Alex is assisting his police buddy Milo on his new case. A young woman who OD'ed was dumped on the steps of a nearly closed down hospital. The woman never did drugs, so Milo is looking for someone in her circle who could have slipped her the drugs. He finally gets a suspect, but the man has been shot dead on his patio. Since Milo's case links with that of the Hollywood divisions, he is paired up with them to work both cases. When evidence leads to more than one past case the list of suspects also keeps growing. Alex combs the internet after there are leads to cases from Ohio he finds information leading them to someone that was never on anyone's radar and is a complete surprise. But, the surprises don't stop with the identity of the killer. Very intriguing read.

Thank you Net Galley Nad Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an arc of this book. This is my first time reading a book by this author and it did not disappoint. A body is thrown outside a hospital and Psychologist Alex Delaware and Detrctive Milo Sturgis race against time to find out who is doing this.

This was a great book to read and I am excited a book reading the series now. I would definitely recommend this book.

Jonathan Kellerman’s Open Season delivers a gripping and intense experience reminiscent of watching a high-stakes crime drama unfold. The narrative is fast-paced, plunging readers into a race against time as detectives work tirelessly to apprehend a killer before they strike again. The story brims with tension and grit, capturing the raw urgency of investigative work.

What stands out in Open Season is the strength of Kellerman’s writing. His ability to craft a well-paced, suspenseful plot and bring depth to his characters is impressive—perhaps even surprising to some, given preconceived notions about the author. The novel also shines in its accessibility; while it is part of a series, it works seamlessly as a standalone. Readers unfamiliar with prior installments can still dive in without feeling lost, making this book an excellent entry point into Kellerman’s world of psychological thrillers.

With its well-crafted suspense, intricate plotting, and compelling characters, Open Season is a must-read for fans of crime fiction and psychological drama. Whether you’re new to Kellerman or a longtime reader, this novel will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story begins with the discovery of a body outside a hospital. This woman was dead and died of an overdose. Later another individual was discovered that had been shot and was connected to the body found at the hospital. As Milo and Alex began their investigation, they discovered that there was another case in which the same rifle was used earlier in a killing. With this knowledge a task force was established to track down the killer. Having little to go on, they soon found another old case as well as the killing of another individual.

They developed a theory about why the individuals were killed. but could not find a connection between the victims. It was only after another couple of killings that happened in another state and something that Alex heard at home that the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

To learn who the killer was, what the connection was, how Alex learned the key info and who it was from, then you must read this book.

The ending clears up all your questions. Another great book in the series, don't miss it!

This is Jonathan Kellerman’s 40th novel in the Alex Delaware series yet somehow, though I’m an avid reader of the genre, this is my first brush with Alex Delaware. It won’t be my last, but I’ll jump in with my antennae up for the things that kept me from enthusiastically rating it 4 stars (I reserve the fifth star for the jaw-dropping, thought-provoking rare work of literary genius).

“Open Season” works fine as a stand-alone. I quickly figured out the dynamics between the detective and the psychologist, though didn’t necessarily buy into the idea that the LAPD wouldn’t have their own staff criminal psychologist/profiler.

The story opens with the death of an ambitious young would-be star. The body count quickly rises with victims of different ages, professions, genders, the only link a rifle used in some of the murders.

The perp parade starts early and by the time Milo and Alex land on the killer I was still reading because I cared about the victims not because the dynamic duo was wowing me with their insight or deductive skills. Frankly, I’ve no doubt Milo could have gotten there without Alex, thought it might have taken him an extra day or two. And honestly the killer was such a caricature I almost had to laugh and the conclusion to the case so pat, so lazy, that alone could have knocked off a star in my rating if I weren’t in such a good mood this morning.

And here’s another ding, there was way too much extraneous description of lesser characters—the sheriff on the case of the young mother in the boat stands out—and too much detail about driving from place to place which didn’t advance the story or bring LA to life for readers. In fact, if Kellerman’s goal was to help us feel and understand the city he ought to read some Michael Connelly, the king of Los Angeles As Character; Kellerman’s GPS tour of the city did nothing for the story except fill pages.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Random House Books and to the author for the opportunity.

