Masterly storytelling and expert insight into the darkest of human compulsions make #1 New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman&...
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Apr 13, 2011
James
rated it: 
When a teacher at a very exclusive prep school is found dead in a tub of dry ice, L.A. Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis is assigned to the case. The murdered teacher has left behind a DVD on which she claims that she was subjected to relentless sexual harassment by three other members of the school's staff, whom she names on the video. Because it looks like an interesting case, Milo invites his old pal, Alex Delaware, to tag along during the investigation.
Logically, Milo's investigat More...
Logically, Milo's investigat More...
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May 27, 2011
Beth
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My doctor has me out of work for a few days (nothing serious, I don't think), so I finished this book last night.
Another fun story from Mr. Kellerman, another murder solved by LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis and Dr. Alex Delaware.
Kellerman's pretty good at pointing fingers, as Milo and Alex consider possible suspects to the murder of a teacher/tutor at a fancy prep school. And there's always one or two higher ranking LAPD cops just waiting to make wisecracks about Milo' More...
Another fun story from Mr. Kellerman, another murder solved by LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis and Dr. Alex Delaware.
Kellerman's pretty good at pointing fingers, as Milo and Alex consider possible suspects to the murder of a teacher/tutor at a fancy prep school. And there's always one or two higher ranking LAPD cops just waiting to make wisecracks about Milo' More...
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Nov 03, 2010
Todd
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Kellerman's work is among some of my favorite mysteries and thrillers. Delaware and Sturgis have become characters that I long to hear from on a regular basis. Deception is a pleasant departure from many of the spoon fed mysteries that make way to market. I was taken with the complexity of this mystery and the misturns here and there. Kellerman doesn't appear to cater to the neat linear plot that has become so common in many mass market mysteries.
A very good addtion to the seri More...
A very good addtion to the seri More...
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May 28, 2011
Caitlin
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It seems that I've been writing about reading comfort food for days now. That's because I've been recovering from gallbladder surgery (am much better now) and haven't been worth much beyond reading. I love Jonathan Kellerman, although I've been disappointed in his last two books. He's gone through a period where I wondered where he could be going with the series and it looked like it was going nowhere good.
In Deception Kellerman really regains his footing. Once again the partners More...
In Deception Kellerman really regains his footing. Once again the partners More...
Oct 11, 2011
Ron
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Formulaic, but good. For me, the pleasure of this series passed 6-7 books ago from really good suspense, writing and plotting to the relationship between lead/narrator Dr. Alex Delware and LA Police Det. Milo Sturgis. I always thought Kellerman was a little preachy and politically correct in dealing with the gay Sturgis and his treatment by Alex. But over the last few books, he's settled nicely into a believable place where Milo's sexual orientation gets much less play and the expanding per
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Mar 02, 2011
pdxmaven
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It is SO exciting when I see another of Jonathan Kellerman's book are out in paperback, like knowing I can hunker down and disappear into "escape/indulgence" reading land. So spotted this one at the local Safeway store, put on my Pjs and went to bed early to read away.
But you know, it seems like he's run out of steam. With Alex and Robin now having resolved their relationship problems, and Milo and Rick having resolved theirs, that leaves only the plot to unfold, and it see More...
But you know, it seems like he's run out of steam. With Alex and Robin now having resolved their relationship problems, and Milo and Rick having resolved theirs, that leaves only the plot to unfold, and it see More...
Jan 07, 2012
Cindy
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If you are a long time Kellerman fan you'll enjoy Deception. It follows the same formula, has some good twists and turns in the plot to stop it from being totally predictable. There are no long-winded descriptions that will have you yawning. The action moves quickly, characters are believable and it definitely is easy to read. Ideal for a snowed in day, airport or day at the beach.
What I do miss from Kellerman's latest books, are Alex Delaware's psychologist insights. The main protagon More...
What I do miss from Kellerman's latest books, are Alex Delaware's psychologist insights. The main protagon More...
Apr 25, 2011
Tiffany
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This was my first Jonathan Kellerman book and I have to say, overall, that I did like it. I've certainly read better books in this genre, but it did keep me interested enough to want to read to the end and find out who committed the crime. There wasn't a ton of a background on the main characters, but I assume that is because this book is deep in the series. The book unfolded like an episode of Law & Order...lots of quick back and forth dialogue. I wouldn't say this was a mind-blowing plot..
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Feb 05, 2011
Susan
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I always read anything Kellerman writes but I particularly like his Alex Delaware novels, as this one is. So I enjoyed it as usual, although it was a little slow getting started. The plot was interesting and it unfolded as the book went along in a manner than was thought provoking, since I always try to solve the mystery too. Although the characters usually enrich the storyline this time some of the background seemed almost to be thrown in as an afterthought. Other than the slowness of developm
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Nov 03, 2010
Amber
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Another solid book in the Dr. Delaware series. Nothing remarkable, but he continues to give me what I want from him: A good mystery, good interplay between Delaware and Milo. If Kellerman keeps writing 'em, I'll keep reading 'em.
