Marie-France de Paloméra Libri

Jonathan Kellerman excels in crafting psychologically intricate suspense novels, marked by relentless action and profound insights into the criminal psyche. In this ambitious new work, he delves deeper into the emotional complexities of his characters: psychologist Alex Delaware, LAPD detective Milo Sturgis, his colleague Petra Connor, and Alex’s ex-lover, Robin Castagna. The story begins when Milo calls Alex to a trendy gallery where a young artist has been brutally murdered on the night of her debut. The crime is peculiar due to the absence of a clear motive and the meticulous staging, suggesting the work of a serial killer. As Alex collaborates with Petra and her partner, the enigmatic Eric Stahl, they investigate the murder of blues guitarist Baby Boy Lee, who was fatally stabbed after a performance. The connection between the two murders emerges through a controversial fanzine writer whose disdain for artists and obsession with the killings points to a new type of celebrity stalker. As the investigation unfolds, the detectives navigate a web of clues leading from halfway houses to opulent mansions, ultimately confronting Alex’s ex-lover, whose ties to the victims complicate the case. With each new murder, the urgency to stop a remorseless killer intensifies, revealing a chilling pattern of cold-blooded artistry.

Jonathan Kellerman has crafted a gripping psychological thriller with his bestselling Alex Delaware series. In this new adventure, Delaware delves into the complexities of the human psyche. Homicide detective Milo Sturgis, eager for a whodunit, is confronted with a brutal crime scene: a young couple murdered in a car on a lonely lover's lane in Los Angeles. Each victim bears a gunshot wound to the head, and the female has been impaled by a metal spike, signaling a case that demands more than standard police work. Sturgis tells Delaware, "Now we're veering into your territory." The unidentified woman remains a mystery, while her companion, Gavin Quick, has a troubled past that leads Delaware to a therapist's couch. Here, he must confront Dr. Mary Lou Koppel, a celebrity psychologist who fiercely protects her clients' privacy. As another gruesome murder occurs, Delaware realizes his investigation has struck a nerve. Exploring Quick's tormented last days, he uncovers a chilling method behind the madness, revealing a web of greed, corruption, and betrayal within a profession he thought he understood. This provocative and suspenseful tale showcases Kellerman's creative prowess, delivering an electrifying experience that readers won't soon forget.