Just like a fluffy soft slipper, the comfort and enjoyment of reading about psychologist Alex Delaware and his buddy, L.A. Police Lt Milo Sturgis , is always a good warm fit for me. Although this unconventional pairing would be unlikely in real life police work, the fictional duo have held a place in my heart on on my must read list for many years.

The story opens with a murder ( of course) of a young woman whose body is dumped outside of a hospital and Alex and Milo team up to crack the case. But a short time into the investigation the most likely murder suspect is found dead with a bullet in his neck. The bullet is linked to a past murder. What is going on? What could be the motive? How are two seemingly unrelated individuals victims of murder?

I love the camaraderie of this dynamic pair and the comfy cozy feeling when Milo invariably raids the fridge in Alex’s home. And I always know that somehow, someway the two will solve the conundrum, catch the perpetrator and live on to partner in another crime. Investigation.

Four lovely stars for a book that drew me in from start to finish. If you love Alex and Milo, or are simply a fan of police procedurals, you’ll want to grab a copy of Open Season when it is published on Feb 4, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Jonathan Kellerman for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I started reading Jonathan's books in 1996 while pregnant with my first daughter in Germany. The library on post was my sanctuary and I would stock on books every week and he became a favorite 😍

This is his 40th Dr Alex Delaware novel and if you aren't familiar, that's ok. Almost all can be read as a stand alone. Alex and Milo Sturgis have been working together for years. Alex is a child psychologist and Milo an LA Homicide detective. While there is a little back story sprinkled in to each book, the crime and how they solve it always takes center stage. I read Ghost Orchid earlier this year and I enjoyed that one more, but Open Season did not disappoint for a groupie like me ✌️🤟

Alex and Milo embark on another serial killer crime investigation. This time, they find a "want to be: actress dead, and she connected to a loser producer who is also found dead. Different locations, different methods. The producer is found shot in the neck without a trace to who did it. The actress died of a drug overdose. As they start to investigate, they find more and more incidents that are similar to the producer's death including a cold case. They begin to focus their attention on a rapper who had a slim connection to both of the original victims. When they go to interview, they find him wheelchair bound and not a likely suspect. The more they dig, the more red herrings there are. I figured out the killer early in the book, but it was still an entertaining read. I'm a big fan of the Alex Delaware series and this is a great addition.

4.25 stars
It's hard to believe that Open Season by Jonathan Kellerman is the 40th book in the Alex Delaware series. I've been reading this series from the beginning and each new book still remains fresh. The main characters of the book are psychologist Alex Delaware and his best friend, Los Angeles Police Detective Milo Sturgis. The two friends make a wonderful team with Alex using his background to look at cases in a different way and passing his unique insights along to Milo. Milo initially calls Alex in to help on a case of a young woman who is drugged and killed, but then their prime suspect becomes a victim. The case is more complex than it first appeared, and they need to find the real killer before he strikes again.

There are several suspects and witnesses in these cases and sometimes it was hard for me to remember all the characters, but it is a solid mystery with an ending that surprised me. I have a long history with these characters, but I do think the books stand on their own for readers new to the series. This is a series I definitely recommend.

I received an advance copy of this ebook for review consideration from Ballantine Books, Random House, and NetGalley, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

In the first chapter, Kellerman's hero, Alex Delaware, describes Los Angeles as "seductive and perverse." That sums up the plot very well.

The murder Detective Milo Sturgis calls his best friend to help with isn't particularly unusual, nor does it involve a child, which are the typical reasons why Milo would bring in Alex to consult. The victim is an actress, the body dumped unceremoniously near a struggling medical facility. Until the killer of their victim is also found dead, and the gun used was also used in another case. An expert marksman to be sure, but is it a sniper attacking random targets, a contract killer or is there a common thread that they can't see yet?

There is no shortage of suspects, but with a variety of victims from an aspiring actress to a well-loved physics teacher, it seems almost impossible to find the common thread that ties killer to the victims.

Hats off to Kellerman for being able to keep Alex and Milo from going stale in the fortieth volume of this series. The dialogue is still snarky, the friendship as strong as ever, and the younger detectives keep them on their toes even as they learn from their mentors. There's a lot to like here. The pacing is steady, even if it never gets to frantic. It's a great read, but it's not the wild ride of some of the earlier books.

