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When the Bough Breaks (Alex Delaware, #1)

When the Bough Breaks (Alex Delaware, #1) book cover
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Mystery & Thriller Fiction Mystery & Thriller Mystery & Thriller Suspense

by Jonathan Kellerman

starstarstarstarstar
4.02 (48.9K ratings)
calendar_today 1985
description 432 pages

When the Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman holds a highly rated rating of 4.02 out of 5, based on 48.9K reader ratings. First published in 1985. The book spans 432 pages.

About When the Bough Breaks

In the first Alex Delaware novel, Dr. Morton Handler practiced a strange brand of psychiatry. Among his specialties were fraud, extortion, and sexual manipulation. Handler paid for his sins when he was brutally murdered in his luxurious Pacific Palisades apartment. The police have no leads, but they do have one possible witness: seven-year-old Melody Quinn. It's psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware's job to try to unlock the terrible secret buried in Melody's memory. But as the sinister shadows in the girl's mind begin to take shape, Alex discovers that the mystery touches a shocking incident in his own past. This connection is only the beginning, a single link in a forty-year-old conspiracy. And behind it lies an unspeakable evil that Alex Delaware must expose before it claims another innocent victim: Melody Quinn.

Detail Value
Author Jonathan Kellerman
Published 1985
Pages 432
Genres Mystery & Thriller, Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Mystery & Thriller, Suspense
Average Rating 4.02 / 5.00
Total Ratings 48,860

Reader Ratings & Analysis

Rating Overview

4.0
starstarstarstarstar
48.9K ratings
With a rating of 4.02, When the Bough Breaks is rated below the global average of 4.17. Compared to its genre average of 3.95, it performs on par.

How It Compares

4.02
This Book
3.95
Mystery & Thriller Average
4.17
Global Average

Frequently Asked Questions

What genre is When the Bough Breaks?

When the Bough Breaks is categorized as Mystery & Thriller, Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Mystery & Thriller. Its primary genre classification is Mystery & Thriller.

Is When the Bough Breaks worth reading?

Based on 48.9K reader ratings, When the Bough Breaks has an average score of 4.02 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated."

How many pages is When the Bough Breaks?

When the Bough Breaks has 432 pages.

Who wrote When the Bough Breaks?

When the Bough Breaks was written by Jonathan Kellerman. It was first published in 1985.

What is the ISBN for When the Bough Breaks?

The ISBN-13 for When the Bough Breaks is 9780345466600.0.

Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026