Kellerman has been a bit hit or miss for me lately, but The Ghost Orchid, the latest in the Alex Delaware series, kept me engaged. Alex was seriously injured during his last case with buddy and police lieutenant Milo Sturgis, and Milo, being wracked with guilt, has kept Alex away from any crime scenes. Finally, Milo asks for Alex's help at the scene of a double homicide. What follows is a classic police procedural to determine which victim was the actual target and why. Like most books in the series, the city of Los Angeles is almost a character, with its glitzy neighborhoods and its slums (and its traffic). There is a small, secondary plot involving a new custody case for Alex. I wasn't sure about its purpose; maybe the people involved will be major characters in a forthcoming book.

Alex and Milo are back working together to solve a double homicide that uncovers dark secrets and hidden identities. The Ghost Orchid is full of the same smart dialogue and brilliantly unraveled facts as we’ve come to expect from Mr Kellerman. The depravity of the human mind is again highlighted in unbelievable details. Great installment of this long running series!

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

A excellent addition to the series.
The pacing of the story is fast and intriguing.
This is a favorite series that I look forward to reading each time a new book comes out.
All in all, I found The Ghost Orchid to be a satisfying read. As always, Alex and Milo take us on a wild ride.
If you haven’t read this series, you need to start with the first book. The backstory about Alex and Milo is very important to know. Can you read this book as a standalone? You certainly could though I don’t recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Kellerman’s relaxed narratives have a way of weaving complexity into fine fabric and The Ghost Orchid is his finest novel yet. It lulls, intrigues, drags your imagination along on a bumpy road to discovering the tangled pathways from death to the lives that led the victims there. This novel empathically contrasts a truly dysfunctional family dynamic with a more healthy dysfunctional family in a way that will tear your heart up. One family wants to disband while doing their best at a job they are ill equipped to handle. Another wants to control others while selfishly serving their own malevolent tendencies. Stirring and engaging, this is Kellerman at his very best.

Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware series is an old favorite of mine. I enjoyed the murder mystery of this case that opens with the death of an attractive 41 year old woman and a younger attractive man in an upscale property in Bel Air California. A running side story is an evaluation Alex agrees to do involving a teenaged adoptee from Russia whose divorcing parents do not want him. While there was much to like about this entry - some interesting characters and a case going in a few directions that were entertaining, the plot overall was thin. Luck, rather than clues developed by the duo drove their success. The adoptee evaluation, which promised to be interesting ended up kind of annoying and was a let down. I expect more intelligence than Kellerman chose to give me here. This was still an enjoyable read overall and fans should not skip it. It just isn't up there in the best Alex Delawares.

Two bodies are found floating in a Bel Air pool, belonging to Gio Aggiunta, the heir to an Italian shoe empire, and Meagin March, a married neighbor. Detective Milo Sturgis calls on his friend, the psychologist Alex Delaware, to join him in investigating the dead to find leads. Meagin's identity is an issue, as is Gio's family connection. But somehow, the dangers only mount as secrets are revealed.

This is in the Alex Delaware series, but as with any long-running series, you don't necessarily need to have read all of the prior ones. Alex got hurt at the end of the prior novel, which the opening chapter in this one addresses. The dynamic between him and Milo is slightly different now, with more care taken for Alex's physical health. The attention to detail regarding the case remains the same. The duo and Milo's team looks into both of these victims, hoping to find a motivation for murder and the actual murderer. It's always fascinating to get a look into the process, with punchy, short chapters as they follow every lead, no matter how flimsy. We learn more about each victim, and the vague absence of details regarding Meagan soon means they're looking more into her origin, which isn't what they originally thought it would be.

The ghost orchid is a real plant, one found in Florida that has its roots in the air and draws nutrients from others. The plant is something of a parasite, though it doesn't kill the host. This plays into the theme of the case, and it's incredibly sad when we find out what happened to Meagin and the actual motivation for the murders. Alex got a few psychological evaluation requests, and the main one he received was a good counterpoint to the main investigation. Lives can go in wildly different directions, but sometimes the past still hangs heavily over people.

3.5 ⭐️’s
Delaware and Sturgis are my favorite duo. With interesting plots, and well developed characters, Kellerman has kept Alex and Milo in cases for years!! The Ghost Orchid was another intriguing case for the pair, and once again was a solid police procedural, but the ending was rather anti climatic and I felt a bit let down. Somewhere along the way it lost its impact. Still good, but I didn’t feel it was up to the high standards I have come to expect from Kellerman. Thank you to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

The Ghost Orchid is the 39th Alex Delaware procedural mystery by Jonathan Kellerman. Released 6th Feb 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Large print paperback due out from the same publisher 22nd Feb 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This has been such a solid and dependable very long-running series. The returning characters are so well defined at this point, with so much background written in, that they really seem to live and breathe. Dr. Delaware himself is always insightful and the "odd couple" aspects of his relationship with Detective Milo Sturgis are fun and engaging. The series has delivered solidly since 1985 which is stupendous, and that the author continues to deliver without feeling too formulaic or "phoned in" is unbelievably wonderful.

