Red herrings abound, multiple murders connected and not, and a decision professionally dire — to tell or not and if so, how, all add up to one thing, Kellerman knows how to keep a reader on the edge of their seat. He delivers a tight mystery with subtlety and skill. Do not miss this latest Alex Delaware novel with its familiar characters in a new search for whodunnit. It’s a thrilling ride.

Jonathan Kellerman has written more than 50 books, and this is the 37th in the Alex Delaware series of psychological thrillers. In City of the Dead, I got what I've come to expect from Kellerman - a good thriller with a cast of interesting characters of widely varying body and psychological types. Delaware is a consulting psychologist to the LAPD, and he does private forensic work, as well. In contrast to Delaware is Cordi Gannett who has falsely advertised herself as a psychologist. Her fraud was exposed and yet she continued to present herself as some kind of psychological expert. She was a beautiful and charismatic character who was able to fool some people all the time. She became one of the victims in this story. If you've read and liked Kellerman before, then this one will not be disappointing. It's a good diversion from normal life. Thanks to Kellerman for another good novel. The book is due out in early 2022. Thanks to the folks at Ballantine Books for this prepublication release.

I am struggling to be objective in reviewing Jonathan Kellerman's'City of the Dead,' the latest Dr. Alex Delaware novel. I read an advance copy of the book courtesy of NetGallery and Penguin Random House in exchange for an objective review. I ask for their forgiveness, however, and hope they understand my dilemma. This is the 37th Alex Delaware novel I have read. There are only 37 novels published in the series. It's like an addiction. I will not apologize though, as these are terrific reads. Every last one of them. It is a challenge to read just one.

In 'City of the Dead', Homicide Lt. Detective Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware discover a brutal double murder in a posh suburban Los Angeles neighborhood. There are lots of suspects, buried secrets, memorable characters and ultimately a shocking motive. That is all I am willing to disclose. No spoilers.

What, you might ask, is so compelling about these novels that they become addictive.

Remember Bob Hope and Bing Crosby? Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis? Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis? Walter Matthou and Jack Lemmon? Paul Newman and Roberd Redford? Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon? What do they all have in common? Each teamed up to make many of the most popular movies of the last 75 years - buddy movies. With psychologist Alex Delaware and Homicide Lt. Detective Milo Sturgis, Kellerman has created the classic 'buddy book.'

Delaware is empathetic and caring, warm and approachable. He is a hero who appears levelheaded, well-mannered, socially involved, loving and passionate about his patients and appealingly thoughtful. His sidekick 'buddy,' Homicide Lt. Detective Milo Sturgis is an oversized, gay, African-American with the quick wit of a standup comedian. The dialogue between these two remarkable characters is often funny, and the humor makes the cruelty and violence of the crimes they investigate just a little easier to bear. Kellerman masterfully captures the chemistry between these characters. They are friends who work well and are always in sync, and are responsible for the much-needed humor in these oftentimes grim crime stories.

Kellerman always provides Sturgis and Delaware with a great supporting cast that captures the quirkiness of Los Angeles - internet influencers; self-styled psychiatrists; a handsome, wealthy doctor who seems too perfect to be true; a nasty, friendless acid-tongued dowager; street hustlers; wanna-be actresses and the film moguls who exploit them. And then there is the city itself - Los Angeles - beautiful, glitzy, deadly and dangerous. Sun-washed beaches and blood spattered dark alleyways. Dazzling homes of the rich and famous tucked away in the hillsides of Laurel Canyon and the grimy, rodent-infected one-room apartments that many are forced to call home. Los Angeles itself is an ever-present character in Kellerman's novels, and Delaware is the perfect guide for us readers.

Like the 36 Alex Delaware novels which preceded it, City of the Dead is a great read, with a compelling story and memorable characters - the hallmarks of all Kellerman's novels.

Another great book by Jonathan Kellerman. I keep wondering if he will continue to write best sellers. This one proves he will.

I really enjoyed this excellent thriller. I don't know why I haven't read any of this series before, but I will be reading more now. Alex's brain seems to process things differently than anyone else. Milo knows he can rely on Alex to bring a different perspective. And he does. When one of Alex's cases bleeds over into a case that he is working on for the police, he is walking a fine line with his involvement. Did not see that twist in the storyline coming.

I’ve been an avid fan of Jonathan Kellerman’s books for years. The latest one City of the Dead does not disappoint. Dr. Alex Delaware gets conscripted by Lt. Milo Sturgis once again to help solve a couple of murders. Things turn a corner when one of Alex’s custody cases leads to a clue. Great story but I wish there was a little bit more of Alex and Robin as a couple in it. :)
Highly recommend.

