Bones

This book is the 23rd in the Alex Delaware series. I have read the entire series over the years and have always enjoyed. Until now. This time the author didn't use his talent to it's full ability. Usually I'm guessing about the "whodunit" right up until the end. Not so much this time. The story was very predictable. In the other books, the characters are usually very rounded and interesting. This time, all the characters, event he main ones who I usually enjoy so much, were all very flat and dull. The narrator, Alex Delaware doesn't seem to be as involved in the sotry as he normally is (even thought he is the one telling us the story). The lack of depth of the characters in this book really turned me off and made it hard to want to show more finish it or even care what happened at the end. The usual action and excitment of the Alex Delaware books also seemed to be missing from this one. It was almost as if the author really didn't want to write this story, but had a contract to fufill and this is what he wrote. Since I have greatly enjoyed this series in the past, I am hoping the next in the series will prove to be more representative of this author's talents. show less

Kellerman is so readable and I always enjoy his books but I must admit there is a loss of tension or threat in this one and another or two of his latest. Still, highly readable, neatly plotted and consistent.

I wonder if Kellerman worries that we get tired of Alex Delaware and his sponge like absorption of other people's flaws, insecurities, sad back stories. I don't. And I don't get tired of Milo or Robin or a french bulldog. Spike could have puffed out his flews forever, I would not be so crass as to calculate his dog years from the eighties. He keeps introducing new investigators, hoping, I guess that one of them can take over for Alex,Milo et al. I never want that to happen and I get tired of the time spent developing such characters.

The mutilated body of a young woman is discovered in a protected marsh area in Los Angeles. Veteran LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis is called in to assist a rookie Detective by the name of Moses Reed. Naturally Milo brings his friend, psychologist Alex Delaware, along for the ride. A few more bodies are uncovered and there are hints that a prominent local family might be involved in the grizzly deaths.I stopped reading this series somewhere around book 9 or 10 due to their repetitive nature. And I chose this one from my local library's meagre selection of audio books on the grounds that …well…it's a meagre selection of audio books. So I'm admitting up front that I was undoubtedly going to struggle to love this book, although I am ever show more the optimist. Sadly I found the story dull and lacking credibility and it's another that I'd like to assign the one-word review: meh.

People killing other people for garden variety motives like jealousy or the prospect of a large inheritance isn't enough for Kellerman. If the world was as populated by knife-wielding psychopaths as he'd have us believe I'd never leave the house. Of course this is fiction and it doesn't have to be realistic but I think Kellerman constantly ascribing his murders to the most twisted of people (who of course aren't like 'us') allows him to avoid exploring an actual human emotion within the context of his stories.

The plot is equally uninspiring. It's convoluted (I'm convinced that he added one of the evil doers at the end and then inserted them randomly in the story already written) and has all the suspense of a tax return. This time there isn't even a fabrication of a reason why child psychologist Alex Delaware is involved in the case. In the earlier books there was at least be a pretence of a reason: a client of Alex's or the relative of one would be involved or the case would somehow relate to the mistreatment of children for example, but here it just seemed to be universally accepted that a private sector psychologist would be involved in every facet of an investigation.

In short the book was formulaic, the characters stereotypical and the brand-name laden writing was plodding. Kellerman can do much better, in a standalone novel called The Butcher's Theatre he tells a gripping tale and tackles some weighty political and social issues in the Jerusalem setting even though it too features a serial killer, but perhaps he lacks the incentive now that he's a brand name all of his own. show less

I read the Alex Delaware-Milo Sturgis novels from time to time. At times Delaware’s personal life is as much of the story as is the mystery. Other times it takes a decided back seat. This one is of the latter type. We get to check in with Robin, Delaware’s gf, from time to time, but it’s peripheral. The emphasis is on Alex’s involvement in a multiple-murder case.

The case starts with an anonymous phone call saying there is a body in the marsh. Eventually that body is found and dogs find additional bodies, all women. All with their right hands cut off and all facing east. They had been dead different lengths of time, dating back about 15 months at the longest.

Investigation brings them close to a wealthy man, who had hired the show more first dead woman to teach piano to his talented young son, and eventually to his hired hand, Huck. Huck has some sort of nerve damage, causing his mouth to sag on one side and to cause some nervous tics. He also seems to have some kind of limited brain damage, as he doesn’t express himself entirely normally.

Suspicion centers on Huck early, in part because the brother of one of the investigators was hired by an anonymous party to look into Huck, and when he finds a juvenile justice history, he feels obligated to tell the lead investigator about it.

However, people who know Huck don’t believe he was capable of murder. They may not know him well, of course. Delaware, a psychologist, keeps a low profile in this respect, not either supporting the suspicion or speaking against it.

Other characters come into the picture, including a rabid environmentalist who sees protection of the marsh as his purpose in life. And an obnoxious teen-age boy who worked for him to work off some misdeeds of his own. Not to mention an ex-wife and a family of a baby once rescued by Huck.

The story is absorbing enough, good escape reading. I was irritated by a statement one of the characters said: “Hitler was a vegetarian”. He wasn’t. That myth needs to die. I was also bothered, as I always am, by the many meals eaten by the characters, meals full of animal parts. Sensitive caring people who clearly never heard of factory farming or about the sensitivities of other animals. I realize I am outside the mainstream in this, can only hope that this attitude shifts over time. show less

When women's bodies start showing up in a small LA bird sanctuary, the LA police are stymied. Most turn out to be prostitutes, a pattern common to serial killers. But one is a young piano teacher, and this break in pattern forces Alex to look beyond the common killer profiles. When the trail leads to a family of LA's super rich, Alex and Milo know there is more to them than meets the eye.

The author's ability at creating real characters and to inject Alex's humanity into horrible, violent murders has always been a highlight of the series. His writing is of the no-frills variety, to the point and clear. These strengths have been present in all of his books. But with Bones, once again, Alex's stories have a well-drawn plot-line and which show more highlight how Alex is different from the protagonists of any of the other detective. series. show less

One of the best pairings in detective/suspense novels returns in the 23nd (!) novel in this series from Jonathan Kellerman.

Psychologist and police consultant Alex Delaware and LA police Lieutenant Milo Sturgis are back together to solve one of their darkest cases yet.

A young volunteer at a marsh sanctuary receives an anonymous call telling him to look for something dead in the marsh. The call is dismissed as a prank. That changes when a young woman's body is found - in plain view. A search dog discovers three more bodies, submerged in the marsh. These women are all prostitutes, but the first body found is that of a piano teacher. Are they connected? Is the marsh the dumping ground of a serial killer? Will he kill again? Can they find show more him before he does? Milo and Alex's investigation leads to unexpected places.

Lots of plot twists and turns will keep you turning pages. The banter between Milo and Alex is always witty and entertaining. A new character is introduced, Moses, a young rookie Homicide detective. I found him to be an engaging addition and hope he returns in future books. In the past Alex's girlfriend Robin played a more significant role. She seems to have been relegated to deciding dinner selections. Milo's boyfriend Rick is another character I'd like to see more of. Kellerman is a clinical psychologist and his character's insight and dialogue have the ring of authenticity.

Jonathan Kellerman is on my list of favourite authors and I was not disappointed with Bones. My only disappointment was finishing it too quickly! I'll be waiting for #24! show less