The story begins with a moving van, and two drivers looking to beat that nasty Los Angeles traffic by starting early. They’re making their way through an upscale residential neighborhood when something hurtles toward them in the dark, and the van makes a sickening crunch as it rolls over it. It’s a man, clad in his birthday suit alone; nobody can see the face anymore, because that’s where the wheels went. Once it becomes clear that the man was already dead when he was tossed into the street, Detective Lieutenant Milo Sturgis is called in. Milo is a homicide cop; Alex Delaware, our protagonist, is a child psychologist as well as Milo’s best friend. Milo often consults with Alex—sometimes officially, sometimes not—when a case has tricky psychological contours. The story unfolds fast, and it isn’t until about the 70 percent mark that the humor is interjected. Delaware and Sturgis are interviewing a couple of enormous bodyguards, and the scene makes me snicker out loud. The pacing never flags, and there is a lot of dialogue that crackles and makes the pages turn. There is some graphic violence depicted, so just be aware if you're sensitive to that. One of my favorite things about City of the Dead was the history and details we learned about the detectives on Milo's squad. Moe, Sean, and Alicia are practically family. . As always, the city of Los Angeles itself is a major character in the novel. The L.A. in this book has myriad faces, many of them hideous and disfigured, but some so beautiful it moves you to tears. I have never been to Los Angeles, myself, but it comes alive for me in this book.

Thank you to Ballantine Books, the author and Netgalley.

This is a very good police procedural series and this installment did not disappoint. I enjoyed visiting with the characters again and following along on the investigation. The mystery was good and the plot was clever.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I've been a fan of this author for what seems like forever, though it had been many many years since I've read any of this books. I was thrilled when I was given the chance to read this one. And as usual he did not disappoint.

I was hooked from the very beginning and found it hard to put down.

So many twists and turns that I never knew what to expect from one page to the next.

Jonathan Kellerman is probably one of my favorite writers , this one doesn't disappoint. Very fast pace . A few twists and as always good to see Dr. Delaware again . Thanks Netgalley.

This is the 37th book is in the Alex Delaware series that features psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis. The scene where a young naked man is found to have been hit by a van appears to be an accident at first until a blood trail leads to a nearby home where a woman is found murdered. When I requested the book, I didn't realize it was part of a series, so I went in blind and not knowing the characters well. However, the writing style flows well and it was clear they were used to working together. The story unravels with some twists and surprises. It was an engaging read and the mystery was not predictable. I do wish I had known more about the characters and their pasts.

I received a complimentary copy of this book by Jonathan Kellerman from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

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I have been a Kellerman reader for years and the newest addition does not disappoint. As always, a good mix of crime and relationships. Very little of Robin or Rick to the book - someday I’d like to see a book with them starring. But it’s classic Milo and Alex who take center stage. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. Opinions as always are honest.

Perhaps it is me not Kellerman but I am finding his Alex Delaware books to be getting tired. Each feels like the one before. There is no character development of Delaware or Milo and while Robin makes an appearance each book that is all it is. In this mystery the mystery is solved in such an unrealistic manner. But perhaps I am just grumpy. The formula is the same as it has always been and if you have liked the prior books you will probably like this one.

When I got the email to review City of the Dead from the publisher, I decided to wait on it for a little bit. I have heard of Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware series, and I might have read a couple of books from it (my memory is very fuzzy on that). But that wasn’t why I was iffy about reading this book. My main reason was that this is book 37 of that series, and I don’t particularly appreciate reading books out of order. I ultimately decided to read City of the Dead because I like books that combine psychology with criminal investigations. I prefer (as most people do) to read a series in order. That way, I get a feel for the characters (main and supporting). I am glad that I read it because it was an excellent book.

City of the Dead had an engaging storyline. A pair of movers, eager to deliver their load, is driving down a side street when they are hit by something. Thinking it was a dog, they pull over and discover that they were hit by a naked man who is dead and very unrecognizable. Alex is called to the scene to assess it from a psychologist’s point of view, and while he is there, it is discovered that the man was killed by the moving truck. Instead, a trail of blood leads to a house, where a more gruesome crime is. A young woman is found dead in her bedroom. Alex is shocked to realize that he knows this woman. She is known to him as an expert called into a custody case and exposed as a fraud. As Alex and his friend, Detective Milo, dig deeper into her murder case (and try to figure out who her naked friend was), the more convoluted the case gets. Who murdered Cordy? What was the motive?

