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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Second in the Alex Delaware thriller series based in Los Angeles and revolving around a child psychologist and Milo Sturgis, a detective friend.
My Take
This is a much smoother story — with the perspective from Alex's first person protagonist point-of-view. And by smoother, I mean that Alex's life has so few bumps. Sure, someone is trying to kill him…mmm, I do sound jaded, don't I? The story's primary focus is on the Blood Test-specific characters while feeding us dribs and drabs on other core characters including side bits about Alex's life as it is now and bits of his back story.
It's a horrendous scenario that Kellerman twists in the last half, taking us from one perspective on faith-based healing by fearful people to a condemning truth that will make you sick.
Melendez-Lynch makes a useful observation about Alex being both scientist and humanist, a judgment based on Alex's work in an early study on how to prevent psychological damage to children in isolation chambers, which led to the start of Alex's "fame". I am curious as to how closely Alex's "life" and character mirrors Kellerman's?
There's a theme in here all right: nutjobs 'r us. Between Raoul, Valacroix, Moody, Noble, Houten, and Swope…oh, boy. That Raoul needs to step back and take a, well, lots of deep breaths.
Robin doesn't appear much in here, as she has a new, lucrative angle looming. Milo is not moaning about his improved standard of living, but he is comparing his lot with women who make less than their significant others. As for Ezra Maimon, I adored him. His manner and intellect sent me into a swoon…sigh… I sure hope he'll appear again, as he was a bright spot.
Lord, that description of Swope's botanic monstrosities sounds like plants that the Addams family would love. Yuck! Roses covered in moist fur with a rancid smell…?? Garland's thoughts on his abominations were that they were "evidence of the Creator's essential hatefulness". Sure puts the lie to Noble's statement, lol. An odd bit of foreshadowing that I missed. As for Garland's "cultivation" of Annona zingiber…jesus christ… It does lead to the truth behind Nona's "trip" that summer.
The Story
Woody has a chance. His cancer is curable, if his parents consent to his treatment. Until they kidnap the boy and run, leaving behind their nympho daughter.
When his parents are found dead, the only leads are the boy's older sister and a holistic-meditative cult called The Touch based in an old monastery in a small town near the Mexican border.
It's a search that will unearth deep, dark secrets of men run mad, an angry cult leader, and those attempts to assassinate Alex.
The Characters
Dr Alexander Delaware (PhD) is a child psychologist who burnt out (When the Bough Breaks, 1) and plays guitar. He still takes the occasional case — if it interests him. Or that Milo can talk him into. Robin Castagna is his girlfriend who crafts exquisite guitars.
LA PD
Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis is Alex's burly gay detective friend. Detective Delano Hardy is Milo's occasional work partner and a guitarist who gigs after hours with an R&B group; Dr Rick Silverman (he works ER at Cedars) is Milo's significant other. Officer Brian Fierro takes Beverly home. Officer Fordebrand has the worst breath ever.
Agent Siegel is with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. Agent Severin Fleming is Siegel's boss.
Western Pediatric Medical Center is…
…in Hollywood where Alex used to work. Dr Raoul Melendez-Lynch, a Cuban oncologist, has been married four times — he's a workaholic. The Laminar Airflow Unit is a four-module suite of rooms in Oncology with a plastic bubble for the patient to maintain germ-free isolation. Dr Helen Holroyd is the post-doc with whom Raoul is collaborating on a study. I think Boorstin is the head of the psychology department and quite possibly has a death phobia. Dr August "Augie" Valcroix is the clinical Fellow interested in alternative medicines whose ethics are very questionable. Ellen Beckwith is a nurse in Oncology. Beverly Lucas is a social worker.
The Adam and Eve Messenger Service is…
…a thinly disguised hooker service that delivers party gags, drugs, and any extras someone might want. The owner is Jan Rambo whose daddy is in the mob. Leon is her loyal Jamaican bodyguard, but not too bright. Douglas Carmichael is one of Jan's employees, and he used to work as a stripper at Lancelot's until he was busted. His father owns Carmichael Oil.
