Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3 stars
It's always nice too spend a few days with Dr Delaware. I'm always interested in the psychology behind the choices peop!e make
It's always nice too spend a few days with Dr Delaware. I'm always interested in the psychology behind the choices peop!e make
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
sigh. I keep reading these books, but I confess I cannot stand Alex Delaware. I find him (and his partner, Robin), dull as ditchwater. On the other hand, I LOVE Milo (particularly performed by John Rubinstein in the audio books), and I suppose his character is the reason for my continuing to read/listen to this series. The stories aren't bad, either. ;)
Looking at a regular Dr. Kevorkian here. Except in this case, the Dr. Death was Eldon Mate and he was found brutally murdered in his own "death van". Alex Delaware is a psychologist who sometimes (as in 14 books, sometimes) assists his Homicide Detective friend, Milo Sturgis, on cases.
Sturgis calls in Delaware to the scene and they meet the couple of hikers who discovered the body. It's a gruesome one and one where a considerable amount of people are happy Mate is dead, while others are sad that their confederate in assisted suicide was murdered. Very odd split of people. Delaware's first thought was to Richard Doss, a man whose daughter he counseled after her mother was "assisted" to death by Mate previously. Doss, a wealthy asshole, already has an alibi (well, isn't THAT suspicious?) but wants Delaware to see his daughter again to counsel her on college choices.
Things just start getting messy and complicated, with more and more characters filing into the scene, all with ample motive to want Mate dead. The story got interesting as you tried to sort everyone out and discard who couldn't possibly have performed such a murder.
And then, near the end, you are walloped in the face clear from left field. Thanks to this, I ended up with a book hangover this morning because I had to stay up, damn the time!, and finish.
Good job, Mr. Kellerman.
Sturgis calls in Delaware to the scene and they meet the couple of hikers who discovered the body. It's a gruesome one and one where a considerable amount of people are happy Mate is dead, while others are sad that their confederate in assisted suicide was murdered. Very odd split of people. Delaware's first thought was to Richard Doss, a man whose daughter he counseled after her mother was "assisted" to death by Mate previously. Doss, a wealthy asshole, already has an alibi (well, isn't THAT suspicious?) but wants Delaware to see his daughter again to counsel her on college choices.
Things just start getting messy and complicated, with more and more characters filing into the scene, all with ample motive to want Mate dead. The story got interesting as you tried to sort everyone out and discard who couldn't possibly have performed such a murder.
And then, near the end, you are walloped in the face clear from left field. Thanks to this, I ended up with a book hangover this morning because I had to stay up, damn the time!, and finish.
Good job, Mr. Kellerman.
A body is discovered in the back of a van - a gruesome murder victim - but this victim was better known for killing people himself. Dr Eldon Mate was known as "Dr Death" because he helped people who were ill take their own lives. No someone has killed him in the same way and Detective Milo Sturgis has been given the case to solve and has called on his old friend psychologist Alex Delaware to help. Could the killer be a family member of one of the people "Dr Death" helped or is someone trying to muscle in on his territory and wanted the notoriety for himself. Is there a link to a patient Alex saw previously - a young girl who's mother was apparently helped by Dr Mate - can he continue to work on the case with Milo or is there a conflict? Another enjoyable read in this series by Jonathan Kellerman.
Giving this book a generous 1.5. It was quite a boring read. There were too many unnecessary and unlikeable characters, and I found it hard to connect with any of them, not even Alex Delaware himself. This book could have easily been about 250 pages or thereabouts. I found most of the details to be superfluous and a waste of time to read. It’s not a page turner for me, it sort of lacked any actions or thrills. I almost DNF the book, but I made it through. It is no great shakes as a psychological thriller in my opinion.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm a fan of Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Deleware series and have read them in order up to this one.
With that being said, Dr. Death took me on a story of many possibilities that all seemed to fit the ending, but when the true ending came out I was shocked and impressed.
It started out slow a bit to build the background and story but each time a new piece of evidence or a new suspect came in to play the story steamrolled from there. I completed this book in 3 days, would have been sooner if I didn't work.
With that being said, Dr. Death took me on a story of many possibilities that all seemed to fit the ending, but when the true ending came out I was shocked and impressed.
It started out slow a bit to build the background and story but each time a new piece of evidence or a new suspect came in to play the story steamrolled from there. I completed this book in 3 days, would have been sooner if I didn't work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Torture