The Burning

Clay Edison #4

by Jesse Kellerman, Jonathan Kellerman

When a wealthy man is found murdered in his hilltop home, Deputy Coroner Clay Edison is shocked to discover a link to his own brother, Luke, on the scene. Luke is fresh out of prison and struggling to stay on the right path. When he suddenly goes missing, Clay can't help but question his innocence. As blackouts and wildfires continue to sweep through the state of California, the search for answers becomes ever more treacherous. Is Luke capable of murder? Or could he be a victim too?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Audiobook, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

287 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 2021

About the author

Jesse Kellerman was born in Los Angeles in 1978. His award-winning plays have been produced throughout the United States and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Most recently, he received the Princess Grace Award, given to America’s most promising young playwright. He lives with his wife in New York City.

Reviews

[Kathi Defranc · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story with Clay Edison from the Coroner's Office, with a case that hits very close to home, keeping our Deputy Coroner on his toes and doing some things in ways he never has before! Arriving at the home of a dead man he has come to deal with, he spots his brother's car in the garage! His brother who recently got out of prison and is Supposed to be on the straight and narrow. And now Clay can not get him on the phone anywhere, no one knows where he is, what is Clay to do? He knows he can't let anyone find out that his brother's car is here, and he is forced to deal with his own suspicions, resentments and even loyalties...I mean, it is his Family,but he just can't turn his back on the job he loves, can he...For a brother he has had highs and the lowest of lows with...
Clay races to locate his brother before anyone else does, not knowing if he is hiding or hurt, victim or criminal. A complex story that we get to see from all sides of the problem. I enjoyed the inter-twining of these two authors and really liked this heart pounding story!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and PenguinRandomHouse, who I thank for a thrilling read, and I offer You my honest thoughts and feelings in this review.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always eager when the father-son collaborative duo of Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman publish, I was happy to see the latest in the Clay Edison series. While his job may seem simple enough, Clay Edison always look for new challenges in the workplace. His latest case has a personal spin that he cannot shake, turning his world upside down as he seeks answers before his family learns what may be a bitter truth. Another winner in this series that keeps getting better.

While wildfires burn across California, some areas have taken to turning off power in order to conserve it. Such is the case where Clay Edison and his family live. After sending his pregnant wife and daughter away, both because of smoke and a lack of power, Edison forges ahead with his job as Deputy Coroner.

When attending the crime scene of a wealthy man who was shot and killed in his home, Edison makes a startling discovery in the victim’s garage. It would appear that Clay’s brother, Luke, has left his flash vehicle there, which is soon substantiated when running the tags. Hoping to make sense of it all, Deputy Coroner does what he does best and investigates, but Luke has gone missing and no one seems to know what’s happened.

At first glance, it is likely only a coincidence, but things begin to get even more troubling when Edison finds the bloody murder weapon at a gas station on the outskirts of town. Could Luke be guilty of a crime, just as he’s getting his life back together?

Leaving no stone unturned, Edison looks for Luke and tries to keep it from the family, but must soon admit what could be a horrible truth. Luke Edison might be guilty of another murder, this time by his own hand. Still, something does not seem right and Clay will stop at nothing until he vindicates the only sibling he’s ever known.

While I have never read any of the Jonathan Kellerman novels, I did take a great interest in Jesse’s solo work years ago. After a few collaborative flops, these two created the Clay Edison series and I could not get enough of the books. Filled with great stories and wonderfully dry wit, these were a refreshing perspective in a genre that is supersaturated with books. Unique angles and strong character development help the Kellermans develop something many reader can enjoy for years to come.

Clay Edison is a wonderful protagonist and keeps things working well throughout. His attention to detail and meticulous investigative skills are matched by a personal side that makes him approachable. This novel saw some great backstory development for Clay, permitting the reader a deeper gander in a life of sports, love, and sibling rivalry. Clay Edison connects well to the attentive reader, perhaps like no other book in the series to date.

The Kellermans have a great writing style and can create a powerful story with their collaborate efforts. The narrative clips along, creating strong scenes and wonderful descriptions for the reader, mixing crime and familial connections when they are both suitable. A handful of strong characters combine with plot twists that keep the reader guessing, this is another example of how established writers can use what they do best and make it even better. I can only hope that there is more to the series and that these two remain a strong team.

Kudos, Messrs. Kellerman, for another great novel. I am spoiled by you both and cannot wait for what’s next!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crazy plot and ending.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When your job and personal life collide it is tough to keep them separate. That is what Clay is faced with in this new suspense novel.

