I needed something to read. This had been given to me and sat on the shelf for several months. I finaly grabbed it. Wish I had not.What a bore. It was also uncredible with the dying mother saying she had done something so terrible. The police launch a full investigation (yeah sure). Multiple bad guys keep getting invented at random. I thought I was going to indulge myself into some fun pulp fiction entertainment. No entertainment here at ALL!

Service was quick and the book was as promised. I would definitely buy again.

anymore, anyway. His world is divided into white and black - all right for pulp fiction, not for psychology. I wouldn't want him to try to make his characters any deeper, either. Even though Alex Delaware might recommend a patient take medication, Jonathan Kellerman thinks less of human beings who do. His "good" characters (victim/heroes), are too strong and good to succumb to needing medication. Hollywood = bad people. One of the worst villains in the book is named Robert Fisk, and likes healthy food.

But it's not a terrible read. I did lose some of the threads in the middle, like others. Milo and Rick's relationship is great to have highlighted, and there are some vivid scenes. I'll probably read more of Kellerman's books.

This book was not up to the usual Kellerman/Alex Delaware standards. I think maybe JK has run out of ideas and is stretching a bit too much. There were way too many characters who were not well developed confusing the reader. And what PD has the time to spend on a crime which never was reported? I know we have to suspend belief when reading fiction, but, come on, Milo and Alex solved a series of murders from nothing more than a few words from a dying woman???

I only kept reading to see if anything interesting was happening in the private lives of Alex & Robin and Milo & Rick!

JK, please don't just keep churning out books.

The latest in the series is pedestrian and maddeningly slow moving. I just finished it yesterday and I can't tell you the plot; not a great reflection on the story telling involved.

Maybe it is time for Kellerman to abandon the Delaware character and spend some time on books featuring Milo Sturgis? Originally a throw-away part of the Alex Delaware contributing cast, he is a far more interesting character these days.

Excellent service and product was better than described. I am very satisfied with this seller and will use them again.

THE MAJORITY OF THE BOOK WAS CLASSIC ALEX DELAWARE, COLORFUL CHARACTERS, IT ALSO HAD A GOOD CROSSOVER WITH PETRA MAKING AN APPEARANCE ... UNFORTUANETLY FOR ME, TOWARDS THE END THE "WOW" FACTOR WAS MISSING. IT ALMOST FELT LIKE JONATHAN WASN'T SURE HOW TO END IT & IT FELT FORCED OR RUSHED. WE NEVER GOT TO SEE THE PSYCOLOGICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN ALEX & THE VILLAIN.

BUT DON'T BE TOO DISCOURAGED...IT'S STILL ALEX & MILO!!

THE MAJORITY OF THE BOOK WAS CLASSIC ALEX DELAWARE, COLORFUL CHARACTERS, IT ALSO HAD A GOOD CROSSOVER WITH PETRA MAKING AN APPEARANCE ... UNFORTUANETLY FOR ME, TOWARDS THE END THE "WOW" FACTOR WAS MISSING. IT ALMOST FELT LIKE JONATHAN WASN'T SURE HOW TO END IT & IT FELT FORCED OR RUSHED. WE NEVER GOT TO SEE THE PSYCOLOGICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN ALEX & THE VILLAIN.

BUT DON'T BE TOO DISCOURAGED...IT'S STILL ALEX & MILO!!

I first read "Compulsion" and loved it. Bought three Kellerman books, the first of which was "Obsession". Yuck. Way too complex and weak plot leaves the reader tired.

I've read several Kellerman books, and I have to say I'm very disappointed in this one. The plot was both dull and confusing. I couldn't wait to be done with it!! His other books seemed much better.

I am a long time lover of Alex and his crew especially Milo but apparently this book was such a sleeper I actually forgot I read it which never happens unless it has been years and even then I rememeber something. It did not have some of the thrill of his past books and I believe it was a (2) day read which in itself says a lot, however I do enjoy his descriptions of L.A and the streets and freeways because since I now live in ND it remimds me of home, having traveled those same streets many times in my own life, I never give much thought to Robin but I love the dog and of course you have to love Milo so that makes the read somewhat worth it.

Ok, so I normally enjoy the Alex Delaware books very much but what was this?? I actually put the book down for a couple of weeks TWICE at the beginning because I just couldn't drum up any enthusiasm for it. When I finally did pick it back up (I figured I'd spent the money, may as well read it) I kept having to go back and reference parts that I'd already read because of ALL the new characters that were constantly being introduced. I had a little trouble keeping up with who was whom and who did what, etc...there were just too many names with not enough (relevant) information to the already sketchy plot. And Tonya. Did anyone else find her completely annoying? The way she kept calling her mom "Mommy"...ugh! And why was she constantly ignoring Dr. Delaware's advice when SHE was the one who sought HIS help? It just aggravated me the entire time. I also noticed several storyline discrepancies which I suppose are also the editors fault, but really...I think Kellerman should spend a little more time on his next novel.

