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Alex Delaware #4
Silent Partner
At a party for a controversial Los Angeles sex therapist, Alex Delaware encounters a face from his own past - Sharon Ransom, an exquisite, alluring lover who left him abruptly more than a decade earlier. Sharon now hints that she desperately needs help, but Alex evades her. The next day she is dead, an apparent suicide.
Driven by guilt and sadness, Delaware plunges into the maze of Sharon's life - a journey that will take him through the pleasure palaces of California's ultra-rich, into the dark closets of a family's disturbing past, and finally into the alleyways of the mind, where childhood terrors still hold sway.
Driven by guilt and sadness, Delaware plunges into the maze of Sharon's life - a journey that will take him through the pleasure palaces of California's ultra-rich, into the dark closets of a family's disturbing past, and finally into the alleyways of the mind, where childhood terrors still hold sway.
484 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
1893 people are currently reading
3763 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Kellerman
307 books5,681 followersJonathan Kellerman was born in New York City in 1949 and grew up in Los Angeles. He helped work his way through UCLA as an editorial cartoonist, columnist, editor and freelance musician. As a senior, at the age of 22, he won a Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award for fiction.
Like his fictional protagonist, Alex Delaware, Jonathan received at Ph.D. in psychology at the age of 24, with a specialty in the treatment of children. He served internships in clinical psychology and pediatric psychology at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and was a post-doctoral HEW Fellow in Psychology and Human Development at CHLA.
IN 1975, Jonathan was asked by the hospital to conduct research into the psychological effects of extreme isolation (plastic bubble units) on children with cancer, and to coordinate care for these kids and their families. The success of that venture led to the establishment, in 1977 of the Psychosocial Program, Division of Oncology, the first comprehensive approach to the emotional aspects of pediatric cancer anywhere in the world. Jonathan was asked to be founding director and, along with his team, published extensively in the area of behavioral medicine. Decades later, the program, under the tutelage of one of Jonathan's former students, continues to break ground.
Jonathan's first published book was a medical text, PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CHILDHOOD CANCER, 1980. One year later, came a book for parents, HELPING THE FEARFUL CHILD.
In 1985, Jonathan's first novel, WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS, was published to enormous critical and commercial success and became a New York Times bestseller. BOUGH was also produced as a t.v. movie and won the Edgar Allan Poe and Anthony Boucher Awards for Best First Novel. Since then, Jonathan has published a best-selling crime novel every year, and occasionally, two a year. In addition, he has written and illustrated two books for children and a nonfiction volume on childhood violence, SAVAGE SPAWN (1999.) Though no longer active as a psychotherapist, he is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology at University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
Jonathan is married to bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman and they have four children.
Like his fictional protagonist, Alex Delaware, Jonathan received at Ph.D. in psychology at the age of 24, with a specialty in the treatment of children. He served internships in clinical psychology and pediatric psychology at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and was a post-doctoral HEW Fellow in Psychology and Human Development at CHLA.
IN 1975, Jonathan was asked by the hospital to conduct research into the psychological effects of extreme isolation (plastic bubble units) on children with cancer, and to coordinate care for these kids and their families. The success of that venture led to the establishment, in 1977 of the Psychosocial Program, Division of Oncology, the first comprehensive approach to the emotional aspects of pediatric cancer anywhere in the world. Jonathan was asked to be founding director and, along with his team, published extensively in the area of behavioral medicine. Decades later, the program, under the tutelage of one of Jonathan's former students, continues to break ground.
Jonathan's first published book was a medical text, PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CHILDHOOD CANCER, 1980. One year later, came a book for parents, HELPING THE FEARFUL CHILD.
In 1985, Jonathan's first novel, WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS, was published to enormous critical and commercial success and became a New York Times bestseller. BOUGH was also produced as a t.v. movie and won the Edgar Allan Poe and Anthony Boucher Awards for Best First Novel. Since then, Jonathan has published a best-selling crime novel every year, and occasionally, two a year. In addition, he has written and illustrated two books for children and a nonfiction volume on childhood violence, SAVAGE SPAWN (1999.) Though no longer active as a psychotherapist, he is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology at University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
Jonathan is married to bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman and they have four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 490 reviews
May 20, 2024
Volume four in this series about Alex Delaware, child psychologist, and Milo Sturgis, police detective. This book centres on Alex although Milo does lend a hand.
Silent Partner is a twisty turny psychological thriller and it requires much concentration to follow the plot, especially when, just as you think you have got it, Kellerman throws in another layer and you have to think again. By the end I was feeling that he had made things just a bit too convoluted but at least it was never boring!
I really enjoy the characters of both Alex and Milo and the great way they can work together. I do not have much time for Robin though and was rather glad she was awol for most of the book. Looking forward to the next book now.
Silent Partner is a twisty turny psychological thriller and it requires much concentration to follow the plot, especially when, just as you think you have got it, Kellerman throws in another layer and you have to think again. By the end I was feeling that he had made things just a bit too convoluted but at least it was never boring!
