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True Detectives
Moses Reed and Aaron Fox have the same mother; their respective fathers were cops, friends, and partners. And despite their shared calling, their turbulent family history has set them at odds. Moses is a no-frills LAPD detective; Aaron is a smooth-talking private eye.
Usually they go their separate ways, but the disappearance of straight-A student Caitlin Frostig isn’t usual. Reluctantly tag-teaming to crack a cold case that won’t die, Moses and Aaron descend into the sinister underside of the City of Angels. Surrounded by twisted millionaire moguls, tarnished trophy wives, and famous faces with hellish secrets, they pull no punches as they penetrate the strange, seductive world of glamour, wealth, and power to keep L.A.’s dark dreamland from claiming another lost soul.
Usually they go their separate ways, but the disappearance of straight-A student Caitlin Frostig isn’t usual. Reluctantly tag-teaming to crack a cold case that won’t die, Moses and Aaron descend into the sinister underside of the City of Angels. Surrounded by twisted millionaire moguls, tarnished trophy wives, and famous faces with hellish secrets, they pull no punches as they penetrate the strange, seductive world of glamour, wealth, and power to keep L.A.’s dark dreamland from claiming another lost soul.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
628 people are currently reading
2382 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Kellerman
306 books5,739 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 467 reviews
May 9, 2009
This book could not be classified as a whodunit, but rather a whothoughtaboutit. All they did was think. And talk. And talk some more. Boring. Where's the action? The tension? This moved along more slowly than a glacier (sorry, Al Gore). I used to be a big Kellerman fan, but his last two books just haven't lived up to his earlier works. I don't think it's because he has introduced new characters, I think it's because he just types 'em up and sends 'em out. I liked his other book where Detective Petra Connor took over from long-time protaganists Delaware and Sturgis with a lead role, but brothers Moe Reed and Aaron Fox are simply not given a plot to work with. Moe, the cop, and Aaron, the P.I., have definite possibilities, but quibble over childhood grievances and dwell on past injustices. And who says "Bro" anymore?
I got very weary reading about Aaron's sartorial choices and Moe's dietary habits. By the end of the book, I had forgotten they were searching for the missing Caitlin Frostig and all of the dull side trips really made getting through the book a chore. I definitely won't be waiting for Kellerman's next book with my usual degree of anticipation.
I got very weary reading about Aaron's sartorial choices and Moe's dietary habits. By the end of the book, I had forgotten they were searching for the missing Caitlin Frostig and all of the dull side trips really made getting through the book a chore. I definitely won't be waiting for Kellerman's next book with my usual degree of anticipation.
May 30, 2013
I struggled with this. So many characters to keep track of. I just kept forgetting who was who. I really liked the two main ones, Moe and Aaron but the plot was too much for me. In the mix of sleaze and drugs and beatings and murder and prostitution - the pace seemed very slow. I liked the bit where Aaron saved a life - won't spoil by describing - but that section was the only bit that I found gripping. I've read lots and lots of Kellerman's earlier books but hadn't tried him again for a while. If this is the new style, I don't think I'm going to be able to cope. I couldn't wait to get to the end, but the way the final details were revealed seemed a cop out to me.
April 17, 2023
While the two main characters were interesting as they were brothers and one was a homicide investigator and the other a private detective, the dialogue was poor at best. I got the feeling that both were living lives of quiet desperation.
August 9, 2010
Finished this, it's as good as the first book they were featured in, Bones.
Review - "PI Aaron Fox and L.A. cop Moe Reed, interracial half-brothers who played minor roles in 2008's Bones, take center stage in bestseller Kellerman's routine 24th Alex Delaware novel. When Fox, who used to work for the LAPD, looks into the missing-persons case of 20-year-old Caitlin Frostig, he runs into conflict with Reed. The brothers end up pursuing some predictable lines of inquiry, checking out Rory Stoltz, Frostig's college boyfriend, as well as links to a filmmaker, Lem Dement, who's suspected of domestic abuse. More A-list connections surface after the investigators learn Stoltz was the personal assistant for actor Mason Book, whose rumored suicide attempt came shortly after Frostig's disappearance. The strains between Fox and Reed don't generate much heat, while the pacing and writing aren't up to Kellerman's best. Hopefully, Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis, relegated to cameos, will be back in their usual starring positions next time."
And that is pretty true, the brothers left behind a lot of the sniping at each other, and "tried" to work together. I did appreciate a surprise ending that I did not expect. Worth the effort!
