Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me a free digital copy of this book for my honest review. I really appreciate it!

Jonathan Kellerman has done it again! Well crafted story that I could not put down!

This is #37 in the Alex Delaware series. (This is the second one I have read. As soon as I finish writing this review, I'm going to go and read the series through starting at #1!)

Alex is a psychologist who works with the police department in getting a read on crime scenes as well as offenders.

I really enjoyed it, and I think you will too!

You know just what you’re going to get with a Kellerman book if you’ve read any of his others. I think I’ave read them all and I am always excited when he comes out with a new one.
I have to say that this one was particularly good! The story had my attention very quickly. It was easy to follow but not simple in construction. I stayed up late to read it in one night. It’s that kind of book.

The saying that men categorize women as mothers, virgins, sluts, and bitches is particularly true for Kellerman's writing. We get a few of his favorite tropes like the miserable single teen mom and promiscuous cluster-B-coded attention seeker. He does, however, tone down the cartoonish descriptions of Milo and give development to some of the other members of the books' ever-growing cast.
His storylines, in contrast to the stock characters, continue to be complex and therefore intriguing as the mystery unravels. You don't have to worry about dragging yourself through a novel where you already know how it will end.

I continue to live Jonathan Kelleman!

Great characters who continue to grow and entertain and the twists just keep on coming. This one may be the best yet.
Alex’s work overlaps into Mlo’s murders in the most confusing way yet.
A series of murders. Are they connected or coincidence? And if they’re connected, how in the world are they connected?
Twists and turns and more unsolved murders. I confess, I was confused right to the end. And I love that.

Highly recommended.

I've followed Alex Delaware (and Milo Sturgis) for thirty-five years, so I find the series reliably entertaining. City of the Dead does not disappoint! Cordi Gannett is found stabbed to death in a pleasant home in a pleasant neighborhood. Alex is aware she once was caught posing as a psychologist in one of his child custody cases and certain connections are made. An unidentified naked man has also died at the scene. Milo calls Alex in and their creative juices flow. As a lawyer, I get a kick out of all the problematic lawyers, having seen some pretty awful tricks in my own career. I enjoy the psychology and philosophy of Alex's forensic practice in child custody cases, always rooting for the kid. I do think there are a few too many lucky breaks in the murder cases but Alex and Milo have to know how to recognize and use a lucky break, so it isn't too distracting. As always, I'll get the next book in the series for as long as Alex and Milo continue their adventures.

This new crime story by Kellerman. is a decent read but doesn't have the punch of some of his better ones. There's nothing wrong with the story itself - it's another strange murder scene and Lt. Milo Sturges calls Dr. Alex Delaware in to give psychological insights. The problem is with this crime's cast of characters. They all seem somewhat pedestrian and without the depth Kellerman can be so good at portraying. The test was my ability to put the book down several times because neither the crime nor the characters really grabbed me. The solution is, as usual exciting, so it's worth getting to. I just wish the journey itself seemed less formulaic..

When I receive an Alex Delaware book, I read it regardless of where I am in other books- this is no different. As this is yet another in a long series, there are some predictable qualities to both the plotting and writing.
It's clear Jon Kellerman is both talented and polished, the appropriate amount of description, good pacing and a semi- satisfying ending makes this a fun read.
In life, sometimes coincidences seem too organized to be true, the coincidences in this story were a little telegraphed.
Overall, a very enjoyable book

Is it possible to find a book in this series not to love? Of course, some plots are a bit less appealing than others - this is the 37th, after all - but police consultant and psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware and his friend, LAPD police officer Milo Sturgis, never disappoint. And with this entry, nothing's changed.

This time out, Milo and Alex visit a scene at which a moving van appears to have hit a naked man. An accident, perhaps - until one of the neighbors points to a nearby house he believes is being rented by a "suspicious" woman. When Alex and Milo go inside, they get a surprise - a woman inside has been brutally murdered. Alex, though, gets a double whammy: He once tangled with the woman, Cordelia Gannett, who at the time was posing as a psychologist.