I really enjoy the characters of both Alex and Milo and the great way they can work together. I do not have much time for Robin though and was rather glad she was awol for most of the book. Looking forward to the next book now.
October 5, 2014
Look, I like Jonathan Kellerman. Generally, the mystery itself keeps me turning the pages quickly, and the characters have at least one interesting/unique quality that I am curious to understand better. There are a few good descriptions thrown in, too. Not high-class fine literature by any stretch of the imagination, but certainly well done, addictive, and enjoyable.
However, to be fair, this last read was more than a little tasteless. The plot was quite far-fetched, and the scenes between Dr. Delaware and femme fatale Sharon were uncomfortably detailed and uncomfortably frequent. And sure, whatever, adults have their adult things. But after a while, it was like, "OK, Mr. Kellerman, I think there's supposed to be an actual plot in there too. If you could just, you know, attend to that? Thanks."
I don't know. Overall? Borderline trashy. Overdone. Disappointing. But, hey. Anyone in search of a fast-paced, edgy paperback, go right ahead. Meanwhile, I'm going to look elsewhere for my next mind-bending mystery.
However, to be fair, this last read was more than a little tasteless. The plot was quite far-fetched, and the scenes between Dr. Delaware and femme fatale Sharon were uncomfortably detailed and uncomfortably frequent. And sure, whatever, adults have their adult things. But after a while, it was like, "OK, Mr. Kellerman, I think there's supposed to be an actual plot in there too. If you could just, you know, attend to that? Thanks."
I don't know. Overall? Borderline trashy. Overdone. Disappointing. But, hey. Anyone in search of a fast-paced, edgy paperback, go right ahead. Meanwhile, I'm going to look elsewhere for my next mind-bending mystery.
August 17, 2017
Very good, almost five stars. I've re-read some of the earlier books so many times but not when I was reviewing, so had to fix that otherwise they get confused in my head. I meant to read and review a lot of these this year, but am just starting with this one – procrastination may as well be my middle name.
Milo is more in the background with this one, but this is totally Alex's story since it involves his past clashing with his present.
There are so many twists with this one that I guarantee even the most seasoned mystery solver will never get everything right. Clever and way more complex in its layers than it first looks, Alex's old fling comes to him for help before ending up dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Guilt-ridden and curious, but also hurting from a recent separation from Robin (who I always found weird anyway), he sets out to solve this one on his own.
It reminded me of seeking out just certain information, but then when that comes up there were more questions raised. Alex didn't seem to think this would be a full-fledged mystery and so involved, but every stone turned over more mysteries.
Kellerman writes with a quick-paced and fluid language, making this enjoyable to read; however, while the writing is smooth sailing, it isn't a fast read you can fly through similar to a fluffier styled mystery. After the beginning takes off (it takes awhile to actually get to the mystery), the book is almost 500 pages and so layered with information in the second half it will take a few more hours to read.
Worth every minute for enjoyment sake, but the mystery does become a bit confusing. I started getting confused on some of the names thrown around by the end of it. Perhaps overcomplicated?
Some may get impatient the actual mystery takes a while. I'm not saying when the death first happens - but at first it seems confusing and not dire to solve. There is a full-fledged puzzle solver waiting in the works, it just doesn't make itself obvious right away.
Milo is more in the background with this one, but this is totally Alex's story since it involves his past clashing with his present.
There are so many twists with this one that I guarantee even the most seasoned mystery solver will never get everything right. Clever and way more complex in its layers than it first looks, Alex's old fling comes to him for help before ending up dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Guilt-ridden and curious, but also hurting from a recent separation from Robin (who I always found weird anyway), he sets out to solve this one on his own.
It reminded me of seeking out just certain information, but then when that comes up there were more questions raised. Alex didn't seem to think this would be a full-fledged mystery and so involved, but every stone turned over more mysteries.
Kellerman writes with a quick-paced and fluid language, making this enjoyable to read; however, while the writing is smooth sailing, it isn't a fast read you can fly through similar to a fluffier styled mystery. After the beginning takes off (it takes awhile to actually get to the mystery), the book is almost 500 pages and so layered with information in the second half it will take a few more hours to read.
Worth every minute for enjoyment sake, but the mystery does become a bit confusing. I started getting confused on some of the names thrown around by the end of it. Perhaps overcomplicated?
Some may get impatient the actual mystery takes a while. I'm not saying when the death first happens - but at first it seems confusing and not dire to solve. There is a full-fledged puzzle solver waiting in the works, it just doesn't make itself obvious right away.
May 22, 2024
A taut character driven drama and psycho-thriller!
In a word, SILENT PARTNER is magnificent!