Review - "PI Aaron Fox and L.A. cop Moe Reed, interracial half-brothers who played minor roles in 2008's Bones, take center stage in bestseller Kellerman's routine 24th Alex Delaware novel. When Fox, who used to work for the LAPD, looks into the missing-persons case of 20-year-old Caitlin Frostig, he runs into conflict with Reed. The brothers end up pursuing some predictable lines of inquiry, checking out Rory Stoltz, Frostig's college boyfriend, as well as links to a filmmaker, Lem Dement, who's suspected of domestic abuse. More A-list connections surface after the investigators learn Stoltz was the personal assistant for actor Mason Book, whose rumored suicide attempt came shortly after Frostig's disappearance. The strains between Fox and Reed don't generate much heat, while the pacing and writing aren't up to Kellerman's best. Hopefully, Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis, relegated to cameos, will be back in their usual starring positions next time."
And that is pretty true, the brothers left behind a lot of the sniping at each other, and "tried" to work together. I did appreciate a surprise ending that I did not expect. Worth the effort!
May 21, 2015
I wasn't too thrilled with this one. Although it was a good story, I found it hard to follow on occasion and was bored by all the theories and conjecture the rambled on for pages.
I've read better by Kellerman.
I've read better by Kellerman.
April 19, 2009
Wow! What a huge disappointment! I had a horrible time remembering which brother was Moe and which was Aaron. I remember having the same trouble in the last book when they were introduced. Their brotherly conflict, while understandable, was boring to read about. There was WAY too much detail about clothes they were wearing, their home, etc. It didn't make me interested in them or the people they were looking to find and the crime(s) they were trying to solve.
Additionally, the story went in circles and it was, bottom line, BORING!! At the end, it was a disappointing ending on what they learned about Caitlin - a whole convoluted story ended so simply in a way that wasn't expected. It didn't seem like a Kellerman novel at all. It wasn't even that I was missing his usual characters (Delaware, Sturgis, Robin - though he referred to them in passing), I just didn't care at all about this other story line or the two other characters he (or some other writer using his name) is trying to develop. In the future, if I see one of his books is about these characters, I most likely will not read it. YIKES!!
Additionally, the story went in circles and it was, bottom line, BORING!! At the end, it was a disappointing ending on what they learned about Caitlin - a whole convoluted story ended so simply in a way that wasn't expected. It didn't seem like a Kellerman novel at all. It wasn't even that I was missing his usual characters (Delaware, Sturgis, Robin - though he referred to them in passing), I just didn't care at all about this other story line or the two other characters he (or some other writer using his name) is trying to develop. In the future, if I see one of his books is about these characters, I most likely will not read it. YIKES!!
December 14, 2019
As a Delaware spin-off, the author decided to give the plot of True Detectives to two secondary characters, to whom the Delaware fans were just introduced to in Bones. I enjoy the dynamic of the half-brothers, Aaron Fox, P.I., and younger Moses Reed, L.A.P.D. homicide detective, who don't seem to get along - and we get a chance to better understand that by discovering their childhood, as some chapters take us back in time.
Moe Reed is trying to solve a missing person case, while his half brother, Aaron has been contracted by client to do exactly the same. During their investigating, their paths cross, and contrary to their instincts, they decide to share their findings in order to get to the bottom of their case.
A solid 3,5 stars read.
As always, a fantastic narration by John Rubinstein.
Moe Reed is trying to solve a missing person case, while his half brother, Aaron has been contracted by client to do exactly the same. During their investigating, their paths cross, and contrary to their instincts, they decide to share their findings in order to get to the bottom of their case.
A solid 3,5 stars read.
As always, a fantastic narration by John Rubinstein.
January 28, 2015
We met Moses Reed and Aaron Fox in a previous Alex Delaware book. Moses and Aaron are brothers. They share the same mother but different fathers who were police officers. On the surface Moses and Aaron are completely different and have lost their way as brothers. They become less stiff and more trusting of each other as they look deeper in the disappearance of a college student.
Caitlin Frostig seemly disappeared without a trace. Her case has grown cold but is still open and still assigned to Moses. Aaron is a PI and is hired by the Caitlin's dad's boss to find her. Like all Kellerman books True Detectives has twists, turns, and curves aplenty. The brothers soon realize they have more mystery on their hands they they originally thought. It seems that Caitlin's disappearance is tied to death of a another young woman.
