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Alex Delaware #36
Serpentine
Psychologist Alex Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis search for answers to a brutal, decades-old crime in this electrifying psychological thriller from the master of suspense.LAPD homicide lieutenant Milo Sturgis is a master detective. He has a near-perfect solve rate and he’s written his own rule book. Some of those successes—the toughest ones—have involved his best friend, the brilliant psychologist Alex Delaware. But Milo doesn’t call Alex in unless cases are “different.” This murder warrants an immediate call. Milo’s independence has been compromised as never before, as the department pressures him to cater to the demands of a a hard-to-fathom, megarich young woman who is obsessed with reopening the coldest of cases—the decades-old death of the mother she never knew. The facts describe a likely a mysterious woman found with a bullet in her head in a torched Cadillac that has overturned on infamously treacherous Mulholland Drive. No physical evidence, no witnesses, no apparent motive. And a slew of detectives have already worked the case and failed. But as Delaware and Sturgis begin digging, the mist begins to lift. Too many coincidences. Facts turn out to be anything but. And as they soon discover, very real threats lurking in the present. This is Delaware/Sturgis at their traversing the beautiful but forbidding place known as Los Angeles and exhuming the past in order to bring a vicious killer to justice.
368 pages, ebook
First published February 2, 2021
About the author
Jonathan Kellerman
247 books5,444 followersJonathan Kellerman was born in New York City in 1949 and grew up in Los Angeles. He helped work his way through UCLA as an editorial cartoonist, columnist, editor and freelance musician. As a senior, at the age of 22, he won a Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award for fiction.
Like his fictional protagonist, Alex Delaware, Jonathan received at Ph.D. in psychology at the age of 24, with a specialty in the treatment of children. He served internships in clinical psychology and pediatric psychology at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and was a post-doctoral HEW Fellow in Psychology and Human Development at CHLA.
IN 1975, Jonathan was asked by the hospital to conduct research into the psychological effects of extreme isolation (plastic bubble units) on children with cancer, and to coordinate care for these kids and their families. The success of that venture led to the establishment, in 1977 of the Psychosocial Program, Division of Oncology, the first comprehensive approach to the emotional aspects of pediatric cancer anywhere in the world. Jonathan was asked to be founding director and, along with his team, published extensively in the area of behavioral medicine. Decades later, the program, under the tutelage of one of Jonathan's former students, continues to break ground.
Jonathan's first published book was a medical text, PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CHILDHOOD CANCER, 1980. One year later, came a book for parents, HELPING THE FEARFUL CHILD.
In 1985, Jonathan's first novel, WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS, was published to enormous critical and commercial success and became a New York Times bestseller. BOUGH was also produced as a t.v. movie and won the Edgar Allan Poe and Anthony Boucher Awards for Best First Novel. Since then, Jonathan has published a best-selling crime novel every year, and occasionally, two a year. In addition, he has written and illustrated two books for children and a nonfiction volume on childhood violence, SAVAGE SPAWN (1999.) Though no longer active as a psychotherapist, he is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology at University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
Jonathan is married to bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman and they have four children.
Like his fictional protagonist, Alex Delaware, Jonathan received at Ph.D. in psychology at the age of 24, with a specialty in the treatment of children. He served internships in clinical psychology and pediatric psychology at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and was a post-doctoral HEW Fellow in Psychology and Human Development at CHLA.
IN 1975, Jonathan was asked by the hospital to conduct research into the psychological effects of extreme isolation (plastic bubble units) on children with cancer, and to coordinate care for these kids and their families. The success of that venture led to the establishment, in 1977 of the Psychosocial Program, Division of Oncology, the first comprehensive approach to the emotional aspects of pediatric cancer anywhere in the world. Jonathan was asked to be founding director and, along with his team, published extensively in the area of behavioral medicine. Decades later, the program, under the tutelage of one of Jonathan's former students, continues to break ground.
Jonathan's first published book was a medical text, PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CHILDHOOD CANCER, 1980. One year later, came a book for parents, HELPING THE FEARFUL CHILD.
In 1985, Jonathan's first novel, WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS, was published to enormous critical and commercial success and became a New York Times bestseller. BOUGH was also produced as a t.v. movie and won the Edgar Allan Poe and Anthony Boucher Awards for Best First Novel. Since then, Jonathan has published a best-selling crime novel every year, and occasionally, two a year. In addition, he has written and illustrated two books for children and a nonfiction volume on childhood violence, SAVAGE SPAWN (1999.) Though no longer active as a psychotherapist, he is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology at University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
Jonathan is married to bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman and they have four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,095 reviews
January 7, 2021
I've read all thirty-six 'Alex Delaware' novels, and I've enjoyed them all.
Unlike some long-time series (::ahem:: I'm looking at you Patricia Cornwell and Kay Scarpetta), this one hasn't devolved into crap. In fact, it's pretty much the same now as when it first started.
Admittedly, some things are becoming a bit repetitive...Alex walking to Robin's studio to check in twenty-four times during the book, their way too lovey-dovey relationship, and the eternal restaurant scenes where Alex moderates and Milo gorges.
I've also noticed in these last few books that Alex has a pretty flat affect. He's so controlled, and in psychologist-mode so often, I want to scream at him to "loosen the eff up." On the other hand, Milo is still a total spark plug, and if I'm being honest, he's the main reason I still read these books. Serpentine was particularly heavy on the Milo, so I quite enjoyed it.
I do think there were a few too many characters...I had a hard time keeping track of everyone, but this is a solid mystery, which kept me turning the pages late into the night.
3.5 stars rounded up
Available February 2, 2021
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for my review copy.
Unlike some long-time series (::ahem:: I'm looking at you Patricia Cornwell and Kay Scarpetta), this one hasn't devolved into crap. In fact, it's pretty much the same now as when it first started.
Admittedly, some things are becoming a bit repetitive...Alex walking to Robin's studio to check in twenty-four times during the book, their way too lovey-dovey relationship, and the eternal restaurant scenes where Alex moderates and Milo gorges.
I've also noticed in these last few books that Alex has a pretty flat affect. He's so controlled, and in psychologist-mode so often, I want to scream at him to "loosen the eff up." On the other hand, Milo is still a total spark plug, and if I'm being honest, he's the main reason I still read these books. Serpentine was particularly heavy on the Milo, so I quite enjoyed it.
I do think there were a few too many characters...I had a hard time keeping track of everyone, but this is a solid mystery, which kept me turning the pages late into the night.
3.5 stars rounded up
Available February 2, 2021
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for my review copy.
April 3, 2024
3.5 stars
In this 36th book in the 'Alex Delaware' series, the psychologist helps his friend, Lieutenant Milo Sturgis, investigate a cold case. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Thirty-nine year old Ellie Barker is thriving and wealthy, having recently sold off her exercise wear company for gazillions.
Ellie feels a lack in her life, however, because her mother, Dorothy Swoboda, was murdered in Los Angeles 36 years ago, and the crime was never solved. The homicide was investigated by a series of LAPD detectives, and Ellie recently hired private investigators, but no one was able to identify the perpetrator.
Ellie happens to mention her situation at a ritzy fund raiser, and a Hollywood mover and shaker named Andrea Bauer takes up Ellie's cause.
Bauer calls a state assemblyman, who calls a mayor, who calls a police deputy chief, who hands the VERY COLD case to LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis....and tells him not to argue and look into it.
As usual when Sturgis has a difficult case he calls on his friend, LAPD consulting psychologist Alex Delaware, and the duo mount a fresh investigation into Dorothy Swoboda's death.
When Milo and Alex speak to Ellie, they learn that Dorothy took off when Ellie was a toddler, leaving her in the care of a stepdad in northern California. Dorothy apparently prospered after that, because she was driving a Cadillac when she was shot and immolated on a ritzy part of Mulholland drive.