City of the Dead is book 37 in the Alex Delaware series. Thankfully, readers can read this book as a stand-alone. I suggest that the reader at least read the blurbs or reviews of the previous 36 books. That way, you can get a good feel for the characters and any secondary characters in the book.

City of the Dead did have a medium-paced plotline. I was a little surprised by the pacing. I did think it was going to be a bit faster than it was. Any books that I have read that mix this genre has been faster. But weirdly, it did work for me. I was able to take some time, digest what the author was throwing at me, and try to form who killed Cordy.

I liked Alex. I think he was pretty chill for being involved in a murder investigation. But, he is on call for the police department, and he does get called to do this type of work all the time, so he could afford to be chill. I also liked how he handled his clients and soon-to-be clients. That one scene with the slimy lawyer cracked me up mainly because he hit the nail on the head with his assessment of him. Talk about a steel backbone with the parents and gentleness with the kids.

The author very well wrote the mystery angle of City of the Dead. The author did a great job of drawing me in from the beginning and making me work on who killed Cordy and her friend. I had thought I had it figured out around the middle of the book. Then, a twist made me go “WHAT” and drop that person from my internal list like a hot potato.

The author did a great job of keeping the plotline on course with the book. The secondary characters that the author introduced didn’t take over the book. A couple of times, the book referenced events that happened in previous books that made me go “huh?” but they were few and far between.

I loved the twist in the plotline. It threw me for a loop when I realized I was wrong about who the killer was. After the twist, the author leaked the why and how very slowly and built up to a memorable end. He was able to tie everything that happened in the book (the killings) and add a few extras that surprised me.

The end of City of the Dead did make me a little sad. Mainly because I did wonder about the child involved and how everything was going to affect her. Alex did give some excellent advice, but still. I still wonder. But, reading this book has also made me want to read the previous 36 books. I do plan on reading them at some point in my life.

I would recommend City of the Dead to anyone over 21. There are language, violence, and graphic murder scenes.

I am a huge fan of Kellerman's Homicide Lt. Detective Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware stories. City of the Dead is another great installment in this series. Two people are dead and one is Cordelia Gannett, who was a self-styled internet influencer who has gotten into legal troubles by palming herself off as a psychologist. The other is a friend of hers who is in the wrong place. Milo and Alex work to figure out the complex relationships as they try to figure out who killed these two people. I loved this book and will continue to be a Kellerman fan.

What can I say? Kellerman consistently writes good books. Period. I never miss on eand I enjoy all and this was no exception!

Lt. Milo Sturgis gets summoned to a death in an upscale neighborhood of LA. A naked dead man is lying in the street. Alex Delaware accompanies Sturgis, as he usually does. Then a dead woman is found inside her house and the evidence shows the dead man may have been inside that house as well. Alex remembers meeting the woman during a difficult divorce case a few years ago; she was passing herself off as a psychologist, but Alex discovered she did not even have a high school diploma, let alone an advanced degree in psychology. Cordelia was a very complicated woman and there are connections within connections that lead Milo and Alex on a difficult chase. Another twisty-turny read from this long-running series, which I have not kept up with. An enjoyable read for Delaware's fans.

I think I’ve read all of the Alex Delaware books and it’s always enjoyable going into one because I know what I’m going to get.

I really like this cast of characters. Alex and Milo have the great rapport that comes with knowing and working with each other for so many years (and books) and settling into their easy volley and banter is like putting on a comfy sweatshirt.

Plot wise, it was okay. This story didn’t have any sort of tension to it and that made it lag a bit for me. What seemed to be several moving pieces really wasn’t and the reveal was quite underwhelming.

Overall, it’s the characters I always come back for and they’re always enough for me.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

I have read many books from this author, but I just couldn't get into this book. It felt like the same plot line that I have read a lot in other books.

A naked man dies in a collision early morning in a college town while a young woman lies murdered in a neighboring home. Interesting start to a detective thriller! Detective Milo and psychologist Alex pull at many threads throughout the book as they try to unravel the stories behind each victim and who may have wanted them dead, but they fail to arrive at clear answers and even solve another unrelated crime until Alex finally blows it apart in the two chapters.