This books keeps you interested and second guessing until the very end. The brothers are a great addition to Kellerman's arsenal of crime fighters.
Caitlin Frostig seemly disappeared without a trace. Her case has grown cold but is still open and still assigned to Moses. Aaron is a PI and is hired by the Caitlin's dad's boss to find her. Like all Kellerman books True Detectives has twists, turns, and curves aplenty. The brothers soon realize they have more mystery on their hands they they originally thought. It seems that Caitlin's disappearance is tied to death of a another young woman.
This books keeps you interested and second guessing until the very end. The brothers are a great addition to Kellerman's arsenal of crime fighters.
December 31, 2018
Extremely slow narrative, lots of fashion descriptions, no suspense, no plot twists, no drama, no dilemmas, no real conflict.
Long boring monologue confession at the end basically explains the story.
Kinda boring.
Long boring monologue confession at the end basically explains the story.
Kinda boring.
April 22, 2021
Profound disappointment at this particular Kellerman novel. I've read probably two dozen of his novels, and it is the most lackluster of them all. I found it thin in plot and annoyingly obtuse in several techniques which always diminish my esteem for a writer: numerous gratuitous sex scenes that added exactly zero value to the plot; a good deal of dialogue that shouldn't have gotten past the first edit; forcing the reader to listen to two bickering characters throughout virtually the entire book; as well as cheap, uninformed potshots at the Catholic Church that his writing made clear he knows absolutely nothing about. His vitriolic hatred of Mel Gibson also totally cheapened his immense talent as a writer. Why create a character who is so unsubtly a caricature of a celebrity you obviously hate, down to the detail and then skew all those details to the worst possible interpretation? For example, the Mel Gibson clone character is painted as the most despicable person on the face of the earth and ends up getting shot by his adulterous wife in the heart and in the groin. I don't care if that's a spoiler because this one is not really worth reading. What the hell went wrong with Kellerman on this one?
September 23, 2011
True, the pace can get slow now and then--but sometimes, slow is good. True, the brother's rivalry theme could have been better developed. True, I am a new Kellerman reader. True, I am somewhat surprised by the reviewers who find this novel either "bland" or "too complex."
Why complex? Is it because Kellerman intertwines the personal stories of the two brothers ironically called "Moses" and "Aaron" with the actual crime plot? (I say "ironic" because Moses is the one who enters the promised land, in this case a stable and loving life with his girlfriend while Aaron is still searching.) This aspect, I actually enjoyed. I didn't get lost.
Why bland? Not enough blood? There is a little bit here, not much. Agatha Christie's mysteries are bloodless, and still fascinating.
What's fascinating here is not so much the plot --a woman and her baby disappear, and their disappearance is linked to Hollywood, LA prostitution and drugs-- but the language. It's meaty, gritty, tough, humorous, clever. And the dialogues are terrific. Truer than life, maybe. But that's what good fiction does.
And the theme of race and culture traverses the whole novel. African-American Aaron cannot communicate with his white brother Moses (Biblical irony here too; Moses was a stutterer) while being in love with a Black woman. So not only is the theme of race addressed, but it is transcended.
Another Biblical parallel: Moses is adopted and raised by people from another culture --the Egyptians. Aaron in Kellerman's novel is raised by Moses' father.
For a while I wondered about the title: True Detectives. I suspect Kellerman was trying to depict two characters with professional integrity, and two people attempting to be true to themselves --always a tough task.
Why complex? Is it because Kellerman intertwines the personal stories of the two brothers ironically called "Moses" and "Aaron" with the actual crime plot? (I say "ironic" because Moses is the one who enters the promised land, in this case a stable and loving life with his girlfriend while Aaron is still searching.) This aspect, I actually enjoyed. I didn't get lost.
Why bland? Not enough blood? There is a little bit here, not much. Agatha Christie's mysteries are bloodless, and still fascinating.
What's fascinating here is not so much the plot --a woman and her baby disappear, and their disappearance is linked to Hollywood, LA prostitution and drugs-- but the language. It's meaty, gritty, tough, humorous, clever. And the dialogues are terrific. Truer than life, maybe. But that's what good fiction does.
And the theme of race and culture traverses the whole novel. African-American Aaron cannot communicate with his white brother Moses (Biblical irony here too; Moses was a stutterer) while being in love with a Black woman. So not only is the theme of race addressed, but it is transcended.
