People say that 40 is the new 30. When a book series reaches that number, it’s a sure sign of aging well. In his latest novel, Open Season, Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware isn’t shedding years, but being immersed in another fast-paced and twisty case.

Delaware finds himself drawn into a disturbing case when a series of brutal murders rocks a wealthy Los Angeles community. The victims, seemingly unconnected, are all found with bizarre and ritualistic markings, baffling the police. Milo Sturgis, facing a wall of unanswered questions and mounting pressure, turns to his trusted friend and consultant, Alex Delaware, for his unique insights into the human mind.

Delaware's expertise in child psychology proves particularly crucial as the investigation uncovers unsettling connections to the victims' pasts and potential traumas. Kellerman masterfully weaves together the intricate threads of the case, delving into the complex psychologies of both the victims and the potential perpetrators. The narrative explores themes of hidden darkness beneath affluent facades, the lasting impact of childhood experiences, and the chilling capacity for human cruelty.

I can't believe this is the 40th book in the Alex Delaware series and I've read all of them. I love the friendship and working relationship Milo and Alex have. They are both smart, interesting men who always get the bad guy in the end. This twisted story begins with a young woman's murder and gets even more complicated when other dead bodies are found. The pacing of the story was good as usual and I had a lot of fun with this one. Highly recommend the Alex Delaware series.

Fans of TV police series have grown accustomed to streamlined crime-solving. In about 40 minutes of screen time (allowing for commercials), a crime is committed, police investigate, home in on the perpetrator, and apprehend them. Sometimes, they even have time to resolve a personal character-establishing subplot along the way. Real life is much messier, and crime-solving is far more tedious. Jonathan Kellerman’s latest Alex Delaware thriller, “Open Season,” gives readers more of a real-life feel, complete with dead ends and red herrings, but it never gets bogged down in details or loses its taut pacing. The result is one of the best entries in an excellent series.

As has become the custom in the author’s recent Delaware books, the child psychologist’s buddy, Detective Milo Sturgis, calls on Alex to assist with what seems to be a routine case. The body of a young woman was dumped at the entrance to a hospital emergency room. She had died of an overdose of date rape drugs. The case proves rather easy to solve, with the trail soon leading to a sleazy, fifth-rate film producer looking to “cast” attractive women in his latest production. When Sturgis and Delaware locate the producer, they find evidence tying him to the deceased. However, they also find that an expert sniper has ended the producer’s career permanently with a bullet fired from a building across the street.

The police soon linked the producer’s death to several other unsolved killings in the Los Angeles area over the past few years. All had the same M.O., a long-range rifle shot in a highly specific location on the bodies. Alex examines the case files and helps interrogate possible suspects, trying to figure out if the killer is a professional assassin for hire or some type of vigilante. To reveal more of the storyline would spoil some surprises “Open Season” holds for readers. Those extend to the last chapter. Readers who enjoy watching episodes of Columbo to see the killer’s ultimate takedown will appreciate this book’s ending.

“Open Season” is an excellent procedural. I enjoyed watching the police pursue leads that later proved fruitless. That’s real life, and the work involved in dismissing suspects can be as interesting as investigations that lead to the actual killer. In the best mystery novel tradition, the author reveals a key clue literally in front of Alex’s eyes reasonably early in the book, but Alex (and undoubtedly most readers) misses its significance until much later. The ultimate exploration of the killer’s psyche will satisfy the psychologist in Alex and those readers who enjoy this type of criminal analysis.

Los Angeles and the greater Los Angeles areas are also characters in “Open Season.” For those of us who have never been there, the author provides much descriptive material that gives readers a feel for the area. That attention to detail also accompanies descriptions of the various characters and houses. Kellerman offers more detail than many other authors in similar works, but this detail made the scenes and characters come alive for me, without bogging the story down with pointless trivial information. The author also demonstrates the differences among the various law enforcement agencies investigating individual killings. Some cases in more rural areas just sat there as cold cases, making it more difficult for Alex to uncover a pattern.

After forty Alex Delaware novels, the central characters of Alex, his wife Robin, and Milo are well-established with readers. Nothing new from a personal standpoint emerges about the characters here. Instead, they have the easygoing familiarity with each other you’d expect from these people. Newcomers to the series can pick up the necessary personality details as “Open Season” goes along. The only character trait the author stresses is Milo’s constant hunger, which results in multiple refrigerator raids played for laughs. The author goes a bit overboard here, but that’s really the only flaw I spotted in this book.

“Open Season” is an excellent addition to the Alex Delaware series. The settings and characters, even those with one or two scenes, feel authentic and usually interesting. The psychology of the case will please true-crime buffs, and the mystery is well-plotted. Finally, Alex becomes vital to one of the most satisfying, ultimate confrontations with the killer I’ve read in a long time. That closing sequence removed any doubts I had about the quality and entertainment value of “Open Season.” This book deserves an open-and-shut five-star rating.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.

