The classic first novel starring child psychologist Alex Delaware is available again. A disturbed young girl leads to evidence of a shocking double...
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Nov 28, 2011
Sheila
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Oct 12, 2011
Ashley
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Dr. Alex Delaware is a child psychologist who has seen enough violence and evil done to children to burn him out and break him down at the age of thirty-three. Now retired, he has plenty of money to live on while he ponders the question of what to do with his life. That is until his friend, a police detective, Milo Sturgis asks him for help on his latest case.
Alex’s interest is piqued by the case, but doesn’t plan to get overly involved, just help out. Then he met Melody Quinn, the seven-y More...
Alex’s interest is piqued by the case, but doesn’t plan to get overly involved, just help out. Then he met Melody Quinn, the seven-y More...
May 11, 2011
Dirk
rated it:
This wasn't the first Alex Delaware novel I'd read. I had the good fortune of being introduced to Jonathan Kellerman with Monster. And what an introduction it was.
In my experience, the Alex Delaware novels are a bit hit and miss. Some are really good. Some just aren't.
This novel, however, was a winner of the Edgar award, and being a bit of a fan I decided to start the series from scratch. All things considered, and keeping the character development of Alex Delaware in mind, th More...
In my experience, the Alex Delaware novels are a bit hit and miss. Some are really good. Some just aren't.
This novel, however, was a winner of the Edgar award, and being a bit of a fan I decided to start the series from scratch. All things considered, and keeping the character development of Alex Delaware in mind, th More...
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Aug 03, 2010
Carin
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Alex Delaware is a child psychologist who burned out after a particularly difficult case where a group of children were molested by the husband of a woman that ran a daycare. Even though he has left his practice, he remains friends with Milo, a detective on the L.A. police force. When a terrible murder is committed in an apartment complex, the only witness to the murder is a young girl and Milo calls on Alex to help solve the case.
The book was a quick read and interesting throughout More...
The book was a quick read and interesting throughout More...
May 24, 2009
Liz
rated it:
The first in Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware series. Alex is a retired child psychologist who will start doing private consulting again in this series. These suspense murder mysteries are often gruesome. Alex must get inside the heads of the characters in each novel. He is often asked to work as a consultantant for the Los Angeles
Police Department where he becomes friends with Milo Sturgis. Milo never has it easy at the LAPD b/c he is gay--but also very smart and has a high crime solve More...
Police Department where he becomes friends with Milo Sturgis. Milo never has it easy at the LAPD b/c he is gay--but also very smart and has a high crime solve More...
Aug 24, 2011
This is the first novel featuring psychologist Alex Delaware and his offbeat police detective partner, Milo Sturgis. A prominent psychiatrist, Dr. Morton Handler, has been found brutally murdered. Sturgis himself also has a double homicide to investigate and, with Delaware's help, they begin to unravel a forty-year-old conspiracy in the City of Angels. Tying the plot together is seven-year-old Melody Quinn, who may hold clues as to why anyone would want to kill Dr. Handler. The plot revolves aro
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Dec 20, 2011
Edward
rated it:
Now this is the Jonathan Kellerman I have been hearing about and wanting to read! On my third attempt to find out for myself what all the Kellerman hype is about, I now get it. Whereas I found the verbiage of Over the Edge too cumbersome at times and the plot of Monster too convoluted, When the Bough Breaks is Kellerman at his best. In this first of the Alex Delaware series, the retired child psychologist is brought out of early retirement by his sidekick Milo Sturgis to interview seven-year-
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Jul 08, 2009
Dennis D.
rated it: 
This is the first book in the Alex Delaware series. I went back to the beginning here, after having received and read a couple of the later books. (If you've read some of my other reviews, you'll notice that this is a trend with me).
Jonathan Kellerman must have taken a couple of classes at the Kathy Reichs School of Unbelievable Coincidences before coming up with a couple of the plot twists in this one. And the child abuse ring is kind of a tired trope. But overall, this one wasn More...
Jonathan Kellerman must have taken a couple of classes at the Kathy Reichs School of Unbelievable Coincidences before coming up with a couple of the plot twists in this one. And the child abuse ring is kind of a tired trope. But overall, this one wasn More...
