Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis are back with another whodunit.

We follow murder after murder as Milo and Alex thread the clues together to solve the case. I love how they have theory after theory that sound plausible until it's not. But they persist looking at all the evidence and clues until they arrive at the correct answer.

This book was not as gory as some previous ones have been but was still intriguing and engaging. This was a book I couldn't put down because I wanted to know how it ended.

I recommend this book for anyone looking for a good thriller. Prior books are not necessary, although I really think you should read them all.

I was given this ARC by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange of my honest and fair review. All opinions are my own.

My first book by Kellerman and I think I would have benefited from reading some previous books in the series to give more of the back story. Decent story but not sure if this author would s for me.

This was entertaining enough, but seemed to lack some of the magic of other books by the author. I enjoy the collaboration between Milo and Alex, but this plot just seemed to drag a little. Hopefully the next will be up to the regular amount of excitement!

This is the 40th book in the Alex Delaware series and I hope the series keeps on going! I think it can be read without reading other books in the series but it’s better having read the others as you understand more of the Milo/Alex friendship and work relationship. Milo Sturgis is a LAPD homicide detective and Alex Delaware is a child psychologist that works on cases with Milo to offer insights and always seems to do a lot of investigating on his own and gives Milo ideas and suggestions on people to look into and reasons for motives. This book starts with a body of a woman left near a small hospital. She was drugged and her dead body left there so it is now a homicide case for Milo . Milo bings Alex in to help offer insight and soon they have a suspect but he ends up dead and the bullet that killed him is linked to a murder from much earlier. It is interesting to see the process and procedures used to try and put the case together and ultimately figure out who is behind the killings. Alex and his brilliant mind always seems to come up with some information vital to solving the case. The relationship between Alex and Milo keeps the series rolling along - you can’t help but enjoy the interactions between them. A few parts of the book drag as the team searches and plods along looking for clues but overall it flows well and I enjoyed the book very much. I give the book 4 stars out of 5.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on February 4, 2024.

As always, I loved the characters in this series - this is the 40th, which is hard to believe since I don't think I've missed a single one. On the other hand, the story was more than a little hard to follow and connect the dots.

The whole thing starts when a woman's body is dumped - a wannabe actress who's a caregiver at an elder facility. As is customary, Los Angeles PD lieutenant Milo Sturgis calls his friend, psychologist Alex Delaware, to take a look and share his usual insights. But just when they think they've identified the killer, they get another surprise: the dead body of that suspect. Complicating matters even more is the fact that he was killed sniper-style by a rifle that was used in a previous unsolved murder.

Not satisfied that they're not looking at a serial killer, Milo, Alex and their team start digging into cold cases to find similarities; it takes a while, but slowly, bits and pieces come together that yes, scream that it's a single killer - but anything that connects the murders remains elusive.

Also as is customary, Alex puts his mind on the psychological clues while Milo and the others dig into the facts and figures - and slowly but surely, a whole picture emerges that leads the team in the direction they need to go. All told, it's a familiar (and always welcome) pattern, and as always, I look forward to the 41st adventure. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

Milo and Alex are back together. They are investigating several murders that seem to have no connection. There aren’t any legitimate suspects. How are the murders connected? You can always count on Kellerman to provide you with a good story and this one definitely hits the mark, thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

In the novel OPEN SEASON, once again, Jonathan Kellerman shows that he is at the top of his game. The story is well written. The mystery is well constructed. The friendship between Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis is explored even more in this 40th installment of the series. Kellerman also explores the psychology behind Delaware’s incessant involvement in police cases, which provided intriguing insight into the protagonist.

Child psychologist Alex Delaware and LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Milo Sturgis team up to work a murder. The body of a woman was dumped outside a hospital. The ME’s report showed that she had been drugged. When they came across a potential suspect, another body turned up. This one had been shot in the neck. The murderer used a rifle. Back to the drawing board as they work the case. But then another body turns up. And another.

What do all of the bodies have in common? Is this the work of a serial killer? Or a mass murderer? And what is the killer’s primary motivation?

