Dr. Delaware is back with his friend Milo Sturgis, the police detective, for another great story. After recuperation, Dr, Delaware is anxious to work with Milo again, and so is glad Milo has called him to come to a homicide scene. There are two people who are dead, a man and a woman. It looks like someone found this in a tryst and offed them. The questions are: who are they and why were they killed. The pair sets out to find answers to the questions. The way is long and moves around a lot, and both Milo and Alex feel the frustration of not knowing the answers and how each path they take leads them to another dead end. They really have no idea who the intended victim is and who the other person is. As always, Milo relies on Alex’s keen insight to help him along in his search. Together, they both work well, gradually shifting through clue after clue to figure things out. I always enjoy watching them at work, as they do it so well and complement each other in every way. This story has its twists and turns as they all do, and it is fascinating to watch the duo go through it all, hoping to find answers. In this story, there are answers, but they are hidden well, and it takes a while to get to the bottom. I enjoyed watching it all take place, as I usually do in this series. This is definitely another good one for those who read the series books. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

I’m a die hard Kellerman fan and I’ve read every single book in the Alex Delaware series. This one did not disappoint! Alex and Milo were able to put the pieces together to solve a complicated case once again and
It was a very entertaining journey!

Detective Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware team up to solve a double murder in ritzy Bel-Air. The victims are an Italian heir to a shoe company and a rich married housewife. Crime is scarce in this neighborhood, and with no signs of forced entry and nothing stolen they think one of the victims was a target, Their investigation leads them into the seedier side of LA, and discover the victims have both tried to re-invent themselves. But someone in their past doesn't want them to forget who they really are.

A worthy entry into the Sturgis/Delaware series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine books for providing a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been reading Alex Delaware novels for decades and always look forward to the adventures of Milo, Alex, Blanche, Robin and the usual supporting cast.

Alex is still recovering from injuries in the last book and Milo is getting over guilt for putting him in harms way when they take on a double homicide in Bel Air. Lots of possible suspects, memorable characters, dead ended theories, twists and following the evidence in a wonderfully done police procedural, as usual. The resolution was a bit abrupt after all the build up but I enjoy the journey of a Kellerman book just as much as the destination and I am always sad when they are over.

I highly recommend this series overall - its one of my top 5 favorites.

Once again, Jonathan Kellerman delivers a masterful story in his latest Alex Delaware novel, "The Ghost Orchid" (Ballantine Books 2024). Psychologist Alex Delaware has mostly recovered from a harrowing near-death experience tied to a previous case he worked on alongside his close friend, Detective Milo Sturgis. However, Milo is still grappling with the emotional aftermath of putting his best friend's life in jeopardy. To ease him back into their crime-solving partnership, Milo selects what he believes is a straightforward case: a double murder in an upscale Bel Air residence.

But, as luck would have it for Alex and perhaps not so much for Milo, this case turns out to be far more intricate and elusive than anticipated. The trail is littered with perplexing clues that seem to lead nowhere. It takes the combined wit and quick thinking of Alex and Milo to unravel the complexities, and I simply couldn't get enough of it.

I have always held a deep affection for Alex Delaware books. So much so that when I received this one from NetGalley, I attempted to postpone reading it, reserving it as a treat for myself during a leisurely weekend. However, my efforts at delay were in vain. I cracked open the book the day it arrived and devoured it within the next. Yes, it's that captivating. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who appreciates clever, intelligent detective stories that consistently defy expectations.

I wait patiently for each new book. This time I was waiting to make sure that Alex, (Dr. Delaware) was going to be
healed from his serious injuries of months earlier, and while he’s better, best friend, Lt Sturgis, is still feeling guilty
for allowing Alex to be placed in harms way… While not the focus of the story, I appreciated it because one of the
reasons few civilians are hauled around to crime scenes is the potential for injury or worse…
In this book, we have a series of oddities surrounding bodies found in a swimming pool. Suspects abound-
answers are long and hard to come to the surface. Not all victims pull at my heartstrings, but these folks worked at it until I almost felt for them…
This is one of.my favorite in this series because we do not exactly clear everything up in the usual ways, and there
is at least one situation left without much resolution..
Also, the Title of the book is really what caught my eye~ as a native and life long Californian, I had not heard of
a “Ghost Orchid.” Native to Florida. and while the tie wasn’t immediately obvious, it’s there..
As usual, I recommend this book highly, and am going to read it again to see if I can figure a few things out…

My thanks to Ballentine Books via NetGalley for the opportunity to read
this book for review purposes.