Milo and Alex speculate that Dorothy may have found a sugar daddy, and proceed to investigate using that theory.
As the investigators delve into Dorothy's homicide, they find many fatal accidents and missing persons that seem connected to Dorothy's case, and things get more and more curious.
A good part of the narrative consists of Milo and Alex traveling around Los Angeles and its environs; interviewing people in homes and restaurants; looking up information on the internet; brainstorming about data they uncover; meeting with additional LAPD detectives; and so on.
In addition to helping Milo investigate, Alex spends time doing his day job as a child psychologist, hanging out with his girlfriend Robin, and playing with his dog Blanche.
As always in this series, Milo - who's a big guy with a hearty appetite - frequently drops in on Alex and Robin, raids the refrigerator, and makes himself enormous sandwiches and omelets with everything.
We also see a little more of Milo's boyfriend, Dr. Rick Silverman, and it's nice to get to know the surgeon a bit better.
Milo and Alex's investigation spooks someone, and the book has plenty of twists and surprises.
This is a fine addition to the Alex Delaware series, recommended to fans of thrillers.
Thanks to Netgalley, Jonathan Kellerman, and Ballantine Books for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
January 24, 2021
Serpentine
by Jonathan Kellerman brings murder and disappearances to the 36th book in the Alex Delaware series. It’s a combination of mystery and suspense in a police procedural. The books are also very cerebral in nature.
Los Angeles Police Lieutenant Milo Sturgis and psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware team up again when Milo is given a 36-year old unsolved cold case, for which the original file is missing. Dorothy Swoboda was found in a burned out car and the coroner’s report showed she had also been shot. Ellie Barker, who made a fortune in exercise wear, is her daughter and was raised by her stepfather after Dorothy died. When attending a society function, she mentioned she wants to find out who killed her mother and soon a deputy chief of police is assigning it to Milo. But after 36 years, who is even still alive to be investigated? Where is the missing murder book? With no physical evidence, how can they solve the case?
Milo and Alex have been friends for years and while they often approach cases from different standpoints, their investigative and cognitive techniques gel as well as their dispositions, and they keep the cases fresh, entertaining and moving along. The way they bounce ideas off of each other feels natural. At this stage of the series, the main characters are well known to this reader and have depth. Some new secondary characters show up as well as some that have been in previous books to keep things interesting.
The writing style flowed well and I knew I was back with old friends. Kellerman’s writing is polished and appealing, doing a good job of transporting me to the Los Angeles area. Whether they are talking about or experiencing the traffic or food or the people, I was living the events with Milo and Alex. The story had several twists and there were a couple of surprises at the end. It was definitely not predictable to me. Will you be shocked by the culprit’s identity?
Overall, this was a story that quickly drew me into Milo and Alex’s world and their latest case. It was an engaging read with a solid mystery to unravel.
I recommend it to those that enjoy the series and cerebral procedurals. I don’t recommend jumping into this series at number 36, though. Start earlier in the series to have the best reading experience. I have read over 20 books in the series and plan to read them all. They’re never disappointing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Jonathan Kellerman via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for February 2, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Los Angeles Police Lieutenant Milo Sturgis and psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware team up again when Milo is given a 36-year old unsolved cold case, for which the original file is missing. Dorothy Swoboda was found in a burned out car and the coroner’s report showed she had also been shot. Ellie Barker, who made a fortune in exercise wear, is her daughter and was raised by her stepfather after Dorothy died. When attending a society function, she mentioned she wants to find out who killed her mother and soon a deputy chief of police is assigning it to Milo. But after 36 years, who is even still alive to be investigated? Where is the missing murder book? With no physical evidence, how can they solve the case?
Milo and Alex have been friends for years and while they often approach cases from different standpoints, their investigative and cognitive techniques gel as well as their dispositions, and they keep the cases fresh, entertaining and moving along. The way they bounce ideas off of each other feels natural. At this stage of the series, the main characters are well known to this reader and have depth. Some new secondary characters show up as well as some that have been in previous books to keep things interesting.
The writing style flowed well and I knew I was back with old friends. Kellerman’s writing is polished and appealing, doing a good job of transporting me to the Los Angeles area. Whether they are talking about or experiencing the traffic or food or the people, I was living the events with Milo and Alex. The story had several twists and there were a couple of surprises at the end. It was definitely not predictable to me. Will you be shocked by the culprit’s identity?
Overall, this was a story that quickly drew me into Milo and Alex’s world and their latest case. It was an engaging read with a solid mystery to unravel.
I recommend it to those that enjoy the series and cerebral procedurals. I don’t recommend jumping into this series at number 36, though. Start earlier in the series to have the best reading experience. I have read over 20 books in the series and plan to read them all. They’re never disappointing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Jonathan Kellerman via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for February 2, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
February 3, 2021
Full review now posted 2/2/21
Serpentine is the 36th Alex Delaware novel by Jonathan Kellerman which follows Psychologist Alex Delaware as he helps out his friend, LAPD homicide Lt. Milo Sturgis. A millionaire’s mother was murdered 36 years ago, and she is looking for answers. The case is beyond cold. With no suspects, witnesses or DNA, they run with little evidence they can find. If anybody can close this case, it’s these two brilliant minds.
Once again, this author pulls you into the story with his descriptions from everything from the traffic, food and surroundings. You feel like you are almost there. There is a lot to take in, but you have to remember everything. There are so many twists and turns and an ending I didn’t see coming.
I highly recommend this one, and it can be read as a standalone. Definitely one of my favorites from this author.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review
March 31, 2021
Serpentine by Jonathan Kellerman is the thirty-sixth installment of the Alex Delaware series but it reads well as a standalone. Lieutenant Milo Sturgis, a homicide detective and Alex Delaware, a psychologist, work together to solve crimes in Los Angeles. The duo is tasked with investigating a suspicious death that occurred many decades ago. A woman whose mother’s body had been found in a burnt-out Cadillac at the bottom of Mulholland Drive is depending on them to give her closure. As they investigate, they realize that nothing is what it seems with this cold case from so long ago. Every time the police have looked into the case, someone has had a suspicious and unusual accident leading to their death. Who does not want this cold case solved? Serpentine is an original police procedural and the reader will enjoy the ride. Although Jonathan Kellerman has written many Alex Delaware novels, this one is just as fresh as the first ones. Thank you to Penguin Random House UK, Century, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2021
3.5★s
A thirty-six-year-old cold case had landed on Lieutenant Milo Sturgis’ desk, a case that had been opened many times in the duration. Now the daughter of the woman killed, Ellie Barker, wanted to know why her mother abandoned her, why she’d been killed, and who did it. Hiring Milo, who was in the Los Angeles Police Department’s Homicide squad, felt right. His solve rate was astronomical, Ellie wanted answers and as she was three when it went down, she didn’t remember anything. Her father reared her and now with him gone, she needed to know.
Milo retained the services of psychologist Alex Delaware, who worked often with the LAPD, and Milo in particular. But both of them would be frustrated as little came to the surface. Many of the original investigators plus others involved were dead. Would this be another time the case would be set to one side, unable to be solved? Or would Milo be the one to crack it, lay it to bed and provide Ellie’s answers?
Serpentine is the 36th in the Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman, a series I’ve been following – and enjoying - for some time. I found there was a little too much filler in this one, a lot of long-winded descriptions of various people, houses and so on. I lost some interest before things picked up as we moved toward the finish. There were plenty of twists and red herrings; plenty of characters – good and bad – and the usual antics between Alex and Milo which are often quite humerous. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
A thirty-six-year-old cold case had landed on Lieutenant Milo Sturgis’ desk, a case that had been opened many times in the duration. Now the daughter of the woman killed, Ellie Barker, wanted to know why her mother abandoned her, why she’d been killed, and who did it. Hiring Milo, who was in the Los Angeles Police Department’s Homicide squad, felt right. His solve rate was astronomical, Ellie wanted answers and as she was three when it went down, she didn’t remember anything. Her father reared her and now with him gone, she needed to know.