Child psychologist, Alex Delaware, is living life in the dumps temporarily separated from his lover, Robin, who has asked for some space and time to find herself. On a last minute whim, he attends a society soirée and encounters Sharon Ransom, a former girlfriend who makes it abundantly clear that she'd like to meet and re-connect with Alex. Uncertain of either of their motives and feeling to do so would needlessly complicate his life, Alex declines but is horrified to discover the next day that Sharon has taken her own life. No doubt driven by intense feelings of guilt, Alex embarks on an investigation of the circumstances of her suicide and walks into a tangled weave of multiple murder, corporate shenanigans, drugs, sex, pornography and psychological mayhem that only a writer of Kellerman's skill could conceive of and actually keep under control.
Over and over again, Kellerman catches his readers with a delicously nasty habit - the details seems complete, the explanations are in hand and the story appears headed for a dénouement - then the twist happens and we're tossed back into the thick of things. And, this happens not just once but two or three times in the space of the final hundred pages.
Despite the fact that this is a fine murder thriller, perhaps Kellerman's best, the violence actually takes second place to the psychological drama and the narration of a wealth of detail about the art of psycho-analysis. Sharon Ransom's case study, for example, that she submitted as her PhD thesis was positively chilling and I have no doubt could be a reflection of the distressing reality that analysts encounter with more seriously disturbed clients.
If you're going to start SILENT PARTNER, make sure you've got a few spare hours carved out and already set aside. You won't want to put it down!
Paul Weiss
In a word, SILENT PARTNER is magnificent!
Child psychologist, Alex Delaware, is living life in the dumps temporarily separated from his lover, Robin, who has asked for some space and time to find herself. On a last minute whim, he attends a society soirée and encounters Sharon Ransom, a former girlfriend who makes it abundantly clear that she'd like to meet and re-connect with Alex. Uncertain of either of their motives and feeling to do so would needlessly complicate his life, Alex declines but is horrified to discover the next day that Sharon has taken her own life. No doubt driven by intense feelings of guilt, Alex embarks on an investigation of the circumstances of her suicide and walks into a tangled weave of multiple murder, corporate shenanigans, drugs, sex, pornography and psychological mayhem that only a writer of Kellerman's skill could conceive of and actually keep under control.
Over and over again, Kellerman catches his readers with a delicously nasty habit - the details seems complete, the explanations are in hand and the story appears headed for a dénouement - then the twist happens and we're tossed back into the thick of things. And, this happens not just once but two or three times in the space of the final hundred pages.
Despite the fact that this is a fine murder thriller, perhaps Kellerman's best, the violence actually takes second place to the psychological drama and the narration of a wealth of detail about the art of psycho-analysis. Sharon Ransom's case study, for example, that she submitted as her PhD thesis was positively chilling and I have no doubt could be a reflection of the distressing reality that analysts encounter with more seriously disturbed clients.
If you're going to start SILENT PARTNER, make sure you've got a few spare hours carved out and already set aside. You won't want to put it down!
Paul Weiss
June 9, 2012
It was hard to read and follow. First there was one girl, then two, then three. One was misformed at birth, two were adopted, after the mother was killed, and then separated because one was crazy and one wasn't. Then in the end the crazy one, I think, killed herself but it was assumed the sane one had committed suicide, but then maybe she didn't. At the end, if the sane one was still alive she went crazy. And then a police officer and an ex-cop was disgraced for some reasons, that were explained, but we were not told how their actions came to light. Now, I'll admit I only read a little each night and it takes me awhile to get through a book, so maybe I just forgot all the explainations as I read. But I was confused!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2021
Oh my God, was that ever HEAVY.
I've read other Alex Delaware novels and to some extent they're all sleazy. Dr. Delaware is a child psychologist who often gets pulled into criminal investigations involving former patients one way or another. In this one, Alex runs into his old college flame at a party - the one who got into his head before breaking his heart. With his relationship with Robin on the rocks, Sharon Ransom's sudden reappearance is like a long sip of slow poison. Alex wisely turns down an invitation to meet with her the next day, but she wouldn't have made it anyway, seeing as how she killed herself later that night.
The first half of this novel is filled with dozens of flashbacks from Alex's time with Sharon in the 70's and wow, I've read smutty romances that are tamer than this. I thought I'd need to bleach out my ears after listening to one scene.
I can't honestly say I enjoyed this novel but all in all, it was a good mystery. There were some things I guessed correctly early on, but also some twists I didn't see coming - and there were A LOT of twists. Long story short: Sharon Ransom was a mess, even before she died.
I've read other Alex Delaware novels and to some extent they're all sleazy. Dr. Delaware is a child psychologist who often gets pulled into criminal investigations involving former patients one way or another. In this one, Alex runs into his old college flame at a party - the one who got into his head before breaking his heart. With his relationship with Robin on the rocks, Sharon Ransom's sudden reappearance is like a long sip of slow poison. Alex wisely turns down an invitation to meet with her the next day, but she wouldn't have made it anyway, seeing as how she killed herself later that night.
The first half of this novel is filled with dozens of flashbacks from Alex's time with Sharon in the 70's and wow, I've read smutty romances that are tamer than this. I thought I'd need to bleach out my ears after listening to one scene.