Aug 18, 2009
Shae
rated it:
I honestly tried to like this book. Someone recc'd it and I thought I would give the series a go. Sadly, I won't be reading the rest of the books. For the first half of the book I kept wondering what Eve Dallas (from JD Robb's In Death series) would do. Then as the book progressed, I started wishing that Eve Dallas was there because some random psychologist was breaking all sorts of laws and doing really horrible things. I actually had to take a few minutes from the book because I was so angry a
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Jan 21, 2010
Pygmy
rated it:
I read this book only to clear space in the shelf for other books. Previously, I had read the Devil's Waltz, and while the writing was good enough to make me read to the end, I found it more frustrating than enjoyable. Thus I was surprised that I actually found this book to be fairly exciting. That said, I rather wish it was the detective who was doing all the investigating rather than his nosy, obsessive pychologist friend, not because I like Milo all that much, but because what's the point
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Feb 20, 2011
Mark
rated it:
This book started off well, but it lagged in the last third. One reason for the lag, I think, is because the sidekick, Milo, disappeared for a long time to follow his own lead, and when he returned, it was only mentioned in passing. Another reason for the lag was the reliance on expository dialogue by the author; a lot of it. The book was also dated by its mid-80's cliches.
The strongest part of the book was the relationship between Alex and Milo, and since I've told this becomes mor More...
The strongest part of the book was the relationship between Alex and Milo, and since I've told this becomes mor More...
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Mar 24, 2010
Tami
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Alex Delaware book #1 and Kellerman's first book. His budding mastery of suspense and story weaving was very enjoyable. He creates real characters worthy of love ... or hate. Found myself laugh aloud in a few places. I love his sense of humor. Definitely NOT a dry read. His intricate details spin a story easy to follow and draws the reader into the world of a Child Psychologist helping a police buddy solve an LA double murder. Loved his plot twists and non-predictable ending. As this is
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Jan 06, 2012
Lin
rated it: 
This is the first in the series, and has left me looking to find the next one in the series - and the next and the next. Alex Delaware is a child psychologist, retired after burning out in his early thirties, but his great friend Milo drags him into what promises to be a couple of hours' work at the most. Instead it turns into a real viper's nest, taking Alex all around the country and exposing the nasty side of some very influential people. One or two twists I didn't anticipate, and lots of
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Mar 27, 2011
Lily
rated it:
This was a pretty solid murder mystery/crime novel - you can see the beginnings of a bestseller series at work. Some lovely, surprising prose, although the plot was pretty convoluted and (by today's standards) lame. Back in the day (mid-80s when it was written), it was probably quite edgy.
I did love the references to pagers and the main characters having to pull over to find a payphone to make a call. Reminds how far technology has come since I was at high school!
I'll read an More...
I did love the references to pagers and the main characters having to pull over to find a payphone to make a call. Reminds how far technology has come since I was at high school!
I'll read an More...
Jul 08, 2010
Randy
rated it:
I wanted to go back and read the first of the series before reading the newest Delaware novel. Kellerman's first novel sets the stage for all of the following Delaware novels: they simply don't change. Most if not all of the novels involved child abuse, family neglect or overindulged parents and/or child. Usually, there are too many characters to follow. The role of Milo Sturgis doesn't change; over weight, out in the open homosexual detective who is not accepted by his department but involved
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Jan 25, 2010
Karen
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Jan 29, 2012
Writerlibrarian
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It's not strange how being older and not wiser but more aware makes someone a more critical reader. It's still a good novel but there are pieces of it that made me want to spit and hurl my Kindle across the room. My memories of Alex Delaware were good and I was in my late twenties, early thirties when I first read this series so all the macho posturing and sexist remarks probably annoyed me but I must have let it go. This time, well, I kept reading because I love Milo, Doctor Delaware I would gl
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May 26, 2011
David
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Read this 1985 crime novel because I understood it was the first of Kellerman’s books about psychologist-amateur sleuth Dr. Alex Delaware, which have earned the author big bucks and repeated appearances on bestseller lists over the last quarter century. Kellerman, who trained and practiced as a shrink, writes lucidly and fairly entertainingly, but the plot of “Bough Breaks” is so convoluted and its shady characters are so plentiful the reader often is forced to flip pages backward to grasp what
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May 13, 2011
Harmonybites
rated it:
I'd rate this three and a half stars if I could. I find this entertaining and above average among the usual mystery book fare, with that sense of an authentic look at a profession.
Kellerman, like his child psychologist hero Alex Delaware, has a background in clinical psychology. Alex, burned out after counseling children involved in a sexual abuse case, has retired from practice, but his police detective friend, Milo Sturgis, gets him involved in a case with a psychologist victim and More...
Kellerman, like his child psychologist hero Alex Delaware, has a background in clinical psychology. Alex, burned out after counseling children involved in a sexual abuse case, has retired from practice, but his police detective friend, Milo Sturgis, gets him involved in a case with a psychologist victim and More...
