*Thank you to Random House, Jonathan Kellerman, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book for an honest review*

Jonathan Kellerman makes me want to read books again. He can just do no wrong!

This is the 36th Alex Delaware book, and it just keeps better, just like a fine wine. The very definition of Serpentine means "move or lie in a winding path or line". Mr Kellerman could not have picked a better title befitting this book. There are so many twists and turns, sometimes it's hard to figure out who is who.

Milo, Delaware's best friend and constant companion, is forced into accepting a 36yo cold case. Money talks and multi-millionaire Ellie Barker wants to know who her Mother was and why she was killed. An orphan now, Ellie has been raised by her Stepfather and would like to know more about her past. From the descriptions of Old Hollywood to the beautiful homes of Los Angeles, everything is aptly put together to solve a murder and give Ellie some peace. Little does she know the surprises she is in for!

There is so much to be enjoyed about the Alex Delaware series. It is consistent, so well written, and always surprises the reader. I enjoy Alex's relationship with his long-time lover, Robin, and his steady friendship with Milo. I gave this 5 stars because Jonathan Kellerman knows how to write a book!

Wow! Book 36 and still as fresh as book one! Obviously it's always best with a series to start from the beginning but I do appreciate that there's quite a bit to do to play catch up here. Luckily, I think that you can read each book on its own as there is little flash back and you'd really only be missing out on a bit of character development.
So, this time round the boys are chasing a cold case. A woman found dead from a bullet in the head in a burnt out Caddy on Mulholland Drive. With little really to go on initially they have their hands right full. But they soon find out that even after all this time, decades, there is someone who wants this case to stay unsolved. Someone who is willing to, well shall we say, interfere in a nefarious way to keep the past firmly in the past. But they haven't met our intrepid duo who will pull out all the stops on every case, this one being no different...
I love this series. I keep mentioning that it is pretty much the only positive I can remember coming out of my failed marriage - my ex having introduced me to it! And I will always be thankful for that. Milo and Alex are a bit chalk and cheese but also very much the same and they partner up perfectly. And the mystery contained within this book had me spinning around chasing my tail like every good mystery should. Leaving me wholly satisfied at its conclusion. Perfection. Starting with scant evidence to go on, they have to wheedle everything out the smallest connections - detective work at its very best.
All in all a cracking addition to an already well loved series - roll on book 37... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I have read and enjoyed many of the mysteries in the Alex Delaware/Milo Sturgis series. The interplay between the psychologist, Delaware, and the detective, Sturgis, was as witty as always. The pair work well together as they process the clues and information. Unfortunately, the story moved slowly for me.

I am not fond of psychological thrillers. And so, having read somewhere that Jonathan Kellerman’s main character in his main series is a psychologist, Alex Delaware, I just sort of wrote the series off, assuming that these were psychological thrillers. And you know what they say about when you assume something – although if I actually say it, some of the e-book retailers probably won’t publish my review! But, wow, was I wrong…

I am going to be forever grateful that I was offered an advance review copy of Kellerman’s coming title, Serpentine, because what I found when I read it was not a psychological thriller, but a very very nice police procedural where Delaware and his best buddy, LAPD homicide Lieutenant Milo Sturgis, end up investigating a really cold case. They start pretty much from zilch on the thirty-six year old homicide, and we get to follow along as they dig up some first faint clues, track down people who can add to their tiny store of information, utilize Milo’s contacts to get records and information, do a lot of legwork (harder than it sounds in the Los Angeles sprawl, although they do have Milo’s police parking placard) and utilize Delaware’s own contacts and psychologist’s mindset as they theorize about what might have happened. Along the way they start seeing what appears to be a pattern (no details here, to avoid spoilers), and eventually they reach a pretty stunning conclusion about the case. And, bonus for me, the case is set in Los Angeles, and mostly in a part of Los Angeles I’m familiar with, since I went to the same “U”, so I had fun with the characters and locales associated with that.

All I can say is that this was a great read, and I’m happy to have discovered this series on only its 36th title (sarcasm intended). My only complaint is that now I’ve just added the 35 previous titles to my “to be read” list in one fell swoop – sigh! I don’t give five-star ratings to many books, maybe one in thirty or forty that I read, but Serpentine gets one. It pulled me in from the start, read as smooth as silk, and kept me guessing as I read it late into the night – and then was zonked the next day at work. And now I’m headed to the first title in the series to start reading from the beginning.

My thanks again to Random House/Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Serpentine, by Jonathon Kellerman, is a well written, well paced thriller. The main characters are intelligent and likable.

I haven't read any of the other books in this series but that was not an issue.

