This is the 37th installment in the Alex Delaware series and while I haven’t read all of them, I have read a few. And what I like is that they’ve all been different which must be difficult when you’ve written this many in one series. And in this one the why is as important as the who.

One of the things I like about these books is Jonathan Kellerman mixes his knowledge of child psychology into the genre as Alex is a psychologist in the books and helps the police to solve cases. And in this one you have a storyline where Alex is helping Milo solve a pair of murders and he is analyzing a family in a custody dispute.

Quite often I am able to figure things out in a police procedural, but I wasn’t even close in this one. And I mentioned this was part of a long series, but can be read as a stand alone, so you don’t have to wait until you’ve caught up to dig right in.

The Alex Delaware series began in 1985 with the publication of When the Bough Breaks, and it’s been going strong ever since. City of the Dead is number 37, and in many ways, its style is closer to the original than more recent editions, and I consider this a good thing. My thanks go to Net Galley and Random House Ballantine for the review copy. This book is available for purchase today.

The story begins with a moving van, and two drivers looking to beat that nasty Los Angeles traffic by starting early. They’re making their way through an upscale residential neighborhood when something hurtles toward them in the dark, and the van makes a sickening crunch as it rolls over it. It’s a man, clad in his birthday suit alone; nobody can see the face anymore, because that’s where the wheels went. Once it becomes clear that the man was already dead when he was tossed into the street, Detective Lieutenant Milo Sturgis is called in. Milo is a homicide cop; Alex Delaware, our protagonist, is a child psychologist as well as Milo’s best friend. Milo often consults with Alex—sometimes officially, sometimes not—when a case has tricky psychological contours.

There are two threads to our plot. The first is the aforementioned corpse under the van; a small trail of blood leads the police to the house from which it came, where they find another body, that of the woman that lived there. There are all sorts of twists and turns; the woman turns out to be someone Alex knows slightly from a case in which he testified, but the man proves much harder to identify. The second thread is more straightforward, a custody case he’s been asked to evaluate for the court. Ultimately, there is some overlap between the two threads, and this is not something I can recall seeing in other books in the series. It’s very well done.

One thing I often forget between Delaware novels is how funny Kellerman can be. In this case, the story unfolds fast, and it isn’t until about the 70 percent mark that the humor is interjected. Delaware and Sturgis are interviewing a couple of enormous bodyguards, and the scene makes me snicker out loud. The pacing never flags, and there is a lot of dialogue that crackles and makes the pages turn.

There are two elements I’ve complained about in recent Delaware novels. The first is the sordid stuff; kinky sex that comes off as a bit seedy and leaves me with a sour gut. None of that this time! I’m so pleased. The second is the unrealistic elements in which Alex does way too much cop stuff for a civilian. There have been times, in other books, where Alex tackles bad guys, or is given a Kevlar vest, and when that happens, the magic is compromised. It makes me think about the author, because I’ve stopped believing 100 percent in the characters. Again, that is scaled way back here. In fact, there’s one instance where Alex suggests that he be the one to entice a suspect into giving up a coffee cup or something else containing DNA, and Milo shuts that down. It’s not necessary, and they’re not doing that.

The last several Delaware novels have been four stars from me, because although I did enjoy them, the issues that I just mentioned kept me from going all in. This time I feel everything was exactly right. You can jump in if you’re new to the series, but once you do, you’ll want to go back for the others. Highly recommended.

I'm way late to the party but after reading this I don't feel like I've missed anything...
Also, I didn't read any of the reviews beforehand but thought what the heck, I've heard his books do well as stand-alones so I thought I'd jump in. While the story does work as a stand-alone I also realized the character development has been going on for years so this, the 37th in the series, isn't going to bring (or need to for followers of the series) much development but it still left me feeling, meh. I found the writing to be okay but rather pedestrian. The plot was solid and there was no foreshadowing so the identity of the perpetrator was a surprise so I'll give it that. I was still entertained and that's what we read for, right? so not all was lost. I guess what I'm saying is, if you're interested in this series but like me haven't read any before now, I'd recommend starting waaaayyy earlier than this one.
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Thank you to the author, Random House, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC to read, review and enjoy.

This is the 37th book in the Alex Delaware series and one might expect them to have become formulaic but they have not and this is actually one of the best in the series. I have been a fan of Jonathan Kellerman since his first Alex Delaware book was published back in 1985. The main characters, a police detective and a consulting psychiatrist, have changed very little in 37 years, which gives the series some consistency and allows the stories to be read as stand alone novels. Highly recommended

Jonathan Kellerman presents his reader with a great mystery in his latest Alex Delaware novel, City of the Dead.
Alex is a psychologist analyzing cases alongside his friend. LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis. Together they investigate what appears to be a double murder. A beautiful woman is found murdered in her home and the body of a naked man is hit by a moving van nearby. What is the connection between the victims?
Kellerman's characters are interesting and the action is fast paced and suspenseful. Delaware's personality contributes a lot to the enjoyment of this novel and it makes it easy to understand Kellerman's continued writing success.