One thing that cracks me up, and I often see similar comments by reviewers of these stories, is that Clay sure does push the boundaries of his job. However, that is why we love to read these stories! After all, what would you do if your brother is implicated or involved in a possible crime and you have a badge?

The Kellerman’s explore these boundaries with this book and keep us in the front seat of the action as Clay rushes to find the truth. A tip here. A suspicious activity there. Trying not to involve others for their safety and preservation. Drips here and there; they know how to keep us on the edge.

The ramp-up to the truth is fast-paced and heart-pounding not only for Clay but for the reader as well. Is this going to be the last Clay Edison book? It seems like everything is left hanging in the wind but knowing the Kellerman’s writing, I think there is will be more to come.

With the boundaries pushed, The Burning is an exciting read with a crazy plot and ending that will capture your attention! Definitely read the prior book, Half Moon Bay, before diving into this one!

* copy received for review consideration
* Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-burning-...

[Shereadbookblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read all three of the Kellermans’ Clay Edison series. I enjoyed the first three and looked forward to The Burning. I was disappointed.

This one has the authors’ characteristic vivid detailed descriptions that paint a good sense of scene. However, I didn’t like this one as much as the prior books. In the beginning, there was a lot of time spent on Clay’s ruminations about all the possible scenarios concerning his brother. The plot was just meh. What I objected to the most, though, was Clay’s dangerous behavior. (Note: slight spoiler alerts ahead). I can understand his concern for and bond with his brother, but to risk his career (and the domino effect it would have on his family) with reckless behavior was bothersome.

I will stretch my rating to four stars, only because I am such a fan of Jonathan Kellerman and I did find this a fast read (even if I did some skimming). Clay’s daughter, Charlotte, did have some amusing lines!

[Dianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would definitely recommend this book to those who love the male Kellerman's writing. But, unfortunately, it just wasn't my cup of coffee!

I have only read one or two books by Mr. Kellerman, but I do love his wife's writing, so I thought I would take a chance with this new series by him and his son.

It was an interesting premise and very up-to-date, what with all the wildfires burning out west right this minute.

I did not have a problem with not having read the previous novels in this series. However, I did have several issues with this particular book. One of them is that the storyline is extremely similar to a book by David Baldacci. A missing brother who had been in jail...The other issue I have is that the twist was so out in the left-field that I just couldn't believe it. No matter how I tried to suspend my disbelief, I just couldn't make it work.

Most of the characters are unlikeable for various reasons, and that just didn't add to my reading pleasure at all.

Again as I said with the first line in this review--I would definitely recommend this book to those who love the male Kellerman's writing.

*ARC supplied by the publisher, the authors, and NetGalley.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read all in this series and liked the first one best. After reading this #4, I am assuming that Deputy Coroner Clay Edison will find a new career and I need him to do so. Or maybe this was the end of the series. Or maybe I shouldn't make assumptions.

[Karen A. Haunert · Rating 1 out of 5]

In which a formerly great character becomes a complete dirtbag...

I liked the previous 3 Clay Edison novels a great deal. Sure, he's prone to "situational ethics" a lot more than an officer of the court ever should be, and therefore is thoroughly unbelievable, but the plots were clever and inventive. This one stank. Every time Clay is faced with an ethical coice, he makes the wrong one, and his case is damaged because of it. Worst of all is the sheer stupidity of most of the choices. Mild spoilers ahead. At a homicide location he finds his brother's incredibly distinctive bright green Camaro. He thinks only two things are possible: his brother sold his car, or he committed the murder. So he wipes he fingerprints off the car. The car is registered to his brother; of course his prints are on it. If he sold it, his prints would still be there. He looks worse with the prints wiped. If he'd identifed the car early, the search would have started early, and fewer crimes would have been committed by both the bad guys and the good guys. I pretty much lost respect for him when he decided not to investigate the crime by tampering with evidence. He absolutely knows that the tiniest thing can make or break a case, and reveal surprising information. Evidence is sacred.

So very early in the book, I was done with Clay. From a legal standpoint, this case is a nightmare. The murder weapon is stolen and hidden. Camera footage acquired without a warrant. All to not even protect family, but find and pass judgment on family. He's kind of an asshole in this novel.

