Jonathan Kellerman's well known characters Psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis return in The Ghost Orchid. Sturgis is investigating a double homicide and needs Delaware's help. The bodies of a naked man and woman are found near a swimming pool in the backyard of a small Los Angeles house. Sturgis and Delaware work through their leads and meet many interesting characters along the way. Kellerman's plot is captivating and easy to follow. The Ghost Orchid is a definite page turner.

This was a well-written, entertaining book. It was fascinating, and kept me reading. It was so interesting to read as the smallest of details led to eventually figuring it all out. I enjoyed this book and this author is a "must read" for me, especially this series.

What I love most about the Alex Delaware series is that it always feels like you’re reading about a realistic investigation: following tips, interviewing witnesses, hitting dead ends. With Alex being a psychologist, his expertise in how humans behave and think always plays a part in helping his best friend, Detective Milo Sturgis, understand the killer’s actions, as well as analyzing the victims.

The mystery centers around a couple found murdered in the backyard of a mansion. Alex and Milo start digging into the victims’ lives, trying to find a motive, but uncover more questions than answers. While the conclusion to the case was a little unsatisfying, I still loved the overall investigation and the motive for the murders.

One reason many people like long-running TV cop series is their familiarity with each show’s setup and routine. The characters’ names and faces may change over the years as actors come and go, but the basic format remains the same. Watch any episode of “Law and Order” or “NCIS” from season one to the present, and it feels like every other episode. Readers feel the same with crime novels like Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series. The series’ 39th novel, “The Ghost Orchid,” will feel quite familiar to longtime fans. Nothing earth-shattering happens, but watching child psychologist Alex and his cop buddy Milo Sturgis solve another case is comfortable, entertaining reading.

“The Ghost Orchid” starts a bit differently than other Delaware novels. In the series’ previous book, Alex was severely injured, and a guilty-feeling Milo left him alone for several months. This forced sabbatical only lasts a few chapters before the two return to work as if nothing had happened earlier. This case is a double homicide. A real estate tycoon’s wife and her playboy boyfriend are found shot to death by the pool in his home. No witnesses, no clues, and only one suspect, the husband. Although his behavior is rather bizarre, Alex and Milo have their doubts about his involvement. Neither victim seems to have any present-day enemies, so the investigation becomes an exploration of their pasts. The book’s title is an important clue in this regard. I won’t explain it or its significance further to avoid spoiling some of the book’s entertainment value.

Although Milo doesn’t initially bring Alex into the case to take advantage of the psychologist’s background and training, Alex’s expertise in assembling a profile of the victims becomes crucial in solving the mystery. At first, neither victim seems to have a past that goes back longer than two years. But when Alex and Milo talk to the victims’ friends and other lovers, they learn more. “The Ghost Orchid” is an unusual type of mystery. The investigators don’t use modern-day forensics to solve the case or engage in Sherlock Holmes-style deductions regarding a handful of suspects. Instead, Alex’s primary method of investigation is a series of mostly fruitless Google searches. But he gradually constructs and revises a profile of the victims that allows him to find the killer and the motive.

Some readers may find “The Ghost Orchid” overly talky and repetitive, even for an Alex Delaware novel. Alex and Milo go back and forth several times about whether the dead woman’s husband is a viable suspect. Their talks with the husband and the dead woman’s friends are repetitive as well. But the story becomes much more interesting when they finally get to the “good stuff” in the book’s last third. Alex and Milo eventually discover the motive for the killings, and the events they uncover, although years in the past, are chilling.

The author’s eye for detail and knack for description are evident in “The Ghost Orchid.” The extensive descriptions of people and places would feel like padding with some authors. However, Jonathan Kellerman establishes a sense of scene that adds to the story and makes even minor characters feel real. For example, Kellerman describes a valet looking to park Milo’s car by saying: “He regarded the Impala with the disdain you sometimes see in people who can’t afford luxury but have aligned themselves with the power elite.”

