Breakdown

An Alex Delaware Novel

By: Jonathan Kellerman

Narrated by: John Rubinstein

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Best-selling author Jonathan Kellerman has been universally hailed as the master of psychological suspense, and the blockbuster new thriller featuring Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis confirms his status as today's preeminent practitioner of saber-sharp storytelling.

Psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware meets beautiful and emotionally fragile TV actress Zelda Chase when called upon to evaluate her five-year-old son, Ovid. Years later, Alex is unexpectedly reunited with Zelda when she is involuntarily committed after a bizarre psychotic episode. Shortly after Zelda's release, an already sad situation turns tragic when she is discovered dead on the grounds of a palatial Bel Air estate. Having experienced more than enough of LA's dark side to recognize the scent of evil, Alex turns to his friend, LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis, for help in finding out who ended Zelda's broken life.

At the same time, Alex is caught up in another quest: the search for Zelda's missing son. And when other victims vanish from the same upscale neighborhood, worry turns to terror.

As Alex struggles to piece together the brief rise and steep fall of a gorgeous, talented actress, he and Milo unveil shattered dreams, the corruption of a family, and a grotesque betrayal of innocence. With each devastating revelation and damning clue, Alex's brilliant mind is challenged as never before - and his determination grows to see a killer caged and the truth set free.

©2016 Jonathan Kellerman (P)2016 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Jonathan Kellerman's psychology skills and dark imagination are a potent literary mix." ( Los Angeles Times)

"Kellerman doesn't just write psychological thrillers - he owns the genre." ( Detroit Free Press)

Nuanced....subtle ... heartening

Different from what I expected. a dark world but as a long as Alex & Milo keep going beyond the call of duty!

Another enjoyable listen!!!

Been reading JK for over 20 years. Not bored yet! Rubinstein is the best!!! JK is marvelous writer!

Loved it

Once I started couldn't stop . Love these characters - always interesting Totally engaging and plausible story

Good read

Great narration story line not as fast paced as others in this series but I still enjoyed it very much

Boring

You're 18 chapters in before anything happens, except with one interesting character. It's about asking people questions they don't have answers to, to try to find a little boy...There's nothing drawn about Robin, etc. as if we should have read the other books first. Read the first couple of Kellerman's books; they're better.

A little long

Not the best Kellerman but will do in a pinch. Ending was great but it seemed to take forever to get there. I had to listen to the first half a second time to make sense of what was happening

Another excellent case!

I found this book a bit harder to get into than most. I think it was that only one of the main characters was involved for awhile at the beginning. Once it got going and the part of the book, that I would say the others books are like, I lived it. I love these two main characters and their supporting characters. I did find it hard to keep up with all the names, there were so many people involved, you have to pay attention. Or rewind!

Loved this one. Never fails to enthrall.

Loved it as an audiobook. I have been home sick so reading or TV weren't on my list of things to do with my eyes closed! Terrific book and it centered around Alex's investigation.

Pretty Good

Found it entertaining, Love Alex Delaware, But bring the mystery home
to the Delaware household would be very entertaining

Breakdown is Brilliant--Another Wonderful Kellerm

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

Both the audio and written versions are great. John Rubinstein's reading of the book with his inflections for all the characters makes the audio version exciting.

What other book might you compare Breakdown to and why?

Breakdown can be compared to Johnathan Kellerman's other books as being another one of his masterpieces.

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

Alex Delaware, of course.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

a tangled flora of suspense--what has happened to Ovid?

Any additional comments?

thank you, Johnathan Kellerman for another great novel.
Thank you, John Rubinstein
for a great rendition.