Alex Delaware is back! And in Jonathan Kellerman's riveting and ingenious new novel, Monster, he faces one of the most grisly and baffling mysteries of his career: How can a nonfunctional psychotic locked up in a supposedly secure institution for homicidal madmen predict brutal murders in the outside world? Delaware and his friend and partner Detective Milo Sturgis must penetrate this enigma in order to stop the horrific killings. A marginal actor is found dead in a car trunk, sawn in half. Months later, a psychologist at a hospital for the criminally insane is discovered murdered and mutilated in a tantalizingly similar way. When reports of an inmate's incoherent ramblings begin to make frightening sense as predictions of yet more slayings, Delaware and Sturgis are drawn into a web of family secrets, vengeance, and manipulation--both inside the asylum and on the streets of L.A., where death, drugs, and sex are marketed as commodities. The climactic discovery they make as they race to prevent more killings gives fresh and terrifying meaning to the concept of monstrosity. With Monster's incomparably deft characterizations and dazzlingly dark plot twists, Jonathan Kellerman further enhances his literary position as master of the psychological thriller.
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"Ok...a female psychologist in her thirties tires of her career in academia and chooses to work in a forensic institution east of Los Angeles. About six months into her job she turns up dead. Seriously, this is the plot. I kid you not. Meanwhile I'm still reading and working."
— Andrea (4 out of 5 stars)
" Jonathan Kellerman novels are my guilty pleasure, and this one was no exception. While it isn't his best book, it was still a good read for a car ride. It follows the Kellerman style very closely. It kept my attention, and I thought the story was easy enough to follow. "
— Stephanie, 1/30/2014" This just didn't settle well with me. Having a ten month old daughter myself the scene describing the Monster's atrocities got to me more than normal. Maybe I've reached a point in life where I just can't get into slasher type novels, even if they do have a psychological undertone. But even if that scene hadn't gotten to me it's a pretty crappily written book. Not sure there's much at all that was good about it now that I'm trying to think of something. Oh well...gave it a shot. "
— Sarah, 1/27/2014" a standout in the little-discussed (but i suspect well-known) genre "books on familial bookshelf that can be reached without getting up off the couch post-turkey on a lazy thanksgiving weekend." how do i know it stood out, since it was clearly inhaled in a mere 5 tryptophan-hazed hours? because when i had finished and FINALLY went to pee, i had to open the shower curtain to make sure there wasn't a psychopathic killer in there. perfect. "
— Sarah, 1/27/2014" Listening on the way to work. This one is good. "
— Cyanemi, 1/18/2014" Another great twist and turn with Milo and Alex! "
— Dianne, 1/15/2014" Another Jonathan Kellerman excellent crime sloving tale. I never lost base of the story. It was a quick, thrilling read. So I give it 2 thumbs up. =)~ "
— Burgendya, 1/11/2014" A little freaky, but a good read. "
— Carol, 1/10/2014" Although I read it a couple years ago the story line was still fresh in my mind. It shows what "monsters" the human mind can create. It also tells us that although a person is retarded there is a possibility that they can be good and gentle citizens. "
— Karlene, 1/7/2014" Very scary, keeps you on your toes. "
— Lisa, 12/31/2013" Fun read ~ a bit twisted though...just like his other Alex Delaware books. He is a very good descriptive writer with knowledge of psychology to make his characters very believable. "
— Gail, 12/22/2013" Monster (Alex Delaware) by Jonathan Kellerman (2000) "
— Julie, 12/13/2013" Read this some time ago as all of this series so far. "
— Peggy, 12/12/2013" I worked out at least half of the solution very early in the book. And it was something both Milo and Alex should have noticed as well. "
— Kris, 11/30/2013" vivid insight into the life and happenings of a mental institution. Characters well described physically and mentally. "
— Jeff, 10/29/2013" I like Milo and Alex; I like this series. It's important to read them in order because of the relationships with the other characters. "
— Kelly, 10/17/2013" Typical Jonathan Kellerman novel: predictable. A good read for the beach or long trip. "
— Helene, 6/16/2013" I must be sleeping while I think I'm reading because I just can't connect the dots on this one until Kellerman spells it out for me. "
— Staci, 6/2/2013" Excellent descriptions and thrilling plot, slightly predictable for frequent mystery readers but overall very enjoyable. "
— Samantha, 4/29/2013" Solid detective novel from the Alex Delaware series. Sometimes a bit of a heavy touch with the psychology bits, which are enjoyable but quite well sign posted! "
