Devil's Waltz

by Jonathan Kellerman

Book Overview

The doctors call it Munchausen by proxy, 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...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553092057
• ISBN13: 9780553092059
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Bantam Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A Devil of a read

Another classic from Kellerman! Kellerman's psychologist/sleuth Alex Delaware nimbly executes tricky steps of his own when called in to consult on the mysterious ailments afflicting a baby being seen at his training hospital in Los Angeles. In his seventh appearance (after Private Eyes ), Delaware is in top form, carefully pursuing the possibility that 21-month-old Cassie Jones may be the victim of Munchausen's Disease by Proxy, a complex syndrome in which a parent, usually the mother, secretly causes the symptoms that endanger the child. That Cassie is the only grandchild of the hospital's new CEO, a corporate hotshot who has demoralized the staff with cutbacks and a new administration of "paramilitary types," adds political twists to the case's knotty psychological aspects. After a doctor involved in computer research is murdered in the hospital parking lot, Delaware calls on his friend Milo, a gay LAPD homicide cop currently serving as an input clerk. They link an earlier murder to the hospital and then key into a secret federal investigation, all the while trying to keep Cassie safe. With familiar characters, including Delaware's woodworking girlfriend Robin, and some well-developed new ones, notably the hospital's thuggish security head and an uptight pediatric nurse, Kellerman steadily turns up the suspense, reserving some surprises to spring near the end of this intricate tale, the best of recent Alex Delaware stories.

Distinctly Fascinating

Excellent book! In my opinion this is one of the best Kellerman books I have read. "Devil's Waltz" is disturbing in that there are actually people out there that will hurt their child for attention. This novel opened my eyes. There are some very sick people in the world. Kellerman writes "Devil's Waltz" with a few different mysteries all tied up together. Just when you think Alex might get this thing solved... something else happens and twists everything around! The ending was great and did surprise me somewhat. I enjoyed learning about munchausen syndrome by proxy -terrible, yet fascinating. I recommend this book enthusiastically. It is quite fascinating. I neither slept nor ate much while I was reading this book... I could not stop reading!!!!!! In a word: Gripping!

An erie gripping piece of fiction

This book will keep you in suspense. It is such an unthinkable premis. You will not be sorry if you select this book.

Another great story from Kellerman

J. Kellerman continues to write stories with a twist. As a medical professional I thought I had this one all figured out right up to the end. WOW. While child abuse is always difficult to read about, Kellerman once again educates as well as entertains.

Careful -- you'll be hooked and he's written a lot more !!!

This is a chilling mystery (the twist - the protagonist is a child psychologist) about parents suspected of harming their baby. It is a completely engrossing book -- I started to read it at a world-class resort in Hawaii, and I saw very little of the resort! After finishing Devil's Waltz, I read most of the other books in the series (there are quite a few) and I already have "EYES" looking for his next one! It is brilliant to have the main character be someone OTHER than a cop or a jaded P.I.!! Having now read most of the books in the series, I am delighted by the development of all the leading characters across the years of the series. This book, I think, is still my favorite, though. Kellerman is really skillful at maintaining continuity and evolving their personalities at the same time. I strongly suggest reading the whole series. I hope Mr. Kellerman never tires of Alex Delaware (the psychologist).