Dr. Alex Delaware and Lieutenant Milo Sturgis are back. Unusual and complicated murders need to be resolved. The similarities are a few yet there are questions as to who was a victim and who just happened to be dead by just being there. Set in posh Bel Air this case is right up their alley.
While not necessary, previous reading of Kellerman works add to the fleshing out of AlexDelaware and Milo Sturgis and make for very easy reading.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

love love love this series, The characters are well written and now seem like family. the plots are great and the mysteries are good.

As usual, Jonathan Kellerman's latest Alex Delaware novel, The Ghost Orchid (Ballantine Books 2024), is superb. Psychologist Alex Delaware is pretty much recovered from a near-death experience from a case he handled with close friend Detective Milo Sturgis, but Milo is still recovering from the psychological blowback of placing his best friend too close to death. To ease him back into their crime solving partnership, Milo selects what he considers an easy case, a double murder in a posh Bel Aire home, that appears pretty straightforward. Unfortunately for Milo--and good for Alex--it turns out to be complicated, tricky, with lots of clues that seem to go nowhere right. It takes all of Alex and Milo’s clever quick-brained unraveling to figure this one out and I can't get enough of it.

I always love Alex Delaware books, so much so that when I received this one from NetGalley I tried to put off reading it, saving it for a reward, or a long slow weekend because I knew once started, I would finish it way too fast. Delay didn’t work. I started it the day I received it and finished it the next. Yep. It’s that good. Highly recommended for anyone who likes clever, smart detective stories that aren't always what they seem.

304 pages

5 stars

Psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware is slowly recovering from an accident he suffered when last on an investigation with close friend Lieutenant Milo Sturgis. Milo feels horribly guilty and doesn’t ask Alex for help for several months. He finally calls Alex for help. (At the suggestion of Robin, Alex’s partner.)

A man and a woman have been shot to death at the man’s house near Bel Air, California. The shots are very precise and with an unusual gun.

So begins our twenty-ninth (!!) story in the Alex Delaware/Milo Sturgis series by the fantastic author Jonathan Kellerman.

This is a twisty and very engaging novel. I was engrossed from page one. I so enjoy these books. I have been reading Mr. Kellerman’s books since the first one. The victims, Meagin and Gio, are very believable. Sufficient background was given on both characters, as well as their closest relatives, to fully flesh them out. Their motives and manner of thinking made perfect sense.

Alex and Milo must go on a deep dive to parse out Meagin’s history. It was quite an adventure and well worth waiting for.

The solution to the murders is surprising and fast moving. The case suddenly explodes into action. It was a superb ending to the story.

I truly admire Mr. Kellerman’s consistent talent for writing this series. I will continue to read his novels.

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

This latest entry in the Alex Delaware series has a lot of heart.

I ended up feeling for our victims in this one. I didn’t necessarily start out that way, but as the story continued and I learned more about them, it was heartbreaking.

And funnily enough, a relatively minor plot point had me actually tearing up at the end. I mean, geez…it wasn’t even anything do to with the story, but the author got me right in the feels!

The story is suspenseful and it’s the kind of story that sticks with you.

An excellent read!

• ARC via Publisher

This is the 39th 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).

In his characteristic style, Kellerman skillfully uses evocative prose full of insightful and often amusing similes and metaphors. Additionally, he explores the ripple effect of abuse on the lives of family members in a poignant manner without it feeling judgmental or preachy. The significance of the ghost orchid is paramount to understanding one victim’s psyche as well as an important clue to solving the mystery of her death.

There is a subplot related to adoption and custody issues that some have found a distraction. I always appreciate the exploration of Alex’s (and Kellerman’s) “roots” as a child psychologist. It adds a dimension to his character that reveals his compassion and vulnerability based on his own childhood.

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.

You never go wrong with Alex and Milo. Another good mystery. Fast paced and interesting story, I recommend this one for sure. Though you should read them all, it is fine as a standalone story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Ghost Orchid.