One part of the book that feels like padding is a subplot involving Alex’s examination of a teenage boy, neither of whose divorcing parents want custody of him. Alex, the judge, and the two attorneys try to find the best solution for the boy. Alex only meets with the boy and the two attorneys in the book’s final chapter. The storyline is interesting but has nothing to do with the prime case and ending the book on this note is a letdown. I felt the author had taken a short story treatment about the boy and arbitrarily inserted it into an unrelated novel.

“The Ghost Orchid” is a rather unremarkable Alex Delaware novel, but that’s not an indictment of the book. Many Nero Wolfe books felt similar, but Rex Stout’s readers loved them all the same. Alex Delaware fans will enjoy the descriptions and the eventual revelation of the circumstances and motive behind the murders. “The Ghost Orchid” is high-quality comfort reading for fans of a very talented author. Genre fans shouldn’t ghost this book.

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.

The dynamic duo of Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis are back on the job in the 39th book in Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series: The Ghost Orchid. This is another fantastic entry and delivers everything we’ve come to expect from the series: great characters (we know and love), a wonderfully complex story with all the twists and turns you could want, and a surprising amount of heart. As is often the case, the book starts off with an intriguing murder scene, this time two bodies are discovered at a home in Bel Air. There are no signs of forced entry, no indication it was a robbery gone wrong. And yet as puzzling as the scene is, the more they investigate the more questions arise. If you’re a fan of smart mystery/thrillers you won’t want to miss this one. On a side note, even though this is the 39th book in the series you could definitely read this one as a stand alone, but I have no doubt once you’ve read it you’ll want to go back and read the entire series. I’d like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Ghost Orchid.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3UI9HNVZ5R6R9/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

When there is a complex murder mystery to solve, Detective Milo Sturgis knows he needs his best bud and right hand man, psychologist, Dr. Alex Delaware.

This newest case is a head scratcher for sure. The bodies of a man and woman are found shot to death at his pool in Bel Air. Meagin March is the female victim, and she so happens to be a married woman who lives down the street. Meagin is a complete mystery all by herself with no past history and no family that they can locate. They cannot even figure out where she came from except for her recent life as the wife of an eccentric billionaire. The murder is a mystery in and of itself. There was no robbery and no forensic evidence at all. It was like a ghost came in and shot them.
Perplexing and complex does not even begin to describe this case.

This is another great police procedural that we have all grown to love starring Alex and Milo. If you are looking for an action packed story, you will not find that in this story. However, if you enjoy a finely tuned mystery with complexity and no apparent suspects to pin the crime on, you will love this book as much as I did. Solving this case/mystery was like peeling an onion as you had to peel back layer after layer to get to the good stuff that will provide you a satisfying conclusion that will shock you.

The banter between Alex and Milo as they discuss a case is always interesting to read. They have a lot of history behind them, and they do better together. This is another winner in the Alex Delaware franchise.

Thank you to Penguin Random House, Ballatine Books and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“The Ghost Orchid,” by Jonathan Kellerman, Ballantine Books, 304 pages, Feb. 6, 2024.

LAPD homicide lieutenant Milo Sturgis hasn’t called in his friend, psychologist Alex Delaware, to help investigate a homicide since Alex was injured four months ago. But Sturgis needs his help with this one.

A pool boy entered a secluded Bel Air property and discovered two bodies: Gio Aggiunta, 29, the playboy heir to an Italian shoe empire, and an even wealthier, married neighbor, Meagin March, 41. Her husband, Douglass, is the CEO of a real estate company.

As Milo and Alex investigate both victims, they discover two troubled pasts. And as they dig deeper, Meagin March’s identity begins to blur. Who was this conflicted woman? Did her past catch up to her? Or did Gio’s family connections create a threat spanning two continents? Which one was the primary target and why?

Jonathan Kellerman throws in a plot twist near the end that will have readers on the edge of their seats, but that makes sense of all the earlier misdirection. The reason behind the murders is tragic.

This is the 39th in the long-running series. Fans will enjoy the mystery and every reader will be moved by the ending.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

The Ghost Orchid is the 39th book in the Alex Delaware series, but Kellerman manages to keep each new story fresh and unique. In this book, LAPD Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis calls his friend, psychologist Alex Delaware, in on an investigation of a man and his married girlfriend found dead by his swimming pool. At first it seems like a straightforward case, but there is much more to it than it first appears.