I used to be a huge Jonathan Kellerman fan but I have skipped probably the last 10 books of this series. They just seemed stale, long-winded and boring. This one I loved! We had less about Milo's problems that I seem to remember but the same give and take between Alex and Milo. There was still the police procedural and psychology aspects that make up Kellerman's books. This one had a real mystery that I wanted to see solved. Police are called to the scene of a naked young man hit by a moving van. It is near UCLA so maybe he is a student from a nearby party. But then they discover a dead woman in a house up the street and Alex recognizes her from a case a few years ago. With solid police work and Alex's gut feelings they go about solving this mystery with several twists and surprises along the way. The book can be read as a stand alone but it helps to have read Kellerman before. The relationship between these characters has developed over the years. I am now looking forward to read more Kellerman and maybe I will go back and pick up some of those I skipped. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an early copy. I am very glad I did. Thanks to Jonathan Kellerman for a good book.

Child Psychologist, Dr Alex Delaware is back to assist his good friend and police lieutenant, Milo Sturgis with another grisly murder. City of the Dead is everything I expected in an Alex Delaware novel and much more this time. Suspenseful, mysterious, and weird, along with such relatability to current reality and culture, it kept me on my toes and reading past my bedtime. Jonathan Kellerman is one of the authors I started reading early in my love affair with reading and he is one author I buy without even looking at the description of the book. I would think this series would get stale after the number of installments, but this one felt fresh and inspired.

City of the Dead by Jonathan Kellerman is a police procedural featuring a psychologist who consulted for the police, Alex Delaware. Detective Moses Reed had been called out early, and now Lt. Milo Sturgis was calling him. It was very odd. A moving van had run into a man and killed him in broad daylight. The drivers seemed alert and professional and had seen nothing. The side of the head of he victim was smashed in, obliterating the face, but there were no other injuries, and he was naked. A comment from a neighbor had sent them to a house down the street where they found another body: that of a young woman with her throat slit. There was evidence someone had spent the night on the sofa but there were no clothes, id, or phone apparent. All very odd. There were no clues, but that was not to last, as small, seemingly unrelated, information started to trickle in. Alex kept up with his practice as well as his accounting gig. Much of what he did was consult with the court in child custody cases.

It was fun watching them follow the leads, one at a time, opening the cases up, or a case, at any rate. Chasing down residences, phone records, people who were friends, or not really; family or not really. Each one with one small piece of unrelated information. Then they solved a murder, but was it a related murder? Turns out probably not. Very strange situation, however. Alex, Moe, and Milo, and the rest of the team were diligent, clever, and resourceful. Still, a bit of luck never goes amiss. They all had lives outside this case; hard to remember at times. It was a good book. Cleverly plotted and an interesting study in the human condition. Frightening, actually. I recommend it as the latest in a long line of Alex Delaware books. It was a different take on crime fighting.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of City of the Dead by Random House, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #randomhouse #cityofthedead #jonathankellerman

In yet another installment in the life of consulting psychologist Dr Alex Delaware and his good friend Homicide Lieutenant Milo Sturgis of the LAPD we are treated to a well written tale of murder and multiple paths that lead the reader to ponder various scenarios of how they might tie together or merely be interesting and educational blind alleys. The story begins with two long haul household good over the road truckers trying to get to their designated address early one morning on a narrow street in Westwood when suddenly out of nowhere something or someone crashes into their big rig.
After discovering that the something is a now dead nude man the police are called and while investigating a blood trail discover a murder scene in the house at the end of the blood trail.
When Alex is called to the scene by Lieutenant Sturgis he recognizes the victim inside the house and the many confusing and at times misleading leads begin to develop.
This book is as good as any of Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware stories. I recommend it and all if its predecessors.
I would like to thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance eARC for review purposes.

I enjoyed this murder mystery/police procedural. This is the 37th book in the series and my first- it definitely worked as a standalone. It won’t be my last in the series though! I enjoyed the writing and the characters. The case was interesting and kept me riveted. I enjoyed it so much that I’ll be going back to read the series from the beginning! My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review!

“City of the Dead,” by Jonathan Kellerman, Ballantine Books, 336 pages, Feb. 8, 2022.

Los Angeles Detective Moses Reed is called to the scene when a naked young man is struck by a moving van.

When a neighbor directs Moses to a nearby house, he finds a blood trail. He calls his boss, homicide Lt. Detective Milo Sturgis. When they find a murdered woman inside, Sturgis calls psychologist Alex Delaware.

