Edgar Award winner Jonathan Kellerman once more explores the corruption of California's golden coast and produces a novel of complex characterizations and nonstop suspense. By the time psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware reached the school the damage was done: A sniper had opened fire on a crowded playground, but was gunned down before any children were hurt. While the TV news crews feasted on the scene an Alex began his therapy sessions with the traumatized children, he couldn't escape the image of a slight teenager clutching an oversized rifle. What was the identity behind the name and face: a would-be assassin, or just another victim beneath an indifferent California sky? Intrigued by a request from the sniper's father to conduct a "psychological autopsy" of his child, Alex begins to uncover a strange pattern of innocence, neglect, and loss. Then suddenly it is more than a pattern -- it is a trail of blood. In the dead sniper's past was a dark and vicious plot. And in Alex Delaware's future is the stuff of grown-up nightmares: the face of real human evil. Also available on BDD Audio Cassette.
Download and start listening now!
"In this Alex Delaware installment, after a snipper shoots off a rifle in a school yard of children, Milo calls Alex to come in and do damage control with the kids. The target turns out to be an Assemblyman visiting the kids. Surprisingly the deceased snipper is a young rather dull woman and Alex questions her motive. The deeper Alex digs into the woman's life, more people seem to be disappearing and dying. In this one Alex has a brief affair with the school principal."
— Kay (4 out of 5 stars)
“Virtually impossible to put aside until the final horrifying showdown.”
— People“Kellerman’s meticulously constructed thriller, while leaning hard on the anti-Semitic component of its plot, again demonstrates how well the role of sleuth fits that of therapist; Alex, a little lost without former girlfriend Robin, speaks with a a unique, convincing voice.”
— Publishers Weekly“Though a time bomb is ticking away at the heart of this novel, readers will forget to watch the clock once they begin it.”
— Chicago Sun Times" Nothing special here. Too long, and the twists seem cookie cutter repeat of "When the bough breaks" Not recommended. "
— Seth, 2/20/2014" I enjoyed this book. It had action from the start a lot of twists and turns and friendships. Dr. Alex Delaware gets into the thick of things because he was doing a friend a favor. I hope Dr. Delaware never learns to say no to favors. "
— Colleen, 2/11/2014" I like all of the Alex Delaware books "
— Bonnie, 1/29/2014" A bit uneven and a touch too much cookie cutter, but the good doctor and the cop with a heart of gold are as lovable as ever. Lots of red herrings (including a lot of bad guys so that picking out the real culprit was impossible). Somehow, though, not a lot of emotional steam in this book, #4 in the series. Usually Delaware is the Lone Gunman type, tightly wound up and easily involved, but in this one he seemed to be simply curious about events, more of a private detective and less of a man on a mission. "
— aPriL, 1/18/2014" I like Kellerman's books, but I found this one a little slow. It picked up midway through, but I found the first half very slow. "
— Kym, 1/18/2014" This Nuanced, intelligent thriller oesn't disappoint. "
— Victoria, 1/18/2014" Sniper at school - read a long time ago. "
— Jamie, 1/16/2014" This was a good book. I thought it was similar to Grisham, Koone, Clancy, Crichton etc novels. It was interesting and a break from books with a message. Gave it a 3. "
— Tom, 1/15/2014" SUSPENSFUL, ACTION, AND A LITTLE ROMANCE. DEFINATELY A MYSTERY YOU'LL KEEP TRYING TO SOLVE UP UNTIL THE VERY END. "
— Melissa, 1/11/2014" The first Delaware novel I ever read and, odd but true, still a comfort reread. (Yes I like gorey procedurals for comfort rereading. Also, Sylvia Plath's journals and Anne Sexton's biography.) "
— Moira, 12/30/2013" This wasn't my favorite Alex Delaware novel, but I know it's one of the earlier ones so I won't hold that against him. It was an interesting story and I didn't see the twist at the end coming. "
— Erika, 12/12/2013" Read this some time ago as all of this series so far. "
— Peggy, 11/30/2013" Another Kellerman story that was great up until the ending. "
— Freyja, 11/26/2013" 3.5 stars. An enjoyable read, but it was so far my least favorite J.Kellerman novel "
— Arjun, 11/16/2013" Quick read. The ending got a bit long and drawn-out, though. "
— Danette, 10/28/2013" Pretty good easy afternoon reading. The plot was fairly unpredictable with a good balance between description and action. Kellerman drops his facination with women's breasts that was seen in book #3. He also addresses the issue of racism in both its blatant form and its more deceptive form. "
— Abbie, 10/1/2013" A nice complex Milo/Alex read, with political background & hateful politicians. "
— Phil, 8/1/2013" This is one of my favorite mystery writers, but this one felt a little boring to me. 1990 publishing so it is one of the older ones. (Anything before 9/11 sometimes feels naive.) "
— Liz, 6/16/2013" Good read. Milo beaten. "
— Ronald, 2/11/2013" A schoolground sniper is killed before shooting any children. Another page turner mystery by this author. Always like to read his books,rarely disappointed. Getting into the sniper's background and causes will entice the reader. "
— Pollyvan, 2/9/2013" The ending of this one is just ridiculous, completely unbelievable. The rest of it was... okay. Interesting enough to get me through work and bus lines, not interesting enough to make me want to keep listening. "
— Dev, 12/4/2012" Whoa - This one was a grabber and I can't believe I didn't figure out "Who Done It" before the end but it kept me on the edge of my seat (or bed, which is where I do most of my reading) until the end. "
— Judy, 11/9/2012" This started off well, but somewhere around the half-way mark, it stopped holding my interest and it felt like a chore to finish. Probably a little too political/conspiracy for my taste. "
— Julie, 9/17/2012" The connections between everything is a little too hard to swallow, and the rescue at the end is way off the wall. However, I found Alex to be a wonderful, down-to-earth guy. "
— L., 7/23/2012" I'm fairly certain this was my first Jonathan Kellerman read; needless to say I was happy enough with it to continue with his other works! "
— Samara, 6/4/2012" I have too many of these series I don't remember! "
— Laura, 4/23/2012" This is another great installment in the Delaware saga. A bit wordy at times, but while dealing with issues we all should study. Fantastic ending. "
— doug, 4/12/2012Jonathan 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.