Another Biblical parallel: Moses is adopted and raised by people from another culture --the Egyptians. Aaron in Kellerman's novel is raised by Moses' father.
For a while I wondered about the title: True Detectives. I suspect Kellerman was trying to depict two characters with professional integrity, and two people attempting to be true to themselves --always a tough task.
July 10, 2009
I'm fond of Jonathan Kellerman's books, but this one was a disappointment. Generally, his books are well-plotted with interesting well-developed characters & unusual spins on behavior that keep me absorbed & in suspense. I also really like his wife's books (Faye Kellerman) & I enjoy the way they mix their LA characters into each other's worlds. It makes the world of their LA more real somehow.
This book is okay, but just okay. The characters are okay, the plot is okay, it's just kind of flat & okay. It feels perfunctory in the way a series starts to feel when the author has written too many too fast for too long & is running out of ideas &/or desire (see also, Patricia Cornwell). Kellerman's writing about new characters here, but it still falls flat. Hopefully the next one out will have improved. He's capable of writing great mysteries/thrillers which makes this one even more disappointing.
This book is okay, but just okay. The characters are okay, the plot is okay, it's just kind of flat & okay. It feels perfunctory in the way a series starts to feel when the author has written too many too fast for too long & is running out of ideas &/or desire (see also, Patricia Cornwell). Kellerman's writing about new characters here, but it still falls flat. Hopefully the next one out will have improved. He's capable of writing great mysteries/thrillers which makes this one even more disappointing.
August 13, 2011
A lot of readers didn't like this book because Milo Sturgis and Alex Delaware were peripheral. But I really enjoyed the character development between the brothers, and thought their exchanges were fabulous. The two are unique, and both have unique flaws, which is essential to recurring characters in mainstream mysteries/crime stories. Aaron Fox's wardrobe and current fad knowledge reminded me a lot of Spenser (Robert B Parker), and made me wistful for those books.
I though the exploration of the human psyche was at some points better than the Delaware novels, and I really really enjoyed the thinly veiled condemnation of Mel Gibson and his religious hypocrisy. Way to go, JK, on that one.
It did move slower than the Delaware novels, but not that much slower, and the third person narration was a nice change.
I though the exploration of the human psyche was at some points better than the Delaware novels, and I really really enjoyed the thinly veiled condemnation of Mel Gibson and his religious hypocrisy. Way to go, JK, on that one.
It did move slower than the Delaware novels, but not that much slower, and the third person narration was a nice change.
May 2, 2011
I listened to this book unabridged, and it was a big disappointment. I couldn’t believe how poor the writing was. Some of the phrases used were downright juvenile. For instance, “it smelled like a snot filled nose”. Then there was the inordinate amount of time wasted on describing the way people were dressed. I got the impression that the Author was just trying to fill up pages with words so he could pump out another best seller. All of this would have been okay if the story was good, but it wasn’t. There was very little suspense. Interviews with suspects went on forever. The best part was the interactions between the two main characters. They were step brothers of different race with a rocky history. This was my first experience with a Jonathan Kellerman book and I was not impressed.
June 2, 2017
I was disappointed in this book. I couldn't find a character that I liked. Moe Reed and Aaron Fox, half brothers that have a tenuous relationship and now they find they are both working the same cold case.
The story revolves around the seamy side of Beverly Hills and the surrounding area, including drugs,
prostitution, and murder. Success has bred all kinds of nasty habits for those involved and the truth is there behind the locked gates for someone to find.
The story revolves around the seamy side of Beverly Hills and the surrounding area, including drugs,
prostitution, and murder. Success has bred all kinds of nasty habits for those involved and the truth is there behind the locked gates for someone to find.
November 28, 2020
Even though this is not a primary book in the Alex Delaware series, it was another excellent mystery showcasing the beginning of Moe Reed’s detective skills and his relationship with his brother Aaron Fox, former detective turned private eye. A love-hate relationship between the brothers unites them in a common goal as they search for a missing woman which leads them down an unexpected path of destruction from fortune and fame.
December 10, 2019
Am I the only who finds it hard to write reviews for mysteries without giving something away?
February 3, 2025
Way too many characters, a lot completely unnecessary. Jumping back and forth making it extremely hard to keep up with what was going on. Minimal action made it very hard to stay interested.