[Sarah-Grace (Azrael865) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Burning is 4th in the Clay Edison series. I have not read any of the previous stories in this series, but didn't have any trouble getting sucked into this story without knowing the character history.
At the start of the book until more than halfway through, I didn't feel like I liked Clay. His brother Luke is missing. The brothers are no longer close and most of that is due to mistakes Luke made when he was younger. He made bad choices, got hooked on drugs and that resulted in him involved in a DUI where he killed two people. Luke went to jail and served his time. Now he is out of jail and doing his best not to go back to that previous life.
Where Clay annoyed me is that he seems very judgemental of Luke and quick to assume that his brother has done the worst. As Clay goes along, investigating on his own, he begins to worry that maybe his brother is a victim instead of a killer.
Without giving too much away, Clay's actions at the end of the story and his change of perspective on his brother, does make me want to read more about him. It does a very good job of showing how complex family relationships can be.
Thank you to Ballantine and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Burning by Jonathan Kellerman and his son Jesse Kellerman is the 4th in the Clay Edison series.


Series Background:  (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Clay Edison is a Deputy Sheriff, working for the Alameda Coroner's  office in California. His job is to care for the victim's body, determine the manner of death, notify next of kin, and make sure the premises are secure.  But he often takes things a little further than his job description allows, and finds their murderer.  He majored in psychology, and has a bum knee that ruined his basketball career.   He and his wife Amy have a young daughter Charlotte.  His brother Luke, married to Andrea, is an ex-con who now works in a successful marijuana business.  Clay and Luke don't always see eye to eye.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
A wildfire is raging in California, and there is a massive blackout.  Amy has taken Charlotte further south, so that they can breathe cleaner air,  and have a somewhat normal life.  Amy is 14 weeks pregnant, and a little concerned with all the smoke and ash.

Clay is called out to the enormous home of Rory Vandervelde where the man had been found dead from three gunshot wounds.  While investigating the estate, he finds that one of the 30 vehicles in the "garage", belongs to his brother.  This case could get a little personal, and when he can't reach is brother for an explanation, he starts to worry.  No one seems to know where he is, but no one but Clay seems too concerned.


My Opinions:   
This was a good book, and I continue to like the relationship between Clay and Amy, although I'm really not a fan of Clay's disregard for the law and authority.    Still not a fan of Luke or Andrea.

The plot was well-developed, but there was too much back-story involving basketball, and too much about the past.  Although learning more about Luke's past was interesting, that story was a little long.   I started skimming.  I understand that Clay thought that Luke's past may have something to do with why Luke was missing, but it was just too much.  This seems to be a problem I have with all the books in t he series -- too much information that isn't relevant.  This moves the book along at a really slow pace.

I did find it interesting that a lot of the story looked at how Clay related to his brother, and how his suspicions, resentment and anger led to assumptions.  The family dynamics is interesting.

Overall, the  plot was very good, and the pace did pick up at the end.  The writing, of course was great.  They are all good books, but a little lacking for me.  I keep putting off reading them.  Part of me wants to be done with this series, and yet.....


For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the Kellermans writing is the family business and everything they put out is professionally done. The Burning, the fourth book in the Clay Edison series, is no exception to that rule. Edison is a deputy coroner in Alameda County though sometimes he’s like a cat and let’s his curiosity get the best of him. Here, Edison skirts the line between personal and professional and, when he suspects his ex-con brother is somehow involved in a crime, kind of leaps over the line of ethical behavior. The thing is there is no explanation for his brother’s car being at the site of a homicide and his brother has disappeared and Edison nearly loses it trying to find his brother before all hell breaks loose. All this is set against the backdrop of the massive Northern California fires and the resulting power outages. The novel is well-written and compelling. It’s a quick easy but impactful read.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Burning is the fourth instalment in the Clay Edison series set in the Bay Area of Northern California. Alameda County's Deputy Coroner Clay Edison is called to attend a crime scene despite the danger of the raging wildfire in the area. Donning a respirator mask, he arrives at his destination: the sprawling home and its idyllic surroundings belong to none other than affluent widower Rory Vandervelde. An avid collector of luxurious and expensive treasures, such as sought after sports memorabilia and rare vehicles, Vandervelde has been found dead after sustaining gunshots wounds to the back and neck. Davina Santos, Vandervelde's housekeeper had entered the home ready for work at 9 am and discovered her boss murdered and had frantically called the police. But things take a turn for the personal when Clay discovers a neon-green 1969 Camaro that was restored to perfection in the garage. The model was a SS/Z28 with a V- 8 engine, concealed headlights, black racing stripes and custom leather upholstery. And Clay recognised it out of the thirty or so cars Vandervelde owned because it belonged to his problematic younger brother, Luke. Luke is fresh out of prison and struggling to stay on the straight and narrow and now Clay can't reach him which fuels his suspicion even more.