This is a modern procedural and, as in the other books, the descriptions and themes can be graphic. There are aspects of aberrant psychology or behavior and themes which may be upsetting for some readers. The mystery itself is clever, twisty, and super well constructed. Alex Delaware is called in by Milo to try and untangle the otherwise hidden psychological aspects, and as always, his observations are vital to the solving of the case.

The mystery itself and all necessary back-story are written in, so it works quite well as a standalone. The whole series is highly recommended, but readers who are new to the characters won't have any trouble keeping up. Itwould make a superlative buddy/binge/summer vacation read, or a year long project for a mystery book club. Highly successful, it's already on public library acquisition lists, but if not, it's a must read.

The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 10 hours 7 minutes and is capably narrated by long time series narrator John Rubinstein. Mr. Rubinstein does a superb job juggling the different characters and his baritone voice manages to go from adenoidal whiny to gravelly and hard-boiled (Milo) without a single hiccup. Sound and production quality are very high throughout the read.

Four and a half stars. A solid mystery in a very solid, very long-running series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is an honest review in exchange for an advanced reader copy of Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman.

I have read all the prior books in the series featuring psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis. You don’t need to have rad any in the series prior to reading this book but to better understand the nuances of the main characters it benefits the reader to have read the prior books in this series.

Detective Sturgis is investigating a double homicide and asks his friend psychologist to help on the case. Together they work the streets of Los Angeles, interviewing a cast of characters. To find out who did this opens them up to many questions and very few answers. It is a difficult case but one that they are determined to solve.

This is a fast paced, exciting addition to the series. I would recommend this book to my friends. And for anyone that has not read this series I highly recommend starting on book 1 and reading your way to this book.

Milo is brought to a scene where the pool boy has found two bodies. One belongs to Gio Aggiunta and the other a woman named Meagin March. Milo brings Alex in hoping he can help him figure out which was the main target and why the were targeted. They soon learn that Gio was the youngest son of wealthy Italian shoe designer and Meagin one of the playboys married neighbors. As they dig through both of their pasts they find many reasons why someone might want either of them dead. As they delve deeper it soon becomes apparent that Meagin might not be who she said she was and Gio's family had some connections that weren't quite happy with the family. Follow along as the two run down leads in hopes of figuring out who the killer is and why they killed. Will they get the killer.they seek or will a murderer get away free.

“Psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis confront a baffling, vicious double homicide that leads them to long-buried secrets worth killing for in the riveting thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling “master of suspense””

So glad to see Alex and Milo are back together solving murders and eating around :LA . I love both of their approaches to their cases. Bonus points for Alex’s wife, puppy and their sweet and simple life.

The Ghost Orchid is the 39th book in the Alex Delaware Series, and it's an incredible addition to the series!!

I think my favorite part of this series is the camaraderie that Alex and Milo share. If you are searching for a compelling police procedural - one that brims with suspects, twists and turns, and an adorable dog named Blanche, give this series a spin. (The Ghost Orchid can even be read as a standalone.)

A bit of trivia: Ghost orchids are considered one of the most elusive orchids in existence due to loss of habitat, destructive hurricanes, rising sea levels, and poaching. And, sadly, ghost orchids rarely survive when taken from the wild.

Big thanks to both #Ballantine and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Ghost Orchid!

#JonathanKellerman






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Thank you Random House/Ballantine, NetGalley, and Jonathan Kellerman for the opportunity to review The Ghost Orchid. It has been some time since I have had so much fun reading an Alex Delaware mystery. I definitely need to read more of them I forgot how much fun they were. Alex, a psychologist works with the police is brought into help determine what is going on in the elite community of Bel Aire where two people are found murdered by the pool. He has to determine not only who these people really were but if their pasts were coming to collect. It is definitely a story that shows how karma plays a serious part in peoples lives and sooner or later it will come out. Excellent story and fabulous characters as always so I am happy to recommend this book to anyone that loves John Sandford, Harlan Conan, or James Patterson or any other police thriller. Enjoy!

Excellent police procedural series that gets better with each book! Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. You won’t want to put the book down..

The characters are one the I have come to love. I look forward to the next book in this series.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own..

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: Fast and stays fast throughout the book.

POV: 1st person (told from Alex Delaware’s POV)

Series: The Ghost Orchid is the 39th book in the Alex Delaware series. Readers can read The Ghost Orchid as a standalone book. But I suggest reading the previous 38 books to understand the relationships and backgrounds of people in the book.

