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Read Blood Test (2003)

Blood Test (2003)

Online Book

Genre
Series
Rating
3.81 of 5 Votes: 5
Your rating
ISBN
0345466616 (ISBN13: 9780345466617)
Language
English
Publisher
ballantine books

Blood Test (2003) - Plot & Excerpts

I enjoyed this book as much as the first one in the series. Even though the first book explodes and hightails it all the way to the end; this second one is just as brilliant but it starts as a few waves lapping at your ankles to a furious storm and then a calm ocean night. The way Kellerman can get these two brilliant but different rhythm books to take you on each of their own journeys is amazing. I love an author that is unpredictable and doesn't have every book charging out of the gate in the same way. Dr. Delaware receives a call from an old friend at the kids cancer ward in the hospital. He asks Dr. Delaware to come in and see if he can figure out why the Swope family is talking about taking their 5 year old son Woody (who is deathly ill with cancer and will die without help) out of treatment. Quickly the brilliant Dr. Delaware is involved (too emotionally involved for his own good) and he is stumped. Everything about the Swopes family is off-kilter and before Dr. Delaware can figure things out; Woody Swope has disappeared along with his family. And no not just discharged or released, but kidnapped and vanished from an ICU cancer ward! The farther Dr. Delaware delves into the Swopes past the farther into sickness and filth he finds himself. I loved the garden scene the most; from the exotic,tropical, entry into a miniature Eden garden to the grotesque, hybrid variety, gateway to Lucifer's imagination of a monstrosity filled garden waiting to horrify and scar those who enter. This book was sad but I loved how the end seemed to wrap everything up fairly. Can't wait to begin the next book.

The second book of Alex Delaware series definitely DID NOT appeal to me like the first book. Maybe because the first half of the book, it only talked about a kid who suffered cancer and ended up missing with the rest of the family (possibly brought back to this cult who called themselves The Touch) and a minor case about a messed up father who lost custody. Well, it was boring :(I guess, when I pick up a mystery / thriller book, I always need a dead body, a case to solve. The dead bodies (as mentioned in the blurb) didn't really show until the second half part, and for me it was a tad too long for me to end up caring. ALTHOUGH, after Alex became determined to find what was going wrong with the cult and to find out whether the kid was still alive, all dark secrets that were so, SO FUCKED UP came into the surface. It was horrible, horrible stuffs. So the second half balanced out the first half, I still thought this was okay. I really liked Alex. He had compassion and good sense of justice. Plus, even if Alex wasn't a detective, he knew how to defend himself. By the way, Milo wasn't around much and I missed that guy. I still want to read the rest of the series though (yes, I know, 27 more). But I'll take it easy ...PS: You know a book was written in the 1980s because Robin sent a LETTER to Alex to inform that she would be leaving Japan. Today, one just sends text messages, or email, or even leave a status on their social media account

What do You think about Blood Test (2003)?

An entertaining read, but not one of his best. There are three different plots. The author attempts to tie them all together, but the book has a stop-and-go, "meanwhile, back at the ranch," feel. Once the reader settles into one storyline, an old one rears its head. The characters are nevertheless fully fleshed with dialogue, appearance, actions, and reactions, making Blood Test, for the most part, an enjoyable read.I did not enjoy the scenes designed to horrify or titillate. I thought they could have been more skillfully handled. It is enough to know that evil exists; the reader doesn't need to be bludgenoned with it. Kellerman's prose in these scenes felt disturbingly voyeuristic: heavy-handed and hedonistic.That said, I read it from start to finish and may re-read it again.
—Gwen

When psychologist Dr Alex Delaware was asked to meet Woody Swope and his family, he had no idea where this meeting would lead him. Woody was five years old and had cancer. His doctor at the cancer clinic was an old friend of Alex’s and valued his expertise; the family were not convinced treatment was helping Woody and they were threatening to remove him from the hospital.Playing checkers with Woody had Alex realizing he was a sweet, innocent child, one who had a good chance of surviving with the treatment they had down for him. But meeting his sister Nona, a beautiful red head who seemed sullen but volatile made him wonder about the parents; he organised to meet them for a family discussion, hoping he could make a difference. On arrival at the hospital the next morning, Alex discovered Woody had been spirited away in the night; the whole family had just vanished.With Detective Milo Sturgis, Alex began the investigation into Woody’s disappearance. Time was NOT on their side – Woody would die without medical intervention. But the following days were filled with intrigue, drama, danger and horror! Would Alex and Milo find Woody and his family before it was too late?This psychological thriller was brilliant! A totally gripping tale with a fantastic plot which kept me on the edge of my seat! I thoroughly enjoy Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series and have no hesitation in recommending this one highly.
—Brenda

Alex Delaware has been asked by a friend, a pediatric oncologist, to speak with a family who is considering refusing cancer treatment for their son. The family is gone before he gets the chance to do so, leaving him a dark and bizarre case to solve.This is my first Delaware read. I loved the book. Fast-paced, suspenseful and intriguing, I couldn't put it down. My put off, however was the over description - sometimes a page is dedicated to character description. Also I didn't like Alex's over involvement in the case. Left me wondering where the police were. As for the description, I'd forgive Alex - he's a psychologist and psychologists tends to notice things in details.I'd have given it three stars, but the ending had me hooked. I love such twisted endings in a book, especially if it had me guessing wrongly all the while. I love the family stories and insight into the psychology of the characters, especially Nona.I have read Twisted and The Conspiracy Club, both Kellerman books. Think I'd go next for another Alex Delaware read. Mr. Kellerman is definitely a good writer.I give him **** on this one.
—Kaykay Obi

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