Desperate to protect his flesh and blood but aware that the rest of the team will soon be on the case, Clay begins his own under the radar investigation, however, doing so leaves his job in jeopardy as he crosses ethical and moral boundaries in which his professionalism could be called into question. This is an enthralling and compulsively readable thriller from the father and son writing team, in which Clay's mission is to hunt down his brother, Luke, a convicted criminal who had just been released from prison. Even though this desperate search is linked to the murder of Vandervelde, the killing takes a backseat which I found refreshing, and it certainly didn't make the novel any less exhilarating. It's the type of book you fly through in one sitting as it's fast-paced and eminently readable from the outset, and there are ample twists and turns and use of misdirection to throw you well off the scent. The characterisation is what really makes the story, though, as we get an excellent backstory of Clay and his brother and their tempestuous relationship primarily caused by Luke's lack of trustworthiness and his all-consuming addiction to drugs. A superb, exciting read with a conclusion that completely blindsided me. Highly recommended.

[Joseph Bowers · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a disappointment to me. There were too many character lines and not all of them were explained well by the end. I kept losing track of who was who (whom?) and then the ending was kind of predictable. Even the title I assumed referred to the forest fire but it was only used, I felt, to replace the "dark and stormy night" used in the final scenes of much lesser novels to build suspense.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the books about Alex and Milo. I have been reading these hoping I will see something similar but I haven't. I give this book 3.5*.

This book didn't really make sense! Why would Clay risk everything finding his brother! How did the bad guys find his brother?? Why go after him at all? There were more things that didn't make sense.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things just got very personal for deputy coroner Clay Edison. More accurately, the murder he is investigating reveals something shocking almost immediately. His brother Luke’s 11969 Camaro is at the scene of the gruesome murder scene. The car is unmistakably Luke’s, a convicted felon. Quite naturally, Clay needs to talk to Luke. Immediately. Here’s the rub - Luke is nowhere to be found.

There is also something else going on. There are multiple widespread wildfires, and a huge blackout. Clay’s wife and daughter are away, so one might think that Clay would be able to work on this case. However, as it was his brother’s car at the scene, Clay’s approach is less than ethical.

Oh boy! This fourth book in the Clay Edison series was truly a page-turner. While the background of the fires and the power outages add depth to the story, Clay’s personal and ultimately lack of professional approach made this book a compelling read.

Many thanks to Random House/Ballantine Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[CaraDico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Ballantine Books, Jonathan Kellerman and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...


“The Apocalypse smells like a campfire and glimmers gold.”

Set against the wildfires of California, Jonathan Kellerman and his son Jesse have done it again with the 3rd installment in the Clay Edison series; mind-blowing! In The Burning, the Kellermans take us right into the California wildfire season and the reader definitely feels the heat!

When The Burning begins, they are already two days into a power outage which has paralyzed the community. Clay, a coroner in Oakland, Ca. is called to the murder scene of a wealthy entrepreneur, Rory Vandevelde. When he is walking around the house, he finds a garage with 30 or more luxury cars and against one wall – his brother’s late sixties Camaro, specifically a 1969 SS/Z28, painted a particular shade of green with black racing stripes. Now he knows his brother may be involved and Clay is determined to find Luke, a reformed drug-addict and released prisoner, and see what he knows. He then does the unthinkable and erases all fingerprints from the car to protect his brother. A move that could cost him his job.

In true Kellerman form, the wildfires present an eerie backdrop to the story, with extended power outages and thick grey smoke everywhere. Clay, in his quest to find his brother, puts his job and his life at risk and though he didn’t know the murder victim, it hits very close to home. He meets obstacles at every turn, including Luke’s new wife Andrea, who refuses to give Luke any information and Luke’s boss at the Cannabis company, who is immediately suspicious of Clay and his intentions. Although he is not telling her the whole truth, Clay’s relationship with his wife, Amy, newly pregnant, is delightful to watch and listen to.