La Vista, California, is…
…where the five-year-old Heywood "Woody" Swope is from; he has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Emma Swope seems to be a mouse of a woman. Her husband, Garland Swope, is the "King" of his castle and a misogynistic nutjob horticulturist. The oversexed Annona "Nona" Blossom Swope is Woody's nineteen-year-old sister. Woody's friends include Jared, Michael, and Kevin.
Sheriff Raymond Houten is in charge of the small department. His wife, Maria, and his daughter, Marla, died a few years apart. Walt Bragdon is one of his few deputies. Zack Piersall is a mechanic who knows how to fix foreign cars. Ezra Maimon used to be a lawyer, and now he owns a rare fruit nursery.
Touchers are…
…members of a religious sect focused on self-sustenance in La Vista. Noble Matthias is the head guru; he used to be "Stormin'"Norman Matthews, a high-powered super-aggressive divorce lawyer in Beverly Hills. Cult members include Baron, a.k.a., Barry Graffius, who was a loudmouthed, pretentious, rich snot a year behind Alex in graduate school; Delilah, a.k.a., Desiree Layne, the queen of budget noir films pre-1951; and, Maria.
Darlene Moody is desperate for a divorce and custody of their two children: nine-year-old Ricky and three-year-old April. Carlton Conley, a carpenter for Aurora Studios and Darlene's boyfriend, had been a friend of Richard's. Mal Worthy of Trenton, Worthy & La Rosa is her lawyer. Richard Moody is a depressed nutjob contesting the divorce. Elridge Durkin is Moody's lawyer. Diane Severe is the judge who understands children. Dr Lawrence Daschoff is the other expert psychologist.
Kathy is one of the operators at Alex's answering service. Jaroslav is Alex's martial arts instructor. Fahrizbadeh is a clerk at the Sea Breeze Motel. The Unicorn is a mirrored bar with horrible food. Professor Seth Fiacre teaches at UCLA and is a psychologist who has been studying cults for years. Anita's Café is an excellent vegetarian restaurant in Oceanside. Prince "Stinky" is Saudi Arabian and accused of rape-murders.
Melendez-Lynch's ex-wives include Nina, who is a concert cellist, and Paula. His eleven children include Jorgé, his second oldest who's going to medical school. José had been an old family servant who would grind their coffee beans. Raoul's scum-sucking pig of a cousin is Ernesto, known to us as Ché Guevara.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a white background with red blood spatter between the author's name in an embossed and black-shadowed light royal blue centered at the top and the title in an embossed purple left aligned at the bottom. Several info blurbs and the series information are in black.
The title is what could have proved the truth, a Blood Test.
My Take
This is a much smoother story — with the perspective from Alex's first person protagonist point-of-view. And by smoother, I mean that Alex's life has so few bumps. Sure, someone is trying to kill him…mmm, I do sound jaded, don't I? The story's primary focus is on the Blood Test-specific characters while feeding us dribs and drabs on other core characters including side bits about Alex's life as it is now and bits of his back story.
It's a horrendous scenario that Kellerman twists in the last half, taking us from one perspective on faith-based healing by fearful people to a condemning truth that will make you sick.
Melendez-Lynch makes a useful observation about Alex being both scientist and humanist, a judgment based on Alex's work in an early study on how to prevent psychological damage to children in isolation chambers, which led to the start of Alex's "fame". I am curious as to how closely Alex's "life" and character mirrors Kellerman's?
There's a theme in here all right: nutjobs 'r us. Between Raoul, Valacroix, Moody, Noble, Houten, and Swope…oh, boy. That Raoul needs to step back and take a, well, lots of deep breaths.
Robin doesn't appear much in here, as she has a new, lucrative angle looming. Milo is not moaning about his improved standard of living, but he is comparing his lot with women who make less than their significant others. As for Ezra Maimon, I adored him. His manner and intellect sent me into a swoon…sigh… I sure hope he'll appear again, as he was a bright spot.
