Open season An Alex Delaware novel bk. 40

The body of a murdered woman turns up outside a hospital. There's no apparent motive, and no suspect, until suddenly the cops get a break. They have a suspect--who is promptly murdered. Homicide detective Milo Sturgis is baffled; so is forensic psychologist Alex Delaware, who works with Sturgis in the capacity of a consultant. They've been working together for many years--the first novel in which they appeared, When the Bough Breaks, was published in 1985--and, of all the cases they've investigated, this is one of the most perplexing. How do you solve a series of apparently motiveless murders? Kellerman, who was a practicing psychologist before becoming a full-time writer, brings a psychologist's eye to the Delaware and Sturgis mysteries; there's action, sure, and always some well-planted clues, but what's most central to the books is Alex and Milo's efforts to determine the motivations of their quarry. They catch killers by understanding why they do what they do. Another top-flight entry in a series that's known for its consistently high level of quality.

Psychologist Alex Delaware and Lt. Milo Sturgis collaborate for the 40th time to solve a series of puzzling murders in the Los Angeles area. Deep into a Saturday night, a car pulls up to a hospital and the driver dumps a body and speeds away. Despite first impressions, it's not an overdose. But then the coroner finds no wounds on the body. Hmm, what's going on? It's the first in a cluster of killings that have the two friends working together again. The victim was a photogenic 25-year-old woman with images of herself posted online. It appears she may have hooked up with a fake movie producer. Then, a guy who is shot in the neck appears to have been responsible for the woman's death. And then another, also shot with precision to hit the jugular and carotid artery at an exact angle. That victim may have been coming onto someone's daughter a little too strongly. Perhaps these two separate victims were killed for two separate motives, "united in death by one hired killer." Or "Mr. Sniper's a knight-errant avenging victims of abuse." Or he might be helping someone in a custody battle. In one case, a woman is shot in a rowboat in the middle of a lake, leaving her unharmed child wailing and helpless. Author Kellerman, a psychologist himself, applies his professional knowledge with a light touch, mixing in a generous helping of police procedure, so all the readers notice is that they're being entertained. And speaking of helpings, Milo seems to enjoy helping himself to whatever is in the Delawares' refrigerator. (What else would you expect? They've been friends since 1985.) The two men are the best at what they do and complement each other in cracking open difficult cases. Alex's wife, Robin, helps him "zero in on a common theme" about the killings. What a great relationship: When she's not pursuing her own interests, they're either having thoughtful conversations or joyous sex. Meanwhile, Milo admires Alex for his intellect: "I go to sleep and produce night-music, you reinvent the wheel." The story moves quickly and smoothly, with vivid descriptions such as a woman with "hoop earrings the size of drink coasters." A treat for fans of crime fiction. Delaware and Sturgis are a durable duo. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.