The Burning keeps you on your toes until the very last chapter. We get a closer look at the relationship between Luke and Clay, including why it has deteriorated to the point it has. We see that Clay will do anything to find his brother, including breaking the law. This book is more than a murder mystery. It is a search for the brother you don’t necessarily like but love. You can almost feel how hot it is and the smell of the air where Clay has been summoned to find his brother. Grab a cool drink and sit by air conditioning as you read the last pages of this amazing novel.

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a load of rubbish. This is Clay Edison #4 by these two authors. I gave book #3 1-star so why did I even bother reading this one? Good question. Because Kellerman is a respected name normally associated with good writing.

Clay Edison, deputy coroner, at the scene of a murder finds a suspicious connection to his brother who is recently out of jail. But his brother cannot be found so Clay embarks on a search of his own.

The whole things is ridiculous, peppered with dialogue having nothing whatsoever to do with anything is just boring, boring, boring.


*Why isn't the book cover showing up here?

[Monnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deputy Coroner Clay Edison has led a complicated life, but now that he's married to psychologist Amy and has a young daughter Charlotte, it seems more settled. Then, a nearby California wildfire kicks in, casting a literal cloud on his life and knocking out electric power. Charlotte and Amy have retreated to a still-lit, less smoky part of the state until everything blows over, but she and Clay stay in touch by phone.

His relationship with his ex-felon brother, Luke, remains unstable; once close buddies, they've become for the most part estranged as Luke exited jail and tries to get his life back together. Still, Clay cares about him; and when he's called to a murder scene in an affluent neighborhood and discovers more than a dead body - clues that Luke may somehow have been involved - he tries to track him down. That's not easy, though, because Luke seems to have gone missing; even his hippy dippy wife, with whom he lives off the grid, has no idea why he left or where he's been for several days.

Clay's off-the-record investigation leads to even more suspicions that Luke may have been involved, forcing him - to his way of thinking - to do some cover-up work that threatens his own future. While I concede that blood can be thicker than water, I admit to losing a fair amount of respect for Clay - whom I've come to like as a leading man over the first three books in the series - because of his actions here. That's especially because - to MY way of thinking - everything that came to light in the end would have been discovered by the police had they been allowed unfettered access to all the evidence from the git-go.

But the chase is exciting and dangerous, and it held my attention so well that I polished it off in a single day by pushing back my bedtime by half an hour or so. And while in the end everything isn't coming up roses and a few ends are left untied, all that means to me is that there's plenty of fodder for the next book. I'm already up for it (or these days, should I say I'm down?) As for this one, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second Clay Edison book. I read Half Moon Bay but not the first two in the series. Perhaps I would better understand Clay's motivation and his relationship with his brother if I had.

Clay goes to a crime scene. A wealthy man has been found dead and as Clay covers the scene he finds his brother's beloved green Camaro in the garage. Luke had been a screw up and served time in prison. He isn't close with Clay and Clay immediately believes the worst thinking his brother may be the murder. He tries investigating on his own while the power has been out for days due to wild fires and his wife and daughter are out of town. I kind of like Clay but in this outing some of the things he did baffled me. I'll continue reading the series and go back and read books 1 and 2 for more clarification.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine for providing me with this book.

[Doris Powell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware series. The Clay Edison series not so much. First, the descriptive phrases were above board. I enjoy description but had trouble comprehending so much of it. Second, the travels in California were over the top. I couldn't make beans out of where Clay was traveling. a smaller amount would have been sufficient. The biggest problem to me was the climax. It was so far-fetched I had to go back and reread parts of the novel to figure out why Luke was kidnapped and by whom. To me it just didn't make sense why the Dormer family blamed Clay because their father was killed by their uncle. Go figure.

[Yarnigras · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is so good but the author gets lost in it so much that I get irritated and want him to get to the point. So much inner monologue makes me crazy.
The ending came out in a rush after what felt like YEARS of dialogue.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing. Finished it but just didn't have a real interest in the outcome.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best one in this Kellerman collaboration series. Coroner sees his brothers' car at the scene of a murder and thinks his brother, who has a criminal history, might be involved in the death. Well done, exciting with good plot twists. Recommended.

[(NurseLisa) Square Granny from Ohio · Rating 4 out of 5]

INNNN-TENSE! Great series!

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clay was pretty freaking irritating & badgering. 😠

[OutlawPoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

While much of the US has four seasons, in California we have three: moderate, hot & wildfire season. In the Burning, the Kellermans take us deep into California’s burning season and they don’t let us come up for air.

But the devastating fires are only the backdrop for something far more insidious – a murder that ends up hitting very close to home for our main character, who puts his job and his life at risk to find out the truth.

