Guilt by Jonathan Kellerman is #28 in the Alex Delaware novels, and like all Alex Delaware novels, it has Milo Sturgis with his interesting meals - who else can even think of cottage cheese and barbeque sauce combo?
Over the years, Alex Delaware novels have ceased to be pure ‘psychological thrillers’ and have morphed more into a ‘police technique’ oriented theme. Naturally Milo has also changed from a Watson like figure into an equal to Alex Delaware.
Coming back to Guilt, it is neither one of the best attempts by Jonathan Kellerman, nor his worst. The story-line starts off about an unexplained death of a baby, some 30 years past and meanders on for a few chapters. Suddenly, the plot takes off in an unexpected direction with additional murders, which puzzles everyone - including the readers.
Alex Delaware’s psychological insights, which had been in a hiatus over last few novels, turns up in the end to solve the murders - sort of. Though the novel is not a page turner, the last half of the story does entwine the reader with its subtle interplay of emotions between characters.
And characters are many, perhaps a little too many, considering the plot. Guilt story-line has a Brangelina copycat characters, totally dysfunctional in this case. At the end of the story Jonathan Kellerman manages to raise a déjà vu feeling, deftly pulling in a Basic Instinct like scene, with the wink, smile and hip shake.
A must for Alex Delaware fans, and an entertaining (though not a great) read for mystery lovers.
Over the years, Alex Delaware novels have ceased to be pure ‘psychological thrillers’ and have morphed more into a ‘police technique’ oriented theme. Naturally Milo has also changed from a Watson like figure into an equal to Alex Delaware.
Coming back to Guilt, it is neither one of the best attempts by Jonathan Kellerman, nor his worst. The story-line starts off about an unexplained death of a baby, some 30 years past and meanders on for a few chapters. Suddenly, the plot takes off in an unexpected direction with additional murders, which puzzles everyone - including the readers.
Alex Delaware’s psychological insights, which had been in a hiatus over last few novels, turns up in the end to solve the murders - sort of. Though the novel is not a page turner, the last half of the story does entwine the reader with its subtle interplay of emotions between characters.
And characters are many, perhaps a little too many, considering the plot. Guilt story-line has a Brangelina copycat characters, totally dysfunctional in this case. At the end of the story Jonathan Kellerman manages to raise a déjà vu feeling, deftly pulling in a Basic Instinct like scene, with the wink, smile and hip shake.
A must for Alex Delaware fans, and an entertaining (though not a great) read for mystery lovers.
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