Unnatural History by the great Jonathan Kellerman is the 38th!! book featuring psychologist Alex Delaware and his best friend, Milo, a gay LAPD detective. Having read all of this series, I was not disappointed in this installment. I have grown to love these characters as well as the many minor ones who exist in Delaware's world. A wealthy photographer is murdered and whodunit?? Kellerman is just a good author. He's very descriptive and smart, as is Dr. Delaware.

Sturgis and Delaware are back with their next big case. Twenty nine year old Adonis (Donny) Klement has been murdered in his photography studio. Donny is the son of the illusive billionaire, Victor Klement, leaving the two with many unanswered questions. Donny lives simply and is a salt of the earth kind of guy. With no enemies, Milo and Alex have their work cut out for them. Vincent is a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy and with 3 siblings, Donny has no real family connection. Working on a new series called The Wishers, Donny is photographing those without homes, putting their dreams into pictures. A project that’s destined for great things, but did Donny anger the wrong person, with more bodies piling up, the heat is on, but who killed Donny? Kellerman just keeps getting better and better! If anyone I know and love ever gets murdered I want Sturgis and Delaware on the case!! Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

In Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman's latest Alex Delaware book, a personal assistant to a wealthy photographer finds him shot to death in his bed. The victim had recently received good media attention for his latest project: images of homeless people in their personal dream situations. Some people believe this is crass
exploitation. But then new murders arise, and Alex and Milo begin peeling back layers of intrigue and complexity, This is just another in a long line of great books by Jonathan Kellerman.

It all starts with an elusive billionaire who followed a pattern of marrying, having one child and divorcing. All of his children (now adults) have all the wealth they would ever want. Most are very successful in each of their own fields. The youngest is a photographer, an artist wanting to be known for something unique and beautiful. As there's no shortage of homeless people in Los Angeles, he decides to photograph a few. First he takes their pictures as they are in their current lifestyle. Then he asks what they would choose to be if there were no limits. He supplied their dream wardrobe, hairstyle, make up, etc and photographed them again. They all seemingly went away happy for the experience, and certainly for the $500 that he gave each of them.

One day this artistic son if a millionaire was killed by an unknown assailant with a gun. So who shot him? Could it have been one of the homeless, or maybe a thief?Possibly his assistant or his girlfriend?

Now it's up to Dr. Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis to find out. They need to peel back the layers of this young man's complex life until they find the one person that wanted him dead.

I love reading Alex Delaware novels. They are always so complex and interesting. The end is always logical but unpredictable, unlike so many other books I've read.

Another great book! I always enjoy the friendship between Milo and Alex. The story itself wasn't my favorite one to date but it was still good and enjoyable. I will continue to read this series and wait for the next one.

This is the 38th book in the Alex, Delaware mystery series. You’d think the author would have run out of things to write about, or the books wouldn’t be very good anymore, but you’d be wrong. I always look forward to the latest Alex Delaware book because they’re set in Los Angeles, where I live. Kellerman shows LA as it is, from the beautiful beaches and crowded freeways to the seedy parts of downtown.

This is another outstanding entry in the series. A young man has been found dead, his latest project was photographing homeless people in a variety of outfits that showed them as the way they’d like to be seen. In other words as a country gentleman, or a firefighter.

Was the murderer one of the people he photographed, or were there others who wanted him dead?

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. 4 stars.

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

Jonathan Kellerman writes in such a way that it is a new book each time, yes it is part of a series, and yes sometimes it helps to know the backstory, but it is a fresh book each time. I enjoy reading of Alex Delaware and Detective Milo's cases and am always intrigued by the nuances in the writing.

3.5 stars

In this 38th book in the 'Alex Delaware' series, the psychologist helps LAPD detective Milo Sturgis investigate the murder of a photographer. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a plus.

*****

LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis can always rely on his friend, psychologist Alex Delaware, to assist with difficult cases. That's the situation when twenty-nine-year-old photographer Donny Klement is found shot to death in his studio. Donny's young assistant Melissande Gornick - who called 911 - is hysterical, and Alex is summoned to calm the girl down so she can answer questions.

