In Museum of Desire, the 35th of the Alex Delaware series, Jonathan Kellerman has written one of his signature novels of weird crime in Southern California. At the end of a weekend, Alex receives a call from Milo Sturgis, a homicide detective with the LAPD, who brings him in for consultation when a crime appears to have odd or abnormal components. Not that crime itself is normal, but we’re talking happenings that are strange even for crime. This crime occurred at an empty mansion used occasionally as a party venue. Apparently, in the hours after a party, some one left a limo of dead people at the site; not only dead, but staged, posed in a tableau with no obvious meaning. Definitely a case calling for Dr. Delaware’s skills.

One of the strengths of this outing in the series for me is the clear definition of Alex’s career and role as a consulting psychologist with the police, specifically with Milo Sturgis, as well as the snapshots of his other work and interactions with fellow professionals. This has been missing from recent novels. All of this means that a newcomer to the series could read Museum of Desire as a stand-alone with minimal difficulty.

As always, Kellerman keeps the action moving along. Here there are roadblocks galore but the team is persistent. The crimes appear perverse and without purpose which in itself is a block to solution. So there is the combination of interviews, searching the internet, seeking sources, and leg work. Following all the breadcrumbs. And it’s a complex, interesting search.

I do recommend this book. Kellerman is an excellent writer. As a side note, while the crimes themselves are indeed perverse and gory, they do happen off stage so the reader sees results not activity.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I've always enjoyed Alex Delaware novels and this one is no different! If you have read some of the others, this will fit in perfectly.

Milo and Alex take on a quadruple murder. One that is seriously nasty. They must sort through so many layers to find out what happened and why. I could not put it down until I'd finished.

I did find the plot to be a bit cluttered and, in places, dependent on some odd coincidences but this did not stop me from reading it in one sitting!

This is the first Alex Delaware crime novel I’ve read. The premise seems far-fetched, but then an a reader I need to suspend my disbelief when reading it—particularly a book set in LA and Beverly Hills with so many unusual inhabitants. I read this on a Kindle and wonder if the book has a list of characters to keep helping readers remember who everyone is. I’m still not sure why the gruesome murder introduced in the first chapter evolved into such a convoluted case, nor do I understand why so many people were murdered. I needed a flow chart or Venn Diagram to understand the relationships between the murderers and the murdered.

It's been quite awhile since I've read a book in this series and I wasn't disappointed. It's still a great series and this one can be read as a stand alone.
LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis is called to a bizarre murder scene at an empty Bel Air mansion. Four victims were found by a cleaner, hired to clear up the mess from a party the evening before, outside by the pool in a stretch limo. They are covered in blood, killed in different ways and posed in a strange scenario.
Milo contacts his friend, child psychologist Alex Delaware, to consult on this "different" and difficult case.
Robin, Alex's partner, helps lead them to the dark side of the art world for clues in this twisted and complex investigation.
Missing people, more violence and other murders complicate solving this horrific crime.
This police procedural has plenty of action and interesting characters. The solution is a bit convoluted so you have to pay close attention to what is going on.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballentine Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

Kellerman's series featuring Alex Delaware and detective, Milo Sturgis, has been one of my favorites since the first book, through this one, the 35th. Always excellent thrillers, we have witnessed the maturing of the characters and the changing of societal norms through their eyes and stories. In this one, an inexplicable gruesome massacre staged in a limo in the grounds of a party house leads our protagonists from clue to clue in enjoyable fashion. At about the three quarter mark, the story explodes open for an intense thrill ride to its conclusion. Highly recommended.

Judged by the main characters, psychologist Alex Delaware and detective Miles Sturgis, this is a competent but uninspired case. The two go through their roles with the unenthusiastic professionalism of characters in a successful sitcom on the down slope of ratings. The horror is manufactured, the psychological insight shallow and the crime dramatic but not interesting.

