Heartbreak Hotel (Alex Delaware series, Book 32)
A twisting psychological thriller
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3.9 • 61 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Alex Delaware is drawn into a vortex of violence...
In Heartbreak Hotel by New York Times No.1 bestseller Jonathan Kellerman, criminal psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware investigates the death of his most mysterious patient to date. Perfect for fans of Michael Connelly and Harlan Coben.
'Easy to dive into for mystery fans unfamiliar with the series, and a welcome treat for readers who have been with Officer Sturgis and Dr. Delaware since the beginning' - Booklist
At nearly one hundred years old, Thalia Mars is a far cry from the patients child psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware normally treats. But the charming, witty woman convinces Alex to meet with her in a suite at The Aventura - a luxury hotel with a checkered history.
What Thalia wants from Alex are answers to unsettling questions - about guilt, patterns of criminal behaviour, victim selection. When Alex asks the reason for her morbid fascination, Thalia promises to tell all during their next session. But when he returns the following morning, his question goes unanswered, and new ones arise...
In their most puzzling investigation to date, Alex and homicide detective Milo Sturgis must peel back the layers of a fascinating but elusive woman's life. For Thalia Mars is a victim like no other, an enigma who harboured nearly a century of secrets and whose life and death draw those around her into a vortex of violence...
What readers are saying about Heartbreak Hotel:
'A roller coaster of a read'
'Don't miss this book'
'Five stars'
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
L.A. psychologist Alex Delaware specializes in "evaluating the mental health of injured, neglected, or traumatized children," but in Edgar-winner Kellerman's so-so 32nd series entry (after 2016's Breakdown) he accepts the invitation of 99-year-old Thalia Mars, a retired accountant, to meet her at the Aventura, the hotel where she lives on Sunset Boulevard. The charming Thalia asks Alex to share with her "the current psychological wisdom with regard to guilt" without explaining why she's interested in this topic. Tired, she ends their interview after a short while, but Alex agrees to visit her the following day to continue the discussion. On returning to the Aventura, he learns to his sorrow that Thalia has died, just weeks before her 100th birthday. Alex is angered when an alert paramedic finds evidence that Thalia didn't die of natural causes. Alex and his friend on the LAPD, Milo Sturgis, look into Thalia's past in an effort to identity the killer and the motive. The psychological insights Alex typically displays are few and barely relevant to the inquiry or its solution.
Customer Reviews
A strange tale
What an odd story? Found it all a bit unlikely. Kellerman is becoming rather verbose in his descriptions of people, places and motives. Certainly not a page-turner, but I got to the end after several days. Left feeling dissatisfied and I probably won't remember this book next week.