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encal202's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
enuwa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, and Cultural appropriation
amymoya1's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
aviweiss's review against another edition
3.0
This is my first Jonathan Kellerman book. I like the way he writes and the character development wasn't bad. He builds up the suspense very well - I read this within 24 hours on a weekend. But the reality suspension necessary for the enormous conspiracy in the plot pushed it down to three stars for me.
stuffandwhatnot's review against another edition
3.0
Fun read, likeable characters, very twisty-turny plot. Some dated language and thoughts that probably would've been seen as modern and progressive in 1985 when the book was published, but have not aged well. Will check out the rest of this series.
happy_hiker's review against another edition
3.0
I have listened to several of the more recent Alex Delaware books and decided to go back and see how it all began. I liked the first two-thirds of the book; I liked the set up of the story and liked seeing how Alex and Milo started working together. However, after Milo left for Mexico, things went a bit downhill for me, lowering what I had initially thought of as a four-star rating. I missed Milo - I realize he is one of the reasons I like listening to the books. Also, I didn't like the physical violence Alex was involved in. He decided he was going to continue to investigate (though he was told he was done)and - POSSIBLE SPOILERS - he was involved in a car chase, he got in physical fights, he held guns to people and threatened them, and he was near death until miraculously the police showed up in the nick of time. Finally, both people he had at gunpoint gave long monologues/confessions; the big reveal at the end was OK, but I would have perhaps preferred the details a bit more subtly and in smaller bits so I could have tried to put the ideas together.
I am not sure that I would have continued with this series if this had been the first book I listened to or if I had read this when it was published. I thought Alex was kind of jerk. There were many references to others as ugly (e.g. the PR person at Jedsen - I don't know how often he thought of her unappealing physical looks) and freaks (another Jedsen person). I personally found the fact that he was a bit full of himself a bit unappealing.
Overall though, this was a decent listen, and in time I will likely listen to Alex Delaware #2. I like the later Alex Delaware better than the swashbuckling, gun-toting Alex in this book. I liked the narration.
I am not sure that I would have continued with this series if this had been the first book I listened to or if I had read this when it was published. I thought Alex was kind of jerk. There were many references to others as ugly (e.g. the PR person at Jedsen - I don't know how often he thought of her unappealing physical looks) and freaks (another Jedsen person). I personally found the fact that he was a bit full of himself a bit unappealing.
Overall though, this was a decent listen, and in time I will likely listen to Alex Delaware #2. I like the later Alex Delaware better than the swashbuckling, gun-toting Alex in this book. I liked the narration.
sireno8's review against another edition
3.0
Solid start to an immensely entertaining and compulsively readable series. Read a much later title first which I really enjoyed and then decided to start at the beginning. Like watching a pilot to a series you like, it's interesting to see what he developed and what he discarded. Particularly liked the gay cop character -- unusual for any fiction let alone this genre.
wyopoke87's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
tscompton's review against another edition
3.0
Really enjoyed this first book in the ongoing Delaware series. Can't wait to read the next one. Definately a lot darker and more twisted than I was expecting. Very well done, interesting and informative but never dull or boring.
wondernikel's review against another edition
4.0
4...Sensitive subject matter...Loved this novel! Alex is like a modern day Sherlock meets Alex Cross...Great storyline, characters! Well done, will be reading more of this series...