Reading any Kellerman novel is a great way to spend a weekend. In this one Milo is investigating the murders of a young man and older (a Cougar?) woman in Bel Air. They are found at the pool and unclothed. Alex had been badly hurt previously and was bored because Milo had not brought him into any new cases. That alone made him more than willing to step in. They learned the man (the owner of the house) was a twenty something son of wealthy shoe manufacturers in Italy. The woman was the wife of an exceedingly wealthy realtor and when they examined the house, they found hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of her jewelry in the bedroom. Their investigation leads to false identities, more murders, childhood abuse and a plot that was not only complex but also complicated. The ending, even better. Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for an ARC for an honest review.

This is the 39th book in the Alex Delaware series and the third one I’ve read. As with all of the books, this can be read as a standalone, but they are a much richer experience if you have the back story between Alex and Milo that the previous books give you.

Alex and Milo’s relationship takes a story that would typically be a traditional police procedural and turns it into much more. The development of their friendship and interactions adds a layer that most similar stories lack. I loved witnessing Alex and Milo traverse this period after Alex was injured on a case with Milo and Milo’s reluctance to put Alex again in a dangerous situation. It felt authentic and provided an exciting plotline as the case progressed.

This is a thriller, so I don’t want to say too much about it, but I have one non-spoiler tidbit to share. This story has two murders, and our duo doesn’t know which person was the target. So not only does the reader have a murder mystery they can solve, but they also can solve the mystery of who was the target. It was so much fun and helped keep the pacing consistent, the suspense level high, and me focused.

This is another excellent story in the Alex Delaware series!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
"The Ghost Orchid" is #39 in Mr. Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series & I have been a fan & reader of this series from the very beginning.
As I have stated before, I love this series because I love the relationship that exists between the 2 main characters, Alex & Miles, & I love how all of the murder mysteries that they are involved in are very complex, original & well thought out.
Many series authors become stale over time but not in this case.
"The Ghost Orchid" was another winner for me. It had alot of twists & turns that kept me very interested & entertained that I couldn’t wait to find some free time everyday to be able to continue reading it.
I am anxiously waiting for book #40.

More like a 3.75 stars for me but I can round up. A solid Alex Delaware novel with characters I am comfortable with after an astonishing 39 novels. An interesting premise to have two murder victims and have it not be clear for sometime who was the actual target and who was collateral damage. I did find the side story related to the custody dispute to be a bit random and seemed tacked on. But otherwise, a solid job in teasing out the mystery in a compelling way.

I've been a fan of Jonathan Kellerman's since swiping his books from my mom's nightstand, so I was excited to receive this ARC. In The Ghost Orchid, Dr. Alex Delaware and his longtime friend Milo Sturgis investigate the double homicide of a playboy and his married lover. As always, the story moves along briskly and is enjoyable from start to finish. If I had one criticism, it would be occasional purple prose ("ocular emeralds" to describe Milo's eyes, for example), but that small issue aside, this is another solid entry that longtime fans are sure to enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I have been reading Jonathan Kellerman's books since the very first one was published. Once again, Kellerman doesn't disappoint. This book starts off where the last one ended, with psychologist and police consultant Alex Delaware recuperating from being attacked by a serial killer. He's on the mend, struggling with the aftermath of the brutal attack, and missing his best friend, Los Angeles homicide detective Milo Sturgis, and the rest of the team he consults with. Milo is giving Alex time to R&R, not to mention bottling up his own feeling that he could have prevented his friend's attack. After Alex's girlfriend Robin calls Milo to say Alex is ready to return to work consulting, the plot segues to the latest murder mystery. Alex's psychological expertise is critical to solving what seems to be an unsolvable murder case, since one of the victims seems to have no history. Once again, Kellerman skilfully and sensitively draws the reader in to the case, the cast of characters. His beautiful prose and masterful storytelling, as usual, caused me to read the entire book over 2 days, slowly savoring every word.
Jonathan Kellerman is one of my favorite authors, and I eagerly await his new book, often unable to get into the next book in my TBR pile, because his books are so great that I am disappointed by anything that isn't as good. If you like murder mysteries and good storytelling, read this book, then go back to the first book in the series and keep reading. You'll be glad that you did.

Sometimes, even psychologists get the blues. This, the 39th book in the series, opens with Dr. Alex Delaware not quite sure how to deal with his longtime friend, Los Angeles Police Detective Milo Sturgis. As they worked together on a previous case, Alex was seriously injured, and Milo feels responsible and has been keeping his distance by not calling Alex in to help with investigations as he usually does. That changes a little bit, though, when does need help at a crime scene in Bel Air; two victims, a man and a woman, have been shot through the heart, and Milo doesn't yet know who to blame.

