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Jonathan Kellerman has written two novels that have really stuck in my mind – WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS and THE BUTCHER'S THEATRE. But his Alex Delaware series seemed to undergo a mid-way wobble, and after one or two thoroughly bizarre outings for our super shrink, I started to avoid the books. OBSESSION isn't a patch on the early books, but it's some sort of return to form. Alex, a psychologist who's pretty much out of private practice these days because of his work with the LAPD, has a call from a former patient. He hasn't seen Tanya Bigelow since she was very young. But her adoptive mother Patty has just died. And Tanya is worried about the "terrible thing" that Patty, a well-respected nurse, referred to before her death. Alex and his cop mate Milo Sturgis don't really believe that Patty had anything to hide, particularly given Milo's partner Rick, a hospital doctor, praises her to the skies. But Milo's got a week's leave and not much else to do . . . And suddenly their rooting around in the past uncovers sordid secrets. OBSESSION is tightly plotted and shows Los Angeles at its darkest, but it veers towards the too much talking, already. There are countless sit-down meetings with Alex, Milo, his colleague Petra and other officers on the case, and not enough action. The faint air of menace never quite delivers. This is the 21st book in the series and if you've read the others, you'll no doubt want to catch up with this one. But there's nothing particularly special to recommend it. Alex is back with tiresome partner Robin, so the grit their break-up added to the series some time back is now well and truly out of the system. Milo, who's always been the reason to read these books, seems to be going through the motions as well. And Tanya isn't a character to warm to, so the reader doesn't feel much empathy with her situation. File OBSESSION under readable but not terribly compelling.
Reviewed by Sharon Wheeler, January 2008
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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