Serpentine is a mind-blowing journey to solve a murder from over 30 years in the past. With no forensics, digital footprints, or witnesses, it seems like an impossible case for Dr. Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis.

What I Loved

Simply put, I love what makes this mystery series and book different from all the others. Dr. Alex Delaware is a psychologist who practices and teaches. He approaches this case in an almost Holmesian manner using his intellect and unusually keen observational skills. And paired with Milo, they make an incredible team of fascinating police work and an outsider looking in, providing a look into the minds of all those involved.

Since Alex is a psychologist and not a detective, this difference in professions provides a speck of a cozy mystery feel with all the over-the-top characters, red herrings, and focus that go along with that sub-genre. It is not a cozy mystery, and I would never classify it as such. It just has a delightful little aspect of that type of mystery.

I enjoyed that the mystery took place so distant in the past. The challenges that come with investigating a case like that are many, and it is interesting to read the creativity and ingenuity involved in figuring out who did it. This focuses squarely on the mystery's puzzle, and no one likes a good puzzle more than me.

I also enjoyed the one counseling session as a little break in the mystery. As a counselor, I find it so compelling to witness different techniques and explore the short-term results. Even though it is fictional, it felt well-researched and plausible.

To Read or Not to Read

If you are looking for a compelling new mystery to grab you and make you forget how long winter nights are, Serpentine is a choice you won't want to pass up.

This is a terrific installment in an incredibly long running series- and it will be perfectly fine as a standalone. Ellie has never understood what happened to her mother Dorothy Swoboda, who died over thirty years ago when she was three and now, thanks to a chance encounter at a benefit, she's got LAPD Lt. Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware looking for answers. They start from nowhere- there isn't even a file- and find more than anyone could have expected. One of the great charms of this series is the relationship between Milo and Alex (as well as with Alex's wife Robin who works with stringed instruments). They're distinct characters with wonderful hearts. Milo loves to eat; Kellerman takes the reader on a tour of LA restaurants as well as Alex's refrigerator. Heck, it's also a love letter to LA. Equally importantly, Kellerman doesn't neglect the other characters, in this case Ellie, the family of the man Dorothy lived with, the widow of a police detective and so on. It's a complex one and don't be surprised if you're a little confused near the end- know that it all works out. I admit to having read every single book in the series; this is one of the best. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Great read.

Very well developed characters and an extremely engaging story. Well thought out and very suspenseful story line that keeps the reader guessing until the final twist! This is the book to read this year! Highly recommended!

Well plotted and beautifully written, it grabbed my attention and held it right through to the end. Alex and Milo once again bring a little spice into our lives. . Although this book can be read as a standalone, I suggest the whole series as they are all very interesting and great reads. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes crime novels, or police procedurals.

"Serpentine," the thirty-sixth book in Kellerman's Alex Delaware series, continues to pair psychologist Delaware with buddy Detective Milo Sturgis. Don't expect Mad Max Thunderdome action here, but an intricate exploration of a cold case and the dogged investigative work it'll take to solve it. Because here they get the coldest of all cold cases. A thirty-six year old Case which wasn't originally even classified as a homicide. A case where the crime scene location can only be estimated and all the principals are long since expired. No one knows what really happened or why. Milo and Alex play out the most minute clues to uncover a shocking revelation. What a great payoff.

This is my first book by this author, yes I know he is popular. I enjoyed this complicated story of a cold case and the partnership between the detective and a psychologist he works with. Worth the read

Having received a free Kindle copy of this novel from ‘Netgalley, I rushed to read it. Character driven, the characters are familiar in this book. The author writes a story that moves quickly with some surprises. Enjoy.

I have read many Alex Delaware novels over the years, so it was great to be able to read the new one and reconnect with him and his cop buddy Milo Sturgis. The banter between them is as good as ever, and the easy relationship with Alex’s partner and of course Blanche, the dog! Plus there are excellent descriptions of the food and localities of LA.
Milo is forced to take on a potentially unsolvable cold case from decades earlier because in true LA style his superiors have been approached by a mega rich V.I.P. Of course, given Milo’s near perfect solve rate aided by Alex’s insight, the case does indeed unravel but the route is as serpentine as the title. With a large cast of characters, and cleverly plotted I really enjoyed it. It really doesn’t matter if this is the first of the series to be read, it works as a stand alone and I recommend it!