What I admire most about this novel (and the previous 3 books) is that Kellerman does not pander to the marketplace.

A substantial portion of recent mystery devotées are reading thriller after mindless thriller filled with twists within twists, last minute clues added in the final 50 pages of the book, plots involving twins or long lost family members who just happen to show up, and a deus ex machina or three that guarantee the protagonist will prove triumphant.

Thank GOD, Kellerman does not do this. The author is writing a crime story, and in a crime story, the protagonists work the case. They are regular people with regular lives, and they also happen to have a mission - they speak for the dead and work cases. Kellerman knows and respects this reality, which is why I am so happy I have rediscovered his work.

You keep writing books like this, Mr. Kellerman, and I definitely keep reading.

Fans of Michael Connelly, William Kent Krueger, Robert B. Parker, Louise Penny, Anthony Horowitz, and Karin Slaughter will love OPEN SEASON.

In OPEN SEASON by Jonathan Kellerman, psychologist Alex Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis investigate an unexplained death at an L.A. hospital. The hospital has a shady history and is run by a skeleton crew in the wee hours of the morning when the twenty-something female victim is dropped off by a man in a car who speeds off. Who is the victim and how/why is she dead? How will Alex and Milo work together to solve the case?

It is a pleasure to read another book in the Alex Delaware series. Alex Delaware (psychologist) and Milo Sturgis (detective) have a great relationship, as illustrated by their engaging conversations. I like following the researching of potential victims. I think the author makes a good choice telling the story from Alex’s point of view. All the characters are believable, and the plot is well-constructed leading to a satisfying conclusion. I look forward to reading other books in the series. Thank you, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of OPEN SEASON.

Alex and Milo are back together investigating a string of murders that appear to have no connection. Alex uses his hospital connections, and Milo does an amazing job of being the hardened police detective with a heart. You will never be disappointed with a Jonathan Kellerman Alex Delaware book, I guarantee it.

I have loved JK for many years and thoroughly enjoyed the Alex Delaware franchise. Unfortunately it pains me to say I found #40 a disappointment and very boring. I hope to get back on the Kellerman train with Alex Delaware #41.

Alex and Milo are back at it in true form. Kellerman is consistent book after book. So if you enjoy this duo, you will not be disappointed.

Always enjoy the ongoing Milo / Alex series of mysteries! Their rapport and problem-solving entertain and provide a quick, often fun, but sometimes gruesome, read. A bit slower on this one but still a pleasure!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Alex and Milo, the crime-solving duo, are back in full force in the latest book in the series. Although these two close friends are nothing alike, their personalities and skill sets complement each other. Milo, for his part, provides the police perspective, while Alex applies his special brand of psychological sleuthing. In this case, seemingly unrelated crimes, with only ballistic connections, have the team searching for additional victims and potential connections. After a few false starts and plenty of twists, bits and pieces of the intricate puzzle gradually come together, with an unexpected resolution. A well-written tale sure to please fans of crime thrillers and mysteries.

This is the 40th book in the Alex Delaware Series. In this book Alex and Milo Sturgis investigate another murder utilizing both psychological and forensic analysis. The author manages to keep such a long running series both fresh and engaging. A must read for fans of the series.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

3.5 stars on this one.

This didn’t feel right. I adore Alex and Milo, they’re probably two of my favorite characters in fiction, but this seemed off.

Since this was the 40th book, I was hoping there’d be more of the friendship between Milo and Alex. There was the usual traffic talk, lavish descriptions of musical instruments, and a lot of Milo being overly fawning of Alex for doing what he’s been hired to do. The last few books have talked about the disconnect between the two and how they were getting past it, but there didn’t seem to be more than business between them. Like I said, it felt off.

The story was tenuous. There was so much time wasted on a bunch of people who didn’t do anything, and then poof!, Alex magically pull the answer out of thin air. The ending seemed very rushed, the whole wrapped in a very unsatisfactory few pages.

