Solid outing by Kellerman. This novel is full of plot twists and a romp for Delaware fans. Solid outing by Kellerman. This novel is full of plot twists and a romp for Delaware fans.

For my fellow dedicated readers and fans of Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware / Milo Sturgis series, you will be thrilled he is returning to action with this dynamic duo in his latest novel, Unnatural History.

For those new to the series, don’t hesitate to dive into this engaging mystery which can easily be read as a stand-alone.

In either case, be prepared for total immersion as this story quickly plunges you into the many twists and turns. The fast-paced thriller opens with a crime scene in LA and doesn’t let go until the very end.

Milo and Alex collaborate in their normal routine and use their respective skills as detective and psychologist to pursue a multi-victim killer while tying together clues and motives during the various murder scenes and investigations around LA.

A familiar, and beloved, cast returns as Robin and Blanche stand behind Alex during his long hours with Milo. Look for Sean Binchy to star in this book as an unexpected hero and as always, the LA area plays a key role with stunning scenery, romantic beaches and often grim street life.

As a long-time Jonathan Kellerman fan having read his 37 prior books in this series, I thoroughly enjoyed his latest novel. I was beyond excited to receive the advance copy of Unnatural History, his latest Alex Delaware mystery from NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine Books in exchange for my feedback and review.

Kellerman knocks it out of the park again! I love this series. Solid 10/10. These keep getting better and better each book. I love Milo and the dynamics throughout these books. Can’t wait for the next! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!

4.5 Stars rounded up to 5

Kellerman has done it again…

This is the 38th book in the Alex Delaware series and the author still manages to create a fresh and unique mystery to be solved by the unlikely team of a LAPD homicide detective and a pediatric psychologist. The heart of all the books is the relationship between Alex (the psychologist) and Milo (the detective).

For long time fans of the series, I believe you will be satisfied with this offering. For those new to Kellerman’s work, I recommend it as well. I would also suggest reading the whole series starting with book 1 ("When the Bough Breaks") to appreciate the evolution of the relationship between Alex and Milo and the supporting characters - Milo’s cadre of younger detectives and Robin, Alex’s life partner.

"Unnatural History" reflects Kellerman’s writing skill with his characteristic evocative prose full of insightful and often amusing similes and metaphors. Additionally, he explores the social issue of the homeless population in Los Angeles County in a poignant manner without it feeling judgmental or preachy.

Overall, this is a solid contribution to the series – well worth the investment of time if you are a Kellerman fan.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

I'm a fan of Kellerman's so I was super excited to be able to read his new book with the familiar duo working together on a new case. I particularly appreciated this book for delving into the world of the homeless in a way that helps the reader see them as individuals. The story line is solid and the characters are all fascinating. There's really not much to say except that if you read Kellerman, you expect to sit down with his book and instantly be immersed. And that's exactly what happened to me with this book. I enjoy them all, but will say that this one was particularly good!

Kellerman has always been one of my favorites, right from the first book, with Alex, Milo and the gang. This latest is no exception, and I loved the commentary about the homeless and mental health. Thrilling, clever, and always entertaining. Can’t wait for the next one.

I think I've read every book in this series, and they definitely don't disappoint!

Alex Delaware, psychologist and part-time police consultant is back helping Milo Sturgis solve a doozy of a crime. A man is found dead in his artist studio, and that's about all they know so far. As the story winds on, facts about the deceased, his family (talk about dysfunctional!), his associates and his "projects" all come to light, but nothing seems to get Milo and Alex closer to figuring out why Donny was murdered, and by who.

Mr. Kellerman weaves such intricate plotlines that you really don't know until he's ready to reveal the whodunit. Verbal imagery fills in the story, setting the mood and reeling in the reader. I enjoy his writing style as well.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

320 pages

4 and 1 / 2 stars

Dr. Alex Delaware and Lieutenant Milo Sturgis have a puzzler on their hands for this adventure. A wealthy young man, a photographer by trade, is murdered in is home. Three carefully placed shots, all straight to the heart.

His very flaky assistant is reluctantly somewhat helpful. She describes his last big project. They were called “The Wishers.” He would, with assistance, recruit homeless people to pose as someone that wished they could be. The pictures were beautiful, the people involved seemed happy with the results. They were very well paid for their time, with food and drinks available,

Did one of them notice that he was rich and somewhat careless with his money? Did they sneak back into the home and rob and kill the photographer?

Milo, Alex and Milo’s team go out to set about looking for the homeless people. Then, people start dying, getting murdered.

Add to this that Milo cannot get ahold of Adonis “Donny’s” father, a billionaire who is exceptionally reclusive. Donny’s mother is deceased. They are able to locate a brother and sister, but neither of them know Donny very well. It seems their father went in for serial monogamy and had six wives and six children with them. None of the half-siblings knew one another very well.