Another great addition to this long running series but it will be perfectly fine as a standalone! LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis and psychologist consultant Dr. Alex Delaware find themselves with a convicted and confusing double homicide. Who killed Cordi a woman Alex met when she presented herself as an expert witness in a custody trial? And who was the man who was also killed at her house? No spoilers from me but this one mixes several threads in the best possible way. Alex's private practice evaluating families for the court is important but others on the team have unusual insight as well. It's a good read that's hard to review without spoilers. Fans of Milo should know that he doesn't eat much in this installment (I kind of missed it) and that he's working better with a team than in the past. And if the ending stretches credulity a bit, well that's ok. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I always look forward to the annual Kellerman and this one is a real treat.

This is an awesome story. The mix of police procedural and psychology is truly masterful. Milo is a police lieutenant with the LA police department. Alex is a psychologist who consults with the department and has become a good friend. They have a great working relationship that sees them able to predict what the other is going to say or do. The author uses a first person style of conversation in the writing which is unique and wonderful. It’s like eavesdropping on a conversation. When two people are murdered it begins a twisted tale that will lead in a very surprising direction. The twists and turns of the case will leave you shaking your head and eager to turn the pages.

I have read all of Jonathan Kellerman's books featuring Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis. They are a great detective/psychological read. This one is on par of all of his books. For those who have not read any of these books, don't worry. They can be enjoyed in any order. Kellerman always has a good twist in his books. I mostly read historical fiction and like the Delaware series for a change of pace. Definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Happy reading.

This is a series that can mostly be read in any order so, to your relief, I am not going to bang on about starting from book one and having to read 36 books before you attempt this one. Obviously for character development and backstory you could, and they are all great books, so...
We start with a body. A naked body in the street, having been hit by a van. An accident, on first look. But still worthy of the proper background investigation. And there are still questions. I mean, where are his clothes? Where did he come from? Why was he running naked...? All questions that need answers. But then there's a blood trail and, inside a nearby house, another body. This time brutally murdered. Milo calls in his long time friend and psychologist Alex Delaware to assist with the investigation. But he almost needs to recuse himself when it turns out that he knows the victim. The female one. The male is still unknown... And so begins a rather convoluted tale that took me all round the houses and back again before settling at the end to a rather nifty and wholly satisfying conclusion.
I love these books. I've said before that this series is pretty much the only really good thing to have come from my rather dysfunctional marriage and, for that alone, I will never regret it all completely!
I love Milo and Alex, both separately and together, along with other halves Rick and Robyn. Oh and Blanche steals a few scenes too! Other characters, those included for this episode only, are just as well crafted and wholly credible.
The plot is fresh – yes I know 37th book and all that – well crafted and sublimely executed. And with no superfluous waffle or padding, gets on with itself very well. Pacing matching the narrative all the way through. It was both interesting and intriguing and held my attention well all the way through. In a nutshell, it was a delight to read. Only downside is that I now have to wait a year for the next one.
But they say time flies…
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A good mystery with a great twist! I haven't read a Jonathan Kellerman book before so wasn't sure what to expect. The book is part of an ongoing series, so it took me a little to get a feel for the characters. I was able to keep up without having read the others, but I was curious about some of the backstory. The pacing of the story was good, it kept a pretty even pace as you learn more. It did get more intense as we neared the conclusion. I was completely surprised by the twist but really loved how the story unfolded. I definitely look for more books by this author. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I've long been a fan of Jonathan Kellerman. To me, he is the Danielle Steel of murder/thriller books and that's a compliment. HIs books keep me guessing until the end and this one is no exception.

When Lt. Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware get brought into a strange murder involving a naked man hit by a moving van and a woman massacred in her home, things only get more bizarre from there. The past comes back to haunt Alex when it turns out that he knew the woman at an earlier time in his life. As they work to track down the identity of the naked man, the case becomes even more confusing. Alex discovers that his professional practice has crossed over into the murder case and uses his brilliant mind and insight to solve the crime in a way that only he can.

Great, easy read for fans of Kellerman as well as anyone looking to take a break heavy themes, but not reading.

Full disclosure, I started this not knowing it was 37th in a series…but luckily I was able to glean enough from the story not to feel totally lost…well-done by the author.

Alex Delaware is a psychologist who aids LA police on cases when he’s not busy with his own clients. This particular case revolves around the double homicide of a woman who has a media presence as a (charlatan) “relationship expert” and her adoring hairdresser.