Milo retained the services of psychologist Alex Delaware, who worked often with the LAPD, and Milo in particular. But both of them would be frustrated as little came to the surface. Many of the original investigators plus others involved were dead. Would this be another time the case would be set to one side, unable to be solved? Or would Milo be the one to crack it, lay it to bed and provide Ellie’s answers?
Serpentine is the 36th in the Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman, a series I’ve been following – and enjoying - for some time. I found there was a little too much filler in this one, a lot of long-winded descriptions of various people, houses and so on. I lost some interest before things picked up as we moved toward the finish. There were plenty of twists and red herrings; plenty of characters – good and bad – and the usual antics between Alex and Milo which are often quite humerous. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2021
When the Mayor asks a Deputy Commissioner to look into a 36 year old unsolved homicide, you know that Milo Sturgis will get the case...and of course, Alex Delaware will join his long time friend in the investigation.
Thirty-six years ago Dorothy Swoboda was murdered. She was shot to death in her Cadillac on Mulholland Drive and the car was set on fire. Who and why remain unknown.
Alex and Milo have worked together on many cases and have developed deep seated respect for each other. The duo face many roadblocks in their efforts to find out who killed Dorothy and why. Original investigators have died, records are missing and even locations have altered. As Alex and Milo delve deeper and deeper into the murder, it becomes clear that someone in the present day doesn't want the case solved.
Trust Milo and Alex to straighten out this shocking, twisty tale and turn an old cold case into a closed one.
As I was reading this novel, I became tired of all the descriptions of LA traffic, LA highways, local restaurants., meal descriptions, internet searches and various people, etc. Then it hit me, this was like the case - a bit of information at a time until you had the whole picture. What else could we expect of a 36 year old cold case?
The story will hold your attention and you will enjoy the ending.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #Serpentine
Thirty-six years ago Dorothy Swoboda was murdered. She was shot to death in her Cadillac on Mulholland Drive and the car was set on fire. Who and why remain unknown.
Alex and Milo have worked together on many cases and have developed deep seated respect for each other. The duo face many roadblocks in their efforts to find out who killed Dorothy and why. Original investigators have died, records are missing and even locations have altered. As Alex and Milo delve deeper and deeper into the murder, it becomes clear that someone in the present day doesn't want the case solved.
Trust Milo and Alex to straighten out this shocking, twisty tale and turn an old cold case into a closed one.
As I was reading this novel, I became tired of all the descriptions of LA traffic, LA highways, local restaurants., meal descriptions, internet searches and various people, etc. Then it hit me, this was like the case - a bit of information at a time until you had the whole picture. What else could we expect of a 36 year old cold case?
The story will hold your attention and you will enjoy the ending.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #Serpentine
January 9, 2021
Although book 36, this is my first read of Kellerman and indeed his Delaware series.
Detective Milo Sturgis again looks for the assistance of his friend and psychologist Alex Delaware when he has a cold case forced onto him from above.
A very wealthy woman wants to know what happened to her estranged mother who was seemingly murdered over three decades ago. With no choice Milo and Alex go to visit her and so unfolds their research into looking into what little clues there are to try and solve a potential murder and the secrets held for over three decades.
This was fine. Enjoyable to a point if a little linear in tone. Rather slow paced with a huge cast of characters and paragraphs of descriptive narrative about the landscape and streets of Los Angeles which I found a little tedious after a while, especially with the slow paced linear tone of the book.
It plods along as it tries to not tie itself in knots with all the potential suspects, red herrings, theories etc, all with that linear pacing. I found myself losing interest on numerous occasions.
Like I said the story was fine and the ending decent. It just felt dragged out and a little underwhelming as a read it and a times outright boring.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK Cornerstone for an ARC.
Detective Milo Sturgis again looks for the assistance of his friend and psychologist Alex Delaware when he has a cold case forced onto him from above.
A very wealthy woman wants to know what happened to her estranged mother who was seemingly murdered over three decades ago. With no choice Milo and Alex go to visit her and so unfolds their research into looking into what little clues there are to try and solve a potential murder and the secrets held for over three decades.
This was fine. Enjoyable to a point if a little linear in tone. Rather slow paced with a huge cast of characters and paragraphs of descriptive narrative about the landscape and streets of Los Angeles which I found a little tedious after a while, especially with the slow paced linear tone of the book.
It plods along as it tries to not tie itself in knots with all the potential suspects, red herrings, theories etc, all with that linear pacing. I found myself losing interest on numerous occasions.
Like I said the story was fine and the ending decent. It just felt dragged out and a little underwhelming as a read it and a times outright boring.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK Cornerstone for an ARC.
February 8, 2021
It’s been quite some time since I’ve read an Alex Delaware mystery, but by the end of the first chapter it was like I’d slipped right back into Alex and Milo land. These two friends and crime fighters are at it again when Milo is asked to look into a thirty-six-year-old cold-case murder. The case quickly becomes a covulated mix of suspects and witnesses that the team manage to dig up from all those years ago. Someone isn’t happy with their investigation though, and strange things begin to occur. Will the pair be able to put all the many threads together in time to catch the culprit before anyone else gets hurt? The book started slow for me, but picked up about halfway through and my interest was heightened. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. I gave it three and a half stars rounded up to four.
January 28, 2021
"Serpentine," the thirty-sixth book in Kellerman's Alex Delaware series, continues to pair psychologist Delaware with buddy Detective Milo Sturgis. Don't expect Mad Max Thunderdome action here, but an intricate exploration of a cold case and the dogged investigative work it'll take to solve it. Because here they get the coldest of all cold cases. A thirty-six year old Case which wasn't originally even classified as a homicide. A case where the crime scene location can only be estimated and all the principals are long since expired. No one knows what really happened or why. Milo and Alex play out the most minute clues to uncover a shocking revelation. What a great payoff.
September 15, 2022
Sad to say that this audiobook just didn’t work for me. I’d enjoyed Kellerman’s latest book City of the Dead and my initial reaction to the chemistry and banter between psychologist Alex Delaware and homicide cop Milo Sturgis here was similarly positive. Also, it was competently read by John Rubinstein. So what’s not to like? Well, everything else.
Milo is asked to re-investigate a decades old death and for fairly sketchy reasons invites Alex to assist. But information is hard to come by as the pair stumble from one stereotypical character to another, each less believable than the last. The pace is funereal and the whole thing gives off the overpowering whiff of ‘this would never happen’. I found that I was ever more reluctant to return to this turgid tale and after giving up for the third time I finally threw in the towel.
My standard award for books I don’t finish is one star – so one star it is.
Milo is asked to re-investigate a decades old death and for fairly sketchy reasons invites Alex to assist. But information is hard to come by as the pair stumble from one stereotypical character to another, each less believable than the last. The pace is funereal and the whole thing gives off the overpowering whiff of ‘this would never happen’. I found that I was ever more reluctant to return to this turgid tale and after giving up for the third time I finally threw in the towel.
My standard award for books I don’t finish is one star – so one star it is.
October 27, 2020
Good old cop Milo Sturgis calls on his buddy, Dr. Alex Delaware, after receiving a freezing cold case from 36 years ago! A daughter, who has money, wants to find out just what happened to her Mom, and words to the right people get the case pulled and delivered to a very angry Homicide Lieutenant!! He can't understand why He needs to take it, but after a bit of research realizes that not much was ever done. So he is off to grab Alex's assistance and start investigating all involved who either worked the case or knew about it. And boy, do wild stories and crazy stories come out of the woodwork as they dig into this one!!