I can't honestly say I enjoyed this novel but all in all, it was a good mystery. There were some things I guessed correctly early on, but also some twists I didn't see coming - and there were A LOT of twists. Long story short: Sharon Ransom was a mess, even before she died.
August 13, 2023
A slow read. Alex and his girlfriend, Robin, have seperated. Milo is on vacation. What is Alex to do? He accepts an invitation to a party for a sex therapist. At the party he bumps into a face from the past, Sharon Ransom, a former student and lover.
Naturally Alex asks Sharon how things are going and she tells him not well and she would like to get together to talk. Being the nice guy he is Alex agrees but the next day has second thoughts. He tries to call Sharon to break their "date" but is unable to get her. So he leaves a message on her voicemail. He is shocked when he then reads an article in the newspaper about Sharon having commited suicide. He decides to learn more about what was happening in Sharon's life and what led her to take her life.
The story takes the reader into the past and present. There are secrets in Sharon's past, a business tycoon that reminds one of Howard Hughes, and sex. Not many murders or mystery. Some of the history of Sharon's past comes as a surprise and the end of the story has a twist.
Milo eventually returns from vacation and makes an appearance. For the most part he just stops by Alex's house and drinks beer. The two of them are not driving around Los Angeles. There is a nemesis of Milo's who plays a part in the story so that adds incentive for him to get involved.
An okay read but I found myself hoping it will end soon and I can move on to something else.
Naturally Alex asks Sharon how things are going and she tells him not well and she would like to get together to talk. Being the nice guy he is Alex agrees but the next day has second thoughts. He tries to call Sharon to break their "date" but is unable to get her. So he leaves a message on her voicemail. He is shocked when he then reads an article in the newspaper about Sharon having commited suicide. He decides to learn more about what was happening in Sharon's life and what led her to take her life.
The story takes the reader into the past and present. There are secrets in Sharon's past, a business tycoon that reminds one of Howard Hughes, and sex. Not many murders or mystery. Some of the history of Sharon's past comes as a surprise and the end of the story has a twist.
Milo eventually returns from vacation and makes an appearance. For the most part he just stops by Alex's house and drinks beer. The two of them are not driving around Los Angeles. There is a nemesis of Milo's who plays a part in the story so that adds incentive for him to get involved.
An okay read but I found myself hoping it will end soon and I can move on to something else.
December 22, 2013
Child psychologist Alex Delaware was feeling in need of a comforting shoulder himself – with partner Robyn and himself struggling in their relationship, when she announced she was going away for business, he was both sad and relieved. And at the party which he hadn’t been going to attend, but did at the last minute, seeing a previous love set his emotions running all over the place.
Sharon Ransom was as beautiful as she was when he was head over heels in love with her as a student. Even though a decade had passed, the underlying passion seemed still there. When Alex made a date for the following Monday with her, he left wondering what on earth he had done…
With Detective Milo Sturgis on vacation, Alex had no-one to confide in, so when he read the tragic news of Sharon’s apparent suicide, he knew he needed to find out what he could. Milo’s sometimes-partner promised to look into it, but Alex decided to do some investigating himself. And that headed him straight into a world of violence and horror….
I normally absolutely love Jonathan Kellerman’s work – this one was the exception I’m afraid. It was so incredibly different to his usual work, of crime, suspense and mystery that I wondered if another writer had penned this book. A terrible disappointment to me.
Sharon Ransom was as beautiful as she was when he was head over heels in love with her as a student. Even though a decade had passed, the underlying passion seemed still there. When Alex made a date for the following Monday with her, he left wondering what on earth he had done…
With Detective Milo Sturgis on vacation, Alex had no-one to confide in, so when he read the tragic news of Sharon’s apparent suicide, he knew he needed to find out what he could. Milo’s sometimes-partner promised to look into it, but Alex decided to do some investigating himself. And that headed him straight into a world of violence and horror….
I normally absolutely love Jonathan Kellerman’s work – this one was the exception I’m afraid. It was so incredibly different to his usual work, of crime, suspense and mystery that I wondered if another writer had penned this book. A terrible disappointment to me.
May 23, 2020
Wow ! This was really good. Very detailed and intricate and sometimes hard to follow which is why it’s a 4 not a 5. The Psychology of this book played a huge part. The lies and deception made it difficult to figure out what was really true and what wasn’t.
The story line was gripping.
Alex, having difficulty in his own personal life, becomes part of a mystery that involves a girl he once dated. And he is thrown in head first. Not to mention the clients and drama related to the cases he is working on. Taking it’s toll on his own psyche.
Alex once dated this beautiful woman named Sharon. He really liked her but she definitely had some psychological issues which eventually ended their relationship. When he sees her at a party, all of their history comes flooding back in his mind. But when tragedy strikes, he is already committed to figuring out what went wrong with this beautiful girl
Kellerman’s writing is extremely engaging. The problem is, you have to be on your game 100% to follow all of his twists and turns and lies and deception. I had to go back and find things, reread to try and stay on top of the facts. And the worst part is, they weren’t all facts.
