Latest #russelreads (via #netgalley) was a return to an author I haven't read in years -- #Serepentine (pub
@PenguinUKBooks) is the latest Alex Delaware thriller from Johnathan Kellerman, a series that influenced me as a writer when I was first exploring crime fiction.

This time around, psychiatrist, Alex Delaware, and his old friend, detective Milo Sturgis, reopen a cold case that has stumped the LAPD for over two decades at the request of the victim's daughter. Ellie Barker's mother was murdered on Mulholland Drive, with no physical evidence left at the scene and no witnesses. She's hired Milo re reopen the case, and he brings in Alex to determine whether there's a reason Ellie wants the case reopened now. The result is a slickly told mystery that explores the dark heart of LA's rich & privileged.

Returning to this series after several years of absence reminded me of why the books were an influence; the easy camaraderie of Alex and Milo form the heart of the action, and while some of the central mystery may be a little familiar territory for long term mystery readers, Kellerman's polished and practiced style keeps you turning those pages, and some of the asides (Alex dealing with a toddler traumatised following a car accident) are genuinely intriguing in their own right. If you like your mysteries slick and pacy, with a side order of psychological insight, then Kellerman's still a great choice. Reading Serpentine was like catching up with an old friend and finding that even if they're a little greyer than they once were, they're still much the same as you remember... And that's a comforting thing!

Yet another brilliant page-turner in the Alex Delaware series...!!!

In the 36th book of the series, Detective Milo Sturgis has been coerced into taking up a cold case by his superiors and as expected, he turns to his trusty bestie, psychologist Alex Delaware for help. With a shoddy case file in hand and no evidence, no suspects and no witnesses, Alex and Milo set out to find answers for Ellie Barker whose mother's murder 36 years ago has remained an unsolved mystery. What ensues is a brilliant and meticulous investigation that uncovers a trail of lies and murders left behind by a devious mind.

Though the plot begins at a slow pace, with every page, the suspense builds up, keeping the reader completely engrossed till the very end. The witty remarks between the two friends and the occasional peeks into their personal lives, kept the main characters relatable.

Overall, an enjoyable and engaging read.
My rating : 5 stars

A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It wasn't exactly the case Lt Milo Sturgis had been dreaming about: a death from thirty-six years ago and the daughter of the woman who died wanted some answers. She had money and money translated into clout and so the problem was dropped onto Milo's toes. Dorothy Swoboda was twenty-four years old when she died in a car which went off a cliff on Mulholland Drive and burst into flames. It turned out that she wasn't actually married to the man with whom she'd left her daughter but Dr Stanley R Barker, optometrist, was a good man and he took out adoption papers for Ellie - and she took his name. Ellie was three when her mother left her with Dr Barker and she has nothing of her but one photograph of her mother and father and a necklace made of serpentine.

It seemed like an impossible case: thirty-nine-year-old Ellie Barker has no clues to offer and Dorothy Swoboda's life is impossible to track down. Her death had been written off as an accident: the fact that she'd been shot before the car went off the cliff seemed not to have impacted. Worst of all, there's no file and the detectives who investigated the case have, with one exception, died. The only remaining detective is Du Galloway, who's keen to help. He put his failure to get anywhere with the case down to the attitude of his superior officer. It seemed that someone might have wanted this case buried.

This is the thirty-sixth outing for LA psychologist Dr Alex Delaware but don't be worried about getting to the party late: Serpentine would read perfectly well as a stand-alone and whilst there is a progression to the stories I wouldn't go as far as to say that there's an over-arching narrative. Delaware is still married to Robin and Milo Sturgis is still with his partner who's a doctor. The book is only incidentally about Alex and Milo: they're there to solve the case, not to star in the book.

As always the characterisation is brilliant: self-made millionaires don't often come like Ellie Barker but a disturbed childhood can leave even the most well-adjusted people with a sense of guilt and of worthlessness. You want her to get some closure about her mother's fate but you wonder if she's setting herself up to fail. Milo Sturgis's solve rate is near perfect but even he is going to struggle to come up with anything when the case is decades old and there are no witnesses and no evidence. But by teasing little bits of information here and there he begins to get a grip on the case. And what a case it is.

