Slipping back into this world after a long hiatus was nice.. You don't need to be a former reader to enjoy the story; a lot of who everyone is and what they are doing is doled out. The focus then becomes on the murder-mystery which goes in a few directions and ends up pretty sad. But it's a quick read, a decent detective novel with a turn or two

This is the 39th (!!!) book in the Dr. Alex Delaware series and I’m one of those obsessed readers who has read them all. And Jonathan Kellerman keeps creating unique books full of new mysteries and interesting psychological analyses. This novel, “The Ghost Orchid” would have captured my interest by just the title alone (a rare, hard-to-find Florida orchid that was featured in Susan Orlean’s bestseller “The Orchid Thief”). This name is definitely Kellerman’s most unique and interesting title.

Dr. Delaware's assistance is again requested by Detective Milo Sturgis and together they take us on another amazing journey of deductive reasoning helped along by the doc’s keen observations of the people involved. It’s still a thrill to see well-developed play theories and ideas off each other, sometimes realizing they are going in the wrong direction, but ultimately hitting on the “just right” solution.

In this crime thriller, Alex is still recovering from almost being killed by a lunatic with a bat in the last book and it takes a guilty-feeling Milo over four months to again invite Alex on a “different case”. There’s two naked people shot poolside at a BelAir rental. He’s the scion of an Italian shoe empire (there’s an impressive closet); she’s an older married neighbor. Kellerman’s storytelling skills evolve from this point. Which one was the target? Both had shallow pasts. Why would a murderer kill both of them? As usual, it’s a steady pace of interviews and theories, following leads and then following new ones. I love this sort of police procedural — Alex and Milo are reliable and competent and it’s through hard police work that the crimes they investigate get solved. 5 stars! Can’t wait for number 40 next year!

Thank you to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): ALWAYS Milo has green eyes and this time another character, Kathy, has them, too. But I was amazed by this gem: “Surprising because only two percent of people have pure-green eyes and I’d never seen ocular emeralds like my friend’s.”
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The title, “Ghost Orchid” tells you immediately that Kellerman, along with his always very descriptive observations of southern Californian landscaping, has done his esoteric horticultural homework. Yay!

The Ghost Orchid is …”a plant with no solid roots, parasitic, rare and hard to locate” and another complex mystery by best selling author Jonathan Kellerman. Milo Sturgis once again recruits psychologist Alex Delaware to help him with a baffling murder in Bel-Air. Giovanni Aggiunta, wealthy scion of an Italian bespoke shoe company has been discovered shot through the heart. Lying near him is Meagin March, the wife of millionaire real estate developer Douglass March. Milo and Alex begin a painfully slow, determined investigation to discover exactly who Gio And Meagan were and what brought them together. This multi-layered case lead to a past full of surprises, deception and sorrow.

Meagin March is an unforgettable, tragic character who deserved better in life. Kellerman tells her story with heart-breaking detail and the talent of a seasoned author. A subplot in the Ghost Orchid may become the next in this series but it will be hard to forget this haunting story. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Jonathan Kellerman for this ARC.

Oh I do like the dynamic duo of Milo and Alex. I try to read each case they are on. So I was so pleased to get to read this new story. Milo has a new case with dead bodies but no clues. The gal was married to a different guy, not the dead body next to hers. Which of the two was the main target? Why were they killed? The story is about trying to find any clue to help. Alex works with Milo to uncover the any small detail to help unravel this complicated case. Excellent story!

So excited to preview the latest Alex Delaware book. Great story, quick read. Wish the would have developed the story of the consult Alex did. It did not seem to fit into the series.

This is a novel of mystery and intrigue. This gifted author does not disappoint. This is a cannot put down story. Realistic characters. Secrets and red herrings. Kellerman is a popular author who writes stories that are page turners. Thanks to Netgalley.