Lord, that description of Swope's botanic monstrosities sounds like plants that the Addams family would love. Yuck! Roses covered in moist fur with a rancid smell…?? Garland's thoughts on his abominations were that they were "evidence of the Creator's essential hatefulness". Sure puts the lie to Noble's statement, lol. An odd bit of foreshadowing that I missed. As for Garland's "cultivation" of Annona zingiber…jesus christ… It does lead to the truth behind Nona's "trip" that summer.
The Story
Woody has a chance. His cancer is curable, if his parents consent to his treatment. Until they kidnap the boy and run, leaving behind their nympho daughter.
When his parents are found dead, the only leads are the boy's older sister and a holistic-meditative cult called The Touch based in an old monastery in a small town near the Mexican border.
It's a search that will unearth deep, dark secrets of men run mad, an angry cult leader, and those attempts to assassinate Alex.
The Characters
Dr Alexander Delaware (PhD) is a child psychologist who burnt out (When the Bough Breaks, 1) and plays guitar. He still takes the occasional case — if it interests him. Or that Milo can talk him into. Robin Castagna is his girlfriend who crafts exquisite guitars.
LA PD
Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis is Alex's burly gay detective friend. Detective Delano Hardy is Milo's occasional work partner and a guitarist who gigs after hours with an R&B group; Dr Rick Silverman (he works ER at Cedars) is Milo's significant other. Officer Brian Fierro takes Beverly home. Officer Fordebrand has the worst breath ever.
Agent Siegel is with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. Agent Severin Fleming is Siegel's boss.
Western Pediatric Medical Center is…
…in Hollywood where Alex used to work. Dr Raoul Melendez-Lynch, a Cuban oncologist, has been married four times — he's a workaholic. The Laminar Airflow Unit is a four-module suite of rooms in Oncology with a plastic bubble for the patient to maintain germ-free isolation. Dr Helen Holroyd is the post-doc with whom Raoul is collaborating on a study. I think Boorstin is the head of the psychology department and quite possibly has a death phobia. Dr August "Augie" Valcroix is the clinical Fellow interested in alternative medicines whose ethics are very questionable. Ellen Beckwith is a nurse in Oncology. Beverly Lucas is a social worker.
The Adam and Eve Messenger Service is…
…a thinly disguised hooker service that delivers party gags, drugs, and any extras someone might want. The owner is Jan Rambo whose daddy is in the mob. Leon is her loyal Jamaican bodyguard, but not too bright. Douglas Carmichael is one of Jan's employees, and he used to work as a stripper at Lancelot's until he was busted. His father owns Carmichael Oil.
La Vista, California, is…
…where the five-year-old Heywood "Woody" Swope is from; he has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Emma Swope seems to be a mouse of a woman. Her husband, Garland Swope, is the "King" of his castle and a misogynistic nutjob horticulturist. The oversexed Annona "Nona" Blossom Swope is Woody's nineteen-year-old sister. Woody's friends include Jared, Michael, and Kevin.
Sheriff Raymond Houten is in charge of the small department. His wife, Maria, and his daughter, Marla, died a few years apart. Walt Bragdon is one of his few deputies. Zack Piersall is a mechanic who knows how to fix foreign cars. Ezra Maimon used to be a lawyer, and now he owns a rare fruit nursery.
Touchers are…
…members of a religious sect focused on self-sustenance in La Vista. Noble Matthias is the head guru; he used to be "Stormin'"Norman Matthews, a high-powered super-aggressive divorce lawyer in Beverly Hills. Cult members include Baron, a.k.a., Barry Graffius, who was a loudmouthed, pretentious, rich snot a year behind Alex in graduate school; Delilah, a.k.a., Desiree Layne, the queen of budget noir films pre-1951; and, Maria.
Darlene Moody is desperate for a divorce and custody of their two children: nine-year-old Ricky and three-year-old April. Carlton Conley, a carpenter for Aurora Studios and Darlene's boyfriend, had been a friend of Richard's. Mal Worthy of Trenton, Worthy & La Rosa is her lawyer. Richard Moody is a depressed nutjob contesting the divorce. Elridge Durkin is Moody's lawyer. Diane Severe is the judge who understands children. Dr Lawrence Daschoff is the other expert psychologist.