Jan 20, 2009
Nanosynergy
rated it:
(Book 1 of author's Alex Delaware/Milo Sturgis series.) This book apparently is Kellerman's first successful, published book. Kellerman fans of the Delaware series should enjoy it, but I don't rank it among his best books. When the Bough Breaks debuts Alex Delaware (child psychologist, now in early retirement) and LAPD detective Milo Sturgis and initiates their friendship. The central crime is a distasteful one - pediphiles. This and child abuse are predictable, unimaginative, and over-used plot
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Sep 07, 2008
Kellie
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Jul 27, 2007
Irishcoda
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When I realized I had a copy of the very first Dr. Delaware (I have lots of books I don't remember acquiring) I decided I had to read it next. I've read a couple of books by Kellerman and the Alex Delaware character and stories are okay but not what I would call spell binding. They were fast on plot advancement and thin on character development. I thought possibly all that back history was explained in the first few books. Well ... no. All I really learned is that Alex Delaware is a gung-ho chil
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May 26, 2009
Rosey
rated it:
This book was very educational as well as entertaining. It's about a child psychologist that got his PhD when he was 22 and then burned out when he was 30. He retired and stayed away from any work until a friend in the police force asked him for help in with a little girl who may or may not have seen a murder.
While the book was very good in my opinion, I would not recomend this to anyone who is easily offended or to someone who does not want to hear about some of the sickening things human More...
While the book was very good in my opinion, I would not recomend this to anyone who is easily offended or to someone who does not want to hear about some of the sickening things human More...
Sep 29, 2011
Jason
rated it:
The Alex Deleware novels are among my favorite series of books. I had the privilage of reading this one this one first a few years ago, and after that I was hooked! I buy every new one as soon as it comes out. I have hunted down all the old ones, and I have rarely been disappointed. Like many of the other Delaware novels, this one starts out slow and builds steam as it goes. Its not the best one I have read, but it was excellent enough to snag me as a fan for the long run!
Dec 15, 2008
Terry
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After reading one of the Alex Delaware books by Kellerman, I searched until I found all of them (21, I think.) I like this guy....a big, handsome black psychologist who works with the police to catch the bad guys. He's a loving, tender father, who was raised by his tiny, energetic whirlwind of grandmother.
I love a good storyteller, which Jonathan Kellerman is. I tried reading his wife, Faye's, books and one of his son's, but they just don't have "it", in my opinion.
I love a good storyteller, which Jonathan Kellerman is. I tried reading his wife, Faye's, books and one of his son's, but they just don't have "it", in my opinion.
Nov 27, 2010
Burgendya
rated it:
Aawwwhh!..The very first of the Alex Delaware/Milo Sturgis series. Ofcourse it was mind blowing since this mystery was mindboggling and Alex & Milo pieced every odd detail together. Milo with his detective/street smart and Alex psychological thinking. You could definatly see why the readers wanted more of this awesome duo.
I give this novel two thumbs up. Jonathan Kellerman never lets me down. I luv reading his work. =)~
I give this novel two thumbs up. Jonathan Kellerman never lets me down. I luv reading his work. =)~
Oct 16, 2010
Herzog
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A pretty impressive outing considering that this is the first book in the Alex Delaware series. Alex is a compelling character and there is potential for development of his sidekick, Milo. I'm a little concerned about the fact that he is a child psychologist which offers the potential for some pretty gruesome developments. I found the attack by the Great Dane rather over-the-top, but overall an entertaining book.
Jun 06, 2010
Lesley-Gail
rated it:
My first introduction to Jonathan Kellerman and the character Alex Delaware was Bad Love. I really liked Alex's character so I decided to start from scratch with the first novel. I really enjoyed Kellerman's portrayal of Alex. Although I found attempts to parallel the character with the legendary Philip Marlowe - their ages, wit, and Kellerman even references Marlowe. I liked the way Kellerman allowed Alex to unfold to the readers, and especially his chemistry with Milo. Alex is depicted as smar
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Oct 23, 2011
Jenn
rated it:
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I enjoyed the story but there were too many parts where it devolved into expository dialogue, and the author used the 'fallacy of the talking killer' like three times. I also skipped over pretty much anything with the romantic side plot -- it just wasn't interesting and didn't add anything to the book. My mom highly recommended the series so I'm looking forward to reading more, I'm just hoping the writing improves a bit.
Nov 24, 2010
Sujaritha
rated it:
First of the many Kellerman novels that I read. Includes the right mixture of adventure, mystery and thrill, where the protaganist is always brighter than the rest of the characters. Alex Delaware is a better investigator than a psychologist. There is nothing educational added from the psychology angle. The sheer pace at which the novel moves is the primary reason one should read it.