Nevertheless, Kellerman's writing makes it a pretty good mystery, even if it lacks the features that made some earlier Delaware novels great. Added to that are signs that the author is trying to get the series out of a rut. Milo's minions are growing in number and gaining some independent interest. Robin may be taking a more thinking, as opposed to feeling, role.

Overall, while not comparable to the best Alex Delaware books, it's better than most mysteries and offers some intriguing prospects for long-term fans.

I've been reading the Alex Delaware books for decades (more than half my life, I think!) and I really enjoy them a lot. It's really hard to believe that this is #35 in the series!

Alex is a psychologist who does private practive work, mostly working with children. Often he gets involved in custody cases. But his "on the side" job is working with the LAPD on murder cases with his friend, detective Milo Sturgis. This book starts out with the discovery of several murder victims found in a limo at the site of a house that was "rented" for a large party. The murder scene seems to be staged and, at first glance, the victims do not appear to be connected to each other. It's up to Milo and Alex to figure out how and why the victims came to be there.

One of the things I like most about the series is that the reader is taken along from the beginning of the investigation to the very end. We are able to see Milo and Alex make the connections while questioning witnesses and suspects. This case is a puzzling one, but of course they figure it out in the end!

This is a average addition to the series but also a bit formulaic. Writing that many books in a series must be hard. We are reminded that Alex has a custody or case or two, that he and Robin are very happy, and that Milo eats everything. i have to say the mystery got a bit complicated and the resolution was confusing to me. More the why they did what they did rather than The Who did it.

Detective Milo Reed calls Alex Delaware with a case he has just been called to. There is a limo with four dead bodies, the driver and three passengers. Each of the victims have a different history and there doesn't seem to be a connection between the people.
This is number 35 in the Alex Delaware series. You know these books are sellers if you have that many. I love the twists and intrigue through out the book.

Wonderful Detective Series!

Dr. Alex Delaware and lieutenant Milo Sturgis are a duo and a force not to be reckoned with in sunny Los Angeles, California. They are the best of friends as well as working together to solve the most unthinkable of crimes. Alex is currently in private practice as a psychiatrist working mostly with children and custody cases although he is always ready, willing and able to dive into any case where Milo may need his expertise. Milo is a hands on detective and refuses to sit in an office all day and deal with politics and he a has a crime solving rate of over 350 cases to his credit. They are called to a scene at a Bel Air mansion and encounter a bloody massacre in a stretch limousine instead of inside the vacant property. Immediately after surveying the horrific crime scene the duo realize that the murders seem staged and and now there will be many more questions than answers as they begin the long process of identifying the murder victims and discovering why their bodies would be posed in such a ghastly fashion and track down the monster or monsters who derived such blood-lust pleasure in taking these lives.

I am a fan of Jonathan Kellerman and am so happy when I see new books being written in the Alex Delaware series. This was book #35 in the long running series and a treat for any of the Alex and Milo reading fans. The book was well-written with great characters and fun banter throughout the story. There were a lot of twists and turns which is always interesting but three quarters in the plot really got complicated and took a few turns that had me disappointed although the story was still exciting I thought the plot went too haywire and convoluted for me. The last quarter of the book had an unexpected and high adrenaline finish where I couldn't take my eyes off the words wondering what will happen next?

I want to thank the publisher "Random House Publishing and Ballantine Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this Advanced Reading Copy and any opinions expressed are unbiased and my own!

I highly recommend this book to all Jonathan Kellerman fans and if you are a new reader, I would start with any of the earlier books in the series since most are stand-alone stories and they are so wonderful that you can get a good feel of the character development of their relationship and history over the years.
I have given a rating of 4 Creepy and Clever 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!

“The Museum of Desire” opens as a maintenance worker trudges uphill to clean up after a fancy event at a notorious LA party house. He finds something he will not be able to clean up, something utterly horrible. What follows is not the story of the crime but a story of the victims and the search for justice for them.