One of my favorite authors has done it again--I know Jonathan Kellerman and Alex Delaware will never disappoint me and is a great escape, which is really what I needed. Alex Delaware books are always like a big jigsaw puzzle that all the pieces are mixed up and gradually one piece at a time can be fitted together until the last piece fits in and then a complete picture is completed. I like the stories where Alex is not in any danger--a few books back, he was attacked, it made me sooooo nervous, but of course Milo to the rescue. I have been reading these books for so many years that I feel like I know them, and one more time--I really wish Robin and Alex would finally get married (do you think they will send me an invitation?)

Open Season by Jonathan Kellerman is an Alex Delaware novel. For those unfamiliar, Alex is a psychologist who works with police, well, one policeman in particular: his friend, Milo Sturgis, homicide detective. This is a gruesome crime: a woman’s body dropped off in front of a hospital. It was pretty easy to track the person who dropped the body, but what followed was mind-boggling. There were a series of murders, spanning years, seemingly unrelated, not even all locally. It took some serious research and some serious detective work as well as a gossip retrieved from an old friend. Slowly Alex and Milo put it together and landed on a suspect, and even the reasons he had done the killing, reasons in his mind at any rate.

Alex Delaware is a clinical psychologist who deals primarily with children, and usually with the courts. He lives a happy life with his partner, Robin, who refurbishes antique wood musical instruments: violins, cellos, etc., and their dog. He has a good life. And he is good at both jobs. This one was heinous, this young woman had dreamed of being an actress, not unusual in Southern California. All of her friends liked her. But, the dream got her in trouble, even when others knew the opportunity was bogus. I enjoy Alex Delaware novels. They are so much more than solving a crime.

I was invited to read Open Season by Random House Publishing Groups-Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingBallantine #JonathanKellerman #OpenSeason

I like that Kellerman toned down on the ridiculous characters he sometimes has. Milo and female characters were more realistic in this novel compared to some of his previous works.

I can’t believe that OPEN SEASON is the fortieth (40!!) Alex Delaware novel. That’s 40 adventures with Alex and his best friend LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis. An odd couple, for sure, but they work. There is a depth and easiness to their friendship, that you will enjoy whether you have read them all or are just starting the series.
Seemingly unconnected deaths challenge Alex and Milo and bring in some familiar faces to help. I enjoyed the interactions and the twists as we sped to the end. I didn’t want to put the book down and finished it quickly. I am glad I rediscovered the series and look forward to the next one!
Thanks to the publisher for the chance to read an advanced copy. All opinions are my own and freely given.

I didn’t enjoy this one as much, felt a bit tired of a plot with same characters. I do like Kellerman writing, just a bit tired of the same. But others may really enjoy it.

Milo gets a case of a young aspiring actress whose body was dumped near an emergency room, she has been drugged then murdered. Asking Alex to help the two begin to look into the young woman's life and soon have a suspect. When their main suspect also ends up murdered with a weapon that was used in a previous killing the case gets more interesting. The only problem now is finding a connection between these murders.when there doesn't seem to be one. The two dig deeper into this sophisticated killer and begin to unravel just who he is. Will the duo come up with answer before someone else ends up dead?

Jonathan Kellerman has hit a milestone 40th book in his Alex Delaware series with Open Season. I think I started the series at book 15 and have faithfully read every book since then. It’s always a comfort to come back to characters I know so well.

In Open Season, Alex consults on a murder that eventually gets tied to another by ballistics, and then a third. There’s a serial sniper loose in LA, but what’s their motive?

What I love about this series is that it feels like you’re a part of the murder investigation. You’re on the case as Alex accompanies Detective Milo Sturgis as he questions suspects, follows leads, and digs through clues. This one kept me guessing and there were quite a few red herrings to investigate. When the clues finally came together, it gave me that exhilarating feeling of solving a case even if I’m just an armchair detective.

Open Season is #40 in the Alex Delaware series, but I went into this without reading any of the previous books. It took awhile for me to get fully invested and interested. I read the last 20% in one sitting and that was my favorite part. I liked the way everything came together once the suspect was found out and linked all the victims. While I liked the overall storyline and ending, I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I would have liked.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Once again, Jonathan Kellerman has brought to us an amazing new Alex Delaware book (#40 in the series). I always know it's going to be a wild ride, and this one did not disappoint!

A young girl's body is dumped outside a hospital emergency room, drugged and murdered. Detective Milo Sturgis is called in to investigate, And with him comes psychologist Alex Delaware. Their questions lead to a promising suspect, until that suspect turns up dead, shot by a sniper. The gun used proves to be a match to an earlier murder. As the bodies pile up, so do the questions. There appears to be no obvious connection between the victims. Now Milo and Alex are in race to stop the killer before he can strike again.