Trigger Warnings: There are scenes of poverty, slut-shaming, incest (off page), rape (off page), sexual assault (off page), sex-worker shaming, child abuse (off page), domestic abuse & violence (off page), foster care, sex addiction (off page), blood depiction, dead bodies, gun violence, stalking, and cheating. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book.

Language: There is moderate swearing in The Ghost Orchid. There is also language used that could be offensive to some people.

Setting: The Ghost Orchid is set in and around Los Angeles, California.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Four months after almost being killed helping his best friend, Milo, on a case, Alex Delaware is bored. So, when Milo calls and asks if Alex could meet him at a crime scene, Alex immediately accepts. Milo needs Alex’s insights to understand who could have killed two people in a Beverly Hills neighborhood.

But, when Milo starts digging into the woman victim’s background, he finds a mystery. The woman has no past and didn’t exist until a year before she married over a year ago. A painting of a ghost orchid by the victim is a tantalizing clue about who she was. It is up to Alex and Milo to unravel her past to find her (and her lover’s) killer. Can they untangle a past full of lies and stolen identities? Will they discover her killer before he strikes again?

Characters:

The main characters of The Ghost Orchid are Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis. These are well-established, well-rounded characters who had great chemistry together. But the author did something different at the end of the last book and the beginning of this book. He had Alex almost get killed at the end of the last book and was forced to take a break for four months. And during that time, Milo and Alex grew apart. Milo had extreme guilt over Alex’s near-death experience and injuries. That kept him from visiting and, at one point, even talking to Alex. It was interesting to see them be so awkward with each other and to watch them reform their bond.

I enjoyed the extra depth that the secondary characters brought to the storyline. I liked that the author brought back characters from previous books. It made the book feel more fleshed out to me.

My review:

The storyline of The Ghost Orchid is centered around the murder, the female victim’s identity and past, and the relationship (both personal and professional) between Alex and Milo. I loved how the author kept the storyline minimal initially and then slowly added information. It made for a compelling and exciting read.

The mystery angle of The Ghost Orchid was well written. I liked how the author almost casually dropped clues about the female victim’s identity (both past and present). He also included what seemed to be two random murders and tied them to her in ways that I honestly didn’t expect. There is a twist at the end of the book that did take me by surprise. It shouldn’t have (considering what Milo and Alex discovered in the last half of the book). It also saddened me and just reaffirmed my belief that people are awful.

The end of The Ghost Orchid was interesting. I liked how Milo and Alex wrapped up the case. As I said above, it did sadden me because of what the female victim went through in her life and the lengths she went through to distance herself from everything. I hope there will be a book 40; if there is, I can’t wait to read it.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books, NetGalley, and Jonathan Kellerman for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Ghost Orchid. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

True to form. More adventures of Alex and Milo. I love how the two play off each other, leveraging their strengths and weaknesses. Kellerman does not write the most beautiful prose but writes to entertain. Thank you NetGalley fans r an advanced copy.

Alex has been taking time off to recover from an injury and now as he is ready for action Milo enlists his help in a double homicide. An older woman married to a rich younger man starts an affair with Gio. Both are found shot dead near his pool. I wouldn't call the story full of surprising twists but lots of turns and grunt work to get to the killer. The ending was not a heart stopping page turner but satisfactory. I always enjoy the relationship with Alex and Milo. I know in the beginning Robin was more of a front runner. It's nice that they are now so blissfully happy and in tune with each other but that perfect life is getting boring. What is also great about the series is that you can pick up anyone of them and not feel like you missed a whole lot.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for providing me with a digital copy.

I received an ARC of this book. Great mystery story with many twists and turns. Kept me guessing until the end. Highly recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Alex and Milo are back! Milo is a favorite character of mine. Well, here's my review...

The Ghost Orchid is the 39th installment in the Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of psychological thrillers. In this riveting novel, psychologist Alex Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis team up to solve a double homicide that leads them to a web of deception, identity theft, and long-buried secrets.

The story begins when a housekeeper finds two bodies floating in a pool in a secluded Bel Air mansion. The victims are Gio Aggiunta, the heir of an Italian shoe empire, and Meagan March, a wealthy neighbor who was having an affair with him. The crime scene is clean and there is no sign of forced entry, suggesting that the killer was someone close to them. But as Alex and Milo dig deeper, they discover that Meagan March was not who she claimed to be. She had no family, no friends, and no history. She was a ghost orchid, a rare and elusive flower that blooms only in the dark.

Alex and Milo follow the trail of clues that leads them from the glamorous world of high society to the dark underworld of organized crime, where they encounter ruthless enemies who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets. Along the way, they also uncover the tragic past of Gio Aggiunta, who was haunted by his family's legacy and his own demons. The Ghost Orchid is a masterful work of fiction that explores the themes of identity, betrayal, and redemption.