March 7, 2012
I didn't like this detective story so much, probably because I didn't like the animosity between the main characters. Both sons of policemen, we have Moses Reed, an up-and-coming homicide detective, serious minded, shy and unsure of himself, but strong and his half-brother, charismatic Aaron Fox, a snazzy dresser who likes fine things, currently raking in the dough as a private eye who has quit the police department after ten years because "he was tired of being penned up like some pet pony." Moe has caught a cold case trying to track down missing Caitlin Frostig and Aaron has been hired by a rich client disgusted with the no-progress of the police to also track down the girl. They reluctantly share information all the while despising each other and uncover a couple of murders, prostitution, druggies, and loony famous people along the way. Guest appearances by Dr. Delaware, Milo Sturgis, and a bigger role by Petra Connor are kind of fun, but the story didn't grab me. Moe gives us the police procedural and Aaron is the wild card who can do things outside the lines. The bad guys fell down too easily once the connections were all uncovered, but maybe that is more realistic than the thriller psychotic killer stories. I wouldn't mind reading another with these characters because they seem to have resolved a few differences at the end. Their mom is a great character. One of Aaron's "operatives" makes a nice substory.
September 10, 2014
In Jonathan Kellerman's True Detectives, a spinoff from the Alex Delaware mystery series, this story focused on two brothers who weren't cut from the same cloth--Moses Reed, a LAPD detective, and Aaron Fox, a former cop turned PI--and both shared a troubled family history in the line of law enforcement. But the two of them come together to work on a most disturbing cold case of Caitlin Frostig, who disappeared years ago. With the help of Milo and Alex, Moses and Aaron would crack open this case of this straight-A student's life with two men in her life and would go into the darkest crevices of the sultry glamorous Hollywood culture with many shadowy secrets and an array of sinister characters. Before someone else becomes a lost soul, they would get down to the root of this problem and solve this case.
September 21, 2009
I have been a long-time fan of Jonathan Kellerman's and have read all of his books. I also enjoyed his son's books (Jesse Kellerman) and the 2 he has co-written with his wife Faye.
This story follows the half-brothers Moses Reed (LAPD) and Aaron Fox (private eye). These 2 were introduced in JKs previous book (I think); their troubled relationship is fleshed out in the process of reluctantly teaming up to solve a couple of murder/disappearance cases. JKs usual protagonists Milo Sturgis and Alex Delaware have brief cameos.
As usual, JKs psychological expertise helps get inside the mind of all characters. He is also known for his many plot twists; plenty of them here. An enjoyable read mostly because of the characters. I look forward to more stories featuring the brothers.
This story follows the half-brothers Moses Reed (LAPD) and Aaron Fox (private eye). These 2 were introduced in JKs previous book (I think); their troubled relationship is fleshed out in the process of reluctantly teaming up to solve a couple of murder/disappearance cases. JKs usual protagonists Milo Sturgis and Alex Delaware have brief cameos.
As usual, JKs psychological expertise helps get inside the mind of all characters. He is also known for his many plot twists; plenty of them here. An enjoyable read mostly because of the characters. I look forward to more stories featuring the brothers.
January 29, 2017
Two brothers introduced in an earlier Alex Delaware book, get top billing in this story. Moses and Aaron are half brothers through their mother, who have a strained relationship due to past family drama with their fathers. Moses is a straight laced LA cop while Aaron is a biracial PI, and their personalities are very different, but they are thrown together to solve a case of a missing woman. Delaware, Milo and Petra make welcome cameos but overall, the book didn't live up to it's Cain & Abel potential.
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April 26, 2020I love Kellerman. But this book, felt like the publisher gave him an assignment: write me something with at least 15,000 words. And then he continued to type until he was close to 15k words.
Do yourself a favour. Read the back into of the book. Then start reading from chapter 37 onwards. You'll miss nothing and save yourself some valuable time.
I was so disappointed.
Do yourself a favour. Read the back into of the book. Then start reading from chapter 37 onwards. You'll miss nothing and save yourself some valuable time.
I was so disappointed.
October 17, 2023
Aaron Fox and Moses Reed are brothers but couldn't be more different, sharing little more than the same mother. Aaron is black, Moses is white. Their fathers were both cops, partners and friends. When Aaron's father was killed in the line of duty, Reed's father took over looking after the family and then married the mother and they had Moses. Both followed in their father's footsteps and became police detectives. Moses is still an LAPD homicide detective but Aaron went private several years ago. Moses is stick by the rules; Aaron likes to play fast and loose with them.
