Phew! By the hair of my chinny-chin-chin I finished this in time for book group. Woo! And after hearing why E chose this book (because of her own personal experiences with a relative who suffers from Munchausen disorder, as well as the fact that she didn't realize it was in a series), I can even embrace her choice. I was pleased to find that, like book 6, this book featured a more tightly-woven plot than the earlier titles in the series. It really had a "whodunnit" feel to it, which was fun... plenty of red herrings to keep me entertained and interested. I am so glad I took the time to read up to this book, because I think it made my reading experience much richer than it otherwise would have been. I could appreciate the references to earlier books (always fun!), and knowing the backstory of the characters really helped inform my perspective of the action. No one else in book group had read the previous books, and while they definitely seemed to get into the story, I kind of got the feeling that they thought the character development of the main players was lacking. A lightbulb went off for me as we were discussing this one. Kellerman himself is a psychologist. Maybe a part of what drives his conspiracy-ridden plots is a desire to make sense of the senselessness of child abuse and the challenges mental illness. Real life rarely ends cleanly. But in a book, he can tie up all of those loose ends and have a sense of closure. When I started thinking about his crazy conspiracies in those terms, I felt a little less exasperated by them.I don't know if I'll be reading any more Alex Delaware novels. But I'm leaving the door open.
The New York Times book reviewer wrote "Reads like wildfire... harrowing suspense." Well, it burned hot at times, but it weren't no wildfire. The story centers around Dr. Alex Delaware who's called in by Dr. Stephanie Eves after a toddler is repeatedly rushed to the hospital with symptoms for which no one can account. Doctors Eves and Delaware suspect Munchhausen by proxy, but before they can prove it a toxicologist and one of his staff assistants are murdered. My only complaint about the book is Jonathan Kellerman's annoying habit of over-describing. In one section, as Dr. Delaware drives down the street searching for a particular house, he feels the need to describe what the pedestrians are wearing. That gets a little tiresome and slows down the story considerably. Otherwise I recommend this book as I learned very much I didn't know about Munchhausen syndrome.
What do You think about Devil's Waltz (2003)?
Being a nurse by profession, I never thought I would read a book about this topic. It was a good medical thriller, but I am growing weary of stories about people whose full time job is cast aside to solve a crime. Who does that? I think a masterful book would have a sub plot that allowed for his professional story line to continue as well as solve the crime. Why not? Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it? Probably not, but I think nurses and hospital personnel might like the medical tie-in of the book.
—Nancy
I enjoyed this, although the eventual answer was set up a little too much (the constant emphasis on MBP ONLY affecting mothers - oh, except we'll consider the nurse as well), but I'll cut some slack considering it was written before MBP was as well known or publicised. The whole federal-investigation-of-the-top-dogs was a bit weird too, and how it meshed with Cassie's case wasn't all that convincing. I also found it weird that the father could get prescription drugs and equipment sent to him jus
—Rose
Mary's review.Munchausen by proxy is the terrifying disease that causes parents to induce illness in their own children. Now, in his most frightening case, Dr. Alex Delaware may have to prove that a child's own mother or father is making her sick.Twenty-one-month-old Cassie Jones is bright, energetic, the picture of health. Yet her parents rush her to the emergency room night after night with medical symptoms no doctor can explain. Cassie's parents seem sympathetic and deeply concerned. Her favo
—Chris