I trudged through about half this book, came on here to see if it was worth finishing, and then closed it for good when my suspicions that it only got worse were confirmed.

I was vaguely aware that there was a plot that was suppose to be interesting and believable (right) but all that happened was Alex running around to interview one person after another. The conversations started running together into an unidentifiable string and I'd find myself skimming pages without even taking in what was being said. Doesn't Alex have anything better to do? ... cause I sure do.

Terrific people, as usual, but it seems just filling space with words. The detectives keep yakking away about POSSIBLE scenarios instead of advancing the plot. First time in all the Delaware novels I've felt disappointed or wondered whether I should pass on the book.

This is my first Jonathan Kellerman/Alex Delaware novel and definitely my last. The plot, characters and writing are extremely monotonous and the story is flat. It was easy to see where the big climax (I say this sarcastically) was headed less than halfway through the book. I do not care for Kellerman's method of writing nor the extreme amount of babble among the characters that was absolutely worthless to the plot. I kept plugging along thinking the conclusion would be the big payoff just to be even more disappointed at the way Kellerman finishes off his extremely lengthy, convoluted novel. If you still feel that you have to read this book because you've read some of his other works and they were good, my advice would be to borrow the book or get it from the library, read the first 10 pages and then the last 10 pages and you have the whole story in a nutshell. Basic plot: a young girl (Tanya Bigelow) with an obsessive/compulsive personality (which seems to be completely irrelevant to the story), similar to her aunt/mother-figure, Patty Bigelow, is given some disturbing news of a possible "killing" by Patty on her deathbed. The rest of the 445-page novel goes on and on with lots of drawn-out conversation but no action, just to unravel in a very mind-numbing, predictable manner. To my way of thinking, this novel is a total waste of good reading time.

This is one of the worst books I've read in a long time. The plot was vague and the conclusion unsatisfying. It was surely not worth my time or my money. Very disappointing

Jonathan Kellerman's been writing Alex Delaware novels for a good long time now. I believe I read the first when it came out in paperback, and I've been a fan ever since. This latest entry is somewhere in the middle: not as good as his best books (lately I would rate Twisted the highest) but not as bad as some others. The author works the usual cameos into the main plot, mostly Petra Conner and Isaac Gomez, the main character of Twisted. This book mostly follows Alex and his long-time buddy Milo Sturgis, though Milo's partner Rick is also a character, more than he usually is.

One of the nurses who works in Rick's Emergency Room has died of cancer. The death is traumatic for everyone involved, because she was a steady, even-keeled woman who did a good job and was pretty much universally liked. She had raised her niece since the girl's mother abandoned the child with her sister and then went off and died in a motorcycle accident. The cancer victim's niece is concerned by a strange confession that her surrogate mother made on her deathbed, which seemed to imply that the lady had killed someone, somewhere in her past. Alex treated the nurse and mostly the daughter when they were younger, so when the young woman asks him and his friend Milo to investigate the claim, they dutifully begin to look into the circumstances of her life.

I enjoyed this book about as much as most of the Alex Delaware books. I will say that the plot is somewhat muddled and long, but those who aren't happy about that should note that with a detective story, the plot is always secondary to the characters and the atmosphere. Those are well-done here: Alex and Milo know where to get pancakes on Ventura Blvd. , and they move through a recognizable Southern California landscape. This is a good book.

Jonathan Kellerman has done it again. He's created another thrilling and poignant novel in his long-running series about crime consulting psychologist Alex Deleware. While Alex is always an engaging narrator, much of the series appeal is due to the supporting cast. There's the brilliant, but very human detective, Milo Sturgis and lovely Robin, Alex's lady love to name two. But every character, even those that make only a brief appearance, are etched with the masterstrokes of a true craftsman. Although this one is less of a whodunit than a "whydunit," the villain is a perfect case study of what makes a sociopathic killer. The suspense is terrific, right up to the end, in typical Kellerman fashion. The climax will leave you breathless and concerned for one of the major players. Kellerman is such a master storyteller and writer that he makes it look easy with each new entry in his engaging series. He's one of the best writers out there. Don't wait . . . Buy Obession and bask in the immense pleasure of reading the latest in this truly excellent series.

I enjoyed this book. I thought the mystery was unique and the insight into OCD interesting. Having Petra help Alex and Milo solve the case was an added bonus. Like other readers, I'm not a fan of the character of Robin, either, but in this case she had a small part and was tolerable.

I enjoyed this book much more than some of the other more recent books in this series and would recommend.

