Dickens & Rumi

book

Motive

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Jonathan Kellerman · 2015

Is Motive appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

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

Book 30 · 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 3/5 · Graphic injury 3/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 3/5 · Good role models 3/5
Series positionBook 30 · 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
17Scored categories
17Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Oct 31, 2026Last updated

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

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Review depth17 scored categories17 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5
  • Graphic injury3/5

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.

  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

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What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

Murder and death are central to the mystery, with investigation and emotional consequences surrounding the victims.

Graphic injury3/5
Why this rating?

Includes forensic descriptions of crime scenes and bodily injuries consistent with the crime thriller genre.

Strong language3/5
Why this rating?

Contains moderate profanity consistent with contemporary crime fiction set in police settings.

LGBTQIA characters2/5
Why this rating?

A major recurring character is openly gay, but the story is primarily a crime investigation and his LGBTQIA+ identity is treated as one aspect of his life.

Religious themes1/5
Why this rating?

Religion is not a significant theme in this specific investigation.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Romantic relationships are peripheral to the main crime plot.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

Psychological suspense, stalking or danger, disturbing crimes, and an atmosphere of menace create sustained tension.

Sexual content & nudity2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional passing references to adult relationships, but no explicit sexual content.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Adult characters occasionally consume alcohol in social or investigative contexts.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Features crime-related violence, including descriptions of murder scenes and investigative aftermath.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Characters confront dangerous and emotionally difficult circumstances through persistence and investigative resolve.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

The mystery encourages deduction and interpretation of motives, though imaginative invention is not a central theme.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Features a diverse range of characters in terms of backgrounds and orientations.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Provides minor insights into forensic procedures and psychological profiling.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

The protagonists show care and empathy for victims and their families.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story emphasizes accountability, truth-seeking, professional responsibility, and the lasting effects of violence and trauma.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Investigators show persistence and professional skill, though the adult characters and bleak subject matter are not intended as simple models for children.

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 Motive would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Motive, and what caused that change?
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