Kathy is one of the operators at Alex's answering service. Jaroslav is Alex's martial arts instructor. Fahrizbadeh is a clerk at the Sea Breeze Motel. The Unicorn is a mirrored bar with horrible food. Professor Seth Fiacre teaches at UCLA and is a psychologist who has been studying cults for years. Anita's Café is an excellent vegetarian restaurant in Oceanside. Prince "Stinky" is Saudi Arabian and accused of rape-murders.
Melendez-Lynch's ex-wives include Nina, who is a concert cellist, and Paula. His eleven children include Jorgé, his second oldest who's going to medical school. José had been an old family servant who would grind their coffee beans. Raoul's scum-sucking pig of a cousin is Ernesto, known to us as Ché Guevara.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a white background with red blood spatter between the author's name in an embossed and black-shadowed light royal blue centered at the top and the title in an embossed purple left aligned at the bottom. Several info blurbs and the series information are in black.
The title is what could have proved the truth, a Blood Test.
celtic_oracle's review against another edition
3.0
A little convoluted in the end, but still a good read.
emperorcupcake's review against another edition
dark
tense
Continuing my rereads of old thrillers that first got me into the genre. Oh man, rereading books from the 80s (that I read in the 90s) is wild. This book isn't especially egregious, but there's definitely some outdated language mostly in the descriptions of women. Every woman is either ugly/plain/fat or a sex demon. The 80s really be fat shamin'. Anyway, this is still a decent read if you don't mind some unsavory content. Check content warnings for sure. I enjoyed it, maybe not as much as the first time, but I will continue my reread of the series.
Not rated, as I can't always rate older books.
Not rated, as I can't always rate older books.
stevem0214's review against another edition
5.0
This one is better with age. I'd given it four starts before for some reason, but it is a five star book. As before, I'd forgotten the details but not the plot. Great book!
aemesserlie's review against another edition
4.0
Blood Test is Jonathan Kellerman's second book to feature protagonist, Alex Delaware; a semi-retired child psychologist. When a dying child's family refuses to consent to a life saving treatment, Delaware is called in to mediate. However, before he can make any head way the family, and the child, disappear from the hospital and Alex embarks on a quest to find them.
I like this series; I like the stories, I like the character, and I like the way Kellerman goes after a lot of controversial social issues. Although these books are not entirely groundbreaking or revolutionary, they are great to get into and pass some time with.
I like this series; I like the stories, I like the character, and I like the way Kellerman goes after a lot of controversial social issues. Although these books are not entirely groundbreaking or revolutionary, they are great to get into and pass some time with.
romysvx's review against another edition
2.0
⭐️2,5/5
Pierwsza książka z serii Jonathana Kellermana o pomagającym policji psychologu dziecięcym Alexie Delawarze to dla mnie thriller idealny. Pochłaniający do reszty, intrygujący już od pierwszych stron, z trzymającą w napięciu fabułą wypełnioną nieprzewidywalnymi zwrotami akcji, z błyskotliwymi i dowcipnymi dialogami i świetnie wykreowanymi różnorodnymi postaciami. Wiedziałam więc, że moje pierwsze spotkanie z twórczością jednego z najsłynniejszych na świecie autorów thrillerów psychologicznych nie będzie ostatnim. W muzyce istnieje takie zjawisko jak klątwą drugiej płyty. Chodzi o to, że druga płyta zazwyczaj jest mniej udana od debiutu. W przypadku “Testu krwi” można by mówić o klątwie drugiej książki - bowiem ta część wypada o parę klas gorzej od swojej poprzedniczki. Zaczęło się bardzo dobrze, bo sama historia o uprowadzonym ze szpitala chorym na raka dziecku, którego rodzice - pod wpływem sekty - nie wyrażają zgody na mogące uratować mu życie leczenie jest pomysłowa i z początku wypada ciekawie. Jednak jakoś w połowie do powieści wdziera się chaos, a rozwiązania poszczególnych wątków skręcają w stronę coraz większych absurdów. Nie powiem - czyta się w miarę szybko i sprawnie, bo trzeba przyznać, że Kellerman umiejętnie potrafi zainteresować czytelnika mnożąc zagadki i gęsto podrzucając nowe tropy. Ale mnożąca się ilość niedorzeczności sprawia, że z każdym kolejnym rozdziałem coraz częściej łapałam się za głowę, a sama końcówka to już nieustanne przewracanie oczami. Na szczęście postać psychologa nie zawiodła, bo Delaware ponownie jest w formie - znów sypie ciętymi i błyskotliwymi ripostami i zabawnymi anegdotami. Bardzo lubię takie postacie, których opisywana inteligencja faktycznie przejawia się w czynach i decyzjach, a nie jest tylko widzimisię autora - bo same zachowanie świadczy o czymś wręcz przeciwnym. A właśnie z czymś takim w ostatnio wydawanych na pęczki bestsellerowych thrillerach w 9/10 przypadków mamy do czynienia. Tu powieści Kellermana zdecydowanie się wyróżniają pozytywnie - bo jego główny bohater to rzeczywiście szalenie bystry, wręcz genialny, psycholog. I to by było na tyle z plusów. “Test Krwi” byłby dużo lepszą książką gdyby Kellerman postawił na logikę zdarzeń, a nie bawił się w drugiego Mroza.