I'm a fan of Kellerman's but have thought some of his stuff has become formulaic. So I was pleased with the different wrinkles in this new mystery. It's a very cold case. Strings have been pulled to get a fresh look at it and Alex and Milo have to do plenty of detective work to put the case together. It's less gruesome than many of the others, leaving the excitement to come from the storyline and characters. There are also have several likeable people among the information sources and persons of interest. I actually became vested in the outcome more than usual. The trip to the end, gathering decades of information and evidence was realistic and kept my attention. There wasn't a great deal of dangerous action but the end itself was satisfying..

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

a cold case..
missing people
accidental death that when investigated turns out to be murder

this case is forced onto milo and his friend alex, a wealthy woman wants to know what happened to her mom but the case is very old and several other detectives have tried over the years and its come to nothing

but milo is an expert at cold cases... he just needs a little luck. something is bound to give

an interesting read...and not disappointing in the results

LAPD homicide lieutenant Milo Sturgis has occasion to call his friend, psychologist Alex Delaware, for help on the cold case for which he has been saddled. The decades old murder has been investigated throughout the years, though very little evidence has been gathered. Will a little luck following a small clue be enough for the case to finally be solved?

Having read all of the previous novels involving the crackpot team of Delaware and Sturgis, the eventual outcome of the case was predetermined by the formula that the author tends to follow. I did like that there were small mentions regarding Delaware's primary profession, as I miss the child psychology cases that were the hallmark of the early novels. Serpentine did not really hold my interest and I struggled to keep reading throughout the middle section. The case was just not that interesting this time and the personal life fillers (for example, the different restaurants they visit or mentions of their significant others) were not that exciting. Serpentine is a solid read, but does not do much to advance the characters or the world in which they live.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of Serpentine by NetGalley and the publisher, Random House UK. The choice to review this book was my own.

A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Some people enjoy series like Patterson's The Women's Murder Club. I'd rather have Milo any day! For me, he makes the series (although Alex isn't too bad) and when a new book comes out in there series, I'm sure to grab it up to read in between heavier reads. They're just fun and this one holds up to par - a straight forward mystery, a glimpse of L.A.'s upper class culture, & the entertaining repartee between the two males leads. Could do without the details of Alex's love life, but tolerable - saved by 3.5Milo's shirts. Solid and fun as always. Of note: the series is also great on audio.

As a longtime Kellerman fan, I was enthralled from the very first page. Serpentine is fast paced and intricately plotted, with taut interplay among the believable and engaging characters. Dr. Delaware and Milo Sturgis solve a seemingly impossible years-old mystery with fascinating investigative work and bold intuition. 10 out of ten will enjoy this outstanding story.

Serpentine is the 36th Alex Delaware novel and I have read every one of them.
Jonathan Kellerman is one of a select band of my go-to authors. These are authors whose books I will always eagerly order before they are even published and when I get them in my hot, eager hands, they tend to last less than two days. One day I will write an article dedicated to this group, but for now let’s talk about Mr Kellerman and his work.
I have been a fan since the mid-80s when I was introduced to Kellerman’s novels by a work colleague, yes hard to believe, almost FORTY YEARS. Given my age I can’t really claim to have “grown up” with Kellerman what I can say is that I have aged with him, which, when you think about it, is perhaps even more laudable.
What do I find so compelling? Well in the first place there is the main cast of characters, basically Alex Delaware, a child psychologist and consulting psychologist, his partner, Robin Castagna, a luthier, their pet, latterly a French bulldog called, Blanche, and of course gay LAPD detective Milo Sturgis, there are a cast of secondary characters some of whom have even starred in their own novels, but I have to say I have never found them to be quite so compelling as the original quartet.
And then there is ambience, Kellerman always gives you throwaway but compellingly detailed descriptions of the different areas of LA, a smattering of history a brief description of the landscape, food, architectural styles, decor, or flora. Dialogue is fast and witty. Plotting is occasionally contrived but strangely satisfying. There is always a clear ending.
Serpentine belongs to the sub “historical” group of Delaware novels, novels based on the past. A highly successful entrepreneur wants to know what happened to her mother, she has one photograph of her, wearing the serpentine necklace of the title, and a smattering of recollections gleaned from the man who brought her up but is now dead. Milo is called by the brass to resolve this coldest of cases.
The plot is as twisty and turny as the name suggests and there are some nice flashbacks to the flamboyant 80s in LA and a series of killings. We also get to learn a little more about Dr Rick Silverman, Milo’s partner.
Classic Kellerman. A riveting read.

