Obsession
by Jonathan Kellerman
Published by Ballantine Books
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Reviewed by Sharon Broom
Tanya Bigelow was a young girl when she first saw Dr. Alex Delaware for treatment of her obsessive-compulsive behavior (OCD). Tanya's OCD might have been a family trait since her adoptive mother (her biological aunt), Patty Bigelow also suffers from OCD behaviors.
Patty found toddler Tanya on her doorstep in the middle of the night. She had been left by her biological mother, who wanted a better life for her daughter. Later Tanya's mother (Patty's sister) died in a motorcycle accident.
Tanya is nineteen and studying to be a doctor. Her adoptive mother, Patty has recently died from cancer. On her deathbed, Patty confessed to murder and suggests that Tanya seek help from Dr. Delaware.
The people who knew Patty remember her as a hardworking, dedicated E.R. nurse who struggled to raise her child alone. No one who knew Patty could see her as capable of murder. To help Tanya, Dr. Delaware agrees to investigate and enlists the help of LAPD Det. Milo Sturgis and Officer Petra, in the search for a victim of a crime that may not have occurred.
Building on the smallest pieces of information Dr. Delaware, Det. Sturgis and Officer Petra follow a trail that goes from the sleaziest, low-rent districts of Los Angeles, to a mansion of grand proportions. They meet a former porn star turned business woman, addicts, murderers, a psychopath, a vengeful former wife and a thoughtful physics student who has more than a passing interest in Tanya.
All these people are connected to Patty and what happened years ago that could now jeopardize Tanya's safety. Patty was determined to protect her child, even if she has to confess to a crime and protect her from her grave.
Kellerman's Obsession is fast-paced and filled with twists and turns. He intimately examines the darker side of humanity with a deftness that is chilling. The novel is a bit long, but interesting enough to keep you turning the pages.
Armchair Interviews says: Obsession is interesting in that it's not necessarily a whodunit, it's more of a 'did it really happen'? It's worth a read.
Author's Web site: http://www.JonathanKellerman.com