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Jan 07, 2012
MD
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In some ways this series resembles the Sherlock Holmes stories. Although the point of view character is the doctor, the character that makes me want to read these books is The Great Detective, in this case Milo Sturgis. The doctor's mundane home life is an unwelcome distraction. The stories are at their best when the game is afoot and the two buddies are chasing down the clues. Without giving away any of the plot, this book took me where I wanted to go with these characters -- a lot of action, t
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Jan 25, 2012
Dale
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I've read a number of best sellers by series authors and have been disappointed too many times to count, so it was a relief that I found Deception to be quite good.
Kellerman tells a good story, and marches toward the conclusion in a straightforward manner, after a fair number of twists, turns, and red herrings.
One would presume the first-person protagonist, Alex Delaware, to take a larger role, but here he stays in the background most of the time, having only a few scenes-- the boo More...
Kellerman tells a good story, and marches toward the conclusion in a straightforward manner, after a fair number of twists, turns, and red herrings.
One would presume the first-person protagonist, Alex Delaware, to take a larger role, but here he stays in the background most of the time, having only a few scenes-- the boo More...
Jun 21, 2011
Elizabeth
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This was not Kellerman's best work. Usually he adds more about Dr. Delaware's home life, and his dog and his girlfriend, and he usually even manages to come up with more plausible reasons for Dr. Delaware to be tagging along with his detective friend, but here, it seems like he let that go. We hardly heard at all about Robyn and the dog, and he ended up tagging along with Miles not only for the arrest of two violent killers, for no good reason, he also ended up in the interrogation room with the
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Nov 03, 2010
Margaret
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Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis are back and this time a murder investigation leads them to a prestigious prep school. Another suspenseful read from Kellerman.
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Apr 18, 2011
Barbara
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I loved the book, the way I saw it was murder, greed with the politics involved for the families, students and police, a tangled web wonderfully contrived. Although for me it would have been good to have a little more involvement in the personal lives of Alex Robin, Milo and Rich, along with the main story line there's usually some content involving them all which I look forward to, the way I see it with each book it enriches their characters and I was thinking that if this were the first of the
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Mar 06, 2011
Eden
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Okay, I'm just gonna' say it - I love the way this man writes. Maybe he's not for everyone, but Kellerman always pens a better than average mystery without a lot of fuss or fanfare. His imagery, while not poetic or so thorough a crack in the sidewalk would take a full parragraph to do it justice (I am not knocking either; I am a huge Tolkein fan, and I lean toward the philosophy of "why use 5 words when 15 would be so much better?"), is tight, his similes and metaphors exactly on poi
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Feb 03, 2012
Mei
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Fun. I'm coming to the conclusion that I'm not really a fan of this genre, apart from those years of obsessing with Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. Even that was some years ago. However, this is actually written in proper English, has a narrative and a thread, so it didn't infuriate me like that charlatan, James Patterson, who should really be ashamed of himself and the tripe he passes off as books. This combination of psychologist and cop is one I think James Patterson tries to emulate but fails
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Jul 28, 2011
Betty410
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I like detective Milo Sturgis's determination to solve a crime. Also i like having clinical psychologist, Alex Delaware prowess by the side of the detective, giving intuitive suggestions that keep Milo on target.
This yarn revolves about a noted prep school in California where questions arise about a part-time instructor and tutor and students acing the SAT tests. Complicating the investigation is the police chief who has influential friends with students at the school--along with his own More...
This yarn revolves about a noted prep school in California where questions arise about a part-time instructor and tutor and students acing the SAT tests. Complicating the investigation is the police chief who has influential friends with students at the school--along with his own More...
Jun 06, 2011
Wendy
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This is my first voyage into a Kellerman novel, though I listened to it on tape and did not read it. The narrator did a very good job with distinguishing the characters and the story line flowed very well, starting with the death of an elite Prep school teacher.
With their hands tied from the start to save face for the richy riches, Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis set forth to apprehend the killer. Of course, this duo must break rules... it wouldn't be a crime drama if the detectives More...
With their hands tied from the start to save face for the richy riches, Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis set forth to apprehend the killer. Of course, this duo must break rules... it wouldn't be a crime drama if the detectives More...
Jul 26, 2011
Tyera
rated it: 
I didn't expect this to be "Hemingway", or anything, but even taken as a standard canned mystery/police drama, this book was pretty lame. There wasn't really much in the way of exciting plot or cliff hangers. But it's not really character-driven either.
The narrator, in particular, doesn't seem to do anything except follow Milo around narrating. He doesn't even have any interesting perspectives on what's going on. I don't know, maybe his relationship with Milo is more meaningf More...
