I wish he would pronounce the word “secreted” correctly in the context of the story, and have noticed across books, that this is a word he consistently mispronounces, but I believe the final responsibility lies with the editor and director. Overall, he made great choices in his characterizations. I also enjoyed the writer view switching from Alex’s first person perspective to third person with Milo’s story line. I liked the back story of Milo as well. If you like the Delaware series, I think you will enjoy this.

First rate

I've always like the Alex Delaware character and this book didn't disapoint. Good mystery with some twists and turns that keep it very interesting. The narrator did a decent job.

Keep Coming Back For More!

Great Book! Can't stop listening until it's over - and then you want more. Only a handfull of authors can pull off this kind of work.

Chilling

It helps to know something of his previous work to enjoy this. It also helps to know that he made Milo gay because the LA Police cheif announced one that that there were NO gay officers in LA. Milo's choice of gender in a partner plays a part here.

Parts of this are chilling and as always in Delaware stories the past comes back to haunt the present.

I have read all the Alex Delaware novels. While this is not the best is is still very good and some things in it will haunt you. Just as they haunted the cop that kept "The Murder Book"

A good Kellerman

I have read a lot of his books and found this to be another good story. Not his best, but a good listen.

Great introduction to the characters.

After listening to/reading other Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis novels, it was great to learn more about the characters' backgrounds. Good plot and excellent performance by narrator.

Minor gripes with the narration

The narrator gives a gay cop from Los Angeles a hard edge New Yorker type voice. Not really a believable voice. Also, the narrator mispronounces Some words that a native Californian would never get wrong. For example, the narrator pronounced Camarillo (a city) as "cama-rill-oh," when the correct pronunciation is "cama-ree-oh."

First time with this author

I was thinking about purchasing a more recent work by this author when a reviewer said it didn't measure up to previous works, such as the Murder Book. If that's the case, I won't be listening to the newer one. This book wasn't bad, but it doesn't have me clamoring for more. I suppose the characters are real, since there's nothing particularly likeable about Milo and Alex. I was also surprised at the way each pulled theories seemingly out of thin air, most of which turned out to be dead on. The book's climax wasn't particularly satisfying, which was a bit disappointing after 15+ hours of listening. I'll probably give a listen to one more of Kellerman's best reviewed works and see if I feel different. One last point; the narrator did a good job.

Cold Case; Personal History; a New Direction

The death of a retired police officer takes both Alex and Milo back to their beginnings. It's a story about privilege and the lack thereof and it's consequences. A young girl from a bad household is tortured and killed for sport by a group of rich boys. The cover-up has lasted for a lot of years as have the aftereffects, for Milo among others. As Milo and Alex conduct an unofficial unauthorized investigation the lingering shadows of the past affect them both; Alex is also dealing with the breakup of his long term relationship with Robin. As the story comes to a close and Alex deals with a life and death confrontation, Milo fights the power and wins a new role for himself in the hierarchy. An excellent example of the best of Alex Delaware.