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Heartbreak Hotel  By  cover art

Heartbreak Hotel

By: Jonathan Kellerman
Narrated by: John Rubinstein
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Publisher's summary

Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis investigate the death of Alex's most mysterious patient to date in the sensational new thriller from the master of suspense, New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Kellerman.

At nearly 100 years old, Thalia Mars is a far cry from the patients that child psychologist 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 behavior, victim selection. When Alex asks the reason for her morbid fascination, Thalia promises to tell all during their next session. But when he shows up the following morning, he is met with silence: Thalia is dead in her room.

When questions arise about how Thalia perished, Alex and homicide detective Milo Sturgis must peel back the layers of a fascinating but elusive woman's life and embark on one of the most baffling investigations either of them has ever experienced. For Thalia Mars is a victim like no other, an enigma who harbored nearly a century of secrets and whose life and death draw those around her into a vortex of violence.

Heartbreak Hotel is classic Delaware and classic Kellerman.

©2017 Jonathan Kellerman (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"I’m fortunate that John Rubinstein's incredible talents have graced the Alex Delaware novels since the series began. John’s illumination of Alex and Milo is perfectly in tune with my view of the novels. His masterful work is at its best in Heartbreak Hotel - a page-turner that is also Alex and Milo at their best." (Jonathan Kellerman)

"Narrator John Rubinstein has portrayed child psychologist Alex Delaware, LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis, and Alex's live-in girlfriend, Robin Castagna, for several years.... Rubinstein seems to enjoy narrating this engaging mystery populated with old-time gangsters, a femme fatale, a long-ago jewel heist, and hidden treasure. Listeners will be delighted with the story and with Rubinstein's presentation." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about Heartbreak Hotel

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Start at the beginning

Any additional comments?

I noticed a few negative reviews and checked them out. Most are new to the author and characters. Those of us who enjoy these books do so because of the interplay of the characters and the odd assortment of people them come in contact with. And, Rubinstein presents the entire work like he was put on earth to do so. Pure delight!!

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25 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Not one of Kellerman's Best

I purchased this audio book based on Jonathan Kellerman's past writings.....I found this not one of his best.....the story is fragmented and did not contain any ideas or themes that spurred my interest to continue listening....I did on past experiences....
If one was not familiar with the main characters...Milo Sturgis (and his peculiarities)...and Robin Castagna, Alex's girlfriend....the impact of their behavior/activities on this story is lost....
Come on Jonathan...you can do better, and I look forward to the old Kellerman's writing in your next novel.....

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7 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Even Rubinstein cannot keep me intrigued anymore.

I stuck with this series because I like Alex and I love Milo. Unfortunately though, these books no longer charm me as they once did. Alex is a detective now rather than a psychologist. Robin is a doormat. Milo is still ornery, gruff and dogged but the cases are uninteresting. The writing is formulaic and I am seldom surprised. This will be the last Delaware novel I read.

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6 people found this helpful

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Slow

This book was REALLY slow. I wanted to like it, and kept listening hoping it would get better but it didn't. I found it really boring but made myself finish.

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6 people found this helpful

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Lazy

I am a long time fan of Delaware / Kellerman. While this was not bad, it was not good either. No psychological suspense, no new insights, no plot twists, and way too much filler. If this is the effort going forward this is the end of Alex for me, which is sad.

Thanks though for the many years of good reads.

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Another great book by Jonathan Kellerman.

Great story. Fantastic narration! I love how Mr. Kellerman get you right into the story and the pace moves so smoothly.

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Not Kellermans Best

Even Rubensteins usual outstanding performance couldn't keep my attention from wandering off on this one.

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Another great Delaware/Sturgis mystery!

I have been driving a lot, so this book made my commuting a lot more pleasant! Love Rubenstein's voice!

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Kellerman writes engaging stories.

Not his best but good enough. Kept me company. I like his characters.

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Skip It

The narrator of Heartbreak Hotel -- who, in the past, was a decent reader -- needs to hang up his spectacles. His plodding pace and Over-accentuation. Of. Every. Single. Syllable. Of. Every. Single. Word is no longer acceptable. The author's over-emphasis on tedious details that add nothing but monotony to the story makes it apparent that Doc Delaware needs to be retired.

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