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Pierwsza książka z serii Jonathana Kellermana o pomagającym policji psychologu dziecięcym Alexie Delawarze to dla mnie thriller idealny. Pochłaniający do reszty, intrygujący już od pierwszych stron, z trzymającą w napięciu fabułą wypełnioną nieprzewidywalnymi zwrotami akcji, z błyskotliwymi i dowcipnymi dialogami i świetnie wykreowanymi różnorodnymi postaciami. Wiedziałam więc, że moje pierwsze spotkanie z twórczością jednego z najsłynniejszych na świecie autorów thrillerów psychologicznych nie będzie ostatnim. W muzyce istnieje takie zjawisko jak klątwą drugiej płyty. Chodzi o to, że druga płyta zazwyczaj jest mniej udana od debiutu. W przypadku “Testu krwi” można by mówić o klątwie drugiej książki - bowiem ta część wypada o parę klas gorzej od swojej poprzedniczki. Zaczęło się bardzo dobrze, bo sama historia o uprowadzonym ze szpitala chorym na raka dziecku, którego rodzice - pod wpływem sekty - nie wyrażają zgody na mogące uratować mu życie leczenie jest pomysłowa i z początku wypada ciekawie. Jednak jakoś w połowie do powieści wdziera się chaos, a rozwiązania poszczególnych wątków skręcają w stronę coraz większych absurdów. Nie powiem - czyta się w miarę szybko i sprawnie, bo trzeba przyznać, że Kellerman umiejętnie potrafi zainteresować czytelnika mnożąc zagadki i gęsto podrzucając nowe tropy. Ale mnożąca się ilość niedorzeczności sprawia, że z każdym kolejnym rozdziałem coraz częściej łapałam się za głowę, a sama końcówka to już nieustanne przewracanie oczami. Na szczęście postać psychologa nie zawiodła, bo Delaware ponownie jest w formie - znów sypie ciętymi i błyskotliwymi ripostami i zabawnymi anegdotami. Bardzo lubię takie postacie, których opisywana inteligencja faktycznie przejawia się w czynach i decyzjach, a nie jest tylko widzimisię autora - bo same zachowanie świadczy o czymś wręcz przeciwnym. A właśnie z czymś takim w ostatnio wydawanych na pęczki bestsellerowych thrillerach w 9/10 przypadków mamy do czynienia. Tu powieści Kellermana zdecydowanie się wyróżniają pozytywnie - bo jego główny bohater to rzeczywiście szalenie bystry, wręcz genialny, psycholog. I to by było na tyle z plusów. “Test Krwi” byłby dużo lepszą książką gdyby Kellerman postawił na logikę zdarzeń, a nie bawił się w drugiego Mroza.
rpc_2024's review against another edition
3.0
Good second book featuring Alex Delaware, Psychologist and amateur detective. Several situations a little far-fetched, but overall good story. I agree the ending is a bit lame and was sorry that Robin his girlfriend appears to be phasing out.