The man, part of a family that owns a ritzy Italian shoe company, lives here, and the woman - who's married to someone else - lives in an even more oppulent home just down the street. With the bodies found outside and no signs of anything missing from the house, both Milo and Alex suspect that their presumably illicit affair could be a motive. But the husband, a successful businessman who's on the road far more often than at home, insists he knew nothing about the affair.

Little by little, clues pile up that suggest the dead woman might not be who she's been claiming to be - thus raising the possibility of an entirely different motive and an expanded search for the killer. Ferreting out her background, though, is no easy task - and Milo brings in other trusted department colleagues who are familiar to fans of the series to help. In the midst of the investigation, another body turns up - further complicating matters. A major turning point comes when Alex's longtime main squeeze, guitar restorer Robin, identifies an important clue (one that relates to the book title). To that end, I must say it was a treat to see Robin play a bit greater role than usual in this installment - as well as a little less of the descriptions of every street that Milo and Alex drive down (don't get me wrong - I enjoy that part, but sometimes it gets to be a bit much).

Of course, everything works out in the end, as does a potentially nasty situation with one of Alex's private patients that's a secondary thread throughout the latter part of the book. And oh yes, for those who haven't read other books in the series, don't sweat it; this one stands on its own. As for me, I'll just thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me once again to read and review a pre-release copy. Now bring on the next one!

Milo Sturgis and Alex Delaware are back in The Ghost Orchid - Book 39 in the series.

"In an isolated area of Bel Air, a pool boy discovers a man and woman shot in the backyard of a house. Milo brings Alex in to consult and they quickly find the couple was having an affair. As they dig into each victim's background, they struggle to find which one the killer came for. Was it both? Jealous husband? What secrets are worth killing for?"

Kellerman still finds ways to keep a story fresh. Milo is dealing with the guilt of the assault on Alex from the last book so he's using kid gloves to keep Alex as far from things as possible. This is a straight-up police procedural. They follow clues to find answers. With Alex there is always a psychological aspect. This often drives the direction the team will search. Kellerman keeps the killer right out of view so you won't guess.
I like that Kellerman throws in an Easter Egg for one of his nonfiction books. And Robin's work as a luthier is always fascinating.

Another great Alex Delaware story. Can be read as a standalone.

Ghost Orchid is a suspenseful and gripping novel by renowned author Jonathan Kellerman. The story is centered around a psychologist, Alex Delaware, as he delves into a mysterious murder case that leads him into the dark and twisted world of the rich and powerful. Kellerman expertly weaves together complex characters and a riveting plot, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
In this book, Kellerman skilfully combines psychological suspense with intense storytelling to create a thrilling read that will captivate readers. The intricate web of secrets and lies will keep you guessing until the final page.
I highly recommend this book.

This book was quite a ride. I had not even an iota of how it was going to end, which is the best kind of book. Kellerman really outdoes himself with crazy plots that somehow always wind up making sense. I also really appreciated the banter between Alex and Milo. That has been lacking in some of the previous books and I have sorely missed it so it was wonderful to see that come out again. I feel like these each get better as he goes on. I do hope there are more in the future.

Many thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman brings more than just murder to the 39th book in the Alex Delaware series. It combines a police procedural with psychology to bring additional insights into the story and people. The books also tend to be cerebral in nature and less on action.

Los Angeles Police Lieutenant Milo Sturgis and psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware team up again when Milo is called to the scene of a double murder. Gio Aggiunta, the playboy son of an Italian shoe empire owner and his married neighbor Meagin March were found dead near the pool. There’s no forced entry, no forensic evidence, and no sign of a robbery. As Milo and Alex investigate the victims, they find both had troubled pasts. As they continue to pursue leads, more layers are added to the victims’ characters.

Milo and Alex have been friends for years and while they often approach cases from different standpoints, their investigative and cognitive techniques gel as well as their dispositions, and they keep the cases fresh and entertaining. The way they bounce ideas off each other feels natural. At this stage of the series, the main characters are well known to this reader and have depth. Some secondary characters from previous books in the series show up to keep things interesting and provide additional awareness of how Milo and his team work together. It was great to see Detective Alicia Bogomil have a larger role in this novel and Alex’s partner Robin showed up several times as well.

Kellerman’s writing is polished and appealing, doing a good job of transporting me to the Los Angeles area. Whether they are talking about or experiencing the traffic or food or the people, I was living the events with Milo and Alex. Food shows up frequently in this series. They both want to achieve justice and hold bad people accountable for their actions. The story is well-plotted and has characters that felt authentic.

As always, the story is descriptive. This book will thrill fans of police procedurals who relish a story with realistic and diverse characters. Additionally, several themes are explored including mental health, divorce, friendship, family, rage, and much more. While this story isn’t high on suspense, it is a well-conceived and executed mystery.

Overall, this was a story that quickly drew me into Milo and Alex’s world and their latest case. It was an engaging read with a deeply involved plot and a solid mystery to unravel. I also liked the insights into Alex’s work with child custody and evaluation cases.

