Gone

An Alex Delaware Novel

By: Jonathan Kellerman

Narrated by: John Rubinstein

It's a story tailor-made for the nightly news: Dylan Meserve and Michaela Brand, young lovers and fellow acting students, vanish on the way home from a rehearsal. Three days later, the two of them are found in the remote mountains of Malibu, battered and terrified after a harrowing ordeal at the hands of a sadistic abductor.

The details of the nightmarish event are shocking and brutal: The couple was carjacked at gunpoint by a masked assailant and subjected to a horrific regimen of confinement, starvation, and assault.

But before long, doubts arise about the couple's story, and as forensic details unfold, the abduction is exposed as a hoax. Charged as criminals themselves, the aspiring actors claim emotional problems, and the court orders psychological evaluation for both.

Michaela is examined by Alex Delaware, who finds that her claims of depression and stress ring true enough. But they don't explain her lies, and Alex is certain that there are hidden layers in this sordid psychodrama that even he hasn't been able to penetrate.

Nevertheless, the case is closed, only to be violently reopened when Michaela is savagely murdered. When the police look for Dylan, they find that he's gone. Is he the killer or a victim himself? Casting their dragnet into the murkiest corners of L.A., Delaware and Sturgis unearth more questions than answers, including a host of eerily identical killings. What really happened to the couple who cried wolf? And what bizarre and brutal epidemic is infecting the city with terror, madness, and sudden, twisted death?

©2006 Jonathan Kellerman (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The author's ability to convey the unrelenting sadness of his characters' lives and his deep psychological insights will satisfy those looking for more than mere thrills." (Publishers Weekly)

Another Fantastic Listen

I love Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware novels. This one is EXCELLENT... it made me want to get back to my headphones ASAP every time!

Good but not great...

My 3-star rating for this novel is in comparison to Kellerman's other Alex Delaware novels. The previous one to "Gone", ("Rage") was an outstanding thriller and as good as anything Kellerman has ever written. This one is okay. It moves Delaware's personal life forward a little bit, and gives him a little lovin' when he needs it. Milo is as ornery and unkempt as ever, and seems to have made peace with the LAPD, which suits the current political climate. The crimes and criminals are ultra-bizarre, and Alex just doesn't have the stomach for it anymore. This mystery will keep you guessing whodunit up until pretty late in the book, but after the case is solved I just kept wondering why the book didn't end! There are no loose ends here, but if you turn the book off an hour or so before it closes, you ain't gonna miss much.

One of his best

I love all things Jonathan writes, but this was one of my faves, and one of his best.

Tough Listen

Gone was hard and hard to set aside. Some scenes were almost too much, but there were compensation.

Rubinstein is excellent as Milo and good overall.

The Delaware books are always intriguing because of the unique friendship between Alex and Milo. Kellerman draws his stories with intelligence, creating long bits of dialogue which aid in the narration of the story. And he allows his characters to be smart and stubborn and a little odd. Milo is always my favorite because I like his dogged determination and the fact that he isn't perfect. Sometimes Alex is a little too perfect for me. This installment is good -- the mystery keeps you guessing for most of the book. Robin is back and I am happy for it as I like her influence on Alex.

John Rubinstein is excellent. His voicing of Milo has so much grit and gravel and I love it. The differences between the ways he voices Milo and Alex are so distinct that there is never confusion. He deserves 5 stars without question.

Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis

Although I thought that Alex got dragged down by remembrances at times in this book, when he and Milo were on case, it was great. John Rubenstein did a great job with the narration. Definitely worth a credit.

Long & Interesting

I enjoyed the storyline. I enjoyed the characters. I did not enjoy the reader of this book. I have read many of the Alex Delaware books by Jonathan Kellerman and the voices this reader gave to Delaware and to Sturgis just were not rich enough !!! didn't even do the female characters very well. that is why I could only give it a four-star overall.

Happy Reunion

So happy to have Robin back where she belongs. Happy they have a new fur baby after losing Spike. As to the case, Nora being involved was a twist I wasn’t expecting, but wasn’t surprised that narcissistic Brad took the easy way out.

Kellerman is always great

I love Kellerman's books. Rubinstein does an awsome job...again! Alex and Milo are very witty and I found myself laughing and trying to guess who the bad guy was through out the whole book. I didn't guess who this time till the end.

Not Typical Kellerman

I have read many Johnthan Kellerman books and listened to a lot of them before. I really like him, but this one was way to long. If this is your first Johnthan Kellerman, try at least one more this is not his usual syle.