When the Bough Breaks- Jonathan Kellerman

Purchase:  Amazon | Chapters

Published:  1985
Length:  448 pages
ISBN:  9780345466600
Genre:  Mystery/Suspense, Alex Delaware series (book #1)

Start Date:  Sometime in 2007-8
Finished Date:  Sometime in 2007-8

Where Found:  Used bookstore
Why Read:  After exhausting all the John Grisham & James Patterson novels I could get my hands on, I decided to try out a new author the salesgirl recommended.

Summary:  A psychologist treats a young girl who is the only witness to the murder of a corrupt child psychiatrist.

Review:

It’s great to read a mystery that doesn’t centre around a cop or lawyer. What’s refreshing about James Patterson’s Alex Cross and Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series is the perspective that a psychologist gives to homicide cases and the murderous criminals behind them.

The characters are deliciously atypical, similar in style to Sue Grafton, sculpting a central protagonist who we want to learn more about over time (hence, the creation of an ongoing series).  The plot is intricate, fast-paced, and ends with a terrific twist.

If you enjoy James Patterson, you will like Jonathan Kellerman’s series with psychologist Alex Delaware. I have only read the 1st book and have been taken with other titles since (isn’t that always the way?), but may return to the series in the future.

Rank:  (A)- Excellent