Now the brothers must work together. A woman named Caitlin Frostig disappeared several months ago. It's Moses's cold case and now Aaron has been assigned the case by his most wealthy private client, because Caitlin's father works for him. The two aren't sure what happened and up to now have made little progress on the case. But surely working together, if they can, will open up new avenues of investigation.
Soon the two realize that the case is bigger than Caitlin. Another woman and her baby also disappeared and Caitlin was the baby's babysitter sometimes. The case falls into the territories of drug dealing, prostitution and Hollywood actors and rich sons that walk on the dark side of Hollywood and sometimes find more than they expected. Can Caitlin's murder be solved?
Jonathan Kellerman is best known for his detectives Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware. Both of those characters turn up in this book but in a tangential way. Milo is Moses's mentor and his idol, the policeman he hopes to be like one day. The two consult Dr. Delaware about the personalities of those they encounter as they work the case. There are twists and turns and the final twist is one the reader won't expect. This book is recommended for mystery readers.
Now the brothers must work together. A woman named Caitlin Frostig disappeared several months ago. It's Moses's cold case and now Aaron has been assigned the case by his most wealthy private client, because Caitlin's father works for him. The two aren't sure what happened and up to now have made little progress on the case. But surely working together, if they can, will open up new avenues of investigation.
Soon the two realize that the case is bigger than Caitlin. Another woman and her baby also disappeared and Caitlin was the baby's babysitter sometimes. The case falls into the territories of drug dealing, prostitution and Hollywood actors and rich sons that walk on the dark side of Hollywood and sometimes find more than they expected. Can Caitlin's murder be solved?
Jonathan Kellerman is best known for his detectives Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware. Both of those characters turn up in this book but in a tangential way. Milo is Moses's mentor and his idol, the policeman he hopes to be like one day. The two consult Dr. Delaware about the personalities of those they encounter as they work the case. There are twists and turns and the final twist is one the reader won't expect. This book is recommended for mystery readers.
April 21, 2020
It's a detective 'thriller' in the same vein as previous Jonathan Kellerman books and the first that I have not enjoyed.
Principal protagonists Delaware and Sturgis are present in whiffs. The heavy lifting is done by erstwhile stepbrothers, one a cop, the other a private detective, who bring their own troubled history to bear on a case they're trying separately, then reluctantly together, to solve. So far, so good, I suppose.
The problem is that the case as presented is scattered. Neither protagonist was particularly likable. Concern about the principal objective, the missing daughter, predominates early and then is an afterthought for most of the remainder of the book. Her boyfriend who is also a key player early on likewise disappears in the latter parts without any real justification; that is, there was no real reason given why pursuit of the boyfriend suddenly wasn't that important. The narrative swings wildly from one thread to another; long sections are devoted to speculation about what could have happened, or not. The chapter wherein the killer writes a LENGTHY script explaining the case was far-fetched..a drug-crazed thug was as it turns out a Stanford student? Like THAT wouldn't have been discovered during the investigation of suspects!
For this author, the book was uncharacteristically disjointed and ultimately a disappointment.
Principal protagonists Delaware and Sturgis are present in whiffs. The heavy lifting is done by erstwhile stepbrothers, one a cop, the other a private detective, who bring their own troubled history to bear on a case they're trying separately, then reluctantly together, to solve. So far, so good, I suppose.
The problem is that the case as presented is scattered. Neither protagonist was particularly likable. Concern about the principal objective, the missing daughter, predominates early and then is an afterthought for most of the remainder of the book. Her boyfriend who is also a key player early on likewise disappears in the latter parts without any real justification; that is, there was no real reason given why pursuit of the boyfriend suddenly wasn't that important. The narrative swings wildly from one thread to another; long sections are devoted to speculation about what could have happened, or not. The chapter wherein the killer writes a LENGTHY script explaining the case was far-fetched..a drug-crazed thug was as it turns out a Stanford student? Like THAT wouldn't have been discovered during the investigation of suspects!
For this author, the book was uncharacteristically disjointed and ultimately a disappointment.
December 4, 2023
A possible homicide/missing person case brings back half brothers Moses Reed and Aaron Fox, introduced in the prior Jonathan Kellerman mystery, Bones. The story starts off with the murder of Fox's father, Darius, while on patrol with his partner, Jack Reed, a man who will marry Darius's widow. Just like in Bones the brothers exhibit a conflicted relationship, partly show in flashbacks, partly shown in how they handle the hunt for the missing Caitlyn Frostig, and how it leads them to a growing cold murder investigation.
