Victims

An Alex Delaware Novel

By: Jonathan Kellerman

Narrated by: John Rubinstein

Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Unraveling the madness behind L.A.’s most baffling and brutal homicides is what sleuthing psychologist Alex Delaware does best. And putting the good doctor through his thrilling paces is what mystery fiction’s #1 best-selling master of psychological suspense Jonathan Kellerman does with incomparable brilliance. Kellerman’s universally acclaimed novels blend the addictive rhythms of the classic police procedural with chilling glimpses into the darkest depths of the human condition. For the compelling proof, look no further than Victims - Kellerman at his razor-sharp, harrowing finest.

Not since Jack the Ripper terrorized the London slums has there been such a gruesome crime scene. By all accounts, acid-tongued Vita Berlin hadn’t a friend in the world, but whom did she cross so badly as to end up arranged in such a grotesque tableau? One look at her apartment–turned–charnel house prompts hard-bitten LAPD detective Milo Sturgis to summon his go-to expert in hunting homicidal maniacs, Alex Delaware. But despite his finely honed skills, even Alex is stymied when more slayings occur in the same ghastly fashion... yet with no apparent connection among the victims. And the only clue left behind - a blank page bearing a question mark - seems to be both a menacing taunt and a cry for help from a killer baffled by his own lethal urges.

Under pressure to end the bloody spree and prevent a citywide panic, Milo redoubles his efforts to discover a link between the disparate victims. Meanwhile, Alex navigates the secretive world of mental health treatment, from the sleek office of a Beverly Hills therapist to a shuttered mental institution where he once honed his craft - and where an unholy alliance between the mad and the monstrous may have been sealed in blood. As each jagged piece of the puzzle fits into place, an ever more horrific portrait emerges of a sinister mind at its most unimaginable - and an evil soul at its most unspeakable. “This one was different,” Alex observes at the start of the case. This one will haunt his waking life, and his darkest dreams, long after its end.

Psyched? Listen to all of Jonathan Kellerman's Dr. Alex Delaware thrillers.

©2012 Jonathan Kellerman (P)2012 Random House Audio

Predictable. Good characters. Worth the credit.

A copy of my Amazon Review

While just as riveting as some of his others-- the crime details that is -- this one falls flat for the aspects that are not concerned with the crime(s). For those of us dedicated to the series, there are unanswered questions. Are Milo and Rick no longer together? Why was Rick so obviously absent? Just a passing reference to his name and "surgery" in general. Milo makes a sandwich from ingredients that would have not been present in their refrigerator if Rick had been living with him. No mention of Milos' being gay. No, it's not important to the story, but it is to the series and to those of us who "know" him.

Re Robin & Alex... too light, though okay. I wonder how this reads for new readers. I don't think there was mention of how Robin refurbishes band instruments (which I think is a really unique skill to give to a character).

And about the **victims** in the book. The beginning held me close, but I have to say that as Alex (more than Milo) got closer to discovering the connections, history and identities of everyone involved, the prose became boring. it was more like reading "the file" than being entertained by the story. It is as if the story was so complex (it was) that it needed long passages of explanation -- not because the reader is stupid -- but because all the stuff Kellerman had in his head had not made it into the text.

The victims of the book (and there are plenty of them) eventually lose specificity. The first victim is drawn big and bold, with a supporting history and other ancillary (and ultimately connecting) co-characters -- all of which make the reader like/love/hate her. The 2nd-4th victims begin to blur. There are pets thrown in for good emotional measure, and in the end there is some redemption for some victims and survivors. Not formulaic, but predictable. The horror involved in the commissions of the crimes is soon diluted by predictability.

I liked this one. I might recommend it if asked by a fan of the series. I would NOT recommend it to a person first taking on the Delaware books. Another reviewer here asked "who is Alex Delaware?" I have to agree that there is too little personality in all the characters to generate a real interest. Again, more like a procedural or a psych report, it was reportage more than tale-spinning.

**SPOILER ALERT** I think JK came up later with and then added a co-conspirator. It didn't feel natural or inevitable. I think the story would have been stronger if the bad guy had masterminded all of it alone -- He certainly had enough time and practice. By adding a sponsor/guardian to the equation, Grant is reduced to an accidental criminal (another victim). If JK is making a point here about the failure of "the system" to care for people when signs of insanity are first emerging, and if he is trying to advertise the existence and damage caused by incompetents in the medical and psych fields, I wish he would do it in nonfiction. For this, a crime story of major magnitude, let's keep it real and gritty.***

But I did like it, and I am glad I got it and I can't wait for the next one because I am optimistic that JK will come back down to earth and write a thriller not a treatise.