I've been a big fan of the Alex Delaware series for a reallllyy long time so I was excited my wishlist request was granted.

The mystery was good; a typical procedural where we follow Milo and Alex along in their investigation as they interview suspects, witnesses, and people who knew the victims.

I just wished the bad guy had received his comeuppance.

As always, the stars of the series is the bromance between Alex and Milo; their great chemistry as friends and colleagues, their rapport and banter, and how well they work together as friends and investigative partners.

And, it's always good to check in with Robin and Blanche.

Looking forward to the next book!

Alex Delaware books are so great to read. I love the mystery but I really love seeing the characters interact. Alex Delaware is a fun character to read and I always love these books!

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley, but all opinions are my own.

Kellerman is one of my favorites, and I’m always thrilled when Alex and Michael are back on the case.

This latest is no exception. Taut, entertaining and swift, happy to chat up and anxiously await the next one.

Another hit from the author. His stories just keep getting better and better. Filled with much mystery and suspense which keeps the reader page turning to see what happens next. A great storyline as always. One small complaint is that the custody issue distracted from the story and added nothing to the plot. It was quite a distraction.

Slipping back into this world after a long hiatus was nice.. You don't need to be a former reader to enjoy the story; a lot of who everyone is and what they are doing is doled out. The focus then becomes on the murder-mystery which goes in a few directions and ends up pretty sad. But it's a quick read, a decent detective novel with a turn or two

This is the 39th (!!!) book in the Dr. Alex Delaware series and I’m one of those obsessed readers who has read them all. And Jonathan Kellerman keeps creating unique books full of new mysteries and interesting psychological analyses. This novel, “The Ghost Orchid” would have captured my interest by just the title alone (a rare, hard-to-find Florida orchid that was featured in Susan Orlean’s bestseller “The Orchid Thief”). This name is definitely Kellerman’s most unique and interesting title.

Dr. Delaware's assistance is again requested by Detective Milo Sturgis and together they take us on another amazing journey of deductive reasoning helped along by the doc’s keen observations of the people involved. It’s still a thrill to see well-developed play theories and ideas off each other, sometimes realizing they are going in the wrong direction, but ultimately hitting on the “just right” solution.

In this crime thriller, Alex is still recovering from almost being killed by a lunatic with a bat in the last book and it takes a guilty-feeling Milo over four months to again invite Alex on a “different case”. There’s two naked people shot poolside at a BelAir rental. He’s the scion of an Italian shoe empire (there’s an impressive closet); she’s an older married neighbor. Kellerman’s storytelling skills evolve from this point. Which one was the target? Both had shallow pasts. Why would a murderer kill both of them? As usual, it’s a steady pace of interviews and theories, following leads and then following new ones. I love this sort of police procedural — Alex and Milo are reliable and competent and it’s through hard police work that the crimes they investigate get solved. 5 stars! Can’t wait for number 40 next year!

Thank you to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for a free 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 Milo has green eyes and this time another character, Kathy, has them, too. But I was amazed by this gem: “Surprising because only two percent of people have pure-green eyes and I’d never seen ocular emeralds like my friend’s.”
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The title, “Ghost Orchid” tells you immediately that Kellerman, along with his always very descriptive observations of southern Californian landscaping, has done his esoteric horticultural homework. Yay!

The Ghost Orchid is …”a plant with no solid roots, parasitic, rare and hard to locate” and another complex mystery by best selling author Jonathan Kellerman. Milo Sturgis once again recruits psychologist Alex Delaware to help him with a baffling murder in Bel-Air. Giovanni Aggiunta, wealthy scion of an Italian bespoke shoe company has been discovered shot through the heart. Lying near him is Meagin March, the wife of millionaire real estate developer Douglass March. Milo and Alex begin a painfully slow, determined investigation to discover exactly who Gio And Meagan were and what brought them together. This multi-layered case lead to a past full of surprises, deception and sorrow.

Meagin March is an unforgettable, tragic character who deserved better in life. Kellerman tells her story with heart-breaking detail and the talent of a seasoned author. A subplot in the Ghost Orchid may become the next in this series but it will be hard to forget this haunting story. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Jonathan Kellerman for this ARC.