Although she got caught, she failed to cease and desist; but as Alex and Milo investigate, they learn her earlier life was far more complicated. From there, several other familiar characters get involved, including Detective Moses Reed, Alex's guitar-repair expert and live-in love, Robin, and even Milo's physician husband Rick (always nice to hear from him, even if it's more of a cameo than a full-blown performance).

The details are what make the story take on a life of its own, but as always, everything gets sorted out in the end. This one, I think, will please most series fans like me. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of it.

I love starting an Alex Delaware novel because I know I’ll have a wonderful read. City of the Dead (Ballantine Books 2022) was no exception. The main character, Alex Delaware, is a brilliant psychologist who specializes in treating traumatized children and in between, assists his friend Detective Milo Sturgis in unraveling heinous crimes perpetrated by twisted psyches. Delaware is likeable and approachable, that rare brilliant intellect who can relate to us commoners with our average IQ of 99 (worldwide--a bunch of countries are higher than that).

As in all thirty-seven books in the Alex Delaware series, Alex and Milo spend many fascinating pages analyzing possible causes and outcomes of the murders they work together to solve. These discussions are always well done and understandable to the lay reader and are as scintillating as the fast-moving plot with its many surprises. Kellerman has come up with a perfect formula for these books that I hope he never changes.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I always enjoy the mysteries starring Homicide Lt Milo Sturgis and his friend, psychologist Alex Delaware, and this one does not disappoint. Early one LA morning the two of them find themselves in a posh neighborhood with a naked dead body. Two moving van drivers took a shortcut to miss traffic early in the morning and somehow collided with this naked man. But it doesn't exactly look like your usual traffic accident - and then there is the dead woman in the house across the street. Coincidentally, Alex Delaware knows the dead woman - but that is not the only coincidence before it is all done.

As usual, this is NOT one that you will figure out early on, and in fact, you probably won't figure it out at all, until Alex does.

I liked it, as I always like the books in this series. They are true whodunits, and they don't cheat, but they are hard to crack.

Kellerman never disappoints me. He has a specific voice for Delaware that he manages to engage the reader with its familiar tone. You begin the book and recognize him immediately. It is so familiar and the reader , me, is delighted to meet an old literary friend. This novel is one of his best in my estimation. The story line is so well presented and complicated enough to hold your interest throughout the unfolding of the murders. The dialogue is clever and the repartee is brilliant. One criticism, he gives us too much specific traffic information. Specific streets and highways are referred to in excess. Not really interested in the GPS coordinates of their rides. Of course, there are a few grammar errors that I am sure will be corrected. A wonderful mystery, well written, well solved and exciting to the end. What more could you ask from a very successful mystery writer. Keep them com8ng!

I’m a long time fan of this series and here’s to another Alex Delaware book that did not disappoint! I had a terrific time trying to figure out the who-done-it but it was the how that kept me on my toes! There’s very little time spent in the personal relationships, which was a bit disappointing, but the plot was so interesting and full of twists that I enjoyed it as a straight up crime solving procedural.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of City of the Dead.

I've been a fan of the Alex Delaware for a reallllyyyy long time so I was excited when my request was approved.

I love the bromance and rapport between Alex and Milo; Alex's integrity as a child psychologist, his long term relationship with Robin and their dear pug, Blanche.

Reading this series is like greeting old friends you haven't seen in a long time. It's always good to see them and learn what they're up to.

In City of the Dead, Milo and Alex are pulled into a strange case of a murdered woman masquerading as a medical professional and her dead BFF.

The investigation takes a strange turn when a person of interest turns up dead and the case swerves off into a separate tangent before concluding satisfactorily.

The mystery is mildly interesting with no one suspect standing out but the real stars are always Alex and Milo's friendship and how well they work together.

I look forward to the next book in the series.