An aside: It occurs to me when I read Kellerman and Grisham (lately) that popular writers who have gained much popularity and financial success seem to strut their stuff in their books. Naming designer labels and the prices of clothing and "possessions" is frequent. Trips taken by the characters (in this book through the Panama Canal) are not the vacations of the average book buyer. I get the feeling, though I have no proof of this, that the writers are flaunting the knowledge they have acquired by their own experiences. And there is nothing wrong with writing about things and travels that the average reader will not acquire. However, I think there is a problem with it when the majority characters in the book are also "average." In the above example, a retired psych recounts his former riches, travels, cars and houses. I felt as if Kellerman invented that character to talk about what HE owns, what he does and what he values. I am not sure there is anything inherently wrong with that, but it's sort of like an intrusion.

I have felt the same way about Gresham's novels for years. That does not detract from a good story, nor does it enhance a poor one, but it is abrupt in the reading and sort of causes a displacement from the people in the book. Yes there are rich lawyers in Clanton and in L.A., but the people that we care about (in the stories) seldom get to experience life on that side of the tracks.

So, it's a rhetorical complaint. There is nothing wrong with showing a contrast between characters' lots in life, and that's a good device to accentuate the "downtrodden" aspect of the victimized, I'm just saying that there is some sense of its being "added on," like an extra-rich frosting to a creation that would stand quite well on its own basic ingredients. We KNOW the lawyers and doctors and psychs are wealthier than most of their clients. We KNOW the old saw about police being terribly underpaid. I am questioning why the writers go so far to separate the high from the lower economic characters. It feels like the writer is separating himself from "those people," regardless of how benevolently he seems to treat them in the text. For the perpetrators of terrible things, as in Kellerman's **Victims** there is the requisite story of the abandoned and befuddled pre-adolescent whose life went whacko and pushed him into insanity. That's what we need to know about in detail. The other is filler.

Ah Alex! You have been the best for 20 years!

Alex and Milo are my favorite characters! Once again, great story!
We need something with more Robin in it next time! And dont forget Blanche!

Alex and Milo ride again

You can't miss with Kellermans duo. Always well written dialoge and a fun romp.

Recommended

You don't need a theater to see this story

What did you love best about Victims?

The author writes an entertaining AND believable story. The sadness really ebbed and flowed through the story line. The ending was subtle and powerful.

What other book might you compare Victims to and why?

I can't think if any other book that compares. I tend to read mysteries and thrillers from certain authors, and the characters and settings are distinct from author to author.

Which character – as performed by John Rubinstein – was your favorite?

I really enjoy the Milo character.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book is funny in parts, because Milo and Alex have a particular rapport. I really felt the book had an underlying sadness that overshadowed any sort of horror that the description of the murder evoked.

Outstanding read

Love the narrator, e got Milo down go a "T". loved the, even although I read the hoodie still kept me on my toes.

could not sit through this one

I knew that I was not buying anything better than formula pulp, but was in the mood for some junk food so I went ahead and bought this one. I like the psych / crime genre. Unfortunately, this book was so poorly written, and even more poorly read that I could not get through more than about two hours. I probably could have gotten through it if the reader had not grated on my nerves so intensely. Every character sounded like my great aunt Phylis - too many cigarettes, and a weirdly misplaced Staten Island accent. Male, female, macho or retiring - they all sounded the same! Anyway, save your credit for something bearable....

Maybe enough

Maybe I have read enough Kellerman. I have to say that the last one I thoroughly enjoyed was Billy Straight. Maybe I am just tired of the trio. But the plot seemed to be way way way out there and halfway through the second part I realised I just didn't care anymore. Certainly not enough to listen to the end. This was the first time I found the narration a little off. I think narration is quite subjective so that is only my perception. All in all, I won't waste time finishing it, not even to while away the daily commute. I am postive that there is better stuff out there.

Disappointing

I was expecting a great story with a narrator to bring it alive, instead this story was less than mediocre and the narrator with his short choppy almost amused style was horrific. I literally had to force myself to listen to the whole book. Painful!!!

Not my cup of tea....

Has Victims turned you off from other books in this genre?

I like murder mysteries - not gore. I don't think it turned me off from the Genre, but definately turned me off from reading any more books from the Author.

What didn’t you like about John Rubinstein’s performance?

Did not like John's style of reading. Boring & very hard to listen to.

Any additional comments?

Not sure how I ended up purchasing this book. Must have thought I bought something else. I do like murder mysteries but this was awful. I really didn't like Kellerman's writing style. Now I know. Victims did not build any suspense or interest and I was not captivated by any of the characters. I hate it when I spend a credit on an awful audible experience.

Mediocre plotting

Not one of Mr. Kellerman's best. Characters; shallow Audio: tighter editing Good voice for Milo.