Alex and Milo are good friends and good investigating partners. Milo hesitates to bring Alex in on this case because he feels guilty that Alex was severely injured on the last case they worked together. Because they've been friends for so long, they are able to talk about things and Alex assures him it's not his fault and he enjoys and even needs these investigations in his life. Besides the investigation he is helping Milo with, Alex is asked to consult on a unique child custody case. This subplot is an interesting addition to the book and lets the reader see Alex in a different setting.

The Ghost Orchid is another well- written and intriguing procedural with psychological insights into the victims, witnesses, and suspects. There are a lot of secrets revealed as the investigation continues and this well-written book held my interest from the beginning to the end. If you've not read anything by Kellerman before, this book would be a good introduction to the series.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Ballantine Books and Penguin Random House. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman is an Alex Delaware novel. Alex is not a police officer, he is a psychologist who works with the police. He had worked with the police until he was injured, almost killed. Milo, Alex’s best friend and a homicide detective, had backed off, out of guilt mostly, and Alex missed both their time together and the police work. Then he got the call. It was close by; a double murder. He knew is partner, Robin, had most likely called Milo and begged him to put Alex back to work, but he didn’t care. Here he was. Out by the pool. A man and a woman. Both nude. Both shot in the heart. Not a gang killing, but with purpose. Which was the target and which was collateral damage? Turns out the woman was married; not to this man. He was younger than her by at least ten years, although she looked good. Now the work began. Finding and notifying family; finding out what they knew. It was grueling and Alex loved it. He had another case: from the court as most of his were. A 15-year-old adopted boy that neither parent wanted. First time for that, plus the opposing counsel seemed to get along.

Alex Delaware is a fabulous character: calm, loving, perceptive, and intelligent. He can read the people they interview beyond what their words say. He is a huge help to Milo. He just needs to stay out of danger. Robin, the woman he lives with agrees. They have a good life and she loves him. She doesn’t want anything to change. Milo is a good police detective and this is an excellent police procedural series. They investigate, step by step, until they figure out what is going on. They get hep from other police departments to put together the pieces until there is a picture they can make sense of. The same happened here. They investigated all the way to Florida and points between. They were looking for a bad guy. Now was all up to luck. This was a well-put-together story with pieces from here to there. Nothing pulled out of a hat at the last minute. The plot was good, the pacing was excellent, and the characters, many of whom we had come to love, are pure and well-written. Thanks Kellerman, for another great novel!

I was invited to read The Ghost Orchid by Random House Publishing-Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingBallantine #JonathanKellerman #TheGhostOrchid

After his recent brush with death, Dr. Alex Delaware is eager to get out of the house and make himself useful. He gets his chance when homicide detective, Lieutenant Milo Sturgis, is called to the scene of a double murder in an upscale neighborhood. The victims are a young Italian playboy and his married ( to someone else) neighbor. Although both victims are wealthy, nothing of value was taken and no forensic evidence was left. Milo and Alex will need to unearth long-buried truths about both of these people to get to the bottom of this baffling crime.

This is book number 39 in the Alex Delaware series and it still feels fresh and new. These books are police procedurals with a twist, in that Alex is a psychologist and not a member of law enforcement himself. This book can be read as a standalone, but I do recommend reading the prior books for full effect and backstory. Jonathan Kellerman knows how to craft a crackling suspense story and I hope this series continues for years to come.