This is a fabulous addition to a series I have loved for years!! I thank NetGalley for an ARC of this smashing story, and I offer You my honest thoughts and feelings in this review.
This is a fabulous addition to a series I have loved for years!! I thank NetGalley for an ARC of this smashing story, and I offer You my honest thoughts and feelings in this review.
January 17, 2021
Serpentine - Jonathan Kellerman
I suppose the title is apt as the plot is very twisty! If you haven’t read any books in this series you may find the rapid fire banter between the two main characters a bit jarring. I knew what to expect, having read a lot of this series over the years, then I got sidetracked and just forgot about it. It’s good to see that things are still going swimmingly for our intrepid investigators police detective Lieutenant Milo Sturgis and psychologist Dr Alex Delaware.
Milo seems to have a roving commission these days in terms of cases and, in a good example of ‘friends in high places’ gets assigned to look into a 36 year old cold case. Over the years three other detectives have reviewed the case which is now so cold you need an ice pick! Ellie Barker, 39, and former very successful businesswoman, wants to have another look into the circumstances of her mother’s death 36 years ago. She was just a toddler and was adopted soon after being abandoned by her mother by her mother’s former boyfriend who was, by all accounts, a loving and caring parent to her.
So as a first step Milo tries to contact the three other officers who looked into the case. Only the third one is still alive but he agrees to talk to them. As the investigation progresses both Milo and Alex are struck by how many people connected to this case have ended up dead in accidents. But we’re they all accidents?
You wouldn’t think it possible but they chip away and chip away and soon develop some promising leads. So much so that the safety of some of the remaining players becomes an issue. Is the murderer still alive? As I said this is a very twisty tale and kudos to the author for delivering another fresh and imaginative story in this long running series. The original cast is still going strong - Milo and his partner Dr. Rick Silverman, Alex and his partner Robin who makes and renovates high quality string instruments. Alex has a new dog, Blanche also a French bulldog, so I guess Spike may have died of old age!
This is not a fast paced thriller but it does deliver a very satisfying mystery that held my interest throughout. Never assume anything could be the motto of the story as the two investigators pulled on the few threads and unravelled much more than they bargained for. This book will appeal to those who have enjoyed previous books in the series or enjoy a twisty mystery. It can be read as a stand alone too although I think you would enjoy it more if you had some background. I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley for review. My opinions are my own.
I suppose the title is apt as the plot is very twisty! If you haven’t read any books in this series you may find the rapid fire banter between the two main characters a bit jarring. I knew what to expect, having read a lot of this series over the years, then I got sidetracked and just forgot about it. It’s good to see that things are still going swimmingly for our intrepid investigators police detective Lieutenant Milo Sturgis and psychologist Dr Alex Delaware.
Milo seems to have a roving commission these days in terms of cases and, in a good example of ‘friends in high places’ gets assigned to look into a 36 year old cold case. Over the years three other detectives have reviewed the case which is now so cold you need an ice pick! Ellie Barker, 39, and former very successful businesswoman, wants to have another look into the circumstances of her mother’s death 36 years ago. She was just a toddler and was adopted soon after being abandoned by her mother by her mother’s former boyfriend who was, by all accounts, a loving and caring parent to her.
So as a first step Milo tries to contact the three other officers who looked into the case. Only the third one is still alive but he agrees to talk to them. As the investigation progresses both Milo and Alex are struck by how many people connected to this case have ended up dead in accidents. But we’re they all accidents?
You wouldn’t think it possible but they chip away and chip away and soon develop some promising leads. So much so that the safety of some of the remaining players becomes an issue. Is the murderer still alive? As I said this is a very twisty tale and kudos to the author for delivering another fresh and imaginative story in this long running series. The original cast is still going strong - Milo and his partner Dr. Rick Silverman, Alex and his partner Robin who makes and renovates high quality string instruments. Alex has a new dog, Blanche also a French bulldog, so I guess Spike may have died of old age!
This is not a fast paced thriller but it does deliver a very satisfying mystery that held my interest throughout. Never assume anything could be the motto of the story as the two investigators pulled on the few threads and unravelled much more than they bargained for. This book will appeal to those who have enjoyed previous books in the series or enjoy a twisty mystery. It can be read as a stand alone too although I think you would enjoy it more if you had some background. I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley for review. My opinions are my own.
January 5, 2021
At a rich people’s do, Andrea Bauer hears 2 women talk about a 36-year old unsolved murder and decides to pull some strings. Ellie Barker’s mother was shot and burned in ‘her’ car. She employed several PI’s but never got an answer to what had happened. Now Milo is put on the case with the help of his friend psychologist Alex Delaware. At first reluctant, they dive into the case and find out that there were already 3 detectives who investigated this over the years, but none of them had any success. 2 of them have died since then; the third one says that he felt that he was put up to fail. Atypical here is that almost everybody is very friendly and helpful, maybe even too helpful?
This is another great story in this series. The investigation meanders in every possible direction and you never know what part of which conversation will be relevant. But you know that Milo and Alex will find the pieces of this puzzle and put it all together. That’s something I really like in these books, real old school police leg-work (well, cars here) without fancy CSI or DNA miracles or heroic chases and shootings by super-cops. Although there is some DNA testing going on, it’s not the thing that solves everything.
Kellerman always gives very good directions and road descriptions. I’m certain that locals can trace the journeys they make without much effort. If you’re like me, you look up some of the places on Google earth and such. Of course, I won’t check out all the details but sometimes I’m just curious what the area or scenery looks like.
Also usual is that the detective and doctor consume a lot of delicious meals in various establishments or out of Alex’s larder and fridge. Milo isn’t too happy when they meet a witness in a place with organic apple-juice that doesn’t look too pretty. I always get hungry when I read books by Kellerman!
There are a lot of accidental deaths in this story, not only amongst the witnesses or people remotely involved but even amongst the police. But there are also a lot of nice and friendly characters in this story. Milo brokers an unexpected friendship between 2 lonely women that could be a mother and daughter age-wise (but they’re not). He’s a secret softie at times.
I received a free ARC from Netgalley and Random House UK and this is my honest and unbiased review of it.
This is another great story in this series. The investigation meanders in every possible direction and you never know what part of which conversation will be relevant. But you know that Milo and Alex will find the pieces of this puzzle and put it all together. That’s something I really like in these books, real old school police leg-work (well, cars here) without fancy CSI or DNA miracles or heroic chases and shootings by super-cops. Although there is some DNA testing going on, it’s not the thing that solves everything.
Kellerman always gives very good directions and road descriptions. I’m certain that locals can trace the journeys they make without much effort. If you’re like me, you look up some of the places on Google earth and such. Of course, I won’t check out all the details but sometimes I’m just curious what the area or scenery looks like.
Also usual is that the detective and doctor consume a lot of delicious meals in various establishments or out of Alex’s larder and fridge. Milo isn’t too happy when they meet a witness in a place with organic apple-juice that doesn’t look too pretty. I always get hungry when I read books by Kellerman!
There are a lot of accidental deaths in this story, not only amongst the witnesses or people remotely involved but even amongst the police. But there are also a lot of nice and friendly characters in this story. Milo brokers an unexpected friendship between 2 lonely women that could be a mother and daughter age-wise (but they’re not). He’s a secret softie at times.
I received a free ARC from Netgalley and Random House UK and this is my honest and unbiased review of it.
February 2, 2021
4.5 STARS
Detective Milo Sturgis and Psychologist Alex Delaware team up again when Milo is assigned to look into a cold case ...