LAPD Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis is ordered by higher ups to look into a cold case involving a woman who went missing thirty years ago. Her daughter, Ellie, had moved to LA to find out more about her mother, who left when she was a toddler. Her research so far points to an unsolved homicide on Mulholland Drive.

Sturgis and his friend, psychologist Alex Delaware, team together to help the Ellie find out who her mother really was, and why she left her young daughter behind with a stranger.

But, like Mulholland Drive where the body had been found, the truth is a long and serpentine road and no one is who they seem.

Thanks to NetGallery for providing this e-book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Serpentine is a better then average entry in Kellerman's long running Alex Delaware series.
It wasn't as engaging as some of the other Delaware titles that I have read, but I still found it to be a solid effort with a genuine surprise resolution.

Wow! A fantastic read with a good plot and a neat conclusion. Though I haven’t read all the books in this series, the ones I have read kept me engrossed including this book. That’s no mean feat considering the series spans over decades. Though the beginning of the story is slow, the later part compensates. The place description feels boring. These are some minor glitches and can be overlooked. A winner.

Somehow I had downloaded this book twice (I guess proof of how much I love the Alex Delaware books) so I have already sent my review in--loved it and I know that all of Mr. Kellerman's readers will enjoy reading it too--can't wait until the next one!

Fantastic read. I have been completely unable to put this one down. I cannot wait to read more by this author.
Full review to follow on publication.

Serpentine - Jonathan Kellerman

I suppose the title is apt as the plot is very twisty! If you haven’t read any books in this series you may find the rapid fire banter between the two main characters a bit jarring. I knew what to expect, having read a lot of this series over the years, then I got sidetracked and just forgot about it. It’s good to see that things are still going swimmingly for our intrepid investigators police detective Lieutenant Milo Sturgis and psychologist Dr Alex Delaware.

Milo seems to have a roving commission these days in terms of cases and, in a good example of ‘friends in high places’ gets assigned to look into a 36 year old cold case. Over the years three other detectives have reviewed the case which is now so cold you need an ice pick! Ellie Barker, 39, and former very successful businesswoman, wants to have another look into the circumstances of her mother’s death 36 years ago. She was just a toddler and was adopted soon after being abandoned by her mother by her mother’s former boyfriend who was, by all accounts, a loving and caring parent to her.

So as a first step Milo tries to contact the three other officers who looked into the case. Only the third one is still alive but he agrees to talk to them. As the investigation progresses both Milo and Alex are struck by how many people connected to this case have ended up dead in accidents. But we’re they all accidents?

You wouldn’t think it possible but they chip away and chip away and soon develop some promising leads. So much so that the safety of some of the remaining players becomes an issue. Is the murderer still alive? As I said this is a very twisty tale and kudos to the author for delivering another fresh and imaginative story in this long running series. The original cast is still going strong - Milo and his partner Dr. Rick Silverman, Alex and his partner Robin who makes and renovates high quality string instruments. Alex has a new dog, Blanche also a French bulldog, so I guess Spike may have died of old age!

This is not a fast paced thriller but it does deliver a very satisfying mystery that held my interest throughout. Never assume anything could be the motto of the story as the two investigators pulled on the few threads and unravelled much more than they bargained for. This book will appeal to those who have enjoyed previous books in the series or enjoy a twisty mystery. It can be read as a stand alone too although I think you would enjoy it more if you had some background. I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley for review. My opinions are my own.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishers UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy of Serpentine, the thirty sixth novel to feature psychologist Dr Alex Delaware and Lieutenant Milo Sturgis of LAPD.

Milo is not happy at being coerced into investigating a thirty six year old murder at the behest of the victim’s rich daughter and co-opts Alex to help. Ellie Barker’s mother, Dorothy Swoboda, was found shot in a vehicle that went off the road on Mulholland Drive and burst into flames. The more they dig, the more interested they get, as something’s not right and someone is still trying to cover things up.

I thoroughly enjoyed Serpentine which has an interesting plot with some good twists. I was hooked from the start with the change of pace, not just the cold case but Milo’s unaccustomed unwillingness to investigate and grumpiness. I also thought that the case threw up interesting possibilities and it set my mind wondering and theorising from the start. I got some bits right and other bits spectacularly wrong, making the mistake of following the author’s misdirection. I think the plot is well conceived and developed, building a case gradually through a variety of sources and memories. Yes, there a few unlikely coincidences, but they move the plot forward and keep the reader turning the pages so, for me, it’s no big deal.

I always enjoy the dynamic between Milo and Alex which tends to involve theorising and strategising or as these LA denizens call it ideating (is that even a word?), a little light humour to leaven the subject matter and lots of eating. Alex runs but I have no idea how Milo doesn’t need a crane to stand up with all that eating. I also like the descriptions the author does of his minor characters, they are wordy but imply so much more than just clothes.

