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Alex Delaware #33
Night Moves
The new novel from Jonathan Kellerman, 'MASTER OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER', perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and David Baldacci.ALEX DELAWARE RETURNS . . .A brilliant criminal psychologist, Dr Alex Delaware works with the police to help solve the most complex of crimes in Los Angeles, city of illusions, glamour and infamy.LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis knows there are crimes he cannot solve alone. And in this case, where the scene of the murder is as baffling as it is brutal, the good doctor's insight is crucial. There's no spilled blood and no evidence of a struggle. And without hands and a face, the body can't be identified immediately. Alex and Milo must find out how and why this disfigured corpse has appeared in Chet Corvin's upscale home when the family are certain they don't know the victim. But for some unknown reason, their cooperation remains guarded.Though the grass may be greener on these privileged streets, Alex and Milo both know there's enough dirt below the surface to bury a multitude of sins . . . even the deadliest of all.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2018
4315 people are currently reading
4523 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Kellerman
197 books5,795 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 925 reviews
March 12, 2019
As the thirty-third Alex Delaware novel opens, a very dysfunctional L.A. family of four returns from a Sunday night dinner out to find a murder victim left in the family's den. The victim's face has been blown away by a shotgun and his hands have been cut off. He's obviously been killed somewhere else and left here, but why?
Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis is totally flummoxed and so does what he always seems do do with every even remotely complicated case that he sees: he dials up his buddy, psychologist Alex Delaware, in the hope that Alex can sort things out for him. Alex races to the scene and begins offering his thoughts.
The family members all swear that that have no idea who the victim might be or why he would have been left in their den. This is hardly surprising since, given that the victim has no face and no hands that might be fingerprinted, nobody at this point has the slightest idea who he might have been or why he would have been left in that spot.
The father is a total blow-hard; the mother is a pain in the butt; the teen-age son is a complete jerk, and the daughter is just plain weird. Alex will have his hands full trying to figure these guys out, but they all claim that no one could be angry enough with them to have done something like this in their home.
This is a fairly wealthy and insular neighborhood, and the canvas turns up a very strange neighbor who everyone thinks might be a great suspect, mostly just because there are no other obvious suspects in sight. But the guy refuses even to talk to the police or to Alex and so they spend a lot of time spinning their wheels. Other suspects will emerge; another victim will be murdered, and Alex and Milo will try to get it all sorted out. To be honest, though, I have to say that I barely cared whether they did or not.
With apologies to anyone who has read my reviews of the last few books in this series, I will repeat what I've said before: I absolutely loved the first few books in this series. Alex Delaware was a great new protagonist and--most importantly--in the early books there were actually legitimate reasons for him to be involved in these investigations. He was a consulting police psychologist and the police used him in cases where his expertise was genuinely needed.
In many of the recent books though, the notion that Delaware would be seriously working as a psychological consultant has gone out the window to a very large extent. Milo invites Delaware to participate in practically every investigation that comes his way, irrespective of whether there's a legitimate need or not. This book is a good example.
Given the screwy nature of several of the characters in this novel, somewhere down the line Milo might have asked Delaware to provide some insight, but there's no legitimate reason to be dragging him into the case even before the criminologists have left the scene of the crime. A man's been murdered by a shotgun blast--like no one's ever seen this before, and like any reasonably intelligent homicide detective would need to call in a psychologist at this point?
As the novel progresses, Alex will offer the occasional psychological observations, most of which are no more sophisticated than those that might have been offered by anyone who's taken Psych 101. Frankly, the author seems to have gotten to the point where he often doesn't even make much of a pretext that Delaware's skills as a psychologist are essential to the story. Clearly, he just exists at this point to be Milo's Best Bud and to help him solve the crimes that come his way.
If Delaware were another homicide detective, rather than a psychologist, it would make sense for him to be heavily involved in this case and the story would make for a reasonably decent novel. But he isn't, and it doesn't. And as someone who's been reading this series from the beginning and who remembers how great it once was, I find myself increasingly frustrated and disappointed with what it's become.
Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis is totally flummoxed and so does what he always seems do do with every even remotely complicated case that he sees: he dials up his buddy, psychologist Alex Delaware, in the hope that Alex can sort things out for him. Alex races to the scene and begins offering his thoughts.
The family members all swear that that have no idea who the victim might be or why he would have been left in their den. This is hardly surprising since, given that the victim has no face and no hands that might be fingerprinted, nobody at this point has the slightest idea who he might have been or why he would have been left in that spot.
The father is a total blow-hard; the mother is a pain in the butt; the teen-age son is a complete jerk, and the daughter is just plain weird. Alex will have his hands full trying to figure these guys out, but they all claim that no one could be angry enough with them to have done something like this in their home.
This is a fairly wealthy and insular neighborhood, and the canvas turns up a very strange neighbor who everyone thinks might be a great suspect, mostly just because there are no other obvious suspects in sight. But the guy refuses even to talk to the police or to Alex and so they spend a lot of time spinning their wheels. Other suspects will emerge; another victim will be murdered, and Alex and Milo will try to get it all sorted out. To be honest, though, I have to say that I barely cared whether they did or not.
With apologies to anyone who has read my reviews of the last few books in this series, I will repeat what I've said before: I absolutely loved the first few books in this series. Alex Delaware was a great new protagonist and--most importantly--in the early books there were actually legitimate reasons for him to be involved in these investigations. He was a consulting police psychologist and the police used him in cases where his expertise was genuinely needed.
In many of the recent books though, the notion that Delaware would be seriously working as a psychological consultant has gone out the window to a very large extent. Milo invites Delaware to participate in practically every investigation that comes his way, irrespective of whether there's a legitimate need or not. This book is a good example.
Given the screwy nature of several of the characters in this novel, somewhere down the line Milo might have asked Delaware to provide some insight, but there's no legitimate reason to be dragging him into the case even before the criminologists have left the scene of the crime. A man's been murdered by a shotgun blast--like no one's ever seen this before, and like any reasonably intelligent homicide detective would need to call in a psychologist at this point?
As the novel progresses, Alex will offer the occasional psychological observations, most of which are no more sophisticated than those that might have been offered by anyone who's taken Psych 101. Frankly, the author seems to have gotten to the point where he often doesn't even make much of a pretext that Delaware's skills as a psychologist are essential to the story. Clearly, he just exists at this point to be Milo's Best Bud and to help him solve the crimes that come his way.
If Delaware were another homicide detective, rather than a psychologist, it would make sense for him to be heavily involved in this case and the story would make for a reasonably decent novel. But he isn't, and it doesn't. And as someone who's been reading this series from the beginning and who remembers how great it once was, I find myself increasingly frustrated and disappointed with what it's become.
February 21, 2018
Tempted as I am to give this one 5 stars just because psychologist and LAPD consultant Dr. Alex Delaware has long been near the top of my 10 all-time favorite "heroes," I have to be honest and say this one isn't my pick of the 33-book litter. Do not think I didn't enjoy it, though - it's just that the pace seemed a little slower and the number of characters maybe half a dozen too many for my aging brain to keep straight through a rather complex plot that jumps from suspect to suspect and back again. Also a bit of a disappointment is that Alex's main squeeze, Robin, is noticeably missing for almost all the action (even their lovable dog, Blanche, gets more page time).
Still, Alex remains at the top of his game, and his pal and professional colleague, LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis, remains just as curmudgeonly. The story begins when a mutilated male body turns up in an odd place - the home of a family of four, none of whom claims to have a clue as to who the dead guy might be. Milo catches the case, and almost immediately he calls on Alex for help. Clearly, the man was murdered elsewhere - so why would he end up in the home of people he doesn't know? Complicating the case are an obnoxious husband, an even more obnoxious wife, a teenage son with a king-size attitude problem, a sister who might be described generously as three bricks shy of a chimney and a next-door neighbor with hermit tendencies.
To be sure, there's more to that neighborhood than meets the eye, but nobody's talking (except perhaps that obnoxious husband, who just can't seem to shut up). The trail leads Alex and Milo to a few other oddball characters in nearby parts of the state and back again, with driving time interspersed with enough musings, psychological insights and banter between the old friends to keep things interesting until all the trails begin to merge.