I will never not love a Kellerman book, but I didn’t really like this one.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

Just a word of thanks to both Ballantine Books/Random House, as well as netgalley.com for an advanced copy of this manuscript in exchange for an honest review.

Open Season is the 40th installment of a highly successful series of crime novels by Jonathan Kellerman. I have read the entire series - and continue to be amazed at how enjoyable they are. The combination of a Los Angeles lieutenant, Milo Sturgis, and his psychologist friend, Alex Delaware, have been excellent reads throughout the years for me. Open Season continues this wonderful series. The novel begins with a strange murder in the Los Angeles area - an unknown man in a dark hoodie stops quickly in front of a local hospital and dispatches "something" - which ends up being a body - brings Milo to contact Alex to pick his brain on the murder. As the novel continues, the murders pick up, all becoming eerily similar - a marksmen-like shot to the neck of the victims. Kellerman uses Alex's psychological skills to come up with theoretical answers as to the how and why these murders occur. Ultimately, Alex does help Milo solve this string of murders, but getting to the end of the novel is always enjoyable.

This was an enjoyable read - I am certainly biased, having read all of the 39 previous Alex Delaware novels. The "tie-ins" from the murders to the psychology behind the "why" of the murders have always made these Alex Delaware novels truly enjoyable reads for me.

An aspiring actress is found near the door to an emergency room. She was drugged and murdered for no reason. A person of interest is another hollywood hopeful, who is then shot by a sniper using a weapon from a previous murder. Bodys are piling up, but no connection can be found between the victims. Will Milo and Alex be able to find this complex killer. thanks netgalley

Open Season is Kellerman's 40th book in the Alex Delaware series and I'm pretty sure I've read every one. I love the relationship and banter between the police detective Milo and child psychologist Alex and it is front and center here. This wasn't my favorite in the series due to the slow start, but it still had Kellerman's signature twists and turns, so kept me entertained.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Jonathan Kellerman’s character Alex Delaware, has, with the publication of Open Season, now appeared in 40 books by the author. Although I have read almost of the books written by his wife, the author Faye Kellerman, I had never read one of Jonathan Kellerman’s. As a fan of police procedurals, mysteries, and psychological thrillers, I was not aware of how remiss I was but I will easily atone for that by working my way through 39 of his past Alex Delaware books.
For those readers who start with Open Season, Dr. Alex Delaware is a former clinical child psychologist who consults for the Los Angeles Police Department and specifically with Homicide Detective and friend, Milo Sturgis. Delaware provides psychological profiles for the police. Delaware and Sturgis are a formidable team and the setting of this story is equally formidable, taking place in a seedy part of LA ripe with murderers, rapists, drug dealers and their clientele, kidnappers, sex workers and sex traffickers. Several murders, including that of two wannabe Hollywood actors and the mother of a young child have taken place. Other than a 308 rifle known to be the weapon used in all of the killings, no other similarities between the victims can be discovered. Adding to the mystery, the weapon is found to have been fired upon its victims from a great distance. Similar murders having taken place in other parts of the country are uncovered.
Alex must use all of his skills as a psychologist to piece together the puzzle and working with Milo, find the assassin who it is believed has a personal vendetta. The chase is on.
The plot is clever, exciting and suspenseful with good dialogue and warm relationships between the two main characters as well as between Delaware and his wife. The story does involve date rape and misogyny. The ending wrapped things up nicely and yet I believe there just might be what could be considered a bit of a cliffhanger ending.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Open Season and to provide an honest review.

The fact that I read this book in two days is probably enough of a hint that it was another winner from Jonathan Kellerman. Seriously, how does he keep it up - book #40 in the Alex Delaware series! This time a serial killer is on the loose, killing seemingly innocuous people (well at least 4 out of 6 were innocuous). One person was killed with a long range rifle taking out the trash, another with her two year old child in a row boat on a placid lake. Alex and Milo know that there is a connection, based on bullet ballistics, but it takes Alex’s brilliant mind to finally pull it all together and determine whodunnit. Please keep this series going!