Review of Guilt by Jonathan Kellerman

Although this is #28 in the Alex Delaware series, I don't get the overwhelming feeling that I've missed a lot. Dr. Delaware is pretty 3 dimensional although some of the other characters are not such as Milo Sturgis, but I still find that Kellerman has written this in a way that makes them familiar. I haven't had the privelege of reading the other Delaware novels but I don't feel like I needed to. This novel works well alone. I assume it would work just as well for Kellerman's fans. Really a well written book that had me guessing the entire time what the connections were and where they would lead next. I feel like I should go out and get the other 27 books in this series if only to find out the history of this great ensemble.

There isn't a lot of action in this book and the dialogue really moves this story forward. I'm a fan of novels being action-packed but the dialogue helps to show the depth of Dr. Alex Delaware who really shines most in this novel. From the research I've done, Milo Sturgis is an important player in these books, but as I wrote earlier, his dimension was not as well balanced as Delaware's. Besides the beginning, when Holly finds a makeshift grave with the 60 year old skeleton of a baby, the story can be slow at times. If Kellerman took out the time to analyze each character through Delaware's eyes, the story would have definitely dragged along.

If I had to gripe about one thing in particular about this novel it would be that at times it can move fairly slow. Although it's written in a fast paced manner, there were a couple moments where I was hoping something exciting would happen. Those moments are not often so they can be easily overlooked.  I am happy that I've finally had the privelege of reading Kellerman's work. He needs no introduction so there are no other authors I need to compare him to. Guilt is a great addition to such an established series. ***

Guilt by Jonathan Kellerman

In the spirit of reading series books as standalones, I begin my journey with Alex Delaware. Guilt is #28 in the Alex Delaware series.  I haven't read any of Jonathan Kellerman's novels prior to this so I'm always hopeful this will be a great introduction to an extremely popular author. I have actually read a book by Jesse Kellerman, who is the son of Jonathan Kellerman, named Trouble. Now I get to see what the father can do. Obviously Kellerman (senior) is a seasoned author with a large fan base or else how did this series make it to #28? I look forward to seeing why he's one of the nations bestseller's.

Synopsis:  A series of horrifying events occur in quick succession in the same upscale L.A. neighborhood. A backyard renovation unearths an infant’s body, buried sixty years ago. And soon thereafter in a nearby park, another disturbingly bizarre discovery is made not far from the body of a young woman shot in the head. Helping LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis to link these eerie incidents is brilliant psychologist Alex Delaware. But even the good doctor’s vast experience with matters both clinical and criminal might not be enough to cut down to the bone of this chilling case—and draw out the disturbing truth.


Backtracking six decades into the past stirs up tales of a beautiful nurse with a mystery lover, a handsome, wealthy doctor who seems too good to be true, and a hospital with a notorious reputation—all of them long gone, along with any records of a newborn, and destined for anonymity. But the specter of fame rears its head when the case unexpectedly twists in the direction of the highest echelons of celebrity privilege. Entering this sheltered world, Alex little imagines the macabre layer just below the surface—a decadent quagmire of unholy rituals and grisly sacrifice.