The powers that be have ordered Milo to investigate the death of a woman who's wanting to know what happened to the mother she never knew. Thirty-five years ago a woman was found in a torched car with a bullet in her head. The case was never solved.
The more Milo and Alex dig, the more questions they have. Over the years several detectives have been given the file, but with no witnesses, no DNA, no suspects, it's remained unsolved.
Does anyone believe in coincidences? As they go back in time, they find several other "accidents" that have taken the lives of people who knew the original victim... and the killing still goes on today. Who is killing ... and why? While digging up the past, the present becomes much more dangerous for the duo.
It's another winner for Jonathan Kellerman! Although 36th in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone. This series just never gets old. The plots are intricate with plenty of suspects to follow. The characters are solidly drawn amid a background of suspense and mystery. Fans of Alex Delaware will eagerly grab this book. For newcomers, this is a great place to start.
Many thanks to the author / Penguin Random House - Cornerstone / Random House - Ballantine / Netgalley for the digital copy of this exceptional crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Detective Milo Sturgis and Psychologist Alex Delaware team up again when Milo is assigned to look into a cold case ...
The powers that be have ordered Milo to investigate the death of a woman who's wanting to know what happened to the mother she never knew. Thirty-five years ago a woman was found in a torched car with a bullet in her head. The case was never solved.
The more Milo and Alex dig, the more questions they have. Over the years several detectives have been given the file, but with no witnesses, no DNA, no suspects, it's remained unsolved.
Does anyone believe in coincidences? As they go back in time, they find several other "accidents" that have taken the lives of people who knew the original victim... and the killing still goes on today. Who is killing ... and why? While digging up the past, the present becomes much more dangerous for the duo.
It's another winner for Jonathan Kellerman! Although 36th in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone. This series just never gets old. The plots are intricate with plenty of suspects to follow. The characters are solidly drawn amid a background of suspense and mystery. Fans of Alex Delaware will eagerly grab this book. For newcomers, this is a great place to start.
Many thanks to the author / Penguin Random House - Cornerstone / Random House - Ballantine / Netgalley for the digital copy of this exceptional crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 24, 2021
Serpentine is the 36th, in the Alex Delaware series and is just above an average read.
I seem to have been reading and loving this series for such a long time, but this one felt more like a description of every road in California rather than a crime novel. I found I was skipping chunks of reading, and it made very little difference. There was a little too much stuffing, a lot of long-winded descriptions of various people, houses and roads!
The read picked up again at the finish, so three stars for a novel (in a series) that could be a stand-alone. There were twists and a red herring or two but easy to spot; characters galore and the usual antics between Alex and Milo but quite easily an instalment that could be skipped.
I seem to have been reading and loving this series for such a long time, but this one felt more like a description of every road in California rather than a crime novel. I found I was skipping chunks of reading, and it made very little difference. There was a little too much stuffing, a lot of long-winded descriptions of various people, houses and roads!
The read picked up again at the finish, so three stars for a novel (in a series) that could be a stand-alone. There were twists and a red herring or two but easy to spot; characters galore and the usual antics between Alex and Milo but quite easily an instalment that could be skipped.
February 1, 2021
Interesting Story and Intriguing writing
SUMMARY
Milo Sturgis is a temperamental LAPD homicide detective with a near-perfect solve rate. He often teams up with his best friend and psychologist Alex Delaware. Milo calls Alex in on the cases that are unusual. He needs him now…it’s a decades old cold case, that has been worked by other dectiectives numerous times before. But now Ellie Barker, the wealthy and influential young daughter of the deceased woman, the mother she never knew, wants the case reopened.
Thirty-six years ago. a woman was found with a bullet in her head in a torched Cadillac that has overturned on a treacherous part of Mulholland Drive. The woman’s name is Dorthy Swoboda. There is no physical evidence, no witnesses, and no apparent motive. And the case file is missing. As Delaware and Sturgis begin digging, to many coincidences occur as they fight the traffic from one end of LA to the other. It’s become apparent that someone doesn’t want this case solved.
REVIEW
Serpentine is the thirty-six novel in the Alex Delaware mystery series. The case is reopened by Ellie’s chance encounter at a fundraising dinner with someone who knew someone in the police department. Money talks! The story is interesting and quite involved.
Alex’s character was delightful and charming, while Milo vacillated between grumpy and generous. The writing is intriguing, but the traffic and food descriptions were overly done. The female characters left a little to be desired, several being portrayed as overly emotional and needy. The were a large number of characters and if you are not a frequent reader of the series you may want to keep a list.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Ballanrine Books
Published February 2, 2021
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
SUMMARY
Milo Sturgis is a temperamental LAPD homicide detective with a near-perfect solve rate. He often teams up with his best friend and psychologist Alex Delaware. Milo calls Alex in on the cases that are unusual. He needs him now…it’s a decades old cold case, that has been worked by other dectiectives numerous times before. But now Ellie Barker, the wealthy and influential young daughter of the deceased woman, the mother she never knew, wants the case reopened.
Thirty-six years ago. a woman was found with a bullet in her head in a torched Cadillac that has overturned on a treacherous part of Mulholland Drive. The woman’s name is Dorthy Swoboda. There is no physical evidence, no witnesses, and no apparent motive. And the case file is missing. As Delaware and Sturgis begin digging, to many coincidences occur as they fight the traffic from one end of LA to the other. It’s become apparent that someone doesn’t want this case solved.
REVIEW
Serpentine is the thirty-six novel in the Alex Delaware mystery series. The case is reopened by Ellie’s chance encounter at a fundraising dinner with someone who knew someone in the police department. Money talks! The story is interesting and quite involved.
Alex’s character was delightful and charming, while Milo vacillated between grumpy and generous. The writing is intriguing, but the traffic and food descriptions were overly done. The female characters left a little to be desired, several being portrayed as overly emotional and needy. The were a large number of characters and if you are not a frequent reader of the series you may want to keep a list.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Ballanrine Books
Published February 2, 2021
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
February 5, 2021
This is an excellent thriller full of twists and surprising humor.
Above all, I like the tone in which this book is written. This sarcastic, ironic humor adds some really unique vibe. I like this type of humor very much, and I think it gives some lightness and brightness to the story. Makes it quick and easy to read.
I also like when a story, as here, starts right away on the first pages of a book. Needless to say, it's a very good story. As for the fact that Milo and Alex are solving a case from over thirty years ago, in which most of the witnesses and suspects are already dead, the action is very dynamic and really full of unexpected twists and turns. This is an exquisitely tangled case, full of questions and suspects that keep coming up. Discovering new aspects of this mystery with Milo and Alex is really fascinating. I had a great time.
Also, thanks to the main characters - Alex and Milo and their unique friendship. I had only read one book with Alex before, many years ago, and I don't remember much of it, but I immediately became attached to both main characters. Their deep and true friendship is not without a little spite, it's a very cool dynamics that adds a fun dimension to this story. But there are also some other interesting and expressive characters - both among the victims and among the witnesses. All this together with the plot creates a very neat package.
Although it is already the 36th(!) book in the series, you can easily read it as a standalone and it will not take away any entertainment from this story. I definitely recommend it, not only to fans of solving cold cases.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Above all, I like the tone in which this book is written. This sarcastic, ironic humor adds some really unique vibe. I like this type of humor very much, and I think it gives some lightness and brightness to the story. Makes it quick and easy to read.
I also like when a story, as here, starts right away on the first pages of a book. Needless to say, it's a very good story. As for the fact that Milo and Alex are solving a case from over thirty years ago, in which most of the witnesses and suspects are already dead, the action is very dynamic and really full of unexpected twists and turns. This is an exquisitely tangled case, full of questions and suspects that keep coming up. Discovering new aspects of this mystery with Milo and Alex is really fascinating. I had a great time.