The psycho analysis is very engaging and it pulled me in.
I was just a little frustrated with the games the author played with my mind. It intimidated me.
However, I’m ready for the next book in the series. Bring it on!
The story line was gripping.
Alex, having difficulty in his own personal life, becomes part of a mystery that involves a girl he once dated. And he is thrown in head first. Not to mention the clients and drama related to the cases he is working on. Taking it’s toll on his own psyche.
Alex once dated this beautiful woman named Sharon. He really liked her but she definitely had some psychological issues which eventually ended their relationship. When he sees her at a party, all of their history comes flooding back in his mind. But when tragedy strikes, he is already committed to figuring out what went wrong with this beautiful girl
Kellerman’s writing is extremely engaging. The problem is, you have to be on your game 100% to follow all of his twists and turns and lies and deception. I had to go back and find things, reread to try and stay on top of the facts. And the worst part is, they weren’t all facts.
The psycho analysis is very engaging and it pulled me in.
I was just a little frustrated with the games the author played with my mind. It intimidated me.
However, I’m ready for the next book in the series. Bring it on!
February 22, 2017
REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; FEBRUARY 22, 2017
Narrator: Alexander Adams
Rating: 2 stars
I wasn't enjoying it yet found myself riveted. It's not the type of thriller I like (dated plotlines, for me) yet I couldn't stop. I was tempted to abort many times as I was getting tired of the many sexual reminiscences (and more explicit than is usual for this genre) but, to my disgust, kept listening.
This was not (to my disappointment) a thriller in the same vein as a police procedural and the plot wasn't centered on the supposed suicide of Sharon, an ex of Alex, but about old family secrets and intrigues, evil twin vs weird twin, sordid sex and evil therapists. So not my cuppa these days. I can't wait for a good, true, police procedural like Kovac & Liska, Rizz0li & Isles or Will Trent. If the rest of the series is like Silent Partner, I'm going to have remove Kellerman from my TBL list.
But if you used to, or still do, like gothics, you may enjoy this contemporary version. For me, I need to go hunt down a dead body and a good homicide cop.
Narrator: Alexander Adams
Rating: 2 stars
I wasn't enjoying it yet found myself riveted. It's not the type of thriller I like (dated plotlines, for me) yet I couldn't stop. I was tempted to abort many times as I was getting tired of the many sexual reminiscences (and more explicit than is usual for this genre) but, to my disgust, kept listening.
This was not (to my disappointment) a thriller in the same vein as a police procedural and the plot wasn't centered on the supposed suicide of Sharon, an ex of Alex, but about old family secrets and intrigues, evil twin vs weird twin, sordid sex and evil therapists. So not my cuppa these days. I can't wait for a good, true, police procedural like Kovac & Liska, Rizz0li & Isles or Will Trent. If the rest of the series is like Silent Partner, I'm going to have remove Kellerman from my TBL list.
But if you used to, or still do, like gothics, you may enjoy this contemporary version. For me, I need to go hunt down a dead body and a good homicide cop.
October 3, 2022
4 Stars. It's complicated and psychologist Alex Delaware is confused. Me too, and likely you'll be as well! One of the confusing aspects relates to the need to follow numerous time shifts between today and the past. Alex's girlfriend Robin is having commitment issues, basically they're estranged, and his first love has re-appeared. Sharon Ransom. The two had known each other a decade ago but then she fell off the face of the earth. Alex is wary even as they plan lunch but, before that happens, she commits suicide. The detective in him decides to delve deeper into her past. Why were there difficulties even when they were tight so many years ago? And why had she disappeared? The more he and Milo Sturgis search for answers, the more elusive she becomes. Get set for some graphic sex, a dab of pornography, memories of Howard Hughes and Clifford Irving, and as much human relationship information as you can absorb without being granted a degree after turning the final page. This book made me want to see the 1988 movie "Dead Ringers" again. With Jeremy Irons and Genevieve Bujold. Look for it; I remember it well. No more clues. (December 2017)
January 17, 2015
I am a Jonathan Kellerman fan and enjoy the Alex Delaware books - it is this reason that I decided to go back to the very beginning and read the Alex D series from the start.
I have read later Alex D books so I thought it would be interesting to start from the beginning and see the character develop, the relationships, etc. I've read the first 4 books now and I'm going to have to take a break. These early Alex D books do not read as easily as the later books. It's obvious, to me, that Kellerman may have been looking for Alex D's voice or format or something in these first books of the series. There is often excessive description and what seems to me as unnecessary dialogue. It almost feels like Kellerman is trying to hit a certain number of pages and adds things to hit the page count.
The plot and underlying storylines that you expect from Kellerman are there, but they can get bogged down and hidden in the overly lengthy text.
I will return to the Alex D series, picking up at book #5, after my break to read other authors.
