When the Bough Breaks (original 1985; edition 1986)

I've found Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware series make for great audio book listening-in-the-car "reading." After several of them, I decided to start at the beginning and try to work through the whole series. When the Bough Breaks, like many first books (or first in series) is well plotted with a lot of emphasis on the characters. Kellerman's villains are always super villainous which makes them harder to believe. But the reader or listener is engrossed anyway. I can see why this book would inaugurate a whole series. ( )

When checking out a new author (to me), I like to start with a stand-alone, or in this case, a first in a series. I had low expectations for this author and not really sure why, so I was very pleasantly surprised to find I really enjoyed the book and writing style. The storyline was complex enough to keep me interested and the pace was very appropriate to the story. I enjoyed it very much and will be continuuing with this series. I'd definitely recommend this title! ( )

Alex Delaware is a child psychologist, retired at the age of 34. Must be nice, huh? Except, he gets bored and finds a new zest for life after his friend Detective Milo Sturgis asks him to consult on a case. A prominent psychiatrist and his client/girlfriend have been murdered and a 10-year-old girl is the only witness. Alex’s involvement deepens when he discovers a link to a local home for orphaned and severely disabled children.
With more twists and turns than a theme park ride, Kellerman keeps his protagonist jumping, discovering more links to prominent personages and more twisted and disgusting motives. The plot isn’t entirely plausible, but it’s certainly suspenseful and logical. Even though one of my pet peeves is non-law-enforcement types having a direct guns-a-blazin’ confrontation with the evil bad guy in the climax of the book, I thought this was pretty well done, and less egregious than some I’ve seen.
I also tend to agree with Alex’s philosophies on child psychology, particularly when it comes to the excessive use of pharmacology in treatment of children. I’ll be reading more of these. ( )

Alex Delaware is a retired pediatric pychotherapist at the age of 32. In the course of his reclused existance he is requested by a detective friend of his to help him with a small girl of 7 who is probably a witness to a double homicide. Alex gets pulled deep into the case and finally uncovers a conspiracy.

In the world of mystery writing on two thing sell, pedophiles of serial killers. This book has one of them. Its a well written book but nothing new or special. ( )

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-year-old, lone witness to the double murder. She and her mother live in the same apartment building as the psychiatrist and his girlfriend that were murdered and she is the only one that can help with this case now as Milo has no other leads.
As he gets Melody to trust him and open up, Alex realizes there is more to this case than just a double murder. He digs deeper and deeper until he opens the door to secrets that several ‘well to do’ people would rather keep closed…and would do anything to keep it that way.
Intense, traumatic, and suspenseful, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Reviewed by Ashley Wintters for Suspense Magazine ( )