This novel, the 21st in the Alex Delaware series, starts with a fairly fantastic premise: on her deathbed, a nurse considered by most to be a saint tells her daughter that she committed murder. That daughter, Tanya, turns to her former psychologist, Alex, and his long-time detective friend, Milo Sturgis, for help solving the mystery of her mother's supposed crime. Alex and Milo and mostly disbelieving at first, but as with all of the Delaware books, a more complex plot gradually unfolds. Readers are also treated to a few rare glimpses into Alex's own childhood here.

One consistent thing about the Delaware novels is a lot of time is devoted to Alex and Milo sitting around, conjuring up seemingly random theories and speculations, some of which actually turn out to be true. In Obsession, many of these scenes are expanded further to include sometimes-recurrent character Detective Petra Connor, and the hypothetical discussions can sometimes drag on for pages. However, this is the bread and butter of Kellerman's writing style, so if you don't like it, you shouldn't read these books.

Overall, I found Obsession to be one of the more engaging recent works in this series, especially with the small twist thrown in at the very end, and I'm definitely looking forward to continuing reading about fellow psychologist Dr. Delaware in the future.

After the shameless mess of Capital Crimes, I had very low expectations of Obsession. I have not really enjoyed Kellerman for years. I bought this book out of desperation (had read out the book that I had with me in an longer-than-expected wait) and judged it the least offensive of the potential books on offer.

I think that since I had such low expectations, Kellerman was bound to exceed them. I actually enjoyed the book-- at least as a way to pass the time. It seemed a return to basic formula-- none of the stupid weirdness of books like The Web. The plot was underplayed, for a change, and relied less on sensationalism than some of his more recent books. I note that Robin has returned, and I was fond of the addition of Blanche (& me not even a dog person). I also thought that the OCD aspect of the characters was well played-- nice to show that people can learn to live with their illnesses instead of seeking magical cure.

There is certainly negative stuff. Yeah, the connections are stretched. Also, my poor tired disbelief had to work awfully hard to suspend itself in some chapters. Now that Robin is back, I was reminded how much it annoyed me that she is eternally cool and recognized by all musicians everywhere. I also found that Sturgis (generally the most interesting character in the Alex Delware novels) has crept over the line into self-parody.

So-- long story short. Brilliant?: No. A return to past glory?: No. Entertaining?: Yes.

Probably really only three stars, but one extra star from me because I did not hate it.

I should have listened to the reviews before buying this book. No plot, unless you like reading over 400 pages to a disappointing, unfulfilling non-ending. Hard to keep track of all the characters, their relationships and their aliases. Confusing. No more Kellerman for me.

I am an FBI agent. Actually, I'm not, but there is one little moment in Jonathan Kellerman's Obsession when a minor character calls an FBI agent "Mr. Literal", an incident that I found amusing in a way that Kellerman hadn't intended. Unfortunately, there is not much else in this novel that I found really entertaining.

The muddled plot is kicked off by the death (by natural causes) of nurse Patty Bigelow. As she was dying, she gave vague hints of having killed someone at some point in her life. Her niece Tanya (who Patty raised as a daughter) is tormented by this semi-confession, bringing back her obsessive behavior that she had once gone to Alex Delaware for years ago. Now nineteen, she revisits Alex, hoping that he can help her solve the mystery with the assistance of his cop friend Milo Sturgis.

Because Alex loves to meddle in crime solving, he goes way beyond his psychological duty to investigate the possibility that Patty was a killer. Although initially fruitless, something is stirred up and a drug addict Milo and Alex questioned is murdered. They may be no closer to finding out the truth about Patty, but they do unearth other crimes and criminals, including a possible serial killer.

The problems with Obsession are common to many of Kellerman's most recent novels. Besides a plot that seems forced and overly complicated, there isn't much action in this story. Alex - with or without Milo or Petra Connor (another recurring Kellerman character) - just goes from one character to the next and talks. Only at the very end of the story do we get any real action and even that is minimal.

But the bigger problem continues to be Alex himself who continues to be a weak character. This wasn't always the case; in early novels, he was interesting, but now he is almost a non-character. His girlfriend Robin adds nothing of substance to the story and the few hints about his past seem tacked on to simulate depth of character without actually providing it.

There was a time when reading a Jonathan Kellerman book was a real treat, and it is only the hope that he will refind the old magic that keeps me reading him. It hasn't happened with Obsession. There's enough competence in the writing to keep this from being a one-star effort, but this book is unlikely to please any but his least demanding fans.

I enjoyed this book,not like Kellermans past books but was ok. I read half of it while on a flight halfway across the country and the rest on the was back. There were no twists in this book, you knew from the beginning who the bad guy was. An ok book and kept my mind occupied while flying.

This is a Ho Hum one from J. Kellerman. The setup in the first pages is interesting and contains the obscure premise for the remainder of the effort. The story proceeds like a scavenger hunt/charades game. Lots of meetings between various main and axillary characters and tidbits revealed each time. Finally a big climax. Then there is a gratuitous after thought in the last few pages.

As another commenter mentioned, Robin continues to be an irritant.