Dr. Alexander Delaware is a consultant who assists with difficult cases when needed. This case is not only difficult, but also downright strange. The victims are posed, almost like a museum diorama; nothing about this crime makes sense. Delaware feels the key to understanding a crime is to learn about the victims. In a first person narrative, he takes readers through the process of finding out about the victims so he can find out who killed them. He reports everything he sees and hears, what he says, and what others say to him. The victims are a diverse group, and Delaware investigates each in detail, documenting ancillary information that may be important later.
Kellerman’s detailed descriptions awaken all senses: the sights, colors, sounds, and smells of people and places. Readers experience the setting through exacting images of pretty streets lined with immaculate houses and precise emerald lawns. Little specifics complete each passage for readers: what people are wearing, how furniture is arranged, what photos are displayed.
Delaware’s investigation is slow, deliberate, and detailed, with everyday activities interspersed throughout the narrative. Delaware makes connections and establishes timelines. Things change when more bodies show up; the intensity increases. When the meaning of the book’s title is revealed, things take an astonishing turn.
“The Museum of Desire” is filled with twists and shocking turns. Even when things seem to be wrapped up, there is more. I received a review copy of “The Museum of Desire” from Jonathan Kellerman, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballantine Books. The writing superb; the plot is unique and weird. The book is gripping and compelling to read.

I’ve been reading the Alex Delaware mysteries since Kellerman wrote the first in the 1980s; The Museum of Desire is the 35th installment in a successful, long-running series. Thanks go to Net Galley and Random House Ballantine for the review copy; this book is for sale now.

Kellerman was a child psychologist before he became an author and he brings his knowledge of children and families when he creates characters and situations. This is a reliably strong mystery series and I always smile when Alex’s BFF, Detective Milo Sturgis, barrels into Alex’s kitchen and starts eating his food. I feel as if I am receiving a visit from an old friend also.

The premise here is more shocking than most, and I find myself a bit squeamish when reading it. In reviewing the others he’s written, however, I can see that this isn’t a lot more extreme than usual, and so I conclude that perhaps I am more sensitive than I used to be. Those with doubts should read the promotional blurb carefully before making a purchase.

That said, the dialogue here is first rate, and pacing is brisk, as always. Kellerman maintains credulity deftly by avoiding having Delaware tote a gun or tackle bad guys. In real life a kiddy shrink would be in his office, in the police station, or in court, period. But that’s dull stuff, and so the author has to strike a balance, creating fictional situations that don’t strain the reader’s ability to believe. He doesn’t wear a Kevlar vest or carry out other tasks that are clearly the work of on-duty cops; he provides his professional insights and does some extracurricular research, but the latter is the sort that a semi-retired professional might choose to do for a good friend. I had no trouble engaging with the story.

If I could change one thing, I would include more of the affluent, troubled teenager. Crispin is an interesting kid, but he pops in and out of the story in two very brief spots. Kellerman’s strongest suit is developing abnormal child characters, and I think this story would be more compelling if it had more of this bizarro kid in it.

One way or another, this is a solid entry in an already solid series, and I recommend it to you.

Jonathan Kellerman is back for a 35th offering in his Alex Delaware series. This one starts with a bizarre murder scene. A driver and three passengers are found in a white stretch limo in a gruesome, sexualized, and overly bloody tableau. Detective Milo Sturgis calls on his sidekick Alex Delaware to try to understand the psychology of the murder. First step is to identify the victims which proves to be especially difficult. Once identified, they are even more confused because none of the victims seem to have a single thing in common. They are different ages, different races, come from different socioeconomic backgrounds, etc. Nothing indicates how they would have crossed paths, much less why they would have been murdered.

It's hard for me to judge whether this would be a good stand-alone read as I have read all of the series, but I think any mystery lover will enjoy it, even if it is your first introduction to Alex and Milo. I personally liked this novel a lot, especially as it focused more on the murder investigation than on Alex's relationship with his significant other and their dog, which I find boring. For loyal Kellerman readers, there's nothing new here, but it's a strong new entry to the series. I highly recommend it.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I agonized on how to review this book because I have LOVED all of the Sturgis and Delaware books.

