Bones (Alex Delaware, No. 23)

Much, much better than Compulsion. Whew - I was worried. I've read every Alex D. novel, and this one works whether it's your first or last. It stands on its own and all the characters are crisp and clear. If you're already a fan, it won't disappoint. The addition of a baby detective for Milo to mentor is a great development. If you like murder mysteries, you will love this book. Highly recommended!

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 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!

I was surprised to find a new Alex Delaware this fall since Kellerman has usually published his novels about the LA psychologist turned consultant to the police like clockwork in the early spring. This outing involves the discovery of four female bodies in a marshland each with a missing hand. Alex, Milo and a feuding biracial brother duo all search for clues about the victims to finally solve the murders but not before a few more bodies become dead along the way. Like all Kellerman's previous novels the book is fast paced and the descriptions of current Southern California life are effectively done. The writing in this outing is not as clear as in some of the earlier volumes but the plot is basically coherent and easy to follow even if the resolution seems a little contrived. And at the end Alex even gets to practice some child psychology again.

Alex is back, and this is one of his better books. When one body is found in a protected wetland, oddly, with a hand missing, the chase is on. Within a short time, more bodies missing hands have been located in the same marsh. All the bodies face east and all except the latest one were prostitutes. Apparently, a serial killer is stalking LA, and Alex and Milo are in pursuit.

The characters in "Bones" are memorable, including an environmental fanatic, a genius child set to inherit a mind boggling fortune, a smarmy rich teenager so awful even his mother can barely stand him, and, I kid you not, a fifty year old prostitute. It's entertaining. It's quick. It's one not to miss.

Bones by Jonathan Kellerman is yet another installment, the 23rd in the series. For Kellerman fans, readers will find familiar characters in familiar situations. What makes Bones a worthwhile read is Kellermans mastery of slowly revealing the story; fact by fact, like peeling the layers of an onion away. Not an original example, but certainly and apt one.
The storyline is pretty straightforward. An anonymous tip leads to the discovery of a murderer's graveyard containing the bodies of murdered prostitutes. That is, until the last killing, which involves a music teacher hired from the east coast to teach music to a young prodigy living on a large estate. LAPD Lt. Milo Sturgis is called in and he in turn brings in Alex Delaware to the investigation. The victim's bodies, all missing the right hand, indicate that a serial killer is on the loose and racking up victims. When a storage locker is found to contain the missing hands the story tightens. Without giving away too much, Bones is a tightly developed story and sure to keep you interested; it worked for me.
I have to agree with another reviewer that toward the end the outcome seemed pretty obvious to me. I would not place this at the top of Kellerman's list of great novels, but I did find it satisfying.
I recommend.