Readers that like the series, mysteries, and police procedurals should enjoy this latest novel. I don’t recommend jumping into this series at number 39, though. Start earlier in the series to have the best reading experience. I have read over 20 books in the series and plan to read them all. They’re never disappointing.

Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Jonathan Kellerman provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for February 6, 2024.

Another solid entry in the Alex Delaware series. The secondary plot seemed a little unnecessary as it added little to the novel but all in all a solid read.

A sustained very engaging read from beginning to end, Ghost Orchid opens with the double murder of a man and woman, Gio and Meagin, who are found in Gio’s pool. Turns out Meagan is a married woman and her husband, of course, must be investigated. Gio, is an heir to an Italian shoe empire and is younger than Meagin. Which one is the primary victim? Which one is simply collateral damage?
LA homicide detective Milo Sturgis calls for psychologist Alex Delaware to assist in the investigation. Kellerman’s ability to detail characters in great depth brings about a puzzling cast of suspects, misfits and suspicious others and keeps the suspense palpable throughout. There are false identities, dysfunctional family situations and additional victims uncovered as the plot thickens.
A secondary plot involves Alex’s consultation in a divorce case of two uber wealthy adoptive parents who are not interested in custody of their teen aged son. The concept of abandoning an already abandoned child added a hefty supply of pathos and kept me hoping that Alex might perform some magic to save this unwanted child.
Four twinkling stars for a book in a series that can be read as a stand alone. Publication date is in January. Look for it soon. Many thanks to #Netgalley and # BallantineBooks for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Ghost Orchid
by Jonathan Kellerman
Pub Date: FEb. 6, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this fantastic story!
This is Kellerman at his finest!! If you haven't been reading along in the series this is book you can read as a stand alone and be fine.
I loved the story of Alex Delaware and couldn't wait to see what happened .
Psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis confront a baffling, vicious double homicide that leads them to long-buried secrets worth killing for in the riveting thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling “master of suspense” (Los Angeles Times).
5 stars most definitely

As always Alex Delaware stories are amazing and keep you turning pages. This one didn't disappoint.
I couldn't wait to see where the story went.

Ghost Orchids is Kellerman at his finest!

Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis are once again looking for a murderer, but they find two victims and who the actual intended victim is unknown. So, Delaware and Sturgis hit the pavement and are baffled, but they do get a few clues here and there that do start to answer questions. Then, the duo hears of a murder elsewhere in California that has some commonalities to their own,case. Does the case get blown wide open or are Delaware and Sturgis are going to need to continue to dig?

As a fan of Delaware and Sturgis, I this one was the best read in quite some time! Yes, this books has a,slow start, but once it gets going... And for the record, I read the entire book in one sitting - I could not put it down!

The timing of the 39th novel in Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Deleware series could not have been better, nor the story more engaging. Needing something familiar, approval for 'The Ghost Orchid' arc from NetGalley and Ballentine Books was very timely. Some of the earlier works in this series it would likely have been necessary to familiar yourself with Alex Deleware, Milo Sturgis, Robin, etc. but this title can stand alone so if you haven't read any of Kellerman's others works in the series do not be afraid to read this one. This novel has a heart and you will want to find out for yourself what happened that leads to Meagin March, wife of a wealthy developer, and Giovanni Aggiunta to be found dead lying next to one another.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I'm a lifelong fan of both Kellerman and Alex Delaware (and of course Milo and Robin, etc.), so I will always read the next in the series. This one was not as standout to me as some others, but was a reliably good story.

The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman, the thirty-ninth installment in the Alex Delaware series, is a riveting crime thriller that stands as a rare delight in the genre. Set in the opulent backdrop of Bel Air, the novel follows Homicide detective Lieutenant Milo Sturgis and psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware as they unravel a perplexing double homicide. The victims, an older married woman of immense wealth and the heir to an Italian shoe empire, initially appear as unlikely targets, prompting questions about motives and hidden pasts. Kellerman skillfully weaves two compelling threads, creating a layered investigation that transforms negative perceptions into heartfelt sympathy for the victims. The atmospheric charm of the Los Angeles area, coupled with the delightful camaraderie between the main characters, underscores the enduring appeal of the series. With Kellerman's descriptive prowess, a blend of suspense, and unexpected emotional depth, The Ghost Orchid delivers a captivating narrative that transcends the boundaries of conventional crime fiction, making it a must-read for enthusiasts of the genre.

This is a police procedural led by psychologist Alex Delaware and Lieutenant Milo Sturgis. As a team they work seamlessly and are a force to be reckoned with. The plot focuses on a double homicide that doesn’t seem to have a motive. It moves at a great pace as clues are uncovered leading to the killer. The characters are wonderful and witty. Readers will find the divergent tasks of Alex and Milo interesting. An overall great read.