Once Melissande is able to speak, she reveals that Donny was the son of a billionaire named Victor Klement, who Donny never saw. Moreover, Donny had a bunch of half-siblings from Victor's many marriages, most of whom he'd never met. Nevertheless daddy paid all Donny's bills, and Donny had a 'white card' that enabled him to get unlimited cash.

Asked about Donny's acquaintances, Melissande mentions that her boss was doing a photographic project called the Wishers. The Wishers project - which has received some positive press - turns out to be pairs of color portraits displayed side by side. The left-hand photo shows a dirty disheveled homeless person off the street, and the right-hand photo shows the same person cleaned up and dressed as someone they wish to be. Thus homeless Jack is put into the flight suit of a Top Gun pilot; homeless Beverly is made up as a movie star; homeless Solomon is attired in surgical scrubs; and so on. According to Melissande, each indigent person was paid $100 for the sitting.

It turns out Donny may have been too trusting for his own good. He allowed homeless people to wander around his workshop; rarely set his alarm; didn't lock his car; and may even have left wads of cash lying around his studio, where he slept most nights.

Milo and Alex speculate about two possible motives for Donny's murder: a half-sibling who wanted to increase his/her share of the inheritance; or a homeless person whose appetite for the better life was whetted, and who returned to rob the photographer.

Milo and his team of detectives investigate these possibilities, and Alex joins Milo when the cop interviews people of interest. Additional murders complicate the picture, and the investigation becomes more difficult before a break finally occurs.

In Alex's personal life, he sees patients in his child psychology practice; hangs out with his longtime girlfriend Robin and their cute French bulldog Blanche; plays his guitar and listens to jazz; etc.

As for Milo, he shows off his usual gargantuan appetite by ordering an extra large portion of fried shrimp and curly fries when he and Alex have lunch at a seafood restaurant.

Kellerman has a deft hand with description, and it's easy to picture the characters and what they're wearing. We also see Milo and Alex's peregrinations around Los Angeles, which provides a good feel for the sprawling city.

I enjoyed the book, which has an engaging plot and favorite recurring characters. Recommended to readers who like police procedurals, especially fans of Alex Delaware.

Thanks to Netgalley, Jonathan Kellerman, and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of the manuscript.

Admittedly, I requested this one by accident thinking it was something else. It was definitely a mistake. This is not my kind of book. Psychologist Alex Delaware works with Detective Milo Sturgis to find out who killed Donnie, the son of a wealthy man and a photographer. Donnie had a special photography project where he was photographing homeless people calling them rhe ‘Wishers’ and granting them a photo of themselves as something different if they had one wish. Different suspects emerge along the way. Was it one of the wishers?

I found the wishers idea weird and the dialogue seemed somewhat simplistic.

I’m glad I read this because now I know for certain that I don’t enjoy detective stories. Pick this up if you do.

In this next book of the series Milo Sturgis is sent to a scene where a wealthy photographer has been found dead by his new assistant. He is sitting slumped on his bed having been shot to death. Milo brings Alex in to help figure out just who this man was in life. He had recently become known for a project he had done on homeless people, dressing them in fancy clothes and then photographing them. Could one of them have become angry at their treatment and taken it out on the man? Soon more murders occur making Milo and Alex dig deeper into the lives of those closest to the dead. Follow along and find out just how deadly their investigation gets, will they find a killer or will a killer walk away free?

I have read Mr. Kellerman for over 30 years. He never disappoints. Some books are better than others, but all are worth reading. His Alex Delaware series is my favorite and I especially love the friendship between Alex and Milo. This is a solid story with the timely topics of mental illness and homelessness thrown in in addition to murder. I recommend it, but I also recommend the entire series to get the lay of the players and their interactions. Asking a lot, as there a LOT of books in this series, but you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Ballantine Books and Jonathan Kellerman for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Unnatural History is the 38th entry in the wildly successful Alex Delaware series. I began reading it soon after the first volume was published; When the Bough Breaks came out in 1985, so the series has been going strong for close to forty years, and very well may continue for many more. My thanks go to Net Galley and Random House Ballantine for the review copy. This book is for sale now.