Despite some of the other reviews I've read, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I became engrossed in the process of the investigation. It was like solving a jigsaw puzzle, with a piece here and a piece there and no obvious connection between those pieces. Alex relies on tried and true research. Milo respects Alex's education and experience. Alex enjoys watching Milo work and is willing to take a back seat. To Alex and Milo, it was a frustrating, sometimes disheartening and aggravating journey. And sometimes the answers appeared when and where they least expected to find them.

One of the things I like most about this series is the relationship between Milo and Alex. It's special, sometimes more brotherly than simple friendship. Their banter injects a bit of humor into the stories I especially enjoy those times when Milo helps himself to Alex's refrigerator, and even more the description of Alex's thoughts and expressions as he just sits and watches Milo.

The odyssey that was this investigation kept me turning the pages of this story.

Alex and Milo are back in Jonathan Kellerman's new book. The body of an actress is found dumped near a hospital emergency room. She’s been drugged and murdered and the motive for the crime remains out of reach. Suddenly a prime suspect materializes, only to be shot dead by a sniper using a weapon that turns out to have been used in a previous murder. Soon more bodies begin piling up.

There is an apparent lack of connection among the victims, so is this the work of a random thrill killer?

As Alex and Milo dig deeper, they are faced with an even crazier scenario: a highly complex killer with motivation that will require all of their skills to decipher. This is another of Kellerman's great reads.

I’m a very long time fan of Jonathan Kellerman. I’ve read every Alex Delaware book and almost all of his other stories, as well as a couple of the ones he’s written with his son Jesse. I’ve never read one that I didn’t like!

Open Season is no exception. It’s a great tale, spotlighting the easy relationship between Alex and his best friend Milo. The case jumps right in from the first page, and the solution was pretty tough to find, for them and for me. What at first looked like random shootings in multiple locations with seemingly no common thread became gradually connected after a few false starts. And it was a scary premise! The highlight of Kellerman’s works are his exceptional descriptions, and he looks at everyone and everything with an objective eye, helping us to see things the way he does.

I highly recommend this one. Five stars!

There are some series that I can pick up and read at any point and the story works. This wasn’t one of them.

When I started reading, the story seemed like it picked up where series installment #39 left off. No backstory, no character development. Just BAM! Someone’s dead. I usually like stories that start with a bang but this one was too enigmatic for me.

I’ll probably start this series from the beginning at some point, but I’m in no rush.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and the author for an early DRC.

Jonathan Kellerman’s Open Season is a gripping psychological thriller that delivers everything fans have come to expect from the New York Times bestselling author—sharp prose, intricate plotting, and the unshakable detective duo of Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis.

The novel opens with the discovery of an aspiring actress’s body, brutally murdered and dumped near a hospital. As Delaware and Sturgis investigate, they uncover a disturbing pattern—seemingly unconnected victims tied together by a complex killer with a hidden agenda. Each turn in the case raises new questions, with shocking twists that propel the story forward at a breakneck pace.

Kellerman’s strength lies in his ability to craft psychologically rich characters, making both the investigators and the villains feel eerily real. His portrayal of Los Angeles as a city of dreams and nightmares adds an atmospheric layer to the mystery, enhancing the tension and suspense.

For readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers with intellectual depth, Open Season is a satisfying, edge-of-your-seat ride. This was my first Kellerman novel, and it certainly won’t be my last. If you’re a fan of psychological crime fiction, this is one to add to your list!

Dr Alex Delaware and his LAPD buddy are back investigating a new rash of unusual murders. The victims were shot in the same place, a difficult to hit area in the back of the neck. Now they need to figure out how a murder in Ohio relates to a string of murders in Los Angeles.
Kellerman’s plotting always keeps me guessing, and his characters are easy to empathize with. 4 stars.

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

I have been reading John Kellerman and his Alex Delaware series for as long as I can remember. Open Season is one of the best in this long-running series. Alex Delaware is a child psychologist who works with his friend and L.A.P.D. Detective Milo Sturgis. They are investigating a murder scene of a woman who, not surprisingly, had aspirations to become an actress living in Los Angeles. Paradoxically, the toxicology shows that she had amounts of tranquilizers in her system, although her friends stated that she never used drugs. The book continues as other detectives investigate a case that is undoubtedly related to this first murder. Open Season is another entertaining and well-crafted novel by one of the masters in the field; I strongly recommend that you grab Open Season and read it as soon as possible. Check out his long backlist for others unfamiliar with Jonathan Kellerman's work. You will have a long list to read, making any reader happy.