I have read later Alex D books so I thought it would be interesting to start from the beginning and see the character develop, the relationships, etc. I've read the first 4 books now and I'm going to have to take a break. These early Alex D books do not read as easily as the later books. It's obvious, to me, that Kellerman may have been looking for Alex D's voice or format or something in these first books of the series. There is often excessive description and what seems to me as unnecessary dialogue. It almost feels like Kellerman is trying to hit a certain number of pages and adds things to hit the page count.
The plot and underlying storylines that you expect from Kellerman are there, but they can get bogged down and hidden in the overly lengthy text.
I will return to the Alex D series, picking up at book #5, after my break to read other authors.
September 29, 2022
Other than educating me on psychotherapy, the book stretched out so long that the mystery was not appreciated. A thought while reading: therapists seem to draw issue out to a point where, well, "Our time is up, see you next time". And the client/reader stumbles out the door, bewildered.
September 9, 2016
This book is part of the Alex Delaware series but can be read as a stand alone novel. In this one, Alex sees an old girlfriend and she would like to get together and talk. Later, she commits suicide and Alex would like to know why.
At first, I liked the whole mystery aspect of the novel and was really interested in the book. But then the mystery aspect became too complicated and convoluted. I believe it was the excess of characters and at times I felt like I should be taking notes to keep track of the suspects. The mystery also spanned many years and this aspect didn't work for me either. I have read later books in this series and one of the things I like is how Alex interacts with Milo and Robin. Robin didn't have any scenes until the end of the book and Milo had minimal appearances. I did miss this aspect.
This wasn't the best book of this series as what makes this character and series special wasn't fully utilized. Also, this was early in his writing career and his writing isn't as refined as some of his newer work. The descriptive detail was too lengthy. My recommendation would be to lean towards this author's newer material.
At first, I liked the whole mystery aspect of the novel and was really interested in the book. But then the mystery aspect became too complicated and convoluted. I believe it was the excess of characters and at times I felt like I should be taking notes to keep track of the suspects. The mystery also spanned many years and this aspect didn't work for me either. I have read later books in this series and one of the things I like is how Alex interacts with Milo and Robin. Robin didn't have any scenes until the end of the book and Milo had minimal appearances. I did miss this aspect.
This wasn't the best book of this series as what makes this character and series special wasn't fully utilized. Also, this was early in his writing career and his writing isn't as refined as some of his newer work. The descriptive detail was too lengthy. My recommendation would be to lean towards this author's newer material.
February 7, 2017
Alex and Robin are on a break- when Alex reluctantly attends a party for a former colleague and runs into a former girlfriend. Sharon is as sexy as ever, but due to her former head games, Alex avoids her. When she is found dead the next day, he is racked with guilt and investigates. When I originally read this years ago, I laughed at the *spoiler* triplet twist (really?!) that he uncovers. In this book, Alex is more vulnerable than usual and is messed up by the revelation, so he doesn't reconcile with Robin due to his issues and the story is more open ended than usual.
December 12, 2009
I had stopped reading Jonathan Kellerman as they were getting to all be the same. Picked this up in the free pile in Bali. And I could hardly put it down! As all his books, pretty unlikely story, but the twinships and the mystery of it all kept me riveted.
March 13, 2016
THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW!!!
This was one of my less favorite Alex Delaware novels. I think I'm beginning to stand by my initial thought that Jonathan Kellerman is not very good at writing female characters. They tend to be a little too static for my tastes, just kind of there for Dr. Delaware to make out with or "fix" with his therapeutic charms, maybe fill in a plot hole here or there. His girlfriend Robin was in particular bland in this book, conveniently needing space and disappearing during the exact time that Dr. Delaware's ex comes into the picture leaving him free and clear to mess around with her without any real guilt.
Then of course, there was the opposite end of the spectrum: the really oversexed female character. I just didn't care about her. She threw herself at him shamelessly, which was supposed to be part of her "condition" but it just got pathetic after a while. And I started to lose track of all the names that he kept coming across, was trying to understand the real point behind his obsession with knowing about his ex's childhood. While there were some aspects of real crime happening, it seemed that THOSE things were kind of just brushed aside in lieu of some long dead actress porn star/drug addict and the fate of her children from around thirty years ago. And what about his patient in the beginning? The whole thing about the little boy and the decapitated head of his father landing in the back seat??? That was just kinda like "oh well I have this other thing I have to do, you're on your own kid." Running around researching all this crap about his ex who he happened upon at a party he somewhat crashed since he couldn't be bothered to bring his invitation.
So no I won't give it less than three stars, just because I finished it and it wasn't a fully terrible read. And it won't turn me off to all Alex Delaware because some of the books I read so far have been great. I just think maybe Jonathan Kellerman needs to work on writing more believable female characters, or just remove them altogether, hint at their presence. Bring in more Milo, who makes more sense to get into these dangerous situations then a freakin' child psychologist in the first place!
