Deception: An Alex Delaware Novel (Alex Delaware Novels) [Kindle Edition]

Jonathan Kellerman (Author)

Book Description

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Jonathan Kellerman's Victims.

Her name is Elise Freeman, and her chilling cry for help comes too late to save her. On a DVD found near her lifeless body, the emotionally and physically battered woman chronicles a long ordeal of abuse at the hands of three sadistic tormentors. But even more shocking is the revelation that the offenders, like their victim, are teachers at one of L.A.’s most prestigious prep schools. Homicide detective Milo Sturgis is assigned to probe the hallowed halls of Windsor Prep Academy, and if ever he could use Dr. Alex Delaware’s psychological prowess, it’s now. As the scandal-conscious elite close ranks around Windsor Prep, Alex and Milo push to expose the dirty secrets festering among society’s manor-born. But while searching for predators among the privileged, Alex and Milo may be walking into a highly polished death trap.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Deputy Chief Weinberg assigns LAPD Lt. Milo Sturgis a particularly sensitive murder case at the outset of bestseller Kellerman's smooth if routine 25th Alex Delaware novel (after Evidence). Elise Freeman, a teacher and tutor at exclusive Windsor Preparatory Academy in Brentwood, is found dead in her Studio City apartment in a bathtub full of dry ice. Despite Elise's having left a DVD accusing three fellow teachers at the academy of repeated sexual harassment, Weinberg wants (for personal reasons) the investigation to involve the school as little as possible. As usual, psychologist Alex Delaware takes an active role in the investigation, which finds the victim had lots to hide. A boyfriend, students, teachers, and administrators are all anxious to keep those secrets hidden—and at least one of them is willing to kill again. Milo and Alex form an odd but effective duo as they trade banter and insights while sorting out the lies and deceptions. (Apr.)
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From Booklist

When Milo Sturgis, the LAPD homicide detective, catches a particularly tricky case, he naturally turns for help to his good friend and frequent partner, psychologist Alex Delaware. At first it looks like a straightforward suicide: a woman records a message on a DVD and then kills herself. But the facts are all wrong. The DVD isn’t a suicide message; it’s an accusation against some of her colleagues at an elite prep school. In addition, the victim’s home computer is missing, and she died by being submerged in dry ice, a particularly slow and painful means of death, hardly a common suicide method. Milo and Alex think it’s murder, and there’s no shortage of potential suspects—the victim’s colleagues, her boyfriend, and others—but, as usual, getting to the heart of the matter requires plenty of investigation and a certain amount of danger. The Delaware novels follow a pretty straightforward formula, but that’s OK: Delaware and Sturgis are engaging characters with whom fans enjoy spending time, as will devotees of Stephen J. Cannell (for the L.A. setting and the procedural aspects), Ridley Pearson (for the cop-psychologist team), and Mark Schorr (for the psychologist as amateur sleuth). --David Pitt

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 1097 KB
• Print Length: 352 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 30, 2010)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0030DHPCU
• Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,766 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

119 of 123 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Your Daddy's Alex Delaware April 5, 2010

By Brian Baker VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

When Kellerman first brought the Delaware series forward, the books were a welcome and unique entry to the mystery genre: a psychologist who used his unique insights and training to solve crimes, especially those involving children, child psychology being Delaware's specialty as a shrink.

Milo Sturgis was a supporting character to whom Delaware would turn when he needed police support. But what made the series so appealing was the idea that Delaware was getting inadvertently involved in solving mysteries while trying to cure his patients, and his expertise as a psychologist would afford him the unique perspective from which to solve those crimes, in spite of the ineffectiveness of the police.

My, how times have changed.

Milo Sturgis is now the central character; Delaware's simply along for the ride, and to act as a sounding board for Milo so that we readers don't have to sit through endless exposition; his being a psychologist has become completely irrelevant, and isn't even used as a device anymore. Gone are the descriptive passages that establish place and setting, which were so evocative of LA in all its varied motifs. Gone are any personal story elements, such as those involving his girlfriend Robin or his dog; they've become nothing more than set dressing for the few passages when Delaware's in his house (presumably just to have something happen in a different physical scene). Dialogue consists of terse exchanges between Sturgis and Delaware; many of the scenes with witnesses or suspects remind me of the old "Dragnet" TV series, or maybe "Law & Order".

The series has become a hard-boiled detective series starring Sturgis; it's almost on the level of pulp fiction; certainly "police procedural" genre rather than psychological mystery/thriller.

