Probably more like 3.5 stars, but anyway, I felt that it started off really slow and was wondering how long it would take me to finish, (The less I like a book the longer it takes me to read) but as I read on, the more interested I got. I wasn't really a fan of the writing style, very "flowery", or needlessly descriptive about inconsequential things, but that also got less irritating as the plot got better, either that or I started skimming over those parts. All in all, the story saved the book, as odd as that sounds. Very interesting, but interesting enough for me to check out other books in the series? That remains to be seen... ( )

Great story.
This one was a little different compared to earlier novels in that as we followed along with Alex and Milo we could see the clues and there were really no surprises.
As a change of pace it was quite interesting, though not sure if I prefer knowing what's going on or being surprised. ( )

First an actor/waiter gets killed and stashed in the trunk of his own car. Then a psychologist suffers the same fate - even though the two cases do not seem connected on the surface. And yet, Milo and Alex are convinced that they must be.

The psychologist had worked in one of the mental institutions for the criminally insane - working with the worst of the worst day after day. As turned out, these are also the most harmless members of society - they are so overmedicated that most of them are not better than vegetables. And yet, if some of the clues are to be followed, one of them seems to be somehow involved.

The book is aptly named - the mentally ill man who killed a family had won the name Monster but the real monsters turn out to look normal. As is often the case, the truth emerges from the past - while chasing down the two murders, Milo and Alex end up learning more than they wanted to know about a few old massacres. The end of the novel did not come as a surprise either - the suspicions are there from very early, even if Alex does not voice them until almost the end.

And as is occasionally the case with Kellerman's novels, there is a not so subtle commentary on how the mentally ill are treated in the courts - complete with calling out the fakers and the changing laws.

It is a sad book - while most of novels in the series are gory, this one is more sad than anything else. The goriness of the original murders gives way to medical insanity and its exploration - and it is even more unsettling. Good entry in the series - it was about time for an entry where Alex is the one leading the case (more or less). ( )

This was everything I expect from a Jonathan Kellerman--fast-paced, plenty of twists and intrigue, and character and psychology to go around. It was a wonderful escape from the real world, with just enough plotting and complication to be a keep everything interesting while still being a pretty easy read to sink into.

For lovers of suspense and thrillers, I'd absolutely recommend the Alex Delaware series, and this book among the group of them. ( )