The Museum of Desire felt like it wasn't up to the same standard of writing as the previous books in this series. It almost seemed like either Kellerman just wasn't feeling it while writing this book or maybe he was in a rush to finish the manuscript.

The story line was good, as always and Delaware and Sturgis were just as interesting as always, but there was a spark missing that disappointed me.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me an ARC at my request. All thoughts in this review are my own.

The Museum of Desire is a solid entry in the Alex Delaware world.

Our favorite characters are back and in fine form and it was fun trying to figure out the who and why of everything.

I will say that the crime itself isn’t as interesting as one would hope. When you read the description of the crime, you imagine a gruesome and mysterious criminal and…its just not that.

Still, it was a fun read. It moved at a nice pace and I did enjoy the chase.

A solid read.

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

Lieutenant Milo Sturgis has solved a lot of murder cases. On many of them—the ones he calls “different”—he taps the brain of brilliant psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware. But neither Alex nor Milo are prepared for what they find on an early morning call to a deserted mansion in Bel Air. This one’s beyond different...’

One of my favorites parts about reading books in a series is watching the character development throughout each book, and I like the rapport between Dr. Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis, which has me wondering if their early days of investigating crimes together were always this seamless or were there bumps along the way.

THE MUSEUM OF DESIRE is the thirty-fifth novel in the Alex Delaware Series, though it is the first that I have read, I am looking forward to canvassing my local library and used bookstores in search of books one through thirty-four.

If you like not-so-bloody-heavy-on-the-bizarre-murder-mysteries, then I think you will like this book.

Is it an electrifying-pulse-throbbing-psychological-thrill-ride-a-minute???????

No, but I enjoyed the bloody hell out of it!

THE MUSEUM OF DESIRE, read easily as a stand-alone, however, based on the last few pages it’s evident that new readers like myself diving into this (or any) series from the newest release (#35), or somewhere in the middle, are missing out on a much bigger story - only to be found in the previous books - and I for one am looking forward to catching up starting with book one WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for loaning me an advance eBook of THE MUSEUM OF DESIRE in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot believe I've read 35 books in this series, I think it's the longest I've read. It's definitely surpassed the Kinsey Milhone alphabet books. If you are familiar with this crew, it's standard fare which at this point is sort of like pulling your favorite blanket over yourself and sometimes you find a piece of delicious candy in it and sometimes you find it needs to be washed. This book was a delicious piece of candy

Thanks to Netgalley free ARC

I have loved the Alex Delaware series since its beginning. Though the mystery behind this wasn't my favorite, I still enjoyed Milo and Alex's friendship. Alex's relationship with Robin, and just the general dynamics of various detectives.

I felt the murder aspect here was a bit weak overall, and honestly reminded me of one of his earlier books (whose title I am blanking on).

Will continue to read the series, but hope the next one is a bit more complex in terms of the murder and solution.

I think I’ve read every Alex Delaware book there is and it’s always exciting to settle into a new one.

Alex is a good character. He’s smart, but accessible; charming, but not smarmy; and loyal loyal loyal. He’s a genuinely good person and I always enjoy being in his head. Milo is a delight and it was fantastic seeing Robin and Blanche.

Plot wise, this was captivating. There are several moving pieces and as usual, it had me guessing that everyone was guilty. I reveled in the slow reveals and while I wanted more of an epilogue, what I got was extremely satisfying.

Overall, reading an AD book like sort of like coming home: comforting and familiar. I think I will always pick these books up.

**Huge thanks to Ballantine Books for providing the arc free of charge**

Jonathan Kellerman continues to excel and will forever be a favorite author of mine. The latest mystery book doesn’t disappoint but takes detecting in a new directory. Absolutely love this book and highly recommended it.