I keep saying this but... how did we get this far into a series and it still feel fresh? Book 39... wowsers. And I have read and loved every single one. It's like slipping my feet into a nice warm pair of slippers when I open a new Delaware book. Reconnecting with Alex and Milo - Robin, Rick, and Blanche too of course. And marvel at the old cars still going... All that excitement without actually mentioning the case to be solved which is the cherry on an already delicious cake to me...!
The case in question is that of a double homicide. The heir of an Italian shoe empire and his unknown female "guest". Discovered by his housekeeper in his posh home. The woman is swiftly identified as his married neighbour, could this be a simple motived open and shut case? Obviously not as it would be a short boring book, but I am going to leave the rest for you to discover. Suffice to say it's a cracker...!
I absolutely love this partnership. Alex and Milo, chalk and cheese, but also very similar. They are such close friends too and that helps with them bouncing the ideas that formulate the solutions to many a quandary. There is definitely no ego in the room when they get going.
Outwith the case, I also enjoy the rest of the narrative. Be-it Robin's latest instrument restoration. Blanche's shenanigans, the journeys, the food. The whole shebang really. In fact the only thing I hate about the books is finishing them and having to wait until the next one... But, patient I must be, and at least I know it will be worth it :)
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Wowser, another excellent addition to the Alex Delaware series. The Ghost Orchid is #39 in the series, top notch, and I've read each and every one of them.

In this offering, Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis rather reluctantly calls Alex Delaware in for a consultation on a new murder case (Alex was pretty badly injured on the last case they worked together). But Dr. Delaware is healing and feeling antsy and is ready to get back to helping Milo.

In this case, a pool boy discovered the naked bodies of a man and woman at a quiet Bel Air house, shot through the hearts. Milo and Alex find that the pair were lovers and immediately suspect the woman's husband but find he's only one of the suspects.

I loved the story. I love Kellerman's writing style. I love Milo and Alex and all the side characters too. This was another twisty psychological murder mystery and I especially enjoyed it. And I liked the custody side story too.

Great book. I highly recommend it whether it's your first Kellerman book or your 39th.

I received this Digital Review Copy from Random House Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review. This is that review.

An intriguing mystery! Milo and Alex are back at it. The usual cast of characters were involved and have an enjoyable rapport. The murder case in this book unfolded slowly but was an interesting story. The pace was good. The suspense was good. The side story about the custody case that Alex was working on was a great addition. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I read this book so slowly because I just didn’t want it to end. Despite all the murders I really enjoy spending time in Alex’s world. This latest of Mr. Kellman’s amazing series is a winner. It felt just as fresh and interesting as his earlier books. Count me as a lifelong fan!

The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman is the 39th book in the Alex Delaware series. The books follow Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis. Milo is a Lieutenant in the Los Angeles police force. He spends his time solving murders and often asks Alex to join him, especially when he feels he would benefit from Alex’s thoughts. Alex is Dr. Alex Delaware, a psychologist who has been associated with the local justice system for a while.

Milo has been given a new case. He was called to a home in the hills where two murders were committed. Both victims were shot directly in the heart. In his investigation, it was discovered that the woman was having an affair with the man and married to another man just a couple of miles away. Milo needed Alex’s help. Each angle they looked at was a dead end. The mystery didn’t seem to have a reason or a solution.

I have always enjoyed this series. I found this book particularly interesting as the mystery was interesting and contained some different situations. I like Milo and Alex together as they are good foils for each other. This mystery’s ending was unexpected, which made it even more enjoyable. The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman was a good read.

I have read quite a few in this Alex Delaware series, so of course I had to pick this one up. I always enjoy Jonathan Kellerman's novels.

Description:
Psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis are faced with their most perplexing case yet when a double homicide investigation leads them to stolen identities and long-buried secrets worth killing for in this riveting thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author.

Los Angeles is a city of reinvention. Many come to start anew, to strike it big. Many kill the person they once were, the person they left behind. And in turn, someone else can turn around and kill them, too—permanently.

A housekeeper enters a secluded, upscale home and discovers two bodies floating in the The heir of an Italian shoe empire and an unknown woman. The house is untouched, but a "double" in Bel Air certainly makes this case stand out from the usual.

No forced entry means this could have been an inside job. After all, the woman floating in the pool is revealed to be Meagin March, a married neighbor from down the street, who lives in an even more opulent and sprawling mansion. Married woman having an affair? That's a perfect motive.

But not everything is as it seems. At her wedding, Meagin had no family and a tip from Meagin's mother-in-law raises their suspicions. Who was she, exactly?

Learning the truth about this mysterious woman—uncovering her identity and motivations—will take Alex and Milo on one of the most shocking journeys of their careers.

