Psychologist Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis investigate an unthinkable double homicide in the latest novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman.
Two people are dead in a pool in Bel Air. Both were shot at close range. That much is certain. What, exactly, they were doing and who, not to mention why someone killed them, is anybody’s guess. And when LAPD homicide lieutenant Milo Sturgis is assigned to a case that makes little to no sense or has no tangible evidence to go on, there’s only one person he trusts enough to call on to crack things wide open—psychologist Alex Delaware. Set after the events of Unnatural History (2023), Alex is called out to the crime scene to lend his expertise to Milo after spending half a year on the bench. Putting any hurt feelings aside from having not been consulted as he recovered from an attack in the last book, Alex is happy to be back in the mix, and together, he and Milo sus out pretty quickly that the dead man, 29-year-old Gio Aggiunta, is an heir to an Italian shoe empire. The woman, Meagin March, was married to an extremely wealthy businessman. The fact that they’re naked doesn’t take a rocket scientist—or a psychologist, for that matter—to figure out that they’re probably having an affair. But that doesn’t automatically suggest who the killer was or which victim was the primary target.
As always, Alex and Milo roll up their sleeves and get to work. With nothing missing from the home, a robbery seems unlikely. A scorned lover makes for an easy suspect, and certainly, the affair would provide a motive, but none of the clues point toward Meagin’s husband. So, Alex does what he does best and begins breaking down, analyzing, and creating a profile for each victim. The more they dig, the more they realize that both Gio and Meagin are the products of troubled pasts. Still, it’s Meagin whose history brings more questions than answers, as her very identity is called into question while the duo is left wondering what she could have been running and hiding from and whether or not it ever caught up with her.
Now thirty-nine books into his mega-popular series, Jonathan Kellerman doesn’t reinvent the wheel here. Nor does he need to, not after his incredibly successful run keeping readers entertained and coming back for more. But there is a bit more of a whodunit feel to The Ghost Orchid than some of the previous books. That’s not to say that Alex Delaware is suddenly Hercule Poirot. He’s most certainly not. But the mystery at the heart of this story is fascinating and expertly plotted, and most readers won’t guess the killer until Kellerman unmasks them. Aside from the main plot, there are a couple of other threads Kellerman explores here. There’s also a good amount of time spent showing the interactions between characters, mainly Alex and Milo, as their friendship and individual arcs continue to be developed in a way that keeps things fresh and ever-evolving, something Kellerman has done as well as anyone over the course of his career. The banter between Alex, who does a lot of observing, and Milo, who always seems to turn those observations into a string of clues to follow, is as witty and sharp as ever. It’s easy to get lost in those smaller, more intimate moments, and once you do, right as you’re least expecting it, Kellerman throws a curveball that’ll buckle your knees and have you on edge before eventually revealing everything in a way that both makes sense of all the misdirection and is wildly satisfying.
The Ghost Orchid, a hopelessly addictive thriller wrapped in a mystery, is everything readers have come to love and expect from Jonathan Kellerman, who’s showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. If you’re a fan of this series, you’re going to love this book.
Book Details
Author: Jonathan Kellerman
Series: Alex Delaware #39
Pages: 304 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 0593497678
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Release Date: February 6, 202
Praised as “One of the hardest working, most thoughtful, and fairest reviewers out there” by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Ryan Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). Steck also works full-time as a freelance editor and is building a growing community on Twitch. His debut thriller, FIELDS OF FIRE, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr says “will leave you speechless and begging for more,” is now available. His second novel, LETHAL RANGE, is also in bookstores, and his third book, OUT FOR BLOOD, comes out on June 4th. For more information, be sure to follow him on Twitter and Facebook. To interact with other readers and talk about your favorite books and authors, join The Real Book Spy’s Discord server.