Also, thanks to the main characters - Alex and Milo and their unique friendship. I had only read one book with Alex before, many years ago, and I don't remember much of it, but I immediately became attached to both main characters. Their deep and true friendship is not without a little spite, it's a very cool dynamics that adds a fun dimension to this story. But there are also some other interesting and expressive characters - both among the victims and among the witnesses. All this together with the plot creates a very neat package.
Although it is already the 36th(!) book in the series, you can easily read it as a standalone and it will not take away any entertainment from this story. I definitely recommend it, not only to fans of solving cold cases.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2021
Ellie Barker is a self-made millionaire by the age of forty, and is obsessed with reopening the coldest of cases: the decades-old death of the mother she never knew. She hires LAPD homicide lieutenant Milo Sturgis to help.
Twenty-five years ago, Ellie's mother was found with a bullet in her head in a torched Cadillac that has overturned on infamously treacherous Mulholland Drive. No physical evidence, no witnesses, no apparent motive. And a slew of detectives have already worked the job and failed.
This is a case that calls for the insight of brilliant psychologist Alex Delaware. And as he and Sturgis begin digging, the mist begins to lift. There are too many coincidences. Facts turn out to be anything but. And as they soon discover, very real threats are lurking in the present...
Although this is book number 36 in the series, it is my first Alex Delaware book and I could still read it as a standalone without having read any of the previous books.
This was definitely a slow-paced plot but it was quite intriguing. The investigation carried out by Milo and Alex is meticulous, even though there is not much evidence due to the passage of time, they leave no stone unturned.
There were lot of characters involved and a detailed description of the surroundings, which left me slightly lost in between. But there were some twists at regular intervals to keep me interested and read on till the end. And the ending was not what I was expecting, so it was actually a surprise!
Overall, an okay read.
Thank You NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for this ARC!
Twenty-five years ago, Ellie's mother was found with a bullet in her head in a torched Cadillac that has overturned on infamously treacherous Mulholland Drive. No physical evidence, no witnesses, no apparent motive. And a slew of detectives have already worked the job and failed.
This is a case that calls for the insight of brilliant psychologist Alex Delaware. And as he and Sturgis begin digging, the mist begins to lift. There are too many coincidences. Facts turn out to be anything but. And as they soon discover, very real threats are lurking in the present...
Although this is book number 36 in the series, it is my first Alex Delaware book and I could still read it as a standalone without having read any of the previous books.
This was definitely a slow-paced plot but it was quite intriguing. The investigation carried out by Milo and Alex is meticulous, even though there is not much evidence due to the passage of time, they leave no stone unturned.
There were lot of characters involved and a detailed description of the surroundings, which left me slightly lost in between. But there were some twists at regular intervals to keep me interested and read on till the end. And the ending was not what I was expecting, so it was actually a surprise!
Overall, an okay read.
Thank You NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for this ARC!
February 12, 2023
In the 36th installment in the Alex Delaware series not much has changed. Alex still drives the same Cadillac Seville, he still has the same girlfriend ... Robin, and pet dog Blanche. And his friend, LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis, calls on him when there is an unusual case. Alex is a child psychologist and in the beginning of the series Milo called in Alex when there was case where there was a child and a crime. Nowadays it is just as likely Milo calls when there is anything unusual or out of the norm.
This story is about a very cold case, wealth, and politics. Ellie Barker is thirty-nine and wealthy. She recently sold her exercise wear company for a lot of money. Now she has time on her hand and is thinking about her mother. 36 years ago her mother, Dorothy Swoboda, was found with a bullet in her head in a torched Cadillac that had overturned on Mulholland Drive. The crime was never solved desptie having been investigated by various detectives over the years. Ellie mentions what happened to her mother at a fund raiser and a well connected Hollywood mover and shaker makes a call to a state assemblyman, who calls the mayor, who calls a police deputy chief, who hands the case to Milo who calls Alex.
As the they investigate they find several fatal accidents that all seem to have a connection to Swoboda. Too many to be a coincidince. It has been 36 years and many of the people around have died. If not from some kind of accident then from natural causes. How to solve? If you are Alex and Milo you make a lot of phone calls and meet people and pry memories. And sort through all the stories. Maybe the memories are not that great. Or maybe someone is blowing some smoke.
This was a nice entry in the series. Not the best but better than some of the more recent stories. The first book, When the Bough Breaks, was published in 1985. It would be nice if at some point in time something changes. At least put Alex in a new car.
This story is about a very cold case, wealth, and politics. Ellie Barker is thirty-nine and wealthy. She recently sold her exercise wear company for a lot of money. Now she has time on her hand and is thinking about her mother. 36 years ago her mother, Dorothy Swoboda, was found with a bullet in her head in a torched Cadillac that had overturned on Mulholland Drive. The crime was never solved desptie having been investigated by various detectives over the years. Ellie mentions what happened to her mother at a fund raiser and a well connected Hollywood mover and shaker makes a call to a state assemblyman, who calls the mayor, who calls a police deputy chief, who hands the case to Milo who calls Alex.
As the they investigate they find several fatal accidents that all seem to have a connection to Swoboda. Too many to be a coincidince. It has been 36 years and many of the people around have died. If not from some kind of accident then from natural causes. How to solve? If you are Alex and Milo you make a lot of phone calls and meet people and pry memories. And sort through all the stories. Maybe the memories are not that great. Or maybe someone is blowing some smoke.
This was a nice entry in the series. Not the best but better than some of the more recent stories. The first book, When the Bough Breaks, was published in 1985. It would be nice if at some point in time something changes. At least put Alex in a new car.
February 18, 2021
Kellerman back on form!!! The last 2 weren’t that great.
Love the snappy banter between Alex & Milo. Moves the story along at speed.
Milo has been given or I should say actually he has been pressured by higher-ups into taking on a 36 year old cold case.
This is not your run of the mill murder case. A cold case decades old is not likely to be solved.
Unless – of course – you get Milo and Alex.
Lots of possibilities. Lots of names, couldn’t always keep track, but didn’t matter in the end.
Great plot with many twists and turns and a good surprise ending.
As always Kellerman gives blow by blow driving directions all over LA…not all that interesting to me, but anyway…I can just imagine someone listening to this as an audio book…must sound like a GPS.
To arrive at #36 in a series and still keep it fresh and interesting is AMAZING!
BTW: Can anyone tell me what the phrase “Go Know” means??? It comes up several times in conversations – never heard it before.
Love the snappy banter between Alex & Milo. Moves the story along at speed.
Milo has been given or I should say actually he has been pressured by higher-ups into taking on a 36 year old cold case.
This is not your run of the mill murder case. A cold case decades old is not likely to be solved.
Unless – of course – you get Milo and Alex.
Lots of possibilities. Lots of names, couldn’t always keep track, but didn’t matter in the end.
Great plot with many twists and turns and a good surprise ending.
As always Kellerman gives blow by blow driving directions all over LA…not all that interesting to me, but anyway…I can just imagine someone listening to this as an audio book…must sound like a GPS.
To arrive at #36 in a series and still keep it fresh and interesting is AMAZING!
BTW: Can anyone tell me what the phrase “Go Know” means??? It comes up several times in conversations – never heard it before.
October 23, 2020
Psychologist and police consultant Alex Delaware and LAPD homicide lieutenant Milo Sturgis have been friends for so long they can finish each other's sentences. I've been trailing them around for just as long, enjoying their interaction as they solve sometimes complicated murder cases, that I probably could finish them as well. And this - the 36th book in the Delaware series - doesn't disappoint.