For the uninitiated, Delaware is a child psychologist; Kellerman is also a child psychologist, and his earlier books incorporated his area of expertise, placing him in a subgenre all his own. I’ve wished many a time that he would write more books along these lines, but he hasn’t done a lot of it lately, and in this book, there are only glimpses of it. Nevertheless, the story held my attention.

I’m not giving you much of the plot, because there’s a synopsis for that, but in large strokes, the story is about the murder of the son of one of the world’s wealthiest men. He’s an odd duck, not terribly bright; his mother is dead, and his father is a hands-off parent, to say the very least. Our victim has unlimited access to money, and that’s about it. He makes a splash in the art world by photographing homeless people in costumes that reflect their deepest dreams. Find a derelict street person, and find out what they always wanted to be. A pilot? A surgeon? A ballerina? Offer them the chance to be photographed as if that’s what they are now, and give them a juicy wad of cash for their trouble; then send them back to the streets where they came from.

The family structure for this strange young artist is truly bizarre; the father marries, and he fathers a child. One child, no more. Then, a couple years later, he divorces his wife and does the same thing again. The children of these unions are never introduced to one another.

Thus, Milo has plenty of meaty material to work with, and with such strange circumstances, Alex is tapped to analyze the participants.

Delaware works part time as a kiddie shrink, often consulting when there is a court case involving insurance claims or divorce. However, he still has plenty of time to work for the Los Angeles Police Department, consulting on cases where a psychologist’s input is valuable. His BFF, Milo Sturgis, is a homicide detective, spurned by others in the department because of his sexual orientation. Often as not, Delaware ends up riding along as an unofficial partner.

This aspect of the series—the almost-a-cop—is usually where things start to slip a little, when anything does. I want to buy the premise, and so I can go along with it as long as it doesn’t become too obviously unrealistic. We all want to be entertained, right? So when Alex trots out to the patrol car and slides in beside Milo, I smile and nod, and I push away the little skeptic within me that says, “But really…?”

There have been a few Delaware books that have gone sideways for me for that reason, books where Delaware puts on his Kevlar vest and packs a revolver. I am happy to say that this isn’t one of them. In fact, the manner in which these details are dealt with is one of its strengths. First of all, there are times when Milo wants Alex to go with him, but Alex is busy. He has to be in court that morning. Thank you! Then later on, toward the climax, there’s a situation that (no spoilers) shakes out in a way I find the most believable of anything Kellerman has written. It’s satisfying, without sacrificing the fun of the story.

The whodunit at the end might be the nicest touch of all.

I recommend this mystery to Kellerman’s faithful readers, and to those that love the genre.

Jonathan Kellerman continues to keep his readers intrigued with his Alex Delaware series. This is a series I look forward to reading every time I see a new book is coming out. Though this is the 38th book in the series, the series continues to be just as good as the first book.
Unnatural History has a unique plot that kept me engaged throughout the story.
I love the relationship between Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis.
This story takes us into the despairing and sad life in the homeless world.
As always, I enjoy Jonathan Kellerman’s writing style.
Recommended series you need to read starting from book #1.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Forensic psychologist Alex Delaware once again finds himself working with his old friend Lt. Milo Sturgis to solve the murder of a budding photographer. Donny Klement, son of an eccentric, wealthy investor, has been getting a bit of well needed buzz around his latest project, but did it also get him killed.?

Donny's body was discovered by his besotted personal assistant, Melissande. Once Alex is able to calm the hysterical Melissande, she explains Donny's Wishers project is about giving the homeless (or unhomed as she refers to them) a chance to become, even if only for an hour, their greatest dream. Be it a pilot, a doctor or a teacher, Donny brings them into his home, offers them his hospitality, cleans them up and dresses them up to photograph them as they might have been. He then offers them a small stipend and sends them on their way. The first thought is that the case is about simple theft, but with many unanswered questions, there’s a lot to explore.

