Jonathan 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 Though no longer active as a psychotherapist, he is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology at University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.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.
Great descriptions of the awful fires that devastated Northern California in 2020. And an excellent mystery. A wealthy murdered man, the investigator’s brother’s car is on the property. And the brother is missing. A lot of late night driving, following odd clues, uncovers a very complex story line that harkens back to previous books. I don’t know where the Series will go, since the cop/coroner brother broke a ton of laws and rules in order to find and save his brother. But it’s a bang-up way to end the series if it is the end!
Wasn't what I expected or hoped for. It was really slow through most of the book. I didn't really understand Clay's job...was he a cop, investigator, medical examiner or some combination of all??? The story just didn't have that edge of your seat factor. Other than some characters coughing, the raging fires really didn't seem to play into the story much. The whole reason for Clay's brother disappearing seemed a little out of left field. It was just an ok story, characters, plot, etc.
Once again Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman bring Clay and his colleagues to life. This time Clay has to figure out if his brother Luke murdered someone or was a victim himself. Add in a deady forest fire, and some questionable items by Clay and you have an action packed novel.
Not sure if I can wait to see if Clay keeps his promotion and his marriage intact.
Book started out a little confusing as the main character's job was unfamiliar and hard to understand. So it was a good story and may have some potential for additional books.
Good book to read on a plane when you’ve finished the others you brought and the flights were delayed and went on and on and on…just might read another.
WOW! I really liked this book! I knew who didn't do it! But couldn't figure out who did it until later in the book! I like when that happens, surprise endings!