Bottom line? Another solid book - just not exciting enough that I was willing to miss the final round of Olympics ice dancing to finish the final three chapters. It was, however, the first free-time task I tackled the following morning.
Still, Alex remains at the top of his game, and his pal and professional colleague, LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis, remains just as curmudgeonly. The story begins when a mutilated male body turns up in an odd place - the home of a family of four, none of whom claims to have a clue as to who the dead guy might be. Milo catches the case, and almost immediately he calls on Alex for help. Clearly, the man was murdered elsewhere - so why would he end up in the home of people he doesn't know? Complicating the case are an obnoxious husband, an even more obnoxious wife, a teenage son with a king-size attitude problem, a sister who might be described generously as three bricks shy of a chimney and a next-door neighbor with hermit tendencies.
To be sure, there's more to that neighborhood than meets the eye, but nobody's talking (except perhaps that obnoxious husband, who just can't seem to shut up). The trail leads Alex and Milo to a few other oddball characters in nearby parts of the state and back again, with driving time interspersed with enough musings, psychological insights and banter between the old friends to keep things interesting until all the trails begin to merge.
Bottom line? Another solid book - just not exciting enough that I was willing to miss the final round of Olympics ice dancing to finish the final three chapters. It was, however, the first free-time task I tackled the following morning.
March 12, 2018
Dr Alex Delaware, criminal psychologist and his Detective friend and associate, Milo Sturgis worked together to solve the crimes of Los Angeles. Milo's solve rates were legendary but the current case was testing their strengths.
Called to a home in an up-market area, Alex was soon involved with the case. The black and whites, the police dressed in protective garb, along with Milo asking questions of the family members - the victim had been brutalised and the initial thought was what a struggle it would be to identify the man.
As days turned into a week, then two and the answers were still a long way off, Milo and Alex persevered. The strangeness of the case, the twisted and emotionless family they encountered - would they solve this one? Or would it drift into an unsolved case; a cold case?
Night Moves by Jonathan Kellerman is the 33rd in the Alex Delaware series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, with the intense and gripping story keeping me totally involved. I had no idea what would happen! I really enjoy this author's work, and the dry humour which flickers backward and forward between Alex and Milo often has me laughing out loud. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read and review.
Called to a home in an up-market area, Alex was soon involved with the case. The black and whites, the police dressed in protective garb, along with Milo asking questions of the family members - the victim had been brutalised and the initial thought was what a struggle it would be to identify the man.
As days turned into a week, then two and the answers were still a long way off, Milo and Alex persevered. The strangeness of the case, the twisted and emotionless family they encountered - would they solve this one? Or would it drift into an unsolved case; a cold case?
Night Moves by Jonathan Kellerman is the 33rd in the Alex Delaware series, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, with the intense and gripping story keeping me totally involved. I had no idea what would happen! I really enjoy this author's work, and the dry humour which flickers backward and forward between Alex and Milo often has me laughing out loud. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read and review.
March 11, 2018
Well, I really sped through this book, a complicated story which begins with the murder of an unknown man, left in a family's house while they are at dinner. Who is the victim? Why was he left in this specific home--and this specific room? And what about the neighbors and the rather odd family dynamics at play here? There are so many investigation twists and turns as the team of Milo Sturgis and Alex Delaware (police and psychologist, respectively) lead the search for identity, purpose, motive, perpetrator. But each step widens the search. In this outing, Milo and Alex play their intuitive strengths off each other to try to ferret out answers. Many of the series regulars are back as well, with Robin, of course, and the many police detectives and officers who are becoming so familiar helping out on this complicated case. While this may have come a whisker close to overkill in complexity, I enjoyed going along for the ride and never gave much thought to trying to solving anything before our intrepid duo.
Another Kellerman book to recommend to those who read mystery/thrillers.
Another Kellerman book to recommend to those who read mystery/thrillers.