This time, though, it's a cold case that falls - make that is shoved - into the lieutenant's lap. Why now? Apparently, a very wealthy woman is demanding that the case be reopened; she's convinced that a woman who was shot, pushed over a cliff in her car and burned beyond recognition 36 years earlier is the mother she never knew. A couple of subsequent investigations revealed nothing, and the hope is that Milo will work his usual brand of magic and find ouit what really happened.
Any investigation of this sort means delving into family matters, and it soon becomes clear that one of her dearly loved relatives may have some connection to other suspicious deaths. Also quite clear, though, is that someone living in the present really doesn't want an investigation to proceed. The trail leads over, under, around and through the streets of Los Angeles (with plenty of territorial description and stops to eat along the way) until it comes to a surprising end.
All told, it's another very enjoyable foray into the world of Alex and Milo - made even more enjoyable by occasional appearances of Alex's main squeeze, expert guitar-builder/repairer Robin. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy!
This time, though, it's a cold case that falls - make that is shoved - into the lieutenant's lap. Why now? Apparently, a very wealthy woman is demanding that the case be reopened; she's convinced that a woman who was shot, pushed over a cliff in her car and burned beyond recognition 36 years earlier is the mother she never knew. A couple of subsequent investigations revealed nothing, and the hope is that Milo will work his usual brand of magic and find ouit what really happened.
Any investigation of this sort means delving into family matters, and it soon becomes clear that one of her dearly loved relatives may have some connection to other suspicious deaths. Also quite clear, though, is that someone living in the present really doesn't want an investigation to proceed. The trail leads over, under, around and through the streets of Los Angeles (with plenty of territorial description and stops to eat along the way) until it comes to a surprising end.
All told, it's another very enjoyable foray into the world of Alex and Milo - made even more enjoyable by occasional appearances of Alex's main squeeze, expert guitar-builder/repairer Robin. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy!
February 11, 2021
Serpentine truly lives up to its title on many levels. The action initially moves slowly then twists and turns, sometimes torturously, uncovering various types of evil as Detective Milo Sturgis attempts to solve a cold case.
As the novel begins, Milo has been tasked with investigating the apparent death/murder of a woman some 35 years earlier. He is to do this without any supporting staff per the Police Chief. And he is to meet with the woman’s daughter, who was only three at the time of her mother’s death, but wants to know what happened. A very cold case. As always, Alex Delaware is ready to assist.
I really enjoyed this story. I don’t believe this duo has had a case quite like this before, but that seems impossible as this is Kellerman’s 36th Alex Delaware novel. The cold case format allowed for even more free rein in the Milo/Alex relationship and a look at how resources can be used. And Alex is shown actively doing his work with family court again which I have missed. There is also less violence than in some past episodes because of the cold case factor but that doesn’t mean no violence.
I do recommend this. Rating 4 to 4.5*
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
As the novel begins, Milo has been tasked with investigating the apparent death/murder of a woman some 35 years earlier. He is to do this without any supporting staff per the Police Chief. And he is to meet with the woman’s daughter, who was only three at the time of her mother’s death, but wants to know what happened. A very cold case. As always, Alex Delaware is ready to assist.
I really enjoyed this story. I don’t believe this duo has had a case quite like this before, but that seems impossible as this is Kellerman’s 36th Alex Delaware novel. The cold case format allowed for even more free rein in the Milo/Alex relationship and a look at how resources can be used. And Alex is shown actively doing his work with family court again which I have missed. There is also less violence than in some past episodes because of the cold case factor but that doesn’t mean no violence.
I do recommend this. Rating 4 to 4.5*
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
February 16, 2021
Although this is book 36# in this series, and I had never read even one of the other books, I had no problems reading this book and understanding what was going on.
This is not to say that I didn't have issues, but they weren't serious issues. For one, there were just too many descriptions-what they were eating, drinking, wearing, how much food was being consumed, and when. It finally just got on my nerves. I've seen female authors do this time and again, but this is the first time I've seen a male author do this.
Secondly, I couldn't keep track of all of the characters. I had to look back in the book to refresh my memory constantly. (thank goodness for my Kindle)
There were many red-herrings and a whole lot of re-hashing. Too much was redundant.
I'm not saying this was a horrible book - not at all; it just wasn't my thing., and I love hard-boiled murder mysteries. Even though this was about a murder with a cop and a psychologist, it just seemed to me to be wishy-washy.
*ARC supplied by the publisher, author, and NetGalley.
This is not to say that I didn't have issues, but they weren't serious issues. For one, there were just too many descriptions-what they were eating, drinking, wearing, how much food was being consumed, and when. It finally just got on my nerves. I've seen female authors do this time and again, but this is the first time I've seen a male author do this.
Secondly, I couldn't keep track of all of the characters. I had to look back in the book to refresh my memory constantly. (thank goodness for my Kindle)
There were many red-herrings and a whole lot of re-hashing. Too much was redundant.
I'm not saying this was a horrible book - not at all; it just wasn't my thing., and I love hard-boiled murder mysteries. Even though this was about a murder with a cop and a psychologist, it just seemed to me to be wishy-washy.
*ARC supplied by the publisher, author, and NetGalley.
December 26, 2020
Serpentine (Ballantine Books 2021) is the thirty-sixth in Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware series and another excellent story starring Dr Alex Delaware, psychologist, and Detective Milo Sturgiss of the LAPD. Together they are clever, analytical, and inspired to solve crimes. This crime is a thirty-nine-year-old cold case that many detectives have tried and failed to solve. It starts as a simple missing person and ends up with multiple murders. I can’t say much more without spoiling the plot but if you wonder if the author's smart voice is intact, read these few quotes:
"A charging bull if a bull could find an aloha shirt that fit [this is Milo]"
"...make a living creating beauty [Delaware's live-in girlfriend]"
Kellerman has lost nothing of his writing skills since the last thirty-five books in this series. If you like those, you’ll love this. It may even be your favorite.
"A charging bull if a bull could find an aloha shirt that fit [this is Milo]"
"...make a living creating beauty [Delaware's live-in girlfriend]"
Kellerman has lost nothing of his writing skills since the last thirty-five books in this series. If you like those, you’ll love this. It may even be your favorite.
January 25, 2021
This is the 36th entry into the Alex Delaware series, and it’s still going strong. Lucky me, I read it free. My thanks go to Net Galley and Random House Ballantine for the review copy. It will be available to the public February 2, 2021.
Milo Sturgis, the only gay detective in Los Angeles, has been ordered to take up a very cold case. Money talks, and big money talks loudest. A massively wealthy young woman wants to know what really happened to her mother, and who her biological father was. Ellie Barker was raised by her stepfather, who left her everything, and now that he’s gone, there’s no reason not to go digging for information about the things he didn’t like to talk about. Milo does an eye-roll and reaches for his phone. He thinks it would be better to have a psychologist along, and so once again, Alex joins him on the case.
The case is a complex one, and it also holds a lot of surprises, especially at the end. There’s a side character named Winifred Gaines, “equine laugh” and all, that I enjoy greatly.
I’m going to use this opportunity to share some reflections on the series as a whole. At the outset, clear back in the single digits of the series, the focus was mostly on Alex, and on children. Since Kellerman is a child psychologist, this format gave him an excellent chance to showcase his professional knowledge by incorporating troubled children or adolescents into the plot. I always learned something when he did this, and it was riveting.
Over the course of the series, children have become thinner on the ground. Perhaps this is because Kellerman has used up his reserves, but I don’t think so, somehow. It’s a mighty rich field, and as far as I know, he has it all to himself in terms of long-running series. This time, there are a few references to how children might behave under particular circumstances, and there’s a brief mention of a custody case Alex is working on, which is not central to the plot, but I nevertheless learned something just from the tiny little fragment he snuck into the story. I fervently wish that he would incorporate more child psychology and less kinky sex into his series now. If that makes me sound like a bluestocking, I’ll live with that.