Alex reaches out to some of his medical colleagues and progress on the case is made slowly.

I love the steady relationship between Alex and Milo. Such good friends are hard to find.I’ve been reading Mr. Kellerman’s novels since the early 2000’s. Or perhaps earlier, and I’ve rarely been disappointed. I await this author’s next offering.

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Ballantine Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

In Los Angeles, the streets are lined with glittering mansions behind imposing gates and walls. Steps away, the alleys and dry washes are filled with ragged homeless encampments. Two different dimensions juxtaposed and disconnected. Folks can drive to Starbucks and Spagos in their BMWs and never see the cardboard cuties filling every vacant lot and empty sidewalk space. But these two worlds can only coexist for just so long. The latest Alex Delaware novel, thirty-eighth in the series if you are counting, connects these two separate worlds. A trust fund baby and sensitive artist photographs homeless in his studio and attempts to show them what they can aspire to if they ever drop their drug habits and their psych issues. When his assistant finds his bloodied remains one morning, the first suspects are the homeless who tramped through the studio, but for psychiatrist Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis this is just the beginning of a complex investigation that will take them places they hadn’t initially imagined. As usual, Kellerman manages to produce a fascinating crime novel with very little actual action but one that will keep the reader riveted.

Another good Alex Delaware novel. lots of murder.a dysfunctional family and I didn't see the ending coming

I love Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware novels. Always a fresh perspective on current events. This was a novel about rich vs poor, but not in a way you would expect.
Modern day wisdom would have you, along with other characters in the novel, saying, "Don't turn your back on the homeless. That's just asking to be taken advantage of." Kellerman addresses this by showing the wide range of personalities who make up the homeless community. It's not a one-size-fits-all world. In the end, it is only a psychologist's best guess.
Unnatural History came right down to the wire, almost killing one of the best characters that Kellerman has crafted in a very long time.
My only critique is that this galley-proof needs some serious proofreading. Do you hear that, Random House? I'm available.

This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher for the electronic copy. This is a gifted and talented author who writes a story that is difficult to put down. The characters are likable, and the novel is intriguing...mystery and intrigue...friends...secrets...red herrings...not easy to guess the ending of this book...enjoy.

So excited to have a chance to read this before it was released thanks to Netgalley. Kellerman strikes hot again. I love the Alex Delaware series and this did not disappoint. Highly recommend

This is the 38th (!) book in the Alex Delaware series (but you can read it as a standalone as well as most of the others) and neither Dr. Delaware or Jonathan Kellerman have lost any of their magic! I think our intriguing clinical psychologist and police whisperer has only aged about 10 years. The familiar characters are still around: Milo, the brilliant police detective; Robin, the luthier and longtime girlfriend; Blanche, the adorable French bulldog; the koi in the pond; the modern home/office in Beverly Glen; and that Cadillac Seville. OK, Doc — it’s really time to get rid of the gas guzzler. You need a Tesla so Sturgis can complain about all the tech stuff. Or Milo dumps the Impala for a Prius. Really, you’re both in California; upgrade for the sake of the environment.

In this narrative, Alex is asked by Milo to consult on the case of murder victim, Donny/Adonis Klement — photographer and son of megabillionaire who married 6 times and had an “only child” with each wife (two children have now met early demises as did a couple of wives, including Donny’s, plus Pregnant Wife #6 is younger than all her step children). Alex and Milo zero in on the messy family as well as Donny’s “The Wishers Project” that brought strangers into Donny’s home. He would dress up homeless people “like full-sized marionettes” and coax them to talk about their fantasies. He has a portfolio of 8 befores and afters, all immediately suspects.

Delaware and Sturgis have a sobering encounter with an array of homeless people and frustrating interviews with family members. More people turn up dead, so it becomes increasingly important to find who killed Donny and why.

The great thing of Kellerman’s series is the deductive adventure he takes you through. Alex and Milo come up with theories, do the research, discover other avenues (or rabbit holes) to pursue, encounter bad things along the way, eat out a lot, but eventually always come to a satisfying solution. I usually find myself at the end of each novel amazed at how it all unfolds. As usual, “Unnatural History” did not disappoint and I can start the countdown to the 39th chapter. 5 stars!

Thank you to Random House Publishing/Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): ALWAYS Since Milo has “startling” green eyes. Also a Klement brother has gray-green eyes and Officer Munro also has them.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Kellerman knows his native Southern California landscaping as well as the fact that silver-dollar eucalyptus is an interloper from Australia and both it and bougainvillea are hillside fire hazards.

I've devoured every Alex Delaware tale...and this was no exception! Always a great partnership with Milo as they diligently figure out 'who dunnit'! Great story with a unique victim's family backstory and insight into LA's homeless community. Keep them coming, Jonathan Kellerman!