It’s a decent story with a neat twist at the end. But I did have some issues with it. The writing AND the characters felt too uniform and flat to me. Also there were a lot of “I said”, “he said” and very little action or suspense. I didn’t feel invested and found myself in no real hurry to get back to the story after breaks in reading. In ways, this reminded me a lot of the “In Death” series (JD Robb) as far as the characters (police, coroner, psychologist) and their personalities were concerned but not as well developed or real. And unfortunately maybe that’s why it didn’t spark a connection to me like that series.

My thanks to #NetGalley and #BallantineBooks for providing me the free early arc of #CityoftheDead for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Always a good read. This author continues to provide solid plots and characters.
Always read the next one

I have always loved the series with Dr. Delaware, Milo, Robin and little Blanche. This book was so fun to read. Jonathan Kellerman always writes his stories in such a way that you attempt to solve the mystery right along with the characters. I never take more than a couple of days to read them, this one was no different. Very enjoyable read! Thank you for the opportunity to read it and review it!

I received an ARC of this book. Fascinating and complex murder mystery. Filled with lots of action and suspense, I had to keep reading until the surprising end. Highly recommend!

City of the Dead is Book 37 in the Alex Delaware series from Jonathan Kellerman.

"Sturgis and Delaware answer a call in an upscale neighborhood. A young man is dead after colliding with a moving van. A blood trail leads to a house where a woman is found murdered. Alex recognizes her from a past custody case. As they peel back the layers of her family history they find a dubious past and an unexpected killer."

Kellerman has been writing these characters for 30+ years but still manages to keep the stories fresh. Kellerman continues to find new ways to murder characters. This book is similar to the others in the series in that the reader gets to follow along with every lead - almost in real time. There are a few false leads and red herrings. There's an abrupt reveal on who the killer might be - caught me by surprise. Another killer hiding in plain sight.

Robin is always interesting sharing her luthier skills and vintage guitars and exotic woods. And as a sounding board to Alex. If you're looking for more psychological insight into the mind of a killer, this is an excellent series.

This is a fast-paced story from Kellerman. I had a hard time putting it down.

Full disclosure: I read this ARC provided by netgalley.com and Random House (Ballantine) in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

An indication of Kellerman's skills as an author is that City of the Dead is already ranked in the top 150 best sellers based on pre-orders. Readers of this genre know Kellerman. His first published fiction, When the Bough Breaks (1985) introduced Alex Delaware and Milo Sturges. The work generated much critical buzz, and went on to win both the Anthony Award and the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. City of the Dead is book #37 in this series.

Like Sue Grafton, Kellerman's characters do not age in real time, changing slowly as needed. In #37, Milo is a still a master detective, now a Lieutenant with the LAPD. Alex still lives with Robin, the lute pundit, their French bulldog still at her feet. Milo continues to consult with Alex when his cases are as he says "different". The majority of the series is set in Los Angeles, the setting is very close to a secondary character. The time of his settings are always set in the present.

Book #37 reads like a play. It is mostly dialogue and action. Two bodies are found as the book opens. One, a woman is brutally stabbed found inside her home. The other, a male is lying naked in the street. The male has no identification, the woman is a would be influencer, life coach type. As we ride with Milo and Alex, the reader follows step by step towards the solution. In Kellerman's stories, the 'why done it' is as important as 'the who done it'. Both questions are masterly answered.

Highly recommended for readers of suspense and procedurals. Extreme violence indicates unsuitability for young readers.

A bit too much info about each and every character. Having said that, this is, yet another, fascinating and thrilling ride with Alex and Milo as the drivers!.
There are quite a few unexpected twists and turns in this roller coaster ride that keep you glued to this story, and I loved them all!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books and Penguin Random House for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Once again the dream team of Lt. Detective Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware come to the rescue in the latest Alex Delaware novel. They are called to the scene of a brutal death which at first glance appears to be a horrible traffic accident. However, upon further investigation they realize there is a lot more to this story than first meets the eye. Living in the land of Los Angeles for the wealthy and famous always has challenges especially when there is a crime committed. Wealth and privilege do not shelter people from death and destruction as Alex Delaware and Lt. Sturgis will soon become aware. This is another winner for Jonathan Kellerman, and I would expect nothing less. He keeps the gas on from the beginning and will surprise you at every turn. Jonathan Kellerman is a master storyteller and knows how to spin a web of mystery and intrigue that will leave you scratching your head in dismay. I absolutely love the characters in this series. They are more "real life" than a lot of characters in some books I have read. I feel like I could sit down and have a cup of coffee with them! Engrossing, captivating, intriguing and riveting are just a few adjectives to describe this story. You will slip right into the world of Alex Delaware and be completely absorbed into the story. He ties everything up with a neat little bow that you may or may not see coming! Take a seat and don't plan anything else because you are not going to want to put this one down!