Customer Reviews

The Web

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This is a crime story featuring Alex Delaware. In this story, Alex answers a request to help an old doctor in the South Seas organize some medical records for publication. Once Delaware arrives on the doctor's island, people start to die, and it's up to Delaware to pull together the clues of what's been happening and put an end to the deaths.

I found the story to be exceptionally preposterous as a murder/crime story. Kellerman seems to be writing from far beyond his experience, making up details and descriptions from his imagination rather than from fact or experience. One glaring example is when he has his main characters put on swim fins on the beach and then wander into the surf- -if you've ever tried this yourself, you probably still have the bruises to show for it, and won't forget to wait until you're well into the water to put the fins on next time you go snorkeling. Kellerman also manages to place McArthur at the battle of Saipan during World War II, among other gaffes. But worst is the entire premise of Delaware's trip to the island. Supposedly, Delaware, a psychologist who is notable enough to have stories printed about him in the popular press, receives a request to collaborate on a research and writing project with an unknown medical doctor who has lived on an obscure island in the South Pacific for years. The M.D. doesn't have any particular theories or hypotheses in mind that he is working on. Instead, he has some 40-50 years of unorganized records (from patients whom he has never sought consent to involve or use their records in a research project), and he expects Delaware to come out to the island and sort through the records on the off chance that there might be something worth publishing. This is the strangest notion I have ever read of how scientific collaboration operates- -obviously, Kellerman has never discussed scientific collaboration with any researcher friends that he might have. Much of the rest of the book runs at about the same level of quality and plausibility. The story itself takes a while to get laid out, but then picks up a bit through the second half and may hold the attention of determined readers.

"The Web" is Jonathon Kellerman's eleventh Alex Delaware novel wnd was first published in 1996. Delaware is a psychologist based in LA who earns his living as a consultant - largely working with the courts and the police. However, the action in this book largely takes place on a small island called Aruk.

Alex and his girlfriend, Robin, have been invited to Aruk by Dr Bill Moreland. Moreland, who has gathered a great deal of clinical data in his time on the island, wrote to Alex requesting his assistance in organising and analysing it. Moreland proposes working on the biological aspects of it, with Alex focusing on the psychological aspects. The benefits to Alex include a very nice salary for the duration of the research and, hopefully, joint authorship of a number of journal articles - or possibly even a book.

Aruk is officially part of the Mariana Commonwealth and a self-governing US territory. It is also a very divided island. Moreland lives on the island's leeward side, near Aruk town - the windward side is home to Stanton, a US naval base. The Navy has also blocked the southern beach road, after sailors were blamed by some for the murder of a local girl. This has caused some ill-feeling on the island and has also had a damaging effect on the island's economy. Unfortunately for the Aruk, it's not the last suspicious death the locals will see...

Moreland lives on a 700-acre estate which was originally built by the Japanese and used as their official headquarters when they controlled the island. McArthur forced them out during WW2 and established an American presence. Moreland bought the estate from the government when he left the Navy in 1963 - he had been stationed at Stanton himself. In fact, his former CO is now an influential senator and a possible presidential candidate. Part of the estate now includes Moreland's own `zoo' : the exhibits include a large collection of very unappealing arachnids and a ridiculously large and dangerous centipede. There is also a Banyan forest nearby, which was apparently laid with mines by the Japanese during the war. Alex and Robin aren't the only guests around the house; the others include Jo and Lyman Picker, both scientists. Jo, who works for the defense department, is the reason for their presence - she is on the island to study wind patterns. Lyman, a botanist who works for a wildlife organisation, is a bitter, arrogant and obnoxious man. Moreland's daughter, Pam, is also living there - she has only recently returned from Philadelphia following her divorce.

"The Web" is only the second book by Kellerman I've read - the other being "Flesh and Blood" - and I found this one much better and more credible. However, I wouldn't say it's perfect either. Delaware himself has a tendency to jump to conclusions, desperately clutching at straws in a bid to justify his position. His relationship with Robin is hard to take at times - they make an extremely cheesy couple and some of their conversations can be a little over-dramatic. There's also an occasional bout of pretension, with scientists apparently trying to sound intelligent in front of their peers. However, while I wouldn't call it a classic, it is an easily read and largely enjoyable read.

I have been an avid reader of Kellerman's books. However, this one was the worst. In an attempt to be unpredictable and exciting, Kellerman writes an ending that makes no sense. I'm not saying I enjoy predictable books, but this one was just logically inconsistent and boring with unrealistic characters. I only finished it because I hate to not finish a book.

Having just finished Over The Edge, I can't believe the same author wrote The Web. This book lacks the intensity and drive I've come to expect from Kellerman. I could not get into it and on page 40 or so still nothing of interest had happened. I kept skipping pages, hoping I would get to the "real" story soon, but I didn't. If you are a diehard Kellerman fan, by all means read this book, but don't expect to find the interesting relationship between Milo and Alex or any of the usual psychological intrigue because it's just not there.

A different setting for Dr. Alex Delaware as he and Robin leave L.A. for an island in the South Pacific where some potentially interesting old case files (or a paid vacation offered by the owner of said case files) beckon. But of course even though Milo Sturgis doesn't follow Alex this time, murder still does, as well as several other mysteries that may or may not all be connected.

There are several interesting elements of this story, including the aforesaid murders, the odd behavior and hobbies of their benefactor, and some of the cases that he shares with Alex. The writing is good, the mystery is interesting, and there is some suspense and some excitement. All in all, it's a fair Alex Delaware book, not the best or most interesting one, but one of a series where even the worst book is probably going to be interesting reading.

This book was absurd. There was no '0' or that's what I would have given it! A silly premise and an equally silly ending - totally low-rent and beneath the author. Blech and double blech. I can't say blech enough!

I normally thoroughly enjoy all the Alex Delaware novels. Unfortunately I cannot say this one was up to standard. I recommend the author, but do not start with this one. If you are already a fan, & keen on reading the full series, then do not take this one on holidays. Use this one as the late night,"I'll just read one chapter before I go to sleep even though I have to get up early" one and chances are, you will only read one chapter that night & will get up on time!

Kellerman has written better but I did like some parts of the book. If you have not read a Alex Delaware book yet, don't start with this one. If you want to start reading Kellerman read another one of his books first then go to this one. I was partially dissapointed but I'll still read him. Those looking for Milo won't find much of him in this one. It just lacked the punch that other Kellerman novels had.

While some books are a bit unrealistic, but are interesting nonetheless, this one was neither. I could not figure out were Mr. Kellerman was going with the plot line, and apparently neither could he. While I usually enjoy his work, this one just wasn't up to par.

Dr. Alex Delaware is invited to take a job on the island of Aruk, by the mysterious Dr.Moreland. Shortly into his assigned tasks, Alex discovers some very odd cases that the mysterious Dr. has treated in the past. One of these cases was a man who claims to have seen "worm people". As Dr. Delaware tries to unravel these mysterious cases, a brutal murder occurs on the island of Aruk. Alex inquires of Dr. Moreland about the islands history, and Dr. Moreland is very vague in his response. As the climax of this novel approaches, Alex finds cryptic messages left for him by the then missing Dr. Moreland. Robin is very much a main character in this story. However, if you are a big fan of Milo (as I am ), you may be dissapointed because his character plays a minor part in this novel. I give this story 4 stars, because it is not one of my favorite Kellerman stories. I thought the ending was a little silly.