What he has done that I like is build Milo into a more central character. Earlier in the series, Delaware was the central protagonist, and he and his girlfriend Robin—the sort of girlfriend that seems more like a wife—had some ups and downs. They separated at one point, then reunited. It did make them seem more like real people to me. Now, both of them are static and bland, but they provide a neutral backdrop for us to see Milo in action. And I have to admit, it works for me. Right from the get-go, Milo, who has a large appetite, comes lumbering into Alex and Robin’s kitchen, flings open the fridge, and starts making himself the mother of all sandwiches, and I realize that I am smiling widely. What an agreeable character! There’s a point about a third of the way in, where another guy stands up and Milo takes his seat, and “the couch shifted like a lagoon accommodating an ocean liner.” I just love it. There are a couple of allusions toward the end that hint that Milo may be experiencing some health issues that are common to large folk, but there’s no way that this character will die; not unless Kellerman wants to kill off his protagonists as part of an authorial retirement.
When all is said and done, this is a solid mystery from a solid series. Can you read it as a stand-alone? You can. However, you may become addicted and find yourself seeking out the others as well.
Recommended to all that love the genre.
Milo Sturgis, the only gay detective in Los Angeles, has been ordered to take up a very cold case. Money talks, and big money talks loudest. A massively wealthy young woman wants to know what really happened to her mother, and who her biological father was. Ellie Barker was raised by her stepfather, who left her everything, and now that he’s gone, there’s no reason not to go digging for information about the things he didn’t like to talk about. Milo does an eye-roll and reaches for his phone. He thinks it would be better to have a psychologist along, and so once again, Alex joins him on the case.
The case is a complex one, and it also holds a lot of surprises, especially at the end. There’s a side character named Winifred Gaines, “equine laugh” and all, that I enjoy greatly.
I’m going to use this opportunity to share some reflections on the series as a whole. At the outset, clear back in the single digits of the series, the focus was mostly on Alex, and on children. Since Kellerman is a child psychologist, this format gave him an excellent chance to showcase his professional knowledge by incorporating troubled children or adolescents into the plot. I always learned something when he did this, and it was riveting.
Over the course of the series, children have become thinner on the ground. Perhaps this is because Kellerman has used up his reserves, but I don’t think so, somehow. It’s a mighty rich field, and as far as I know, he has it all to himself in terms of long-running series. This time, there are a few references to how children might behave under particular circumstances, and there’s a brief mention of a custody case Alex is working on, which is not central to the plot, but I nevertheless learned something just from the tiny little fragment he snuck into the story. I fervently wish that he would incorporate more child psychology and less kinky sex into his series now. If that makes me sound like a bluestocking, I’ll live with that.
What he has done that I like is build Milo into a more central character. Earlier in the series, Delaware was the central protagonist, and he and his girlfriend Robin—the sort of girlfriend that seems more like a wife—had some ups and downs. They separated at one point, then reunited. It did make them seem more like real people to me. Now, both of them are static and bland, but they provide a neutral backdrop for us to see Milo in action. And I have to admit, it works for me. Right from the get-go, Milo, who has a large appetite, comes lumbering into Alex and Robin’s kitchen, flings open the fridge, and starts making himself the mother of all sandwiches, and I realize that I am smiling widely. What an agreeable character! There’s a point about a third of the way in, where another guy stands up and Milo takes his seat, and “the couch shifted like a lagoon accommodating an ocean liner.” I just love it. There are a couple of allusions toward the end that hint that Milo may be experiencing some health issues that are common to large folk, but there’s no way that this character will die; not unless Kellerman wants to kill off his protagonists as part of an authorial retirement.
When all is said and done, this is a solid mystery from a solid series. Can you read it as a stand-alone? You can. However, you may become addicted and find yourself seeking out the others as well.
Recommended to all that love the genre.
April 17, 2021
I have been reading Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series for over 25 years and it is time to give it up. Kellerman is not a good writer — he follows the tell, not show, school of writing. Characters are described in terms of what they are wearing, not what they are doing. Even 25 years ago I didn’t think Kellerman was a great writer but at that time there was a limited selection of mystery books available; we were basically restricted to U.S. writers. Now that there is a much larger pool of U.K. authors available via Kindle, Kellerman’s flaws have become more apparent. SERPENTINE actually has a decent plot when compared to his last couple of books, but it still contains a huge amount of irrelevant details. Every trip is described in detail, the work Robin is doing (which has nothing to do with the plot) is described numerous times, likewise the food they are eating, especially Milo’s eating habits. None of this has anything to do with uncovering the villain. And the books are very overpriced, especially the Kindle editions. I borrowed this copy from the library but I don’t think I’ll be making any more library trips to pick up another Alex Delaware novel.
March 9, 2021
Hard to believe this is Book #36 in this series. Lt. Milo Sturgis corrals Alex Delaware into helping with a 39-year old cold case, which is foisted upon him from a higher ranking officer, who took pity on someone at her table at a charity event: the daughter of a woman whose body was discovered in a fiery car crash off Mulholland Drive, with a bullet in her head. Together, they backtrack via the detectives and living relatives to find out where the woman had been living. Meanwhile, they find a number of unexplained deaths, ultimately leading them back to the truth. I liked that Milo (a/k/a Big Guy) was much more involved in this investigation, but I did find the book tediously slow at times. The ending was pretty darn twisted, even more so than The Museum of Desire.
March 12, 2021
I have always liked Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series and this book was no exception. The only flaw in the story, a 36 year old VERY cold case, was the huge number of characters that were involved (mostly women). Had I known that in advance, I would have kept a list, which would have kept me from having to go back to figure out who was who. But, a good read, nonetheless.
December 24, 2020
I was so excited to get this as a "Read Now" on Netgalley that I sat down last night and read every last page. I've been a fan of Alex and Milo for almost 30 years and each book just gets better and better.
This one starts with a cold case, a case so cold, it's frozen shut. Thanks to his stellar solve rate and some politics, Milo is put on the case to help a wealthy young woman find out how her mother ended up dead in a burning car pushed off a cliff. But with next to nothing in the archives, no clues and only a faded picture of the woman, Milo and Alex are forced to start from scratch, weaving together a story of evil that spanned decades.
Very few things make me happier than cracking into a fresh new Kellerman book and this one was no exception. Watching Milo and Alex work is always a pleasure and the intricately woven plot of this nearly-impossible-to-solve case kept me guessing til the end. There were more highs and lows and twists and turns than an alpine race course! And oh man, did I love that ending! Vindication and pure, unadulterated poetic justice. Is there anything better? Nope.
There's so much more I want to say about this one but I'm afraid I'd give too much away, so I'll just say this: if you're looking for a great mystery series, Kellerman's Alex Delaware series is the top of the heap.
This one starts with a cold case, a case so cold, it's frozen shut. Thanks to his stellar solve rate and some politics, Milo is put on the case to help a wealthy young woman find out how her mother ended up dead in a burning car pushed off a cliff. But with next to nothing in the archives, no clues and only a faded picture of the woman, Milo and Alex are forced to start from scratch, weaving together a story of evil that spanned decades.
Very few things make me happier than cracking into a fresh new Kellerman book and this one was no exception. Watching Milo and Alex work is always a pleasure and the intricately woven plot of this nearly-impossible-to-solve case kept me guessing til the end. There were more highs and lows and twists and turns than an alpine race course! And oh man, did I love that ending! Vindication and pure, unadulterated poetic justice. Is there anything better? Nope.
There's so much more I want to say about this one but I'm afraid I'd give too much away, so I'll just say this: if you're looking for a great mystery series, Kellerman's Alex Delaware series is the top of the heap.
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