February 19, 2018
Nobody does this type of police/psychological mystery the way Jonathan Kellerman does. Alex and Milo are a strange team. They work beautifully together and manage to solve the crime...or, in this case, crimes. This book was as full of enough twists and turns to make me dizzy.
May 26, 2020
This is the 33rd novel in the Alex Delaware series and I have read many, if not most, of the books. The first novel, When the Bough Breaks, was published in 1985. That is 33 years. One book every year. After reading last year's Heartbreak Hotel I was thinking the series had run its course and I was finished even if Jonathan Kellerman wasn't. I guess old habits die hard because when this novel was released I added it to my already crowded TBR shelf. I wasn't disappointed.
For those not familiar with the series Alex Delaware is a child psychologist who sometimes assists his good friend LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis. Originally the stories focused on children with Delaware being brought in as a consultant for the police. After 33 books / years the stories have broadened to include other cases and Alex Delaware's presence doesn't always seem to be in an official capacity although no one points this out.
This story opens with a family returning home from Sunday dinner to find a brutally murdered man in their house. The nature of the murder makes identification impossible but the victim is a stranger. There is no blood and no sign of a struggle. Evidence would indicate that the victim had been killed elsewhere and dumped there. Why this house? Why this room? It was the study and was primarily the fathers room. The family seems to be a little odd. They are not the Cleavers (remember "Leave It To Beaver"?). That is why Milo calls his good friend Alex. He wants his read on the family. And as long as he is there meet the neighbors. Doesn't sound like there are any block parties or neighborhood cookouts in this neighborhood.
There is no shortage of suspects or motivation in this story. Milo Sturgis is an experienced and skillful homicide detective but there are times when he needs insight into the mind of the criminal. That is when he and Alex Delaware team up to solve the riddle. Lots of twists and turns to keep you turning the page and trying to figure out whodunit. While this may not be one of my favorites in the series it is still very enjoyable and good to see that the series has not run it course.
For those not familiar with the series Alex Delaware is a child psychologist who sometimes assists his good friend LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis. Originally the stories focused on children with Delaware being brought in as a consultant for the police. After 33 books / years the stories have broadened to include other cases and Alex Delaware's presence doesn't always seem to be in an official capacity although no one points this out.
This story opens with a family returning home from Sunday dinner to find a brutally murdered man in their house. The nature of the murder makes identification impossible but the victim is a stranger. There is no blood and no sign of a struggle. Evidence would indicate that the victim had been killed elsewhere and dumped there. Why this house? Why this room? It was the study and was primarily the fathers room. The family seems to be a little odd. They are not the Cleavers (remember "Leave It To Beaver"?). That is why Milo calls his good friend Alex. He wants his read on the family. And as long as he is there meet the neighbors. Doesn't sound like there are any block parties or neighborhood cookouts in this neighborhood.
There is no shortage of suspects or motivation in this story. Milo Sturgis is an experienced and skillful homicide detective but there are times when he needs insight into the mind of the criminal. That is when he and Alex Delaware team up to solve the riddle. Lots of twists and turns to keep you turning the page and trying to figure out whodunit. While this may not be one of my favorites in the series it is still very enjoyable and good to see that the series has not run it course.
February 7, 2018
Jonathan Kellerman is back with our friends Detective Milo Sturgis and Dr. Alex Delaware, a psychologist advisor to the police.Their wonderful relationship has gone on for years, enduring the passage of time and horrible situations they have investigated. Milo again phones Alex, late at night, with a strange new murder. A family was out for supper, returned home and with everyone upstairs the father runs to the den downstairs to find a mutilated dead body! With the face blown off and the hands removed it is time to investigate who the body is and why is it in this family's house!!
The case becomes stranger, involving odd neighbors, a re-appearing young teen, dysfunctional family members...Where do they start!!
The characters are wonderful, plenty of different people to love or hate for their idiosyncracies, with suspenseful situations and lots of twists. The whole police unit, along with Alex,throw out different ways the story could go,but you will not know what happens until the eventful closing of the story!
I received the ARC of this book from Netgalley, the publisher Random House-Ballantine, and author Jonathan Kellerman,all who I thank very much and from which I am able to share my views.
