Breakdown

An Alex Delaware Novel

By: Jonathan Kellerman

Narrated by: John Rubinstein

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The iconic thriller series that inspired the upcoming streaming show on Prime Video, in development now!

“Jonathan Kellerman’s psychology skills and dark imagination are a potent literary mix.”—Los Angeles Times

Psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware meets beautiful and emotionally fragile TV actress Zelda Chase when called upon to evaluate her five-year-old son, Ovid. Years later, Alex is unexpectedly reunited with Zelda when she is involuntarily committed after a bizarre psychotic episode. Shortly after Zelda’s release, an already sad situation turns tragic when she is discovered dead on the grounds of a palatial Bel Air estate. Having experienced more than enough of L.A.’s dark side to recognize the scent of evil, Alex turns to his friend LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis for help in finding out who ended Zelda’s broken life.

At the same time, Alex is caught up in another quest: the search for Zelda’s missing son. And when other victims vanish from the same upscale neighborhood, worry turns to terror.

As Alex struggles to piece together the brief rise and steep fall of a gorgeous, talented actress, he and Milo unveil shattered dreams, the corruption of a family, and a grotesque betrayal of innocence. With each devastating revelation and damning clue, Alex’s brilliant mind is challenged as never before—and his determination grows to see a killer caged and the truth set free.

Critic reviews

Praise for Breakdown

“This is a book you should not miss. . . . A master craftsman at the top of his game . . . one of his best to date.”—Bookreporter

“Gripping . . . an exhilarating masterclass in the art of plotting, suspense, characterization and brilliant mind games.”—Blackpool Gazette

Praise for Jonathan Kellerman

“Jonathan Kellerman’s psychology skills and dark imagination are a potent literary mix.”—Los Angeles Times

“Kellerman doesn’t just write psychological thrillers—he owns the genre.”—Detroit Free Press

Breakdown is Brilliant--Another Wonderful Kellerm

Would you consider the audio edition of Breakdown to be better than the print version?

Both the audio and written versions are great. John Rubinstein's reading of the book with his inflections for all the characters makes the audio version exciting.

What other book might you compare Breakdown to and why?

Breakdown can be compared to Johnathan Kellerman's other books as being another one of his masterpieces.

Which character – as performed by John Rubinstein – was your favorite?

Alex Delaware, of course.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

a tangled flora of suspense--what has happened to Ovid?

Any additional comments?

thank you, Johnathan Kellerman for another great novel.
Thank you, John Rubinstein
for a great rendition.

Alex is Back

I've been a little off the last few Delaware books, but this one is much better. I didn't find it overly complex or confusing. Just enough story lines and subplots to keep the action moving.

I'd give it 4-1/2 stars if I could. The thing that keeps it from being five-star, for me, is the "What If" flights of fancy. Kellerman always puts them in the Delaware books. With this book, he kept it to a minimum but it's still there. Plus, there are a few "guess what someone told me?" moments in this book. I wish Kellerman would take the effort to weave those things into the plot more effectively and logically. But the plot did hang together nicely.

Another excellent case!

I found this book a bit harder to get into than most. I think it was that only one of the main characters was involved for awhile at the beginning. Once it got going and the part of the book, that I would say the others books are like, I lived it. I love these two main characters and their supporting characters. I did find it hard to keep up with all the names, there were so many people involved, you have to pay attention. Or rewind!

Loved this one. Never fails to enthrall.

Loved it as an audiobook. I have been home sick so reading or TV weren't on my list of things to do with my eyes closed! Terrific book and it centered around Alex's investigation.

Pretty Good

Found it entertaining, Love Alex Delaware, But bring the mystery home
to the Delaware household would be very entertaining