Killer

An Alex Delaware Novel

By: Jonathan Kellerman

Narrated by: John Rubinstein

Length: 10 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

After 35 riveting, internationally acclaimed novels of psychological suspense, number-one New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Kellerman returns with his most stunning thriller to date. Killer is a mesmerizing L.A. noir portrayal of the darkest impulses of human nature carried to shocking extremes.

The City of Angels has more than its share of psychopaths, and no one recognizes that more acutely than the brilliant psychologist and police consultant Dr. Alex Delaware. Despite that, Constance Sykes, a sophisticated, successful physician, hardly seems like someone Alex needs to fear. Then, at the behest of the court, he becomes embroiled in a bizarre child custody dispute initiated by Connie against her sister and begins to realize that there is much about the siblings he has failed to comprehend. And when the court battle between the Sykes sisters erupts into cold, calculating murder and a rapidly growing number of victims, Alex knows he’s been snared in a toxic web of pathology.

Nothing would please Alex more than to be free of the ugly spectacle known as Sykes v. Sykes. But then the little girl at the center of the vicious dispute disappears and Alex knows he must work with longtime friend Detective Milo Sturgis, braving an obstacle course of Hollywood washouts, gangbangers, and self-serving jurists in order to save an innocent life.

Killer is Kellerman - and Delaware - at their finest.

©2014 Jonathan Kellerman (P)2014 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Jonathan Kellerman has justly earned his reputation as a master of the psychological thriller." ( People)

"Kellerman really knows how to keep those pages turning." ( The New York Times Book Review)

Probably Weakest Yet in the Series

As always John Rubinstein did a great job as the voice of Alex Delaware. Unfortunately he didn't have too much to work with here. Kellerman seemed to have have pretty much phoned this one in. A great deal of extraneous detail that failed to move the story ahead; If you're a fan of the series it's worth a credit; if not choose another book in the series. I have a hard time seeing anyone who starts with this one becoming much of fan.

Promising start that pretty much fizzled out

I've read numerous Alex Delaware books and this was an "okay." Initially I thought it would be very good based on the most interesting character; she ends up getting killed. I thought there was a lot of filler and have to agree with the reviewer who said if this is the first Delaware book you listen to you probably won't listen to another. The narrator was outstanding and really sounded like different people were narrating, not just one person. He elevated the material. I don't regret the credit I used, but it wasn't riveting - just okay - t I didn't have to devote much brain matter to it while listening.

good

Worth the credit. Different from typical stories a little less Mylo and maybe it suffered a bit for that. It wasn't a page turner and I had to look at the summary to remember what it was about two days later.

Still I enjoyed it while I listened and wasn't disappointed with my purchase.

YAY for another Alex Delaware book

Kellerman nailed yet another great book in this series. I absolutely completely LOVE this series and am always on pins and needles for his next book. FANTASTIC!

Painfully unpleasant story

As always, top rate characterization, excellent writing, but the story was full of terrible abuse and horrible people.

Not as good as some

This was not the best Jonathan Kellerman book that I have ever read. Just OK

not the best

struggled to finish. beginning way too slow in the beginning. others are much better e

Good story but excessive bad language

Good story but excessive bad language, at times it fit the character, others just seemed unnecessary

Alex Delaware = Comfort Food

Would you consider the audio edition of Killer to be better than the print version?

It's the same. The fact that it's read makes it a little different, but the book is unabridged. I didn't read the print version.

What other book might you compare Killer to and why?

I don't have a comparison.

What does John Rubinstein bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love the job John Rubinstein does with the various people. It's like I'm listening to different narrators.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No.

What an ending!

One of Kellerman’s best. He definitely left a person hanging until almost the end. Great intro to some of the other cops in the books