Unnatural History

Whenever I pick up an Alex Delaware Murder mystery it takes me a bunch of pages to embrace the cadence and jargon that Kellerman employs in each installment. His writing is different than many other crime fiction authors, not in a bad way, just different. Anyway, once I am on track, his books are hard to put down and this one was no exception. The long look into the mental psychoses of his characters is awe inspiring in a troubling way. It allows for divergent tangents that not only come together but give the reader a better understanding how things can go wrong in a heartbeat. The gritty underbelly of Los Angeles, the homeless, mental illness and family relationships that are beyond bizarre all find their place in this book and are show more treated with a cold hard unembellished stare. So scary that this is often viewed as the norm.

Kellerman reveals the killer long before the end but that didn’t makes me turn away it just lit the path forward. Equally satisfying are the quiet musings, introspection and reasoning that Kellerman imbues in Alex Delaware.

Thank you Random House/Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a copy. show less

Review of Advance Reader’s Copy

When Melissande Gornick finds her boss, photographer Donny Klement, dead in his studio loft, she tells Los Angeles Police Department Lieutenant Milo Sturgis that he had no enemies. His recent project, The Wishers, involved bringing homeless men and women into the studio to pose in costumes related to their wishes.

Could one of them have returned to murder the naïve, gentle photographer?

With child psychologist Doctor Alex Delaware consulting, Milo sets out to search the homeless encampments in the area, hoping to locate those who’d participated in the photo shoot and, hopefully, find some answers.

And then the body count rises.

Can Alex and Milo find the killer before he strikes show more again?

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Thirty-eighth in the Alex Delaware series, the story works well as a standalone for readers who are new to the series. With its strong sense of place . . . Los Angeles is like a character here . . . and well-defined characters, readers will find themselves pulled into the telling of the tale from the outset. Many of the expected characters [Robin, Moe, Sean, Alicia, and Blanche the bulldog] are part of the telling of the tale and, as the plot twists and turns, unexpected revelations help to keep the suspense building.

The plight of the homeless takes center stage as the unfolding story delves into the stories of these men and women. The dark and sometimes gritty backstories are truly heart-wrenching. In addition, the disparity between these men and women and those with access to unlimited funds is readily apparent.

As always, there’s the requisite traffic discussion [definitely relatable by any reader who has ever driven in Los Angeles] that adds to the realism of this complex police procedural. Compelling, intriguing, and fascinating, readers will find it difficult to set this one aside before turning the final page.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books and NetGalley
#UnnaturalHistory #NetGalley show less

This is the 38th book in the Alex Delaware series and I have read all of them. Obviously, I enjoy the investigative duo of Detective Milo Sturgis and psychologist Delaware, as well as all the supporting characters and look forward to each new addition. Whenever I crack open a Kellerman book, I can’t seem to put it down.

When a photographer is found dead, the investigative duo look into the victim’s wealthy but eccentric family as well as his recent shoot involving homeless individuals.

Kellerman writes true police procedurals, albeit a little different due to Milo being unconventional and Alex along to provide psychological insight. True, they do tend to be a bit formulaic, as Alex and Milo chase down leads, generate and discuss show more different theories, interview persons of interest, enjoy a few good meals. Kellerman’s descriptions are particularly picturesque and entertaining and he always seems to put a fresh spin on cases, although I wasn’t as fond of number 38 as some of the prior in the series.

This can be read as a standalone, but if you are familiar with this series, it is always enjoyable to meet up with these familiar characters.

Thanks to #netgalley and #randomhouse #ballantinebooks for the ARC show less

Alex and Milo investigate the case of a wealthy, young photographer being murdered in his nondescript home. The photographer was working on a "dream" project of inviting homeless people to his studio and recreating them in the way that they wish their life had gone. Is one of the Wishers guilty of murder?

The characterizations in this book are particularly well done. Each of the homeless has a personality making this a very good read.

A photographer is found dead in his studio. His assistant is shaken by the scene. She doesn't understand who could do this, because Donny, the photographer, was a good guy. Dr. Alex Delaware and Det. Milo Sturgis decided that the murder has something to do with Donny's last photography project - The Wishers. Donny took homeless people, cleaned them up and photographed them in costumes of what they wished their life had been. He took before and after shots. As they investigate, they are led to Victor Klement, Donny's father, and his multiple marriages, and whether his lack of paternal love was a clue to the murder.
My first Alex Delaware novel. I may give another one a chance.

Unnatural History is an Alex Delaware story wherein Alex Delaware is almost killed off. The story is captivating from beginning to end. The characters are believable and the settings are all known to Southern Californians. The story is believable. Four stars were awarded to the book.

For my fellow dedicated readers and fans of Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware / Milo Sturgis series, you will be thrilled he is returning to action with this dynamic duo in his latest novel, Unnatural History.

For those new to the series, don’t hesitate to dive into this engaging mystery which can easily be read as a stand-alone.

In either case, be prepared for total immersion as this story quickly plunges you into the many twists and turns. The fast-paced thriller opens with a crime scene in LA and doesn’t let go until the very end.

Milo and Alex collaborate in their normal routine and use their respective skills as detective and psychologist to pursue a multi-victim killer while tying together clues and motives during the show more various murder scenes and investigations around LA.

A familiar, and beloved, cast returns as Robin and Blanche stand behind Alex during his long hours with Milo. Look for Sean Binchy to star in this book as an unexpected hero and as always, the LA area plays a key role with stunning scenery, romantic beaches and often grim street life.

As a long-time Jonathan Kellerman fan having read his 37 prior books in this series, I thoroughly enjoyed his latest novel. I was beyond excited to receive the advance copy of Unnatural History, his latest Alex Delaware mystery from NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine Books in exchange for my feedback and review. show less