The narrator, in particular, doesn't seem to do anything except follow Milo around narrating. He doesn't even have any interesting perspectives on what's going on. I don't know, maybe his relationship with Milo is more meaningf More...
Nov 03, 2010
I like Alex Delaware mysteries. They are smartly written and fun to read. The repartee between the two main characters, Dr. Alex Delaware and homicide detective Milo Sturgis is fun. And then there is all of the food they consume. What’s not to like with that.
Two more reasons I like this series is you don’t have to read it as a series and you can read the book at night and forget your page and still pick it up and go on the next night. Deception, the most current mystery revolves arou More...
Two more reasons I like this series is you don’t have to read it as a series and you can read the book at night and forget your page and still pick it up and go on the next night. Deception, the most current mystery revolves arou More...
Nov 03, 2010
Bunty
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Jonathan Kellerman has thus given his another shot with the release of Deception, a detective novel with solid plot, perfect timing and good vocabulary. This novel is a blend of mysteries, thrillers, unique similes and metaphors. The novel engrosses the reader's mind as the play moves along... it's a page turner. The characters are old and hence never fail to entertain your mode of mind. The twist and turn in ever page compels you to bite your nails. An absorbing series though with slow going in
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Nov 03, 2010
Chezza
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Strange, most people seem to think this was just another Jonathan Kellerman book. After I had read the first two chapters I thought JK did not write this book. This new book is immature, with buzz words one would associate with today's youth (what the hell does "know go" mean). The story was a little disjointed and irregular and although the plot wasn't bad the story lacked substance, the characters paper cut-outs of their former glory. This cannot have been written by the same man w
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Nov 03, 2010
Laurel-Rain
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A deceased woman packed in dry ice with a DVD that chronicles her abuse at the hands of teachers in the school where she taught—this is our introduction to Elise Freeman, a talented teacher who also tutors students to help them pass their SATs, etc. We immediately suspect one of the alleged abusers, or even the boyfriend...or possibly someone else threatened by the DVD.
But naturally, none of this is as straightforward as it seems. It's an Alex Delaware mystery, and he and sidekick Mi More...
But naturally, none of this is as straightforward as it seems. It's an Alex Delaware mystery, and he and sidekick Mi More...
May 06, 2011
Rachel
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This and the one before it were both more like Milo Sturgis novels than Alex Delaware ones. The psychological part of the books have completely been sidelined, and we barely see any of Alex doing his doctorly thing anymore, or any of his relationship with Robin. Getting to be your typical "whodunit" novels instead of the interesting psychological thrillers they were. Two stars, because I am still interested in who did it and I am usually surprised by the reveal. Although in this book,
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Mar 26, 2011
Jill
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Not bad, the best Alex Deleware book in a while, but makes me wistful for the older Kellerman books that had a lot more detail and focused more on psychology and Alex's life outside of working with Milo, like Silent Partner or Devil's Waltz. Still a good read that flowed well and kept me interested.
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Oct 23, 2011
Maria
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I thought that perhaps with the last 2 novels Kellerman was losing some if his steam as far as chracter development. I was pleasantly suprised with this latest one that the twists and turns are back.
I do wish that Milo's sexual orientation would just get dropped as it doesn't have any impact on the story line itself. The few references made really had no place in the story and left me thinking 'what was the point?'
I do wish that Milo's sexual orientation would just get dropped as it doesn't have any impact on the story line itself. The few references made really had no place in the story and left me thinking 'what was the point?'
Jul 06, 2011
Alice
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I was speed reading through this mystery. I really could not guess who was doing the evil deeds. Not so nice murders were committed by some really bad guys who you would not suspect or that were even on the radar. Great beach book as it reads fast but has substance. I'll be reading more Kellerman mysteries. Good main characters, upscale very smart, more polished than Robert Parker's Spencer and Hawk, of which I have all.
Nov 03, 2010
Sharon
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Jonathan Kellerman's latest novel finds police detective Milo Sturgis and psychiatrist Alex Delaware investigating the murders of a popular substitute teacher and her scamming sometime boyfriend. When the teacher's financial records show far more income than a part-time instructor at a snazzy prep school should have available, the two start digging deeper.
Thrown in an obstructive chief of police, whose son attends the prep school in question, and things become even more complicated. More...
Thrown in an obstructive chief of police, whose son attends the prep school in question, and things become even more complicated. More...
May 23, 2011
Merredith
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This is the 25th Alex Delaware/Milo Sturgis book - wow!! I've been reading these things since i was in high school i think. or college at least. This one doesn't deal much with either of their lives, but focused almost exclusively on the mystery, which consisted of a prep school teacher found dead in her bathtub on dry ice. It got a little convoluted, but i never guessed what was going to happen next. a good, quick read. can't wait for the next one!