The young woman was stabbed. Alex recognizes her. He met Cordelia Gannett during an attempt to mediate a custody dispute. Gannett claimed to be a psychologist, but her degree was from an uncertified correspondence school and she had no experience. She was charged with practicing without a license and agreed to stop. But she continued cyber-counseling people.

Cordelia had a troubled childhood. There were so many people going to her house that her neighbors thought she was a prostitute. The young man, Caspian Delage, whose real name was Charlie Bankster, was a hair stylist.

This is book 37 in the series, but you can read it without reading the others. As always, the friendship between Milo and Alex lies at the heart of the story. It is a multi-layered character-driven story.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Once again Detective Milo Sturgis and Psychologist Alex Delaware team up to solve another crime in LA as they are called early one morning to the scene of a collision between a naked man and a delivery truck. While investigating that death the body of a woman is found in a nearby house. With little to go on, Milo and Alex must rely on the few witnesses they can find as they piece the story together little by little. When a prime suspect turns up dead, they are back at square one. Are the murders related? Thinking this might end up a cold case, things take a mighty big turn and Sturgis and Delaware might just deliver after all! Book 37 and Kellerman is still going strong with his crime fighting dynamic duo! Looking forward to their next case!

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was unpredictable and fast paced. It held my attention and I wanted to find out what would happen. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books in this series.

It’s always a pleasure to ride along with psychologist Alex and LAPD detective Milo on one of their only-in-LA cases. City of the Dead, the 37th book in the Alex Delaware series, is no exception.

A pseudo-psychologist is found dead in her house with her throat slashed. Outside nearby a naked man is dead after crashing head-on into a moving van. Was the man the woman’s killer and the victim of an accident? Or did another person kill them both?

If you like your police procedurals with a bit of wit and a buddy movie feel, don’t miss this series. They can be read in any order so feel free to start with City of the Dead. It has an engaging plot, fully fleshed out characters, and a real LA feel. As a native, the beautiful but dirt-poor qualities of the residents ring totally true. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!

Thanks to Ballantine, Random House and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

City of the Dead is Book 37 and another winner in Kellerman's long-running series featuring psychologist Alex Delaware and LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis. The two friends are both intelligent, but are very different. However, they get along well as friends and when working together to solve a case.

I have read most every book in the series, but new readers would also enjoy this well-written mystery. Somehow Kellerman is able to keep the plots fresh for each book, and I was both surprised and satisfied by the unexpected ending to their latest case. It’s very complex and the shocking developments end up testing Alex’s professional ethics. In addition to the compelling plot, the author is able to make even the minor characters come alive and I was completely engrossed in the story. I would rate this book 4.5 stars and I highly recommend it as well as the entire series.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Ballantine Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

It's a good thing I didn't have anything important to do yesterday, because once I started reading this book, I was totally engrossed until I finished it! Of course I knew that would happen - always does with Jonathan Kellerman's books.

Great writing, familiar characters and intriguing mystery make this book yet another wonderful read from Kellerman. So many red herrings - - and a surprise (to me) killer! I can usually guess the killers so it's a treat when I can't.

I hope Kellerman is busy at work on his next book!!!

This is another outstanding book in the Alex Delaware series. This is book #37, and the books continue to be outstanding reads. Excellent writing, interesting plots and great characters keep this series fresh.

In this book, Milo, Alex’s LAPD detective friend, is called to the scene of a vehicle vs. person accident. When he arrives, he finds the victim is naked and discovers a woman has been killed in a neighboring house.
They can’t identify the naked body, buy it turns out he had ties to the murder victim. Milo knows he’s going to need Alex’s help on this one.

I love how the mystery unfolds, and the steps they take to solve it. I also like how the city of Los Angeles is a character, the author definitely shows the messier parts of the city. I highly recommend this book, 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Grabbed my attention right away. Two truck drivers are going down a side street in LA when they feel a thump and realize they ran over something, turns out to be a naked man. Milo and Alex are called in and a neighbor directs them to a home on the street where they find another body and Alex recognizes the victim. There are trips around LA, lots of interviews and twists and turns. I love the banter between Milo and Alex, still wish Robin's character would be developed a bit more other than pretty girl who fixes instruments and loves her dog.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House for providing me with a copy of this book.

A pseudo psychologist gets murdered and Milo and Alex are back on the case of solving her murder. These books are all good solid reads but also very similar. Lots of psych-speak but overall entertaining.

City of the Dead resurrects some familiar characters for me- Alex and Milo. Alex is a psychologist and Milo the police detective. Somehow they just work better together. I enjoyed following their thought processes as they work out what happened when multiple people start showing up dead. It kind of bothered me that Alex just so happened to have history with some of the people involved because I don’t think that happens as much in real life. But overall I enjoyed the process, the twists and the ultimate outcome. I will always read an Alex Delaware book!