Now, on that level these recent books - including "Deception" - work okay... for what they are. So, I guess I'll give it 3.5 stars on that basis.

But if you're expecting classic Delaware, especially if you're a long-time reader, you're in for a big disappointment.

I understand that over time authors make creative decisions, and sometimes elect to change their approach to a character or series. That's certainly their right. But then we as readers need to be aware of what we're getting. Some people may well like this transition; others certainly won't.

As I said, as a procedural or hard-boiled detective novel, this book works okay. But as an "Alex Delaware Novel", I think it falls far short of the mark, and is overall pretty pedestrian.

100 of 107 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Deception by Jonathan Kellerman March 31, 2010

By Amy Y. TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Alex and Milo are back, trying to figure out who-dunnit in Kellerman's newest Alex Delaware novel. I am not a huge fan of the mystery genre- maybe I just haven't read enough to find the authors I would enjoy- but Kellerman has long been the exception.

What I love about Kellerman is that he maintains a certain level of consistency in his writing while avoiding becoming boring and predictable. The trend continues in Deception which has some great twists and turns.

Deception starts off at a steady clip and maintains a good pace throughout. Alex Delaware, psychologist and unofficial detective, is brought onto a homicide case by Lt. Milo Sturgis. Alex and Milo are a seemingly unlikely partnership. Alex provides illuminating insight, drawing on his talent as a psychologist while Milo is the gritty, street-smart cop(who often doubles as the comic relief).

Right from the start, Alex and Milo find the murder of a teacher from an elite prep school raising puzzling questions. Why is there so much interest from above in keeping the case hush-hush? Why has protocol been breached in the handling of evidence? A strange DVD of the victim before her death adds further intrigue and could she have identified her murderer on the recording? And that's just the beginning!!

People are not always what they seem '

Books by prolific authors such as Kellerman are often hit or miss in quality- not so with "Deception"! If you are a fan of Kellerman and his characters, you won't be disappointed. Kellerman does a fantastic job of deftly handling the plot, stringing the reader along as he builds to a riveting finish.

"Deception" is well-written and fast paced as it builds to a big finish. Full of suspense, interesting characters and enough turns to keep even the most seasoned armchair investigator guessing, fans will be greeted by old, familiar friends and those who are new to Kellerman will likely be inspired to check out some of his earlier books after finishing this one. Great read, very entertaining- Kellerman delivers with "Deception".

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it. March 31, 2010

By Robert Busko TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Jonathan Kellerman has developed a winner in the characters of Milo Sturgis and Alex Delaware. Each new novel promises the maximum amount of entertainment with a puzzling new case. Deception, the latest in a growing line of well written novels, promises to turn over a few well place rocks to reveal the creepy humans who hide there.

In Deception, Elise Freeman, a faculty member from prestigious Winsor Prep Academy is found murdered and a DVD is found next to her body. When played, the DVD reveals a woman who has suffered abuse at the hands of multiple abusers for more than a year. As the story unfolds, it appears that the culprits are fellow faculty members and co-workers. As the details become more warped, Detective Milo Sturgis is assigned to the case. Both he and Dr. Alex Delaware must untangle the clues to get to the truth. However, that task is complicated by the resistance of both the school and the wealthy clientele that send their Ivy League bound children there.

Deception is a hand wringer. Should the upper class be allowed to hide behind a curtain thus hiding their own sins and should those that cater to this class be allowed the same privilege? This is an interesting question, because it appears that the answer to this question is usually yes.

Kellerman does a good job in keeping the story fresh and the characters interesting. After-all, after 25 of these books, keeping things moving isn't easy.

All in all, I think you'll be glad you read Deception.

More About the Author

Jonathan Kellerman is one of the world's most popular authors. He has brought his expertise as a clinical psychologist to more than thirty bestselling crime novels, including the Alex Delaware series, The Butcher's Theater, Billy Straight, The Conspiracy Club, Twisted,and True Detectives. With his wife, the novelist Faye Kellerman, he co-authored the bestsellers Double Homicide and Capital Crimes. He is the author of numerous essays, short stories, scientific articles, two children's books, and three volumes of psychology, including Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children, as well as the lavishly illustrated With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars. He has won the Goldwyn, Edgar, and Anthony awards and has been nominated for a Shamus Award.

Jonathan and Faye Kellerman live in California and New Mexico. Their four children include the novelist Jesse Kellerman.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#37 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery

#40 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery

#52 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers

#58 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#63 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

#37 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery

#40 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery

#52 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers

#58 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#63 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense