Jonathan Kellerman writes a realistic murder mystery with a methodical turn of events that keeps you gripped through and through. For readers who appreciate quirky characters with a somber resonating depth, Unnatural History is a fascinating read that explores the human psyche in chilling detail.

On a superficially lovely morning, a woman shows up for work with her usual enthusiasm. She’s the newly hired personal assistant to a handsome, wealthy photographer and is ready to greet her boss with coffee and good cheer. Instead, she finds him slumped in bed, shot to death. And Alex and Milo are off and running once again. I didn’t see this end coming so it was a satisfying mystery from start to finish. I look forward to my annual Alex/Milo and hope they keep coming! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

The 38th installment of the Alex Delaware series and he is once again paired up with Milo Sturgess and consulting on a murder. A photgrapher, Donnie, is murdered. He had been photographing homeless people who he had costumed as the person they had fantasized being. Did one of the homeless subjects kill him? Donnie's father turns out to be a reclusive billionaire who had been married quite a few times with three children by different mothers, and a child on the way with his current fiancee. Maybe one of the other children wanted Donnie's share of the inheritance when the father dies?

The was an interesting, though complex murder investigation and Alex contributed a great deal in helping point Milo towards investigting possible scenarios. I did get lost sometimes in the number of characters. I've enjoyed many of the Alex Delaware novels and while this was not my favorite it was a good, solid read.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on February 7, 2022.

This latest Delaware/Sturgis installment about a young man's murder was entertaining but not the author's best.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This is one of my favorite series, and it never disappoints. This one felt slower than some others, but I care so much about these characters that it kept me going.

This is another book in the series by Jonathan Kellerman featuring Milo Sturgis and Alex Delaware. They have been friends for years and Alex, a psychiatrist helps Milo, a homicide detective with complex murders.
This one is particularly good. The victim is the son of an extraordinarily rich man but has no relationship with him or any of his other half siblings
I did not figure out who the murder was or what was going on until close to the end – which for me, is a sign of a good mystery. I have only read a couple in the series but had no trouble keeping up with the recuring characters. Enjoyable – recommended

Another solid entry in the Alex Delaware series! The friendship between Alex and Milo never gets stale. Jonathan Kellerman’s way with descriptive language continues to make me smile. While there have been a few lackluster episodes throughout the years, Unnatural History is among the best, with strong character studies of dysfunctional families.

Unnatural History takes us through the investigation into the untimely death of Don Klement, a photographer who pays homeless people to dress up and pose for photos as their dream persona. Was he killed for the stash of cash he kept at his studio? Or was there some connection to his unconventional, not-so—very-close family?

Unnatural History kept me engaged in the story and turning pages well into the night. Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an opportunity to read an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've been reading Kellerman so long that Milo & Alex feel like old friends.

I love these books and will continue to read every friggin' one. I used to get defensive about Los Angeles when the author dissed LA but now I find him mostly correct in his criticisms.

Great procedurals, and so much more. And so wonderfully LA.

Thanks to the grand folks at NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC.

I am a fan of Kellerman but this book failed to engage me. Perhaps this repetitive story line… grumpy gay policeman uses psychologist to solve murders… has become harder and harder to believe. Also, the death defying scenes they find themselves in lack credulity. I do not believe there are many police departments that allow such hands on participation of a civilian. I am always glad to read another whodunit but this author has to create a better plot line … the competition is fierce.

Another electrifying Kellerman murder mystery. Alex Delaware continues in the series with a strange murder with no apparent suspect. I sat on edge of my chair until finished the novel.

Love Milo and Alex working together. When an odd "artist" is found murdered, his assistant is in need of Alex's help to calm down. Milo is in need of Alex's keen insight into people. Most of the suspects are homeless people that the artist tried to help. As the homeless people themselves start being murdered, Milo begins to wonder if he will be able to solve this case.
thanks netgalley for another great Alex Delaware read.

This continues the author’s Alex Delaware series. As usual it pairs Delaware up with detective Milo Sturgis in solving an unusual case involving the murder of a well to do photographer in his studio shortly after doing a photo series with homeless people. If follows the standard formula of bringing in several different suspects, but eventually narrows down to one. A good, fast paced read.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

Another great mystery from J. Kellerman. I love this series and this one does not disappoint. There are many twists and turns that keep you guessing

I have read every book in this well-crafted series. In Unnatural History, Milo and Alex investigate the murder of Adonis "Donny" Klement, a handsome, young, wealthy photographer, who has an incredibly odd family dynamic, and one of his relative's could have eliminated the young man.. Donny's latest photography project, which involved several of L'.A's homeless population, also was a little out there and could have led to violence.. So suspects abound for Milo and Alex to sort through. I compare Kellerman books against each other, and the latest couple of releases have not been as strong as the early books in the series. I don't feel like the character development is as robust and that's a shame because Milo and Alex are fascinating.. I would recommend reading the series in order to get the backstories on Milo, Alex and the rest of the cast. .

Dr. Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis have teamed up again, this time to solve the murder of an altruistic and wealthy photographer. When the facts of the case just do not add up, will Delaware and Sturgis be able to figure out what happened before someone else gets hurt?

Having read all of the novels in this series, I was not surprised at the formulaic plot and nonexistent character development. Reading a Delaware novel is like putting on a well worn pair of slippers: soft and comfortable, but just on the edge of wearing out. What you see is always what you get: a detective with a huge appetite, calling on his friend to help with cases that require psychological introspection. Nothing really ever changes in the Delaware/Sturgis world, which is actually starting to wear thin. Alex Delaware is a child psychologist, yet his dealings with the juvenile world make only cameo appearances in the more recent novels. Always good for a quick read, however, I will continue to check in on Alex and Milo in the future.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this novel was entirely my own.

This is ongoing investigations featuring Milo and Alex. This story starts at the scene of the crime and shows the problems they run into and the questions they ask to try and solve the murder and other stories that come along during the investigation. Another great read!

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy! This is the 38th book in the Dr. Delaware series but you can read it as a standalone. I love this series and always enjoy catching up with the characters while they solve the latest murder. Highly recommend!

I am a Kellerman fan and this just may be my favorite novel in the Alex Delaware series. Milo Sturgis brings Alex into the mystery at the onset. They find a twenty something young photographer shot to death in his studio. The studio is rather bare bones and the photographer appears to have been living there. Their investigations lead to a very dysfunctional family (one father and five mothers with one child each), the homeless community in and around Los Angeles and a serial killer. The interaction between the characters, their being so well developed and defined, and a plot that is even more so make this a great way to spend a weekend afternoon. Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for an ARC for an honest review.

A photographer with a very complicated family history is murdered. Was it one of his family members wanting more of the inheritance or was it one of the homeless people he was photographing. This book is part of a series, but easy to read as a stand alone We watch the police detective and his psychiatrist friend work on the case. It got a bit bogged down/slow at times but that is also the nature of police work. Overall an interesting read

LA Detective Milo Sturgis calls in his friend , psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware, to help calm a photographer's assistant who called in her boss's murder. As they look into the victim's family, it is revealed that while he receives monetary support from his wealthy father, there is no contact between the two.
The victim, Adonis "Donny" Klement had been working on a project photographing the homeless. He would clean them up, dress them in whatever role they desired, photograph them, pay them and send them on their way. Did one of them decide they wanted more money and kill him? Who was helping him find the homeless to photograph? Is his murder connected to his mysterious wealthy father or his father's ex-wives? Are his half siblings involved?
As Alex and Milo look into Donny's family, associates and the homeless he photographed, more bodies are discovered. It's a race against time to unmask the murder before someone else dies.
#38 in the series does not disappoint, looking forward to #39.

#UnnaturalHistory #NetGalley