This was one of my less favorite Alex Delaware novels. I think I'm beginning to stand by my initial thought that Jonathan Kellerman is not very good at writing female characters. They tend to be a little too static for my tastes, just kind of there for Dr. Delaware to make out with or "fix" with his therapeutic charms, maybe fill in a plot hole here or there. His girlfriend Robin was in particular bland in this book, conveniently needing space and disappearing during the exact time that Dr. Delaware's ex comes into the picture leaving him free and clear to mess around with her without any real guilt.
Then of course, there was the opposite end of the spectrum: the really oversexed female character. I just didn't care about her. She threw herself at him shamelessly, which was supposed to be part of her "condition" but it just got pathetic after a while. And I started to lose track of all the names that he kept coming across, was trying to understand the real point behind his obsession with knowing about his ex's childhood. While there were some aspects of real crime happening, it seemed that THOSE things were kind of just brushed aside in lieu of some long dead actress porn star/drug addict and the fate of her children from around thirty years ago. And what about his patient in the beginning? The whole thing about the little boy and the decapitated head of his father landing in the back seat??? That was just kinda like "oh well I have this other thing I have to do, you're on your own kid." Running around researching all this crap about his ex who he happened upon at a party he somewhat crashed since he couldn't be bothered to bring his invitation.
So no I won't give it less than three stars, just because I finished it and it wasn't a fully terrible read. And it won't turn me off to all Alex Delaware because some of the books I read so far have been great. I just think maybe Jonathan Kellerman needs to work on writing more believable female characters, or just remove them altogether, hint at their presence. Bring in more Milo, who makes more sense to get into these dangerous situations then a freakin' child psychologist in the first place!
April 6, 2017
All too often, books marketed as psychological thrillers hinge on some obscure syndrome that an author has picked up from a conversation with a psychologist — or has simply imagined into existence. Jonathan Kellerman writes psychological thrillers grounded in his decades of professional experience as a child psychologist. And he sticks close to home: his hero, Alex Delaware, is also a child psychologist.
An out-of-the-ordinary investigator
Alex is not your average sleuth. Still in his 30s, he’s retired from his professional practice. He lives on income from investments. He owns a showcase home in the L.A. hills, drives a flashy car, and is in a romantic relationship with a woman named Robin who is widely sought after as a masterful guitar-maker. Occasionally, he takes on an assignment as an expert witness in a child custody case for a lawyer named Mal Worthy. Just as often, he finds himself caught up in complex criminal cases that involve his friend, a gay LAPD Detective Sergeant named Milo Sturgis. Though Milo enters into each investigation, it’s Alex who does the heavy lifting. This is the cast of continuing characters in Kellerman’s long-running series of thrillers.
Childhood trauma and dueling psychologists
In Silent Partner, the fourth novel in the series, Alex finds himself in conflict with Paul Kruse, a rival psychologist whom he considers a fraud and a pornographer. Unfortunately, the rival has just been named chair of the psychology department because of his access to millions in donations. To compound the problem, Kruse is the faculty adviser to one of Alex’s former lovers, Sharon Ransom, whose body has just been found in her home, apparently a suicide.
As Alex undertakes an investigation to learn the circumstances surrounding Ransom’s death, he becomes progressively more involved in the intrigue surrounding Kruse’s appointment. Along the way, he uncovers tragic secrets in the lives not just of Sharon Ransom but of other key characters in the case.
Silent Partner is an outstanding psychological thriller, grounded in professional expertise, plotted with great skill, and imbued with suspense from beginning to end.
An out-of-the-ordinary investigator
Alex is not your average sleuth. Still in his 30s, he’s retired from his professional practice. He lives on income from investments. He owns a showcase home in the L.A. hills, drives a flashy car, and is in a romantic relationship with a woman named Robin who is widely sought after as a masterful guitar-maker. Occasionally, he takes on an assignment as an expert witness in a child custody case for a lawyer named Mal Worthy. Just as often, he finds himself caught up in complex criminal cases that involve his friend, a gay LAPD Detective Sergeant named Milo Sturgis. Though Milo enters into each investigation, it’s Alex who does the heavy lifting. This is the cast of continuing characters in Kellerman’s long-running series of thrillers.
Childhood trauma and dueling psychologists
In Silent Partner, the fourth novel in the series, Alex finds himself in conflict with Paul Kruse, a rival psychologist whom he considers a fraud and a pornographer. Unfortunately, the rival has just been named chair of the psychology department because of his access to millions in donations. To compound the problem, Kruse is the faculty adviser to one of Alex’s former lovers, Sharon Ransom, whose body has just been found in her home, apparently a suicide.
As Alex undertakes an investigation to learn the circumstances surrounding Ransom’s death, he becomes progressively more involved in the intrigue surrounding Kruse’s appointment. Along the way, he uncovers tragic secrets in the lives not just of Sharon Ransom but of other key characters in the case.
Silent Partner is an outstanding psychological thriller, grounded in professional expertise, plotted with great skill, and imbued with suspense from beginning to end.
