When the Bough Breaks (Alex Delaware, No. 1) [Hardcover]

Jonathan Kellerman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2001

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.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

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 --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

"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 psychologis 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.

"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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 608 pages
• Publisher: Chivers; Lrg edition (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075409118X
• ISBN-13: 978-0754091189
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,439,602 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

Mary J. Alderdice "geek, book lover, craft fiend" (Washington DC Metro Area, US) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: When the Bough Breaks (Alex Delaware Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

Rob Lawrence (Tampa, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When the Bough Breaks (Alex Delaware Novels) (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.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

Darren Jacks (North Hollywood, Ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When the Bough Breaks (Alex Delaware Novels) (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!