Another great Alex Delaware story, I feel as if he has been my own doctor, reading about him from a young age until now!! Excited for him to continue!!
The case becomes stranger, involving odd neighbors, a re-appearing young teen, dysfunctional family members...Where do they start!!
The characters are wonderful, plenty of different people to love or hate for their idiosyncracies, with suspenseful situations and lots of twists. The whole police unit, along with Alex,throw out different ways the story could go,but you will not know what happens until the eventful closing of the story!
I received the ARC of this book from Netgalley, the publisher Random House-Ballantine, and author Jonathan Kellerman,all who I thank very much and from which I am able to share my views.
Another great Alex Delaware story, I feel as if he has been my own doctor, reading about him from a young age until now!! Excited for him to continue!!
March 2, 2018
I normally love the adventures of Alex and Milo, but this effort did not appeal to me. It seemed like 99% of it was dialogue, and much not interesting, repetitive, and pointless. There were too many characters, none of which I cared for, and who I got mixed up throughout. I had a hard time wanting to read more. About 60 pages from the end I called it quits. The ending did not matter to me.
January 2, 2018
I had trouble focusing on this book because there were so many characters. The story was well written and fairly interesting with several changes in direction. I guess the combination of characters and direction is what held me back from giving this title a higher rating.
May 19, 2018
Not for me. 2 of 10 stars
March 25, 2018
Wow. Alex Delaware 33. And I’ve read them all. Scary! Also shows how good this series is and what quality of writing and storytelling you get from it. I’ve given up on a lot of long running series but not this one because I enjoy the read every time. Obviously I have my favourites and I love some more than others, but none have been bad, or dull, or same old at all.
The main characters of Milo and Alex have been through a lot together over the years. The emotional cases, the difficult cases, the downright dangerous cases, these two take on them all. Their character development has been ever riveting, each new mystery fascinating and evocative and it is genuinely a series I would love to see run forever.
Night Moves then finds Alex helping Milo out when a random unidentified body turns up at a family home while they are out for dinner. Not something you’d want to find upon returning from an evening out. This family is at odds though and also just plain odd- so Alex will have his work cut out for him unravelling the psychological clues. Milo meanwhile will follow the physical clues, so off we go on yet another beautifully plotted crime thriller.
Jonathan Kellerman writes with a very gentle soothing style, using few words to give great meaning, generating a sense of place and time that is easy to fall into and it is a rhythm that I find highly engaging. A familiarity with the core character group means I can just get right into each new story without much effort at all and I always read them fast. I like too that each could easily be read as a standalone – so if you’ve not tried any yet just pick up any of them which has a blurb you find intriguing and dive right in.
Night Moves was great, they are all great.
Recommended. Both as a novel and a series.
The main characters of Milo and Alex have been through a lot together over the years. The emotional cases, the difficult cases, the downright dangerous cases, these two take on them all. Their character development has been ever riveting, each new mystery fascinating and evocative and it is genuinely a series I would love to see run forever.
Night Moves then finds Alex helping Milo out when a random unidentified body turns up at a family home while they are out for dinner. Not something you’d want to find upon returning from an evening out. This family is at odds though and also just plain odd- so Alex will have his work cut out for him unravelling the psychological clues. Milo meanwhile will follow the physical clues, so off we go on yet another beautifully plotted crime thriller.
Jonathan Kellerman writes with a very gentle soothing style, using few words to give great meaning, generating a sense of place and time that is easy to fall into and it is a rhythm that I find highly engaging. A familiarity with the core character group means I can just get right into each new story without much effort at all and I always read them fast. I like too that each could easily be read as a standalone – so if you’ve not tried any yet just pick up any of them which has a blurb you find intriguing and dive right in.
Night Moves was great, they are all great.
Recommended. Both as a novel and a series.
January 21, 2018
Oh my GOD!!! How, after this many books, does this man still pull me in?
Milo calls Alex in for yet another murder. I love how Alex isn't even pretending that he doesn't enjoy helping out. It's not that he likes the murder, he likes helping to solve the puzzle and knowing that he's doing something for the greater good. Plus he gets to hang with his best friend.