I haven't read an Alex Delaware book in quite a while; this felt like coming home. Enjoyed the characters and story.

Kellerman back to his best! Always look out for a new Alex Delaware story, much less a fan of the collabs and stand alone novels. The murderers daughter being a notable exception. Over the years the steam has been running out a little for Alex but Milo has centre stage in Serpentine and the plot is much the better for it. A great story of a decades old stone cold case with some deeply buried secrets and some old fashioned detective work

This book welcomes back one of my favourite LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Milo Sturgis and his friend Psychologist Alex Delaware. They are as interesting as ever. They are contacted by self made millionaire Ellie Barker. She has everything she could possibly want except to find out who killed her mother and why? Alex and Milo set about trying to solve this cold case, but as expected it is not easy. Great mystery I could not stop reading late into the night.

Thank you @netgalley for this early copy. As usual, I jumped into a series part way through without realizing it. This is the 36th book in this series. There are certainly details that I missed having not read the previous books in the series, but not enough that I couldn’t understand what was happening here. Detective Milo Sturgis receives a decades old cold case and psychologist Alex Delaware joins his friend to help solve it.

This book is a slow burn that kept me guessing. There are a lot of misdirects and potential suspects which kept me on my toes. I loved that. There is nothing worse than figuring it all out too quickly.

The only downside for me was the characters. They felt pretty repetitive, despite it being the first time I’ve met them. There are a lot of descriptions of Milo gorging himself on food and Alex checking in with his significant other, Robin, in her studio. Otherwise, it’s a pretty solid crime mystery with great descriptions of LA.

*Thank you to Random House, Jonathan Kellerman, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book for an honest review*

Jonathan Kellerman makes me want to read books again. He can just do no wrong!

This is the 36th Alex Delaware book, and it just keeps better, just like a fine wine. The very definition of Serpentine means "move or lie in a winding path or line". Mr Kellerman could not have picked a better title befitting this book. There are so many twists and turns, sometimes it's hard to figure out who is who.

Milo, Delaware's best friend and constant companion, is forced into accepting a 36yo cold case. Money talks and multi-millionaire Ellie Barker wants to know who her Mother was and why she was killed. An orphan now, Ellie has been raised by her Stepfather and would like to know more about her past. From the descriptions of Old Hollywood to the beautiful homes of Los Angeles, everything is aptly put together to solve a murder and give Ellie some peace. Little does she know the surprises she is in for!

There is so much to be enjoyed about the Alex Delaware series. It is consistent, so well written, and always surprises the reader. I enjoy Alex's relationship with his long-time lover, Robin, and his steady friendship with Milo. I gave this 5 stars because Jonathan Kellerman knows how to write a book!

Wow! Book 36 and still as fresh as book one! Obviously it's always best with a series to start from the beginning but I do appreciate that there's quite a bit to do to play catch up here. Luckily, I think that you can read each book on its own as there is little flash back and you'd really only be missing out on a bit of character development.
So, this time round the boys are chasing a cold case. A woman found dead from a bullet in the head in a burnt out Caddy on Mulholland Drive. With little really to go on initially they have their hands right full. But they soon find out that even after all this time, decades, there is someone who wants this case to stay unsolved. Someone who is willing to, well shall we say, interfere in a nefarious way to keep the past firmly in the past. But they haven't met our intrepid duo who will pull out all the stops on every case, this one being no different...
I love this series. I keep mentioning that it is pretty much the only positive I can remember coming out of my failed marriage - my ex having introduced me to it! And I will always be thankful for that. Milo and Alex are a bit chalk and cheese but also very much the same and they partner up perfectly. And the mystery contained within this book had me spinning around chasing my tail like every good mystery should. Leaving me wholly satisfied at its conclusion. Perfection. Starting with scant evidence to go on, they have to wheedle everything out the smallest connections - detective work at its very best.
All in all a cracking addition to an already well loved series - roll on book 37... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.