From Donny’s estranged and highly dysfunctional family, to the seedier sides and neighborhoods of LA, the investigation covers a lot of ground. When the body count starts to rise, time becomes critical. Alex will need to discover the one thread tying it all together.

I found the story line intriguing and greatly enjoyed the banter of old friends and inside jokes shared between Alex and Milo. It provided a bit of humor to lighten some of the darker story moments. I did feel there were places where Alex’s narratives and inner musings about some of the characters were a little drawn out and slowed the story down a bit, though, not so much that it took the reader out of the action. I still found the story flowed well, read quickly and kept me intrigued and guessing about the who and they why until the end.

When I got the publisher’s invitation to read and review Unnatural History, I almost didn’t accept it. At that time, I was overloaded with books and was reading (and reviewing) furiously to catch up. I ultimately accepted the review because the publication date was 2023 (I got the invite in late 2022). I was glad I accepted the invitation because this was a fantastic mystery.

The plotline for Unnatural History was intriguing. A promising young photographer is found murdered by his assistant. Alex is called to calm the assistant down enough for the police to talk to her. With little evidence and clues as to who killed Donny, the investigation soon turns to his family and the subjects of his newest project. Who killed Donny? Why is the killer going after Donny’s subjects? And can Alex keep out of the killer’s crosshairs?

Unnatural History is the 38th book in the Alex Delaware series. Given that there are 37 books before it, you don’t need to read the previous books. This book can be read as a standalone.

Unnatural History is a fast-paced book in Los Angeles, California, and the surrounding cities. I liked the different and slightly seedy look the author gave Los Angeles. It made for a more exciting read.

There are a couple of trigger warnings in Unnatural History. They would be homelessness, talk of drug use, talk of alcohol abuse and use, mental illness, and a brief description of accidental drowning. If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading this book.

The characters in Unnatural History were well-written, but some were flat in certain scenes. Mainly, it was the secondary characters of Donny’s family. I couldn’t connect with any of them. It was only with his family members. Every other character I was able to connect to them on a certain level.

Alex—As with the other books I have read, I liked him. Even though he was a child psychologist, he was happy to help Milo with his investigations.
Unnatural History fits perfectly into the mystery genre. The author did a perfect job of keeping who the killer was until the last couple of chapters. I was shocked at who it was and why this person was killing. The author did have me thinking it was someone other than who it was.

I thought the main storyline with Donny, who killed him, why, his family and the investigation was well written. I’m not going to get into the storyline, but it did take me for a ride. The author did open my eyes to insurance fraud (with the homeless).

The storyline with Milo, Alex, and Donny’s last project was sad. I get why Donny was doing what he did. I also got why people had an issue with what he was doing. The author did a great job of showing what problem homelessness is in California without coming across as a jerk. Most of the investigation centered around the homeless, and the backstories were heartbreaking.

The end of Unnatural History was very poignant. I was pretty pleased with how the author ended Donny’s storyline. A scene at the very end made me teary-eyed and, in turn, made me think about family.

I would recommend Unnatural History to anyone over 21. There is language, violence, and no sexual situations. Also, see my trigger warning paragraph.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books, NetGalley, and Jonathan Kellerman for allowing me to read and review Unnatural History. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Unnatural History is written by Jonathan Kellerman. This is the first book that I have read by this author. The book is action packed and full of suspense. I love that the author put in a lot of twists and turns to throw you off. I loved the banter between the characters. The story draws you in right when the crime is discovered.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

Believe it or not, Unnatural History is the 38th installment of the Alex Delaware series of novels by Jonathan Kellerman. In this novel, an employee of a wealthy photographer arrives at work and finds her employer dead. Her employer had received media attention for his photographs of homeless people in their “dream” scenarios. Milo Sturgis is called in, and he calls in his friend Alex Delaware to help him solve the case. Most of those who might know something aren’t cooperating, and Sturgis and Delaware are having a difficult time following up leads.