I did figure out the killer, though not the motive, which is rare for me with an Alex Delaware novel. Looking forward to more from Kellerman.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review. I see this is along series of books. But I was able to read and not feel like I missed anything from the previous stories. It’s about a homicide detective and a child psychologist who work together on murder cases. This book is about a body being found outside a hospital and she was drugged. They do have a suspect. However, he turns up dead and the bullet that killed him has been linked to a previous murder. I found this very interesting to see how the case proceeds. I did enjoy this book.

3.5 stars, rounded downward.

Open Season is the fortieth (!) in the Alex Delaware series, one that I have read since the very first book. Newbies can read it as a stand alone novel, however. My thanks go to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for the review copy. It will be available to the public February 4, 2025.

One of the joys of reading a long running series is its familiarity. If the writer is good—and nobody will say Kellerman isn’t—the characters begin to feel like old friends. In addition to our protagonist, kiddy shrink and cop consultant Alex Delaware, we have his wife, Robin, who is mostly a background character; Alex’s best friend, Detective Milo Sturgis; and some lesser recurring characters such as cops Sean and Petra. I could include Milo’s husband Rick, but Rick almost never puts in a personal appearance. In fact, we see a good deal more of Blanche, Alex and Robin’s French bulldog, who, like the other characters, never grows old. When Milo lumbers into the Delaware kitchen and raids practically everything in the fridge, I smile. Ah, there he is, the big guy.

When the series began, Alex, a child psychologist (like Kellerman himself,) worked with seriously troubled children and teens, but when the LAPD had a case involving a child, he would consult on it also. Now he works on the private cases of his choosing, primarily custody cases and the like, and is a de facto cop. This has developed in the context of Milo, a gay cop, being ostracized by the rest of the department, and so once a friendship and working relationship develops between Milo and Alex, Alex rides along and they say he’s a consultant, even when there are no funds in the budget and he is merely a volunteer.

All this may seem improbable today, but please remember that the series began in 1985, when gay men were treated brutally by most of American society, and that is exponential when it’s a cop being hazed by his own department. And even today, gay cops don’t always have an easy road.

Is this realistic, then? Let’s look at it this way. To be completely realistic, Alex would never get into that cop car, and he would work only from his office. To consult with the department, he would be sent information to analyze, and if appropriate, the child or children in question would meet with him in an office to be interviewed. Milo would either be on his own, or with whatever newbie was stuck being his partner for now.
And it would be dull as hell.

So, for me to enjoy this series, I just need the most improbable aspects to be scaled back, and I’m happy. Several books ago, Alex was donning a Kevlar vest and rocketing into action with Milo, and that was straight-up ridiculous. But Alex doesn’t do that anymore. The story is just believable enough for me to buy into it, and so I’m happy.

This particular episode involves a sniper, and although I enjoyed it and found little to object to, it didn’t have quite as much sparkle as most of his other books. On the other hand, it also didn’t have a theme involving kinky sex—ew!—as in multiple past novels, and it didn’t have any of my pet peeves that I dislike wherever they turn up. No kidnapping Alex or his loved ones; no struggle with alcohol. So I was happy for the most part and would have rounded the rating up to four stars, which is what I usually rate Delaware novels, but the multiple snarky remarks about abortion rocked me back. Not all women’s health facilities that feature abortion as an option are “abortion mills.” If a grandmother suggests that a pregnant granddaughter consider abortion, it doesn’t make her a bad grandmother. Am I rounding the score on a novel downward because I don’t like the author’s politics? Yes. Yes I am. But, can I do that? Sure I can. I just did.

I’ve loved this series for a long time, and I look forward to reading the forty-first. I do recommend this book to the series faithful, but if possible, get it at a discount or free, rather than paying full price, unless your pockets are deep ones. If you are new to the series, if possible, read either the most recent one before this—number thirty-nine was excellent—or read the very first, When the Bough Breaks, which ties the subject much more closely to Alex’s original profession.

I love Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware series and the 40th book in this series is just as good as the rest. He hasn't let the series get stale like some other authors have.. Well developed characters, intriguing, well paced plot, and some unexpected twists kept me reading almost straight through. This can easily be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the entire series beginning with "When the Bough Breaks." Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy.