I've read earlier books in the Alex Delaware series but never before appreciated quite what a brilliant picture you get of the city of Los Angeles. Thanks to Google maps I could follow a lot of the activity: somehow it made everything more real. Did I guess how everything worked out: I was nowhere near and I was still being surprised a few pages before the end. It was an exceptionally-good read and I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy.

The publisher has provided a free online copy for the purposes of review.

Serpentine in Jonathan Kellerman's new novel could refer to the twists and turns Mullholland Drive makes in the hills above Los Angeles, where decades ago a woman's body was found with a gunshot wound and burned. Or it could refer to the necklace that woman's daughter sometimes wears as a talisman.

Usually in their cases together, detective Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware have to fight the police establishment to allow them to investigate past crimes.

This time Milo's superiors are pressuring him to find out what happened to the woman found dead off Mullholland Drive. There's a lot of suspicious behavior on the part of several investigators, past and present.

Milo always gives Alex credit for his contributions, but in this case Milo seems to be leaning on his friend more than usual. And Alex and his girlfriend Robin are worried about their friend. But Alex and Robin are also worried about their lives together.

The best with this book, and the whole series, is the characters and the dialogue. The plot and the story are also very good, but you will really get to know the fantastic characters through their dialogue.

I was so excited to get this as a "Read Now" on Netgalley that I sat down last night and read every last page. I've been a fan of Alex and Milo for almost 30 years and each book just gets better and better.

This one starts with a cold case, a case so cold, it's frozen shut. Thanks to his stellar solve rate and some politics, Milo is put on the case to help a wealthy young woman find out how her mother ended up dead in a burning car pushed off a cliff. But with next to nothing in the archives, no clues and only a faded picture of the woman, Milo and Alex are forced to start from scratch, weaving together a story of evil that spanned decades.

Very few things make me happier than cracking into a fresh new Kellerman book and this one was no exception. Watching Milo and Alex work is always a pleasure and the intricately woven plot of this nearly-impossible-to-solve case kept me guessing til the end. There were more highs and lows and twists and turns than an alpine race course! And oh man, did I love that ending! Vindication and pure, unadulterated poetic justice. Is there anything better? Nope.

There's so much more I want to say about this one but I'm afraid I'd give too much away, so I'll just say this: if you're looking for a great mystery series, Kellerman's Alex Delaware series is the top of the heap.

I enjoyed this book very much and finished it in two days. As a newbie to the popular series I found that I could quickly catch on to the two main characters and their backstories. Twists and turns with the right amount of suspense and mystery made me wanting to read more and find out what happens next. It’s an extremely well written novel with lots of depth and attention to detail. I highly recommend to readers who are looking for a good solid novel!

368 pages

4 and 1 / 2 stars

Milo and Alex have a very tough case in this, the latest, in the Alex/Milo series by Jonathan Kellerman. “Serpentine” is a perfect title for this book because the case is very twisty and surprises abound.

Milo gets roped into investigating a cold case. Thirty years earlier, a woman's body was found in a crashed and incinerated car with a bullet in her. Her name is Dorothy Svoboda. She left behind a common law husband and a daughter. The daughter is now very wealthy and wants to know the circumstances of her mother's death.

Milo is angry at first but then becomes interested in the case and likes the woman who is asking about her mother. He and Alex go on the search for clues. Several detectives have investigated the case over the years. Only one is still alive. They undertake an exhaustive search through newspapers and old acquaintances of Dorothy's.

The meet some of the movers and shakers of old Hollywood. They learn valuable information.

This is a very well written and plotted novel, although it seems to lose its way in some spots. (Hence the 4 and 1 / 2 stars.) A couple of the transitions had me going, “Huh?” I really like Milo and Alex and enjoy their repartee. They have been partners for such a long time, they can finish each others' thoughts. Their easy relationship is refreshing and welcome. I like the way Milo's team pulls together and gets the job done efficiently.

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House UK for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review.