May 26, 2013
I want to like Jonathan Kellerman's writing; I really do. He's highly touted, and he's a psychologist who writes crime fiction, so I should like him...but I don't. He's like Dan Brown (whose writing I also don't like) in that his books are full of himself, and he likes himself A LOT. I'm just beginning Chapter 8 in Silent Partner, and the purple prose has me chuckling, e.g.,
All at once I was rock hard. And furious about it.
A few pages later: The weight between my legs grew oppressive. I dropped her hand. Our faces were inches apart. My tongue strained my teeth like a snake in a jar.
Seriously, this comes dangerously close to, "The flower of his manhood filled the room..."
The man does have his fans, but so far, I'm definitely not one of them.
All at once I was rock hard. And furious about it.
A few pages later: The weight between my legs grew oppressive. I dropped her hand. Our faces were inches apart. My tongue strained my teeth like a snake in a jar.
Seriously, this comes dangerously close to, "The flower of his manhood filled the room..."
The man does have his fans, but so far, I'm definitely not one of them.
July 21, 2017
I did like this book, but it was definitely more hard to enjoy than the previous three installments. The plot was hands-down one of the most (if not the most) downright confusing in a thriller I have ever read. Even after the tell all at the end I still felt like I was missing something. Throughout the book, I was thinking things like "Huh?", "Is this important?" and "How does this fit in?". The best part of the book was character development for Alex Delaware. That said, if you plan on reading most of the series, I definitely would not recommend skipping this one.
August 14, 2012
After reading book #7 in this series, I felt like I didn't know Alex Delaware very well. That has certainly changed after reading Silent Partner! It provides quite the window into his psyche. It's also a good mystery. Through the myriad of psychological disorders on display here, there is a pretty good story. Though, it's also pretty messed up! You really feel for Alex at the end. The mystery-solving psychologist definitely becomes very human.
July 20, 2019
Wow. Ummmm....
A lot of smoke and mirrors in a lame attempt to get to a surprise ending. By the time we got there, I didn’t really care. Very convoluted....
The sex scenes near the beginning of the book were unnecessarily long and explicit (and this from a reader that likes a steamy romance novel). Hard to believe it was in an Alex Delaware book.
And this book was wayyyyyy too long.
A lot of smoke and mirrors in a lame attempt to get to a surprise ending. By the time we got there, I didn’t really care. Very convoluted....
The sex scenes near the beginning of the book were unnecessarily long and explicit (and this from a reader that likes a steamy romance novel). Hard to believe it was in an Alex Delaware book.
And this book was wayyyyyy too long.
March 2, 2018
Gratuitous sex, multiple storylines, gratuitous writing. This book was written to pay the bills
June 10, 2020
3...It took awhile for this one to get going...at first, I was so very bored...After it picked up it was amazing! IF YOU are an AUDIO listener, this one can be a bit hard to follow!!!! The ending was absolutely spot on...When this book was first published it was before it's time...
July 27, 2012
And now for something completely different... sort of. The mystery this time does not involve a patient, but rather, Alex Delaware himself. It had a very different tone from the previous titles, and it gripped me right away. It was fascinating seeing this "other side" of Delaware and learning more about his past and about some of his issues, taking the "good guy" persona and really opening it up. Oh yeah, Delaware has issues. And by the end, I find that I am liking him much more than when I started the book. However, while the story was compelling, it tied up in a bow that just annoys me. Four down, three to go. I'm seriously wondering at this point if I am going to manage to get through book seven (the actual book club selection).
April 18, 2020
I really do like this series and the main characters. However, I had many problems with this book. First of all, it was way too long - like 200 pages too long. The details and little side stories added confusion to the plot. And the plot was my second issue. There were SO MANY characters - mind you all dead - that I could hardly keep up with them. And the history of the relationship between Alex and Sharon was just too much. I do like good mysteries and suspenseful books, but this was just too complicated to enjoy.
April 5, 2021
Silent Partner by Jonathan Kellerman is the 4th book in the Alex Delaware Mystery series. At a party, psychologist Alex Delaware meets a former lover who hints at problems and then the next day commits suicide, and Alex becomes drawn into the investigation of her death. A rather convoluted and complex story making it difficult to follow and sounding rather far-fetched. Rather different to his usual cases and we are missing Robyn and Milo for most of the exceedingly long and drawn out book.
May 29, 2009
This wasn't my favorite novel. It was a short book. As embarrassing as it is I actually got lost as to who was who. Their were a lot of characters that popped up and not a lot of time to explain. I still enjoyed the story line.
March 4, 2022
Another Alex Delaware story with intrigue, twists, mayhem, people without pulses, relationships and great characters.
April 21, 2024
4th in the Alex Delaware series. In this book we look at Alex’s past serious relationship. Alex and Robin have hit a bump in the road and Alex meets a past love at a party. Things go awry and the past love is found dead. Out of guilt Alex looks into her life and uncovers a very tangled web. An interesting read.
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