I haven't read the other books in this series, so I was a bit lost in terms of Alex's relationships with Milo or the other cops.

Overall, a nice read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Another wonderful book from Jonathan Kellerman. Really enjoyed this book and his characters
The more.I read this author the more I love his books.

Another winner in the Alex Delaware series. Easily read as a stand alone. Many twists and turns and you can figure it out with him along the way. By the time he has it, you will too,but it won't stop you from reading all the way to the end. Hard to put down once you get into the book. Blurb gives adequate details, no need to repeat. Characters come alive and he puts you right there along for the ride. Read and enjoy!
I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy and was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.

City of the Dead

by Jonathan Kellerman

City of the Dead is the first Jonathan Kellerman mystery for me, but it is certainly not his first suspenseful book. In fact, it is the thirty-seventh book that features Alex Delaware, a psychologist who is frequently called on by the police to make sense out of crimes and uncover the perpetrator. Although I might have enjoyed the book more if I had read others in the series, I had no problem following this tough as nails plot. It begins with a double homicide when a truck collides with a nude young man and a barely noticeable trail of blood leads to a nearby house where another body is found. Alex is called in to consult. He does not interact much in interviews, but the police rely heavily on his instincts and perceptions based on his observations of those interviews.

While aiding in this case, he is working on a separate case in his professional practice. He interviews the members of divorcing couples to advise the family court judge of his custody recommendations. This time the child is a three year old girl. The mother hails from a wealthy background, and the father is a professor with Ivy League credentials who jumps from job to job. His specialty, besides the study of symbolism, seems to be disparaging his wife because she is not an academic.

Alex Delaware is an interesting character—highly intelligent, a keen observer, and compassionate in a professional way. He interacts well with the police officers he works with; they sometimes need his help and counsel personally and professionally. His own support system is his partner Robin who restores and repairs musical instruments. They both have offices and work spaces at home which involves them in each other’s work at least minimally.

Pieces of this puzzle gradually come together, especially as more DNA evidence emerges. The tricky part is knowing whom to get that evidence from and where to look for it. The joint, noncompetitive efforts of the police and Alex pull out some interesting clues. In the end, the killer is a surprise as the last pieces of the puzzle are put together. If you like a mystery that is a little tougher and more suspenseful than a cozy mystery, you’ll probably like this one.

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Ballantine Books (Random House) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Mystery and Thriller, General Fiction (Adult)

Notes: 1. #37 in the Alex Delaware Mystery Series, but could be read as a standalone.
2. Contains descriptions of the results of violent acts and some objectionable language.

Publication: February 8, 2022—Ballantine Books (Random House)

Memorable Lines:

But when I embark on a custody consult, optimism falls by the wayside and I assume everyone’s going to lie to me.

The practice of family law—of law, in general—has nothing to do with truth and everything to do with brinkmanship and illusion.

Humans are programmed to detest uncertainty, and nothing ruins a detective’s life more than too many question marks.

This is a psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis book. Once again, they team up to solve a murder. This pair is a lot of fun with lots of twists and turns in the story. Set in LA, these two are always interesting with messy murders and never a straight line to the killer.

Alex Delaware is BACK! He and Milo Sturgis find themselves entangled in a bloody case with two victims, one known and one unknown. Alex has crossed paths with the known victim in the course of a child custody case and he and Milo need to determine if it has anything to do with the current crime.

I thought the 37th entry in the Alex and Milo saga was good, but not an absolute thrill-ride. I used to be an addict who devoured everything I could get in this series. In recent years, my interest waned and was definitely not as strong as it once was. But City of the Dead drew me back in and made me a fan once again. 4 stars.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

City of the Dead bring Alex Delaware, a psychologist working with the LAPD to bring the criminals to justice in a grisly double homicide with very little evidence to bring in the perpetrator. A moving van out in the pre-dawn hours hits something and discover a naked body. The blood trail from the body leads the detectives to a nearby house where there is a murder victim that’s been stabbed with her own kitchen knife. How do they relate? That is the story. It only gets better from here.. this is my first Alex Delaware book so even though this is #37 in a series it’s a standalone without missing anything. I can’t wait to go back and read the earlier books in the series.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC of this book.
#Netgalley #BallantineBooks