While there’s not a ton of action, the book is extremely suspenseful and the murder mystery intriguing. I wanted to know exactly what had happened and why – and I didn’t suspect the truth.

This is a solid murder mystery that should keep you reading…and longing for your air conditioner and a cool drink of water as the world burns.

*ARC provided via Net Galley

[Rob Paczkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m getting not to like Clay for reasons I shouldn’t be concerned about as I usually let things like this go. But the authors set him up as this complex guy. He gets the girl and has a family. The last book put him in a situation that made him consider his consequences with a family. It’s like the soon to be second kid has clouded his mind (or was it the smoke from the fires). I know his brother was involved in this one and he just went off the rails to hide the evidence, no concern about his job, his family or what was right. His punishment… a oh you know it’s just Clay attitude. His wife, detective he barely knew, his family. He just got away with everything. His answers remind me of the kid in “ Wonder Years” lots of conflict but no real answers. The end conversation with his wife was the worst.it did not appear the guys consulted their wives on that exchange. My wife would have torn me apart if I did not involve or consult or discuss what was happening. She says words, he said words… not acceptable. The story was good and easily could have been a 4 star for me if not for the set up with the previous books with his family. I have dropped many many tv series programs that do the same thing. The main characters do not learn! This is where I am at. Only time will tell if the writers see this but if not this will not be a series I continue. The brother knows the length he will go for him but at the expense of rational thought. Luke has another weight on him as does Clay due to his actions. I’m not sure what J and J can do to right this for me but short of killing off his family to justify his impulses ( which I am a kind of happy ending guy so not an option) I would like them to address the family thing better ( as if they will ask me) I guess that’s why I liked the Cobin Myron Bolitor series as he addressed it better. I am behind on the Alex Delaware series (#30) But he and Robin are in a kind of holding pattern also for the things Alex is digging up and she does not seem real concerned either. So maybe have to take a break and go for some lone wolf type books. Just my opinion.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, fast read for the plane ✈️ &/or vacation.
Having read so many thriller/crime books—no surprises.
But Kellerman is up there with Michael Connolly, and John Sandford, T Jefferson Parker, & James Lee Burke Robicheaux books for a sure thing.
Books that you open up, sit down and read, &…my, look at the time…two days passed.
That’s all I ask for.
Thank you!

Merged review:

Kellerman + Kellerman = 4 stars. Honestly I wasn't feeling it too much.
It's a pretty fast-paced book, but I had a lot on my mind while reading it, so I didn't really care that much who lived or died in the end.
I gave out the stars because I like & trust the Kellerman father & son dynamic duo to put out a good product that is to my liking, each time they lay pen to paper (I guess only old people get that cliché: that's how people used to write, children! We used pens to put ink on paper in a pattern, and you could tell your handwriting from your mommy's handwriting! Isn't that sweet.)
I'm not sure I'd recommend this book to anyone who is not a lifelong fan of Jonathon Kellerman. While it could just be me, I feel like this is a pessimistic outlook on life & death, where the universe is not a friendly place, and too often a problem is solved by just killing a mf-er.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars rounded to 4

I love Jonathan Kellerman, I like Jesse Kellerman, I wish their writing styles meshed better together though. Some parts of this were so dang overly done. I didn't need 4 pages of Clay talking to his brother's wife trying to get an answer to a single question. I skipped quite a few pages. Having grown up in the exact areas this book is housed in, I always anticipate the Clay Edison books when they come out. This one just wasn't a favorite. It didn't feel plausible and I thoroughly disliked Luke's wife so that turned me off quite a bit.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 I am not certain if I've read another Kellerman book or not. This is the first one I've read in this series, though the book functioned as a standalone just fine.

The writing itself was great, the pacing decent. But the plot got worse and worse as the main character made increasingly bizarre choices and thin lines seemed to be all that drew the whole thing together. Maybe the subplot that become the plot is a carryover from another book?

I'd read another one, as the reviews indicate the first three in the series are better than this one, and I'm rounding up because it was a very fast read, but this one is just ... odd.

[Karen Szakaly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did Jonathan Kellerman really contribute to writing this book? I have read all of his books and at no time did I recognize his style of writing in this book.
The story was boring and had very little character development. Clay Edison committed many illegal things throughout the book. I realize it’s a fiction story, but that was hard to believe.
I think I’ll just stick to his books featuring Alex and Milo, my favorite characters.