Jonathan Kellerman has established himself as an excellent storyteller; he has a way of weaving stories and keeping readers on the edges of their seats. He is able to create ups and downs and unexpected scenarios to build suspense, which, in this novel, starts at the beginning and builds throughout the entire novel. Sturgis and Delaware are excellent protagonists. Readers of the previous books know their history and appreciate their skills. The supporting characters are well-developed and blend well with the familiar characters. Even those readers who aren’t familiar with the series can read the book as a standalone novel.

While this may not be the best in the series, it will keep the interest of readers and keep them on the edge. The suspense is palpable, and the storyline is one that will keep readers’ interest.


Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Detective Milo Sturgis has another tough case, so who's he going to call?

GHOSTBUSTERS!

Just kidding. Of course, he calls Dr. Alex Delaware, psychiatrist, best friend and sidekick. But before Alex can view the scene, he's called on to calm down the decedent's assistant. After some smooth shrink moves, Mel gets calmed down enough to give the story to Milo and Alex - which is simply she came into work and found him dead. They also find out about his latest project, Wishing Makes It So. The project featured street people that he dressed up as their unfilled dreams, before photographing them in his home and giving them a handful of money.

Donny Klement had a relatively simple life - son of a billionaire whose mother OD'ed when he was a teenager, he hasn't seen his father in years. In fact, his father is so reclusive that Milo can't even be sure where he is living. Donny also has several half-siblings spread out across the country with whom he has next to no contact. But who would have hated him enough to want him dead? A half-sibling hoping for more a piece of his father's estate? Or one of the homeless people that he thought he was helping?

This is absolutely my favorite mystery duo. I have read most if not all of this series. I love Kellerman's prose. I love the relationship between Milo and Alex. And I love Blanche, but that's more because I want a French Bulldog too. Without a doubt, I will read the next. And the next. And the next until he quits writing them, which I hope won't be for a long time.

What a cozy feeling, to revisit your old friends, in a book series. I have read about Alex and Milo throughout the series and always enjoy the next adventure. Unnatural History is a crime investigation story involving Detective Milo Sturgis and his ever-present sidekick, psychologist, Dr. Alex Delaware. Milo gets a case involving the murder of a son of a well-known billionaire. The son, Donny, short for Adonis, is found murdered in his office/home in a part of LA. His assistant is the person who found him and is anxious and upset so Alex steps in to try to calm her down. And thus begins the next case that the pair will tackle together. This is a fast paced police procedural story with all the elements of a great series. The characters are like old friends who you enjoy reconnecting with from time to time. Kellerman always includes descriptions of actions that are unique to a character, or specific places they go or food they eat, that makes the reader recall previous novels with some nostalgia. There may come a time when I need to tackle a reread of this series, although with so many books, that is no small feat!
This is a fun series to pick up and enjoyable throughout. The wonderful thing about this series, and this book is no exception, you can start anywhere and really enjoy the story. There maybe bits and pieces that are nostalgic for readers who have been with the series for a long time, but there is nothing that a new reader will really miss in their enjoyment of this story itself.
Give it a try! Always some fun with this crew of characters.

#UnnaturalHistory #NetGalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantineBooks

Jonathan Kellerman yet again demonstrates that he is truly the king of mystery and crime writing. This is his 38th book in the Alex Delaware series and it’s every bit as good as the previous books. The novel delves into the issue of homelessness in Los Angeles, highlighting the lives and struggles of the city's homeless population.

The book follows the story of a wealthy photographer who is murdered after taking a deep dive into the lives of LA's homeless.

When the police are stumped, Detective Milo Sturgis turns to his trusted friend and psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware for help in solving the case. The book is filled with twists, dead ends, and as always, a sprinkling of humor.

I love the Alex Delaware books and as long as Kellerman keeps writing them, I’ll keep reading! This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review.