Jumping right into the case, we begin with our favorite psychologist, Alex Delaware, already in the office of friend and Detective Milo Sturgis. The pair are watching footage of a body dump in a lonely spot at nearly 3AM. Once the body is printed, we get a name and address and the investigation begins.... A suspect is found relatively quickly, but there's just one problem: he has a bullet in his head. But who killed the killer? Although the second case is not in another jurisdiction, Milo is brought in to help. And then it gets weirder. The rifle was used in another case. And another. And two more. Is there a gun for hire running around the greater L.A. area? Or a vigilante looking for justice?

A wonderful mixture of mystery and thriller, with the beautiful writing style that is Kellerman. I love how these books mirror more of a true murder investigation than say, everyone's favorite dun duns. You know what I mean.

I literally read this in 24 hours. I absolutely love the Alex Delaware books, and have read nearly all of them. I can't believe this is the 40th! Congrats Alex, Milo, and Mr. Kellerman! Here's to hoping there are 40 more!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This is my favorite time of year, when Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware series is about to release a new book & I'm lucky enough to receive a copy to review!
"Open Season" is #40 in the 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.
"Open Season" was another winner for me. It had alot of twists & turns that kept me very interested & entertained & I couldn’t wait to find some free time everyday to be able to continue reading it.
I am anxiously waiting for book #41.

Another in the Alex Delaware series. Milo Sturgis and his acolytes play important roles again. Enjoyed the psychological insights leading to the takedown of the criminal and the subsequent resolution.

We're in the nose-bleed section with Jonathan Kellerman presenting his 40th novel in the Alex Delaware Series.

Your eyes may roll in your head thinking that you've got to swing back to #1 in order to get a grip on this gripping series. Nope. I'm a relative newbie to this series with several books under my belt. This one does read as a standalone well.

Jonathan Kellerman keeps the fires hot with his two main characters as always. Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis of the LAPD is on to another case. This one involves the murder of a young woman who had been trying to get a break into show biz. Unfortunately, she hung out with some shifty characters in order to get closer to the limelight. The light for her was cut short when she was found dead. No one knows why.

Milo connects with psychologist Alex Delaware who does his usual ride along. Both men peruse the crime scene with different pairs of eyes. Each contributes valuable information. But soon the body count begins to rise with victims of different backgrounds and ages. Several crimes are connected to a rifle used in previous crimes. Both Milo and Alex are perplexed.

Open Season is not one of my favorites so far. I'd rate it generously at 3.5 Stars eventually settling on 4 Stars. There are a ton of characters to follow in this one with a wide scope of possibilities. Nothing seemed to gel and the incidents seemed to occur at random. That is until Alex goes out on a limb with a pretty bizarro premise. It's here that our duo travels into the high weeds. Kellerman locks it down, but I felt no satisfaction. Open Season didn't seem to have the same electric current as his previous novels. A few chilled Margaritas may get the mojo workin' again in the next one. I'm waiting poolside as always.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Random House and to the talented Jonathan Kellerman for the opportunity.

Another Kellerman novel that catches you by the throat and won't let go. Making connections is Alex Delaware's gift, and when one murder leads to another, and another, he begins to tie the stories together.

I found this gripping, suspenseful, and was relieved at the resolution. Good for those who like adventures, thrillers, and mysteries.

Jonathan Kellerman is back. I have not read all of his books, though I started out reading his books back in the day. At some point, I liked them less and stopped. Then a little while ago, I started picking them up again and I really did not like the one I read. I was thinking about stopping. Then I tried his last one through NetGalley. It was better but not great. This one was even better. I felt more invested in the plot and in the characters. The plot is still, of course, important, but I would say, it is more literary. I think some reviewers didn't like it but it suits me just fine.
This is a really long series and there is some concern that Mr. Kellerman has run out of steam. He most certainly has not. I look forward to number 41.
4.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for providing me with this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Alex Kellerman keeps getting better. Milo never disappoints and I love this series! I enjoy each of the books and this is my favorite yet! Kellerman keeps you guessing until the end. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!