I'll be honest, Alex is so vanilla. He sometimes drives me crazy. But I still like him. Now Milo, that's my dining companion for the "what fictional character would you have dinner with?" question. He's sweet and thoughtful, but he doesn't take crap from anyone.
Also, Alex has a dog. Blanche, a french bulldog who likes to fart and snore. How can you not love her?
Jonathan Kellerman still has it going, and I hope he keeps writing these books. They are always thrilling. And yes, you are kept wondering who done it right to the very end.
Milo calls Alex in for yet another murder. I love how Alex isn't even pretending that he doesn't enjoy helping out. It's not that he likes the murder, he likes helping to solve the puzzle and knowing that he's doing something for the greater good. Plus he gets to hang with his best friend.
I'll be honest, Alex is so vanilla. He sometimes drives me crazy. But I still like him. Now Milo, that's my dining companion for the "what fictional character would you have dinner with?" question. He's sweet and thoughtful, but he doesn't take crap from anyone.
Also, Alex has a dog. Blanche, a french bulldog who likes to fart and snore. How can you not love her?
Jonathan Kellerman still has it going, and I hope he keeps writing these books. They are always thrilling. And yes, you are kept wondering who done it right to the very end.
May 7, 2018
Alex and Milo work a weird case, where a body is dumped in a house in an upscale neighborhood. A shotgun blast to the face and the hands are sawed off, making identification of the victim problematic, and the family is dysfunctional. The weird neighbor, who won't speak to the police, is a famous cartoonist, and there is some question as to whether he has an unhealthy relationship with the 17-year old daughter. When a major character dies in a seedy motel, the pieces begin to fall in place. However, there are too many characters, morphing situations and past lives, making it unnecessarily difficult to follow this twisted plot.
February 1, 2018
I have read all of Jonathan Kellerman’s books and I must admit I haven’t been as enthralled by the latter ones. The earlier novels were gripping but I feel the recent ones have become formulaic.
Night Moves features psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis Kellerman’s usual protagonists.
An unidentified man is murdered and dumped in Chet Corvin’s House. Milo and Alex set out to discover who the man is and who murdered him.
Unfortunately this book did not really grip me, the characters were two dimensional and even Alex and Milo just seemed to go through the motions. There were a lot of characters and at some points I became rather confused.
Kellerman uses short sentences and a lot of dialogue to move the plot along but I really did not care what the characters were saying most of the time.
When the murderer was revealed I did not find it a big surprise although there were a few plot twists which I didn’t guess along the way.
I would say that this is not one of the author’s better books and I will probably think twice about reading Alex Delaware 34.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Night Moves features psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis Kellerman’s usual protagonists.
An unidentified man is murdered and dumped in Chet Corvin’s House. Milo and Alex set out to discover who the man is and who murdered him.
Unfortunately this book did not really grip me, the characters were two dimensional and even Alex and Milo just seemed to go through the motions. There were a lot of characters and at some points I became rather confused.
Kellerman uses short sentences and a lot of dialogue to move the plot along but I really did not care what the characters were saying most of the time.
When the murderer was revealed I did not find it a big surprise although there were a few plot twists which I didn’t guess along the way.
I would say that this is not one of the author’s better books and I will probably think twice about reading Alex Delaware 34.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2018
My thanks to the Meridian Library book for my copy. It is always an entertaining thriller to read an Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis story and this one did not disappoint. Alex is called to help Milo with a case. The body is located in the library of a Pacific Palisade home. It is minus the face and hands and no identification on the corpse. The homeowners had never seen or heard of the man.On one side of the home is a man noted for his weird and exotic cartoons. He refused to talk with Milo and his detectives stalling the investigation. The case takes surprising turns and Alex finds his take talents are needed. Milo needs to find an answer before there are more deaths. Is there a serial killer lurking in the neighborhood?
I HIGHLY recommend this book and series.
I HIGHLY recommend this book and series.
