When the Bough Breaks (Alex Delaware) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jonathan Kellerman (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 4, 2003 | Series: Alex Delaware Novels

In the first Alex Delaware novel, Dr.  Morton Handler practiced a strange brand of psychiatry.  Among his specialties were fraud, extortion, and  sexual manipulation. Handler paid for his sins when  he was brutally murdered in his luxurious Pacific  Palisades apartment. The police have no leads, but  they do have one possible witness: seven-year-old  Melody Quinn.

It's psychologist Dr. Alex  Delaware's job to try to unlock the terrible secret  buried in Melody's memory. But as the sinister  shadows in the girl's mind begin to take shape, Alex  discovers that the mystery touches a shocking  incident in his own past.

This connection is  only the beginning, a single link in a  forty-year-old conspiracy. And behind it lies an unspeakable  evil that Alex Delaware must expose before it  claims another innocent victim: Melody Quinn.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An engrossing thriller... this knockout of an  entertainment is the kind of book which establishes a  career in one stroke." -- New York  Newsday

"Suspenseful,  neatly spun, fascinating." -- Philadelphia Daily  News

"Grab yourself a copy soon."  -- Los Angeles Times

  "An exceptionally exciting thriller!" --  The New York Times

From the Publisher

9 1.5-hour cassettes --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; Reprint edition (November 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345466608
• ISBN-13: 978-0345466600
• Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 4.2 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,953 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

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

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

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

#95 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

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

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

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

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

#95 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 58 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Introducing Dr. Alex Delaware. August 10, 2002

By Mary J. Alderdice VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Child psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware seems to have it all. A beautiful home, a loving woman, a luxurious car, and retirement in his early thirties. There aren't many that can claim the bounties that Dr. Delaware has in his life. However, all is not well with Dr. Delaware. With a psyche still scarred by the horrors brought to his doorstep by a lonely and sick man, Alex finds himself adrift, simply existing and not really living.

That is, until his friend and LAPD detective Milo Sturgis comes to him and asks for help. Milo is working a double homicide case, and the only witness they have at this time is Melody Quinn, a quiet, troubled, 7-year-old girl. Milo wants Alex to dust off his couch and talk to Melody. Little did Alex know that this simple favor would set off a chain of events that would have dire consequences on his life.

This is the first of Jonathan Kellerman's highly popluar Dr. Alex Delaware series, and I can see why this first book has led to many more. Dr. Delaware is an interesting character with several different - and often conflicting - aspects to his personality. Milo Sturgis, the slovenly LAPD Homicide detective with a heart of gold and unique personality foibles all his own is Alex's co-star, and is a fascinating character in his own right.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, and look forward to reading the further adventures of Dr. Delaware.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Start With This One September 5, 2000

By Rob Lawrence

Format:Mass Market Paperback

If you are looking to start reading the works of Jonathon Kellerman, specifically the Alex Delaware series, then this is a great one to start with. It, like the others, is written in the first person. IF you start with the others, like I did, you may find trouble associating with or understanding Dr. Delaware, the protagonist, and his background. This book sets up the characters, lays the foundation for the following books, and at the same time delivers a great story. Mr. Kellerman does a good job of mixing in numerous characters and plot twists to the extent that the first victim in this book gets "lost" in the middle of the story, but gets tied back in at the end.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Actually 3 1/2 stars.... August 23, 2002

By Darren Jacks

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This is the first of the series and it is a decent read, but at times looks like a first novel. It drags a bit but like I have said before Kellerman is not capable of writing a bad book. His average one's are better than 50 percent of what is being published today!

Kellerman does a superb job of detailing a 7-year old who is the possible only witness to a crime and her down-and-out mother, who should take parenting classes. I won't give away much, but this shows enough to get u hooked on Kellerman, Delaware (the main character), and Milo (his friend). A worthy debut!

Kellerman exhibits charcterization, smooth storytelling, and fantastic plotting. The only draw-back is lengthy conversations and parts that are a little slow. Nothing to convince u NOT to PURCHASE the BOOK!

Good job, Jon!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A gut-wrenching, heart wrenching drama. Well done. May 8, 1998

By Steven Reads

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This was the first book I read by Kellerman, and I still feel it's his best. The author spins a well-woven drama, with important characters and a steady build. It was at times difficult, but really more sad, only because of what happens to a child. The tale is gripping. It got me hooked on Alex Delaware novels. I've read most of them since reading "When The Bough Breaks". If you haven't read any of Kellerman's Alex Delaware novels, and read but one, make it this one. Then you'll find you've made a liar out of yourself. It'll hook you.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very impressive debut June 22, 2002

By RachelWalker

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This is my first book by Kellerman. And i was very impressed. It's a very good debut novel. The plotting is tight and the writing is sharp. The book is, basically, incredibly fun to read. (As another reviewer has said, you get the sense that all Kellerman was doing was writing for his own amusement and fun, and it really comes across in the writing. Very fun, enjoyable story, despite its focus on child-abuse.)

Alex Delaware is a great character. He is well drawn and realistic. instantly likeable, immediately an everyman who most readers will be able to identify with. He is supported by some other great characters. Milo, his police-detective friend. And Robin, his partner. (A likeable character at first, but if she carries on as she is, she may get a tad annoying in a few books time)

The plotting is clever, and the climax great. I see a strength in the series, available in his ability to portray likeable children very well. Unfortunately, in this book little Melody Quinn (the child in this book) seems to drop out of the story about a quarter of the way through, only to re-appear in a privotal role at the end.

The child-abuse is depicted well, the plotting is strong and realistic. The effects of the child abuse are also described well. Peadophillia is dealt with tactfully, and this book does not sensationalise it. In the end, the villains all get their commupeance, and Milo Strugis really shows his true colours.

This is a very good debut novel. A fast paced pageturner, with an addictive writing style, i fairly raced through this book. I am hugely looking forward to getting my teeth into other books by Kellerman.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Pschologist/Action Hero July 25, 2000

By Wilma J. Howell

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This is Jonathan Kellerman's first novel featuring Dr. Alex Delaware, an over-achieving child psychologist who suffered from burnout in his early 30's and dropped out. The novel reads as though Kellerman is just having some fun writing. Fortunately, he takes his readers along for the ride.

Dr. Delaware goes from mild-mannered chid psychologist to psychologist/sleuth to psychologist/action hero as the story progresses.

Not all of the characters are as fully developed as I might have liked, but there were just too many characters to develop them all fully. The characterizations provided, however, were fairly good. Check Kellerman's later works to see how he expands and develops this talent.

The pacing was good, but there was a little too much deux ex machina to make the story truly believable. It's such a good read, however, I didn't really mind.