Mystery

February 14, 2011
When Lt. Milo Sturgis of LAPD homicide asks psychologist Alex Delaware to view the faceless corpse of a young woman in Kellerman's enjoyable if only average 26th Alex Delaware novel (after Deception), Alex is shocked to recognize the gunshot victim as someone he and wife, Robin, saw the night before in a restaurant bar. A link turns out to exist between the dead woman and a sinister-looking man Alex and Robin observed outside the bar that night. An anonymous tip leads to an online service that matches "sugar daddies" with "star-quality sweeties." The victim, who called herself "Mystery," had a "daddy," Markham McReynolds, whose wealthy, anything-goes family offers plenty of suspects, including McReynolds's wife, two sons, and two daughters-in-law. Kellerman's bantering detectives make it look almost too easy as they put together the clues and possible scenarios, despite the unusual solution to the crime.

November 1, 2010

Mystery turns out to be the nickname of a young woman found mutilated to death, but before he learns that, Alex Delaware realizes that he's seen her before--two nights ago at a restaurant that was just closing. So much for easy leads. Kellerman is a powerhouse; buy multiples.

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2011
Alex Delaware, the L.A. psychologist and crime-solver, returns to tackle another tricky case. A woman has been murdered, her body mutilated. Homicide detective Milo Sturgis, Delawares frequent partner, brings Alex into the case, hoping for some insight into the psychology of the killer. Alex is surprised to discover that the victim is familiar to him; Alex and his girlfriend saw her at a restaurant only hours before her death. But how can Alex and Milo expect to find any usable clues when the restaurant is now out of business? The Delaware series has been going since 1985, and its long since settled into a comfortable formula, which is just fine as far as fans are concerned. The books star a pair of engaging protagonists and, for the most part, are well plotted. In addition, Kellerman usually tosses in a couple of twists to keep readers on their toes. This installment is nothing out of the ordinary for the series, but its a solid entry that will please the established audience.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

May 30, 2011
Psychologist Alex Delaware assists his friend, LAPD Det. Lt. Milo Sturgis, in sussing out the identity of a mutilated Jane Doeâa woman that Alex, by coincidence, had noticed the night before when she appeared to be awaiting a date in a hotel lounge. The investigation follows convoluted pathways through Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and cyberspace to puzzle out the mystery woman's identity. John Rubenstein has narrated numerous Kellerman books and is on familiar ground. His confident, seasoned reading gives the recurring characters distinctive voices and matches the dramatic story with a steady, moderate tempo. A Ballantine hardcover.

February 1, 2011

New Hollywood meets old when Kellerman pairs his most popular investigative duo (True Detectives) again in this fast and fun crime drama. Psychologist Alex Delaware and LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis search for the killer of a Jane Doe who just happened to be seen by Delaware and his wife the night of the murder. Anonymous leads send them searching online dating websites and digging through the lives of one of the richest families in California. A secondary story line concerning a former patient, an ex-Hollywood madam on her deathbed, proves vital in making headway in the investigation. Although the reveal of the whodunit is a little cliched, getting there is no less fun. VERDICT Although exposing no significant changes in the personal narratives of Delaware or Sturgis, Kellerman offers a solid and entertaining mystery that series fans will enjoy, along with anyone seeking a glimpse inside the seedy and hedonistic side of L.A. [Library marketing; see Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/10.]--Amanda Scott, Cambridge Springs P.L., PA

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.