Bones, Jonathan Kellerman
Bones, Jonathan Kellerman
4 Rating(s)
List: $17.50 | Sale: $12.25
Club: $8.75

Bones
An Alex Delaware Novel

Author: Jonathan Kellerman

Narrator: John Rubinstein

Abridged: 7 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/21/2008


Synopsis

When it comes to writing deftly layered, tightly coiled novels of suspense, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman reigns supreme as “master of the psychological thriller” (People). Kellerman has worked his magic again in this chilling masterpiece.

The anonymous caller has an ominous tone and an unnerving message about something “real dead . . . buried in your marsh.” The eco-volunteer on the other end of the phone thinks it’s a prank, but when a young woman’s body turns up in L.A.’s Bird Marsh preserve no one’s laughing. And when the bones of more victims surface, homicide detective Milo Sturgis realizes the city’s under siege to an insidious killer. Milo’s first move: calling in psychologist Alex Delaware.

The murdered women are prostitutes–except the most recent victim; a brilliant young musician from the East Coast, employed by a wealthy family to tutor a musical prodigy, Selena Bass seems out of place in the marsh’s grim tableau.

Conveniently–perhaps ominously–Selena’s blueblood employers are nowhere to be found, and their estate’ s jittery caretaker raises hackles. But Milo’s instincts and Alex’s insight are too well-honed to settle for easy answers, even given the dark secrets in this troubled man’s past. Their investigation unearths disturbing layers–about victims, potential victims, and suspects alike–plunging even deeper into the murky marsh’s enigmatic depths.

Bizarre details of the crimes suggest a devilish serial killer prowling L.A.’s gritty streets. But when a new murder deviates from the pattern, derailing a possible profile, Alex and Milo must look beyond the suspicion of madness and consider an even more sinister mind at work. Answers don’t come easy, but the darkest of drives and desires may fuel the most devious of foes.

Bones is classic Kellerman–relentlessly peeling back the skin and psyches of its characters and revealing the shadows and sins of the souls beneath. With jolt after jolt of galvanizing suspense, it drives the reader through its twists and turns toward a climax as satisfying as it is shattering.

About Jonathan Kellerman

American author, Jonathan Kellerman, comes from a decisively different viewpoint when writing his novels, than most authors. Kellerman was born in New York City to parents who were successful authors themselves. His journey began when his family moved to Los Angeles California. He grew up there and received a BA in Psychology from UCLA. He paid for his education by various jobs as cartoonist, illustrator, journalist, and editor, as well as teaching guitar. An unpublished novel that he co-wrote won him a Samuel Goldwyn writing award. Screenplays were readily available to him, but he chose not to get into that venue. He received his PhD from USC in clinical psychology. His research thesis was entitled.....attribution of blame for childhood psychopathology. Kellerman is currently a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine.

The first published book from Kellerman was a medical text book entitled.....Psychological Aspects of Childhood Cancer. His extensive research and hands on experience while working at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles prepared him for the knowledge needed to write his first published book.

He published a book for parents titled Helping the Fearful Child. Through many cases and observations, came his first novel.....When the Bough Breaks, which became a bestseller and was adapted for a TV movie. His career in medicine continued all throughout his writing. He was a consultant and expert witness in the legal system which impacted the characters in his novels.

The psychologist and novelist has been very vocal in speaking out against the "misguided" release of mentally ill people into the community without benefit of counseling, psychotherapy, as well as medication. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, who is also a bestselling crime writer. They have four children, two of whom are also novelists.


Reviews

Goodreads review by PamG on March 01, 2019

Kellerman's books are always good and this one was no exception. The story was enjoyable, but it is not one that I would re-read. There was no character development for Alex and Milo, and Robin was a very minor character in this book. While there are some twists and turns to the plot, the ending was......more

Goodreads review by Julie on December 02, 2008

Meh. Honestly, the last three I've read have been fairly bland. Not that the murder mystery isn't salacious (it is) and nasty (ditto) but the characters have stalled out. Milo is Milo, Alex is Alex, Robin is an afterthought, we get a bit more of Dr. Rick but honestly, who cares? There's a new charac......more

Goodreads review by Mary JL on May 26, 2013

I have read and enjoyed most of the "Alex Delaware" series. Alex and his good friend, Milo Sturgis, are like old friends to me. I like the interaction between the two; I like the many twists and turns in the plots and I like Kellerman's brand of psychological suspense. The body of a young strangled w......more

Goodreads review by Craig on June 26, 2019

I was surprised to find an Alex Delaware that I hadn't read. Diverting enough, with some of the old, familiar characters (who by now are seeming a bit pale). Newer additions to the stable (e.g., the rookie detective and his brother) seem to garner a bit more attention and care from the author, as do......more

Goodreads review by Baba on April 24, 2020

Alex Delaware #23: Another decent mystery crime thriller in Kellerman's internationally best selling series. Human finger bones are found in an abandoned garage lot sale; later four handless female corpses are found on ground reserved by ecologists! Everything points to the perpetrator being a local......more


Quotes

COMPULSION

“A genuine page-turner . . . The comfortable banter that has helped make Delaware and Sturgis such durable crime-story heroes is as rapid-fire, keen, and wryly funny as ever, and the mystery they aim to solve is certainly not routine.”
–Booklist

OBSESSION

“Jonathan Kellerman’s novels are an obsession; once started it is hard to quit.”
–Orlando Sentinel

“The characters are rich, the story’s well-plotted and you won’t stop reading.”
–Boston Herald

GONE

“The denouement accelerates to breathtaking, heart-pounding speed.”
–Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Sharply written and well-paced.”
–Entertainment Weekly

RAGE

“[An] adrenaline-fueled read.”
–People