— Ellen, 2/27/2013" As always with Kellerman, well-written, quick, suspenseful, and with twists that I didn't precisely figure out before they were revealed, so altogether a good, enjoyable read. 3 stars just mean that, though I really enjoyed the book, it's not great "literature." "
— Nomanisan, 12/8/2012" This was my first Jonathan Kellerman book and the one that got me hooked. I loved the sick twisted gory of it. "
— Brandie, 11/23/2012" A psychological hard to believe thriller. Just realistic enough to hold my interest. Sometimes, too much detail. "
— Walter, 11/16/2012" This book was interesting and a pretty fast read. I actually kept the book in the bathroom and read it there. LOL! I know you want to borrow my copy now. "
— Vanessa, 11/10/2012" Awesome Alex Delaware novel. "
— Jessica, 10/27/2012" I am a huge fan so maybe I am one reason the books keep coming. I love the different twists he puts into these books, not to heavy or gruesome but just enough to keep you interested. I loved it. It was different & I always love how Milo & Alex interaxt. Keep them coming. "
— Kj, 4/18/2012" Had a real hard time getting through this Kellerman book. I usually like all Alex Delaware novels but this one had too many pages of information and no dialogue. I like dialogue :) "
— Rosanne, 1/21/2012" A balanced train ride of thrill and eerie trepidation. "
— Samara, 10/25/2011" Although it was more straightforward than I expected, I enjoyed this book. More of a profiling study than a true thriller. "
— Daniel, 10/6/2011" For me, this was not one of Jonathan Kellerman's best. He did do a good job of leading you in one direction, thinking you have the mystery solved and springing the real solution in another direction. "
— Gail, 8/12/2011" Sadly, Kellerman has gone the way of the formulaic. While still compelling, this was nowhere near the level of suspense his early Alex Delaware novels had. I'm hopeful that "Deception" will return some of that old tension. "
— Rachel, 4/29/2011" Dead couple embrace.<br/>Abandoned, half-built mansion.<br/>Motive mystery.<br/><br/>Two different crimes.<br/>How do they tie together?<br/>Who connects the two? "
— Dee, 4/12/2011" The book started out interesting and then just lost my interest in the middle. Just couldn't finish. I do want to know about the couple that was murdered, but just can't finish to get there. "
— Tammy, 2/27/2011" I love Alex Delaware books, but I found this one to be just a bit convoluted. There were a few too many sub-plots going on, and it made it hard to follow the story at times. <br/>It was still an enjoyable read! "
— Julie, 2/24/2011" The duo of Delaware and Sturgis are a great pair. I am surprised they haven't made a movie out of this series yet. "
— Cornmaven, 2/17/2011" Alex Delaware appeared to have more of a bit part in this novel. I enjoyed the book, but it is not up to other Kellerman novels. "
— Cheryl, 2/16/2011" I like Kellerman's books a lot. But he writes a simple story that barely keeps your interest. Not his normal high level work. He has written many better books and mysteries. Still his main characters Milo and Alex are always fun to follow. "
— Keith, 1/16/2011" Couple found dead in flagrante. Complex plot involving Swiss/Austrian Architect, and revenge killings. "
— Martin, 1/8/2011" Good plotting. Milo's character keeps getting stronger and more interesting and so do the cops who work with him. But it seems that Alex is slipping further into the background. "
— Carolyn, 1/7/2011" Reads exactly like an episode of CSI. Interesting enough story but the writing style was unusual and the terminology was very specialized, which made it a bit of a challenging read. I wouldn't recommend this book, but I don't feel like I wasted my time reading it either. "
— Jenna, 12/18/2010" Good book . Not so much blood and gore. "
— Marianne, 12/5/2010" This is another fine police procedural featuring psychologist Alex Delaware and his buddy Detective Milo Sturgis. This book's plot takes many twists and turns. "
— james, 12/4/2010" The watchman at a large unfinished mansion finds a pair of bodies inside the house. Alex goes with Milo to analyze the scene. First they need to find the name of the female victim and why they are there. "
— Arlene, 11/24/2010" Readable, but not as interesting as all the earlier Alex Delaware/Milo Sturgis novels. "
— Heinlec, 11/10/2010Jonathan Kellerman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than fifty crime novels. His unique perspective on human behavior has led to the creation of the Alex Delaware series. He has won the Goldwyn, Edgar, and Anthony awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association. With his wife, bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman, he co-authored Double Homicide and Capital Crimes. With his son, bestselling novelist Jesse Kellerman, he co-authored six novels.
Grover Gardner (a.k.a. Tom Parker) is an award-winning narrator with over a thousand titles to his credit. Named one of the “Best Voices of the Century” and a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, he has won three prestigious Audie Awards, was chosen Narrator of the Year for 2005 by Publishers Weekly, and has earned more than thirty Earphones Awards.