My Thoughts:
This book provided enough history in the course of the read to make it a stand alone and easily read and enjoyed even if you haven't read any of the others in the series (however, they are all good so I recommend that you read them if you get a chance). I enjoy the way Alex and Milo work together. Each of them has different skills that complement each other, which ultimately helps them solve cases. This is a strong police procedural and the investigation is not so much fast-paced as it it thoughtfully followed through. It is well written and kept my interest throughout. I recognized some of the charaters from previous books popping up from time to time. I really like Alex's partner Robin - she is an independent thinker and restores old or broken guitars. The dialog between the characters is enjoyable as they work through the clues and delve further and further into the investigation. I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys police procedurals.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Reading an Alex Delaware novel is like reconnecting with an old friend.

After a near fatal accident on their previous case, Milo suffers from remorse and an unwillingness to bring his friend into another case. Relenting and bringing Alex into a double homicide. However, as they investigate they continue to have more question than answers as lead after lead falls through.

It isn't until they begin to search into one of the victims backgrounds that they begin to piece together what may have happened., while another seemingly unrelated murder serves as the connecting point that they need to bring things together.

I have read the Alex Delaware novels for years, and have always enjoyed the rhythm between the two characters. Milo has never been the standard homicide detective and Alex's insight has worked to provide insight that Milo sometimes misses. I also liked Milo's makeshift 'team' and how they respect Milo and his investigative process.

This story wrapped up nicely, although a little from left field. However, as the investigation went on, the explanation made sense and provided the closure needed. I can't wait for the next installment of the series.

Although it was well received, I did not enjoy Jonathan's last book, Unnatural History; my fear was that after writing so many books with the same characters, he had run out of things to say. After all 38 is a lot of books about the same two main sleuths.
I am happy to say that Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis are back and as good as ever. Alex Delaware is a child psychologist married to an artist, Robin, and Milo Sturgis is an LAPD detective who happens to be gay. They investigate murders together. As the book opens, Alex is recovering from an illness and Milo has some trepidation about his friend investigating another murder, but another one comes up that they, of course, cannot resist. Two people were killed, a man and woman having a tryst, and Alex and Milo do not know at the outset, which one of them was the target of the murder. The rest of the book takes them through the whodunit, revealing little things about the protagonists and their relationship along the way. While this is a series, they can be read out of order and not all of them need to be read; I have not read them all. I do like having read some since I felt like I had the inside track on the characters, though.
I imagine it must be hard to come up with 39 novels about the same two characters who are always doing similar things in their books but Kellerman manages to do so, engaging the reader's interest. It was a solid four star read. I think there are some places where the prose and/or the dialogue can be tightened up and I would love to see a little more character change over the series. However, I will definitely look out for the next book in the series and when I have time, I may go back and read some earlier ones.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! The Alex Delaware series is one of my all time faves! This is a great detective mystery and I could not put it down. Alex & Milo for the win!!

Thanks to NetGalley, Jonathan Kellerman & Ballantine Books for the opportunity read this ARC!!

After being injured while helping Milo, Alex Delaware and the Lieutenant's relationship is strained. Milo is still kicking himself, and won't ask Alex for help. And Alex is just plain bored. With a teeny push from Robin, Milo calls Alex out for a double murder in Bel-Air, only a few miles from his house. The crime scene looks fairly typical (i.e. not in his purview), but Alex just wants the challenge of helping Milo like he has for years. A man and a woman, both shot in the hearts, lying out by the pool. All her expensive jewelry is still present, and nothing has been taken from the house. As they begin to look deeper, it doesn't appear that Meagin, the deceased woman, existed before she met her husband a couple years before. Who is this mystery woman, and was she the intended target and her poor acquaintance collateral damage?

It's really no secret that I love these books. Milo and Alex's relationship is great. The investigations seem real - you are not going to guess whodunit because the person doesn't even make an appearance until later in the book, more like a true police investigation. The writing is well done, and the stories are always well-crafted. It's just a shame I only get one new Alex Delaware story a year when I read them in 2 days...