July 7, 2022
Ευκολοδιαβαστο και ευκολοξεχαστο. Ο Κελερμαν είναι Κόνελι βήτα διαλογής
March 18, 2018
Another well executed tale of a murder solved by the winning team of Alex and Milo. Always an enjoyable read even when I felt there was an over abundance of characters and theories that got in the way of the flow.
Keep solving guys!!
Keep solving guys!!
November 29, 2018
I always enjoy the Alex Delaware series. It takes a fun read to make me look forward to my stationary bike--which is generally not my favorite thing--and this did that. My rule for myself is that I am allowed to stop pedaling early, but if I do, the audio book gets turned off, and sure enough, I have been riding it full tilt to sneak in a few more pages.
The best parts are the dialogue, and of course, the adolescent characters that only Kellerman can craft so effectively. That said, I cringe when Milo tells Alex to wear a Kevlar vest when they go in to make the bust; I have bought the premise of the psychiatrist riding around as if he were Milo's partner, since it makes for a good story and is so well written, but when the bulletproof vests come out, my eyes roll. Noooo, don't be silly.
John Rubenstein does a fantastic job of reading, and his voices for the many characters are bang on.
The best parts are the dialogue, and of course, the adolescent characters that only Kellerman can craft so effectively. That said, I cringe when Milo tells Alex to wear a Kevlar vest when they go in to make the bust; I have bought the premise of the psychiatrist riding around as if he were Milo's partner, since it makes for a good story and is so well written, but when the bulletproof vests come out, my eyes roll. Noooo, don't be silly.
John Rubenstein does a fantastic job of reading, and his voices for the many characters are bang on.
August 20, 2019
Like a couple of other authors I've picked back up this year I used to read the Kellerman books a lot then for reasons I no longer remember I stopped. Picking them up again is interesting. I just slipped easily into the two leads of Alex and Milo. It's like I've never been away. So a testament to 2 strong characters standing the test of time.
The story has multiple strands which now and again I got a bit lost with but does eventually all pull together. With the story taking lace over several districts within California there's multiple police departments and characters and that's where I lost track.
I also wasn't so keen on how we came to switch suspects to the one who was the eventual baddie. Alex made the suggestion as an afterthought then the next thing we were need deep in a manhunt. It just seemed to come out of nowhere.
Otherwise I really enjoyed it. There are lots of twists and turns. Despite the fact that in story-time it takes a long time to eventually catch the baddie, the story as a reader flies by. Overall not the best one but still a good crime beach read.
The story has multiple strands which now and again I got a bit lost with but does eventually all pull together. With the story taking lace over several districts within California there's multiple police departments and characters and that's where I lost track.
I also wasn't so keen on how we came to switch suspects to the one who was the eventual baddie. Alex made the suggestion as an afterthought then the next thing we were need deep in a manhunt. It just seemed to come out of nowhere.
Otherwise I really enjoyed it. There are lots of twists and turns. Despite the fact that in story-time it takes a long time to eventually catch the baddie, the story as a reader flies by. Overall not the best one but still a good crime beach read.
February 8, 2018
Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware novels are like my version of a warm, cozy sweater. I think I don't need another one, I think "I've used this comfy thing 30+ times, surely it can't be any different" and then I start reading.
As always, Alex and Milo are funny, fierce, and the best buddy cop bffs in the book world. This time we're on the hunt for a mystery killer who removed someone's hands and decimated their face, and then left them to be found in someone else's house. Our cast of suspects include a pompous salesman, a creepy cartoonist, multitudes of exwives and exflames, and a few mysterious strangers.
Kellerman builds suspense with a skill few have mastered, and creates an entrenched whodunit in every novel, and Night Moves is no exception. 4 stars for a fast, convoluted, encompassing mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley, Jonathan Kellerman, and Random House/Ballantine for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
As always, Alex and Milo are funny, fierce, and the best buddy cop bffs in the book world. This time we're on the hunt for a mystery killer who removed someone's hands and decimated their face, and then left them to be found in someone else's house. Our cast of suspects include a pompous salesman, a creepy cartoonist, multitudes of exwives and exflames, and a few mysterious strangers.
