Dickens & Rumi

book

Time bomb

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Jonathan Kellerman · 1990

Is Time bomb 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 Time bomb by Jonathan Kellerman. This book is content notes include Frightening scenes, Violence, Death of a character; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Good role models.

Book 5 · Alex DelawareSource checked

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

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

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

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: frightening scenes.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Frightening scenes 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
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 depth15 scored categories15 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Violence4/5
  • Death of a character3/5

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 6 · Private EyesStrongest 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

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What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

Death is a central theme due to the inciting incident of the school shooting.

Graphic injury2/5
Why this rating?

Some medical or forensic descriptions of injuries, but not gratuitously graphic.

Strong language3/5
Why this rating?

Moderate use of harsh or realistic language common in crime fiction.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

Contains adult romantic subplots standard for the thriller genre.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

A sustained psychological-thriller atmosphere includes threats, danger and tension involving children, making it potentially quite frightening.

Sexual content & nudity2/5
Why this rating?

Minimal sexual content, limited to adult themes or references.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional references to alcohol and adult behavior.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Includes descriptions of a school shooting incident and related criminal violence.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist faces dangerous situations to uncover the truth.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

Encourages analytical thinking and problem-solving through investigation.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The available assessment suggests limited diversity for its period and setting, with little evidence of varied identities being central or deeply explored.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Provides insights into forensic psychology and investigation techniques.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Professional care and empathy toward patients provide some positive examples, but kindness does not appear to be the book’s central theme.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Explores themes of responsibility, accountability, and the impact of upbringing.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Protagonist demonstrates professional ethics and concern for human welfare.

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. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in Time bomb would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Time bomb, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

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