True Detectives is classic Kellerman. His main protagonists of Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis make cameos, as does Petra Conner, but the insights here all come from private investigator Aaron and homicide cop Moses, both of whom have to put aside their differences for the sake of their case. If there were more scenes with the villains, you'd get a stronger feel of L.A. Confidential, but Kellerman sticks to his style, which is always readable and avoids a heavy hand for a quick, satisfying read.
True Detectives is classic Kellerman. His main protagonists of Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis make cameos, as does Petra Conner, but the insights here all come from private investigator Aaron and homicide cop Moses, both of whom have to put aside their differences for the sake of their case. If there were more scenes with the villains, you'd get a stronger feel of L.A. Confidential, but Kellerman sticks to his style, which is always readable and avoids a heavy hand for a quick, satisfying read.
August 7, 2020
Having read several Kellerman books (including a number by Faye) I was expecting Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis to be primary characters, but that is not the case here. Instead Moe Fox and Aaron Reed, brothers, same mother, different fathers who were cops and partners at that, lead the way. There is tension between the brothers, Moe a homicide detective and Aaron a PI, who find themselves having to work together to solve a cold case regarding the disappearance of Caitlin Fostig, an A-student. The twists and turns take us to Hollywood-star wannabees, prostitutes, other missing persons, rich-privileged folks, etc. Taking different directions and approaches the brothers learn that sharing has its benefits.
Although it took some time trying to keep Moe and Aaron straight, i.e., who was Fox and who was Reed, once that was sorted out this was a good detective read taking you to some of the more unsavory aspects of California life.
Although it took some time trying to keep Moe and Aaron straight, i.e., who was Fox and who was Reed, once that was sorted out this was a good detective read taking you to some of the more unsavory aspects of California life.
April 24, 2023
Having read only one other Kellerman—Compulsion—I get where some of the criticism of True Detectives is coming from here: much slower pacing, more internal dialogue, conversations that are more speculative or character-developing than plot-forwarding. But I loved the brothers, and their not quite love/hate relationship and watching it slowly, reluctantly semi-blossom. I ended up here having just finished, searching to see if there were other books that featured the two men.
I also liked that the crimes here were less far-out, less voyeuristic feeling than in Compulsion, which, tho fascinating, always seemed surreal. Then again, maybe that's because, despite the multiple homicides here, we weren't really talking major serial killer mentality.
Nonetheless, I leave here excited to read more of the Alex Delaware series and hope that someday Kellerman may revisit the brothers Moses and Aaron and let us know how they're getting along.
I also liked that the crimes here were less far-out, less voyeuristic feeling than in Compulsion, which, tho fascinating, always seemed surreal. Then again, maybe that's because, despite the multiple homicides here, we weren't really talking major serial killer mentality.
Nonetheless, I leave here excited to read more of the Alex Delaware series and hope that someday Kellerman may revisit the brothers Moses and Aaron and let us know how they're getting along.
September 5, 2017
Possibly could have given this 4 stars for plotline, 3.5 is more like it. It's another mystery involving inimical half-brothers DI Moses Reed and private investigator Aaron Fox. The more likeable Alex Delaware & Milo Sturgis are only peripherally involved. The mystery begins with the case of a girl's unsolved disappearance that follows Moses to his new job about the same time that Aaron is asked by a client who employs the girl's father to pursue the same inquiry. Aaron contacts Moses to suggest they work together and Moses is having no part of it. So, separately and occasionally together, their inquires meander through a number of seamier Los Angeles types and locales with a few redeemable characters mixed among some pretty despicable psychological profiles in the underbelly of the famous and formerly famous.
January 26, 2025
Interesting set of characters, here... an unusual dynamic between half-brothers that feeds well into the story-line. I would have liked even MORE back-story on these guys, to provide better and more detailed insight into what brought them to where they are now in relation to one another, the mother that they share and love, and the investigative nature of their professions.
The story itself was engaging, and nicely paced. Kellerman is very good at giving us mental images of his characters, settings, and the action sequences that we "witness" throughout his stories. This book is no exception! The setting being LA, and having lived in southern California for several years brought very clear images and characters into focus throughout this book.
A very good read~!
The story itself was engaging, and nicely paced. Kellerman is very good at giving us mental images of his characters, settings, and the action sequences that we "witness" throughout his stories. This book is no exception! The setting being LA, and having lived in southern California for several years brought very clear images and characters into focus throughout this book.
A very good read~!
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