Milo Sturgis and child psychologist Alex Delaware join forces again on a case of a murdered woman, Cordelia Gannett, and her male friend in a Los Angeles home. As usual, the two friends exchange insightful observations and humorous exchanges while working to bring justice for the murdered victims.
Great read!

Well written! I have not read any of Kellerman's work, and I was missing out! Not only quite a thriller, with mixed legal, crime, and psychological aspects, but I was quite impressed with the author's prose. He clearly is a wordsmith with skill to describe detailed scenes like no other in this genre of book.

Read this!

I have loved ( and half been in love ) with Jonathan Kellerman's character, Alex Delaware since I read the first in this long-running series, "When the Bough Breaks". Yes, move over Robin, you have competition for Alex! I am a huge fan of Alex and Milo, I have read every book in the series and own about 97% of them ( I may be missing 3). All are great fast-paced, quick reads, written with great dialogue that is full of wit and Milo's own gruff charm.
City of the Dead is no exception, keeping with the style and intelligent charm readers have come to associate with an Alex Delaware novel, Kellerman does not disappoint.
Milo and Alex are called to the scene in an LA suburb where a man has been struck down and is dead in the road. What first appears to be just an unfortunate accident soon turns sinister when the blood trail leads from the accident site to a nearby home where a woman is found slain.
All in all a good solid Alex and Milo mystery, just what readers have learned to expect in this series. I know it must be extremely hard for Jonathan Kellerman to keep coming up with fresh, new plots for this series after 37 Delaware novels, that will hold the readers interest. I have to agree with one reviewer I was reading when she said that the best books in this series are some of the ones centered around Alex's child psychology cases and maybe Kellerman should refocus from that angle. Books like Devil's Waltz, and Bad Blood to only name a couple. This is still a good solid Alex and Milo mystery and fans of them will not be disappointed.
Thank you to the publishers at Random House Publishing Group and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return. ( And buying the novel on publication day).

⭐⭐⭐++++
This is #37 in the Alex Delaware series. I always look forward to Child Psychologist and Consultant Alex Delaware and Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis teaming up again.
I have not read the entire series, but believe one should read at least one or two to have a better understanding of these two before jumping to #37. There were some that were okay and others that were GREAT. I really liked the last two I read "The Museum of Desire" #35 as well as "Serpentine" #36!
I enjoy these characters~ author,: Jonathan Kellerman] still comes up with great ideas and does not disappoint!

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books for granting my wish with this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 8, 2022.

To begin, just a word of thanks to Random House Publishing/Ballantine Books as well as netgalley.com for an advanced reading copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I give this novel three stars. I am biased - I have always enjoyed a good Jonathan Kellerman novel - specifically with the dynamic duo of Alex Delaware, psychologist, and his homicide detective friend, Milo Sturgis. This novel didn't fail to be enjoyable. "City of the Dead" begins with a mysterious double murder in the same general area - a naked man run over in a suburban street in the wee hours of the night, as well as a stabbing of a female inside a nearby home. Milo, the homicide detective in command of these murders, enlists his friend, Alex Delaware, child psychologist turned LAPD consultant, to help decipher the two killings.

As with previous Delaware/Sturgis novels, Sturgis provides the police-end of the way the LAPD system runs - which is poorly, and how Delaware ultimately "stumbles" on some nugget of information that ultimately helps to solve the case.

One line from the novel that caught my attention: "So many people intent on burying the past. All those abandoned identities moldering in psychological graves. The real city of the dead."

Another enjoyable read from Kellerman. If you enjoyed his other Delaware/Sturgis novels, this one won't disappoint you.

City of the Dead

[Blurb goes here]

This is an enjoyable mystery thriller. The adventure is fairly interesting and fast paced. If you're wondering what should be your next read, you should take a look at this one.

Thank you for the free copy!

I have long been a fan of his work. Mostly I had read via audiobook. Now having seen two recent offerings, written with his son, I have really enjoyed his ongoing value as a writer who holds the readers attention.