Book Review: Dr. Death

Reviewed By: Luke Croll - RAM

Dr. Death     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Jonathan Kellerman
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Psychological Suspense   Police Procedural
Series: Alex Delaware & Milo Sturgis # 14
Little, Brown & Company; 2000; £15.99 (English pounds); 350pp
Classification: Adult fiction (thriller)

Eldon Mate is a mercy killing doctor who himself is murdered. The cop assigned to the case is Milo Sturgis, who swiftly brings in Dr. Alex Delaware in the hope of unravelling the mystery. However, Delaware has problems of his own, as he finds his professional past coming back to haunt him.

Kellerman's latest novel is one of his most complex and intricate novels yet, with all kinds of plot developments thrown in. The ending is a big shock and it was very hard to see coming, as Kellerman's clues always point in totally the wrong direction. At times, it seemed as though the mystery was figured out, but no.

The cover blurb makes a lot of Delaware and Sturgis' relationship being stretched here and for me, this became somewhat unbelievable. Delaware could rarely reach his best friend and to me, it just did not ring true that after so many cases, everything could become so fraught.

Other than that, 'Doctor Death' is an interesting tale, which combines Kellerman's usual trademarks of gore, violence and psychology with the normal enjoyable police procedural for which he is known. If you are a fan of Kellerman, you will not be disappointed.

Luke Croll - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Luke Croll - RAM

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