Dickens & Rumi

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Devil's Waltz

Jonathan Kellerman · 1993

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Devil's Waltz by Jonathan Kellerman. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Violence; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Good role models.

Book 7 · Alex DelawareSource checked

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 4/5 · Frightening scenes 4/5 · Violence 4/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 3/5 · Good role models 3/5
Series positionBook 7 · Alex Delaware
Recommendation2.8/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Death of a character 4/5
Recommendation 2.8/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
15Scored categories
15Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 6, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

Review depth15 scored categories15 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Violence4/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Good role models3/5
  • Positive messages3/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 8 · Bad LoveStrongest cautions: Death of a character 4/5 · Frightening scenes 4/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · When the Bough Breaks
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Romance2/5LGBTQIA characters1/5Products & advertising1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · Blood Test
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Religious themes2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5LGBTQIA characters1/5
    Gets gentler
  3. Book 4 · Silent Partner
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5
    Gets more intense
  4. Book 5 · Time bomb
    Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Death of a character3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5
    Gets gentler
  5. Book 6 · Private Eyes
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Products & advertising1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  6. Book 7 · Devil's Waltz
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5
    About the same
  7. Book 8 · Bad Love
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  8. Book 9 · Self-Defense
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  9. Book 10 · The Web
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Romance2/5
    About the same
  10. Book 11 · The Clinic
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5
    Gets gentler
  11. Book 12 · Survival of the Fittest
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5LGBTQIA characters1/5Products & advertising1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  12. Book 14 · Dr. Death
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5
    Gets more intense
  13. Book 16 · The Murder Book
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5LGBTQIA characters1/5Religious themes1/5
    About the same
  14. Book 17 · A cold heart
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Romance2/5LGBTQIA characters1/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  15. Book 18 · Therapy
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5LGBTQIA characters1/5Religious themes1/5
    Gets gentler
  16. Book 19 · Rage
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5LGBTQIA characters1/5Religious themes1/5
    Gets more intense
  17. Book 21 · Obsession
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Romance2/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5
    Gets more intense
  18. Book 22 · Compulsion
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5LGBTQIA characters1/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets gentler
  19. Book 23 · Bones
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Religious themes1/5
    Gets more intense
  20. Book 24 · Evidence
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5
    About the same
  21. Book 25 · Deception
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5LGBTQIA characters1/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets gentler
  22. Book 27 · Victims
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5LGBTQIA characters1/5
    Gets more intense
  23. Book 28 · Guilt
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Romance2/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  24. Book 29 · Killer
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  25. Book 30 · Motive
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Graphic injury3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5
    About the same

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

The crime plot includes murders and serious consequences for surviving characters; death and its trauma are substantial, not merely an offhand threat.

Graphic injury2/5
Why this rating?

Includes clinical descriptions of medical procedures and the physical toll of abuse on a child.

Strong language3/5
Why this rating?

Contains standard gritty thriller-style language, including some profanity.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

Alex Delaware has a long-term relationship, which is portrayed with maturity but is not the focus.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Sustained psychological tension, danger to children, threatening adults, and grim investigative situations create a frightening atmosphere.

Sexual content & nudity3/5
Why this rating?

Adult sexual material and abuse-related themes are relevant to the disturbing crime investigation, though they are not presented as romantic or celebratory.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional casual drinking by adult characters.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Contains depictions of medical abuse and the psychological threat of physical violence toward a child.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Characters persist through danger and trauma to uncover the truth and protect children and other vulnerable people.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

Features intricate investigative problem-solving.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

Limited in scope, typical of 1990s crime fiction.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Provides insights into psychological concepts like Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist shows deep empathy and care for the vulnerable child.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story emphasizes confronting abuse, protecting vulnerable people, and exposing manipulation, while depicting serious consequences of cruelty.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Investigators show persistence and concern for victims, though the adult characters and situations are morally and psychologically complex.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in Devil's Waltz would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Devil's Waltz, and what caused that change?
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