Serpentine is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

What a fantastic mystery!

Milo Sturgis is assigned to a cold case and he's not happy. With the help of his friend Alex Delaware, a psychiatrist, Milo starts to look into the case. The police officers who worked on the case before had reached a dead end and had given up. The suspects are long gone. As Milo and Alex dig further, they find a pattern -a possible clue that might help them solve the 36-year-old-cold case. Phew!

The suspense is well-maintained throughout the story. The first half was a little slow paced while the second half was well paced. The identity of the perp was shocking and unexpected. Overall, Serpentine was an engrossing read and I recommend it to those who love police procedurals.

This one was a DNF for me. I usually give books about 25% before I give up on them. I was barely able to make it that far. It just wasn't good. The story was boring and I couldn't connect to it at all.

2/5 Stars

Jonathan Kellerman published the first book in his Alex Delaware series in 1985. I read the first book When the Bough Breaks five or six years ago. Serpentine is book #36, and while I haven't read all of them, this is my tenth one.
Serpentine finds Milo investigating a thirty-six-year-old cold case. Actually, it is more than cold and old, it is frozen. So many people who might have provided information are now dead. Oddly enough, it is not just old age or disease that killed them. There are many accidental deaths, more than one would expect to encounter. Soon a cold case that initially irks Milo has his attention, and as usual, he relies on his favorite consultant, Alex, to help him figure this one out.
If you aren't familiar with this series, Milo is an LAPD homicide detective, and Alex a psychologist. They each see things from different perspectives, but when you combine their viewpoints, well watch out bad guys!
As they put together the pieces of this puzzle, it becomes clear that while they started out investigating one death, someone has been busy dealing with anyone who could expose this crime. This was full of twists, turns, and red herrings, and my guess of whodunnit was totally wrong. I was actually surprised by the ending, and it is a good thing Mr. Kellerman doesn't ask me for advice, because I imagined one more twist!
It felt like normal times catching up with my old book friends Milo and Alex, and I hope there is another book in their future. Of course, I can always catch up with them by reading the other books!

I loved this book. This author is one of my favorites and he never lets me down. This is a well written story that is full of action and suspense. The characters are connectable and made the story entertaining and easy to read. My favorites are Milo and Alex. They make the story fun and even some laughs. The twists and turns kept me turning pages and questioning who did it. This is a story about a mystery from the past that has not been solved. I won't say to much more so that you can read this book. You don't want to miss this one for sure. I highly recommend this book and this author.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Homicide detective Milo Sturgis is unhappy that he has been given a cold case to solve. A woman was shot and left to die in a burned car over 15 years ago. Many had tried to solve the case but couldn't. Tbis book grabbed my attention from the beginning. I cant wait to read Mr Kellerman's next book.

Jonathan Kellerman does it again in this killer new novel.
Alex Delaware, a psychologist who occasionally works with Milo Sturgis a Homicide Detective are teamed together to help Ellie, asked made millionaire solve the disappearance of her mother.
Solving this case has them meeting all kinds of people. Such as retired detectives, siblings that don't really care about anything but themselves. A detectives wife who's husband tragically dies in a motorcycle accident.
All of these people and others add small pieces to the puzzle.
Another great read by an amazing author.
Definitely recommended!!

I liked Serpentine better than the more recent installments of the Alex Delaware series. The first books were favorites, but for the last several years, the books haven't appealed to me as much.
My favorite character is not Alex, but Milo Sturgis, and Serpentine felt more like some of the earlier books.

from description: Psychologist Alex Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis search for answers to a brutal, decades-old crime in this electrifying psychological thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense.

A young woman's request for an inquiry into her mother's death is dictated from Milo's superiors, and he isn't too happy about it. The case is 25 years old and records are sparse. Milo involves Alex and the two visit the young woman. Something catches their attention, and even if Milo doesn't believe anything will come of it, he gradually becomes more intrigued. And it turns out that not only was it murder, but someone is still determined to avoid exposure.

I have a weakness for Milo.

NetGalley/Random House Police Procedural/Cold Case. Feb. 4, 2021. Print length: 368 pages.

Would rate this book at 85 instead of 5 stars. Kellerman just keeps getting better. One of his best. Can't wait until the next.

Another instalment of Dr Delaware and Milo Sturgis.

Kellerman gives us another fantastic mystery novel. This time it’s a case colder than ice, Milo is pushed by higher ups to get involved and so he pulls in Alex to help.

This book was a great read with a satisfying amount of twists and turns and a great conclusion.

I love Kellerman’s work and this is no different.