Kellerman builds suspense with a skill few have mastered, and creates an entrenched whodunit in every novel, and Night Moves is no exception. 4 stars for a fast, convoluted, encompassing mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley, Jonathan Kellerman, and Random House/Ballantine for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2018
I like the interplay between Dr. Alex Delaware and Lt. Milo Sturgis when they are working on a case and Night Moves was no exception. When a corpse is found in the "man cave" of a wealthy businessman, Sturgis and Delaware are on the case. Many twists and turns, as well as additional dead bodies, finally lead them to their solution. I really liked that this novel focused more on the case and less on Delaware's personal life which I find kind of boring. There is only so much one can read about his guitar carving girlfriend and bulldog.
May 29, 2018
This was a solid 4.5 stars raised to a 5. Alex works with Milo (and many other characters any Kellerman fan will recognize from previous novels) after a body is found in a family’s home with no head and no hands. It is pretty much a procedural if the reader can overlook logic and accept Alex as an integral part of the team, and is very well done. I would highly recommend this novel. It is fast and riveting reading.
February 21, 2018
Kellerman at his best! Love the Milo/Alex combination as they figure out whodunnit. Highly recommended reading for suspense lovers.
February 18, 2018
Tidy murder mystery with perennial favorites Alex Delaware and his sidekick, Milo Sturgis. Originally these stories focused on children because Alex was a child psychologist. After 32 books, the duo engages with a wider range of cases and the series benefits from the expansion in topics. Author Kellerman writes Everyman tales, recognizable for their touchstone qualities of normalcy until they aren’t. Once they veer off into craziness, the shift is quite jarring. The reader is left wondering why it wasn’t obvious all along. Solving the puzzle of human behavior gone wrong is the appeal of this series and this tale is a one more very good addition to the group. Fans won’t be disappointed. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
April 11, 2018
I love this series. Another great installment. Recommended.
December 2, 2018
I found the story to be a bit repetitive, slow at making forward progress, and not very interesting.
January 17, 2021
Another great Milo/Dr. Delaware book with lots of unusual twists.
March 4, 2018
This was a great series right from the very beginning with Book #1 back in 1985. The characters of Police Lieutenant Milo Sturgis and psychiatrist Alex Delaware blended perfectly to create stories that were not only well done but entertaining and left the reader wanting more. Offering #33 brings suspenseful situations with a headless body with the hands also missing along with plenty of different takes as to how the case may go. In a nutshell...it's Kellerman at his best
February 18, 2018
An outstanding Dr. Alex Delaware addition
I have been reading this series since the very beginning WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS in 1985. 33 books in 33 years. Wow, hard to believe.
What is also hard to believe is how consistently good this series has stayed and how different each story has been.
Author Kellerman has outdone himself this time. I loved this mystery thriller. Alex, psychologist, teams up with his best friend Lt. Milo Sturgis of the L.A. Police Department when a mutilated corpse is found.
I loved the storyline. I always love the well-drawn characters (though there were quite a few this time and I had a bit of a problem keeping track of the lesser players). Kellerman always does a great job describing L.A. and its outlying areas too.
I highly recommend this twisty thriller to all mystery and thriller fans.
I received this book from Random House through Edelweiss in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
I have been reading this series since the very beginning WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS in 1985. 33 books in 33 years. Wow, hard to believe.
What is also hard to believe is how consistently good this series has stayed and how different each story has been.
Author Kellerman has outdone himself this time. I loved this mystery thriller. Alex, psychologist, teams up with his best friend Lt. Milo Sturgis of the L.A. Police Department when a mutilated corpse is found.
I loved the storyline. I always love the well-drawn characters (though there were quite a few this time and I had a bit of a problem keeping track of the lesser players). Kellerman always does a great job describing L.A. and its outlying areas too.
I highly recommend this twisty thriller to all mystery and thriller fans.
I received this book from Random House through Edelweiss in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
April 2, 2018
A little convoluted. The story didn’t go where I expected. It ended to fast for my taste. The give and take between Alex and Milo is what makes the books.
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