In this 36th book in the 'Alex Delaware' series, the psychologist helps his friend, Lieutenant Milo Sturgis, investigate a cold case. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Thirty-nine year old Ellie Barker is thriving and wealthy, having recently sold off her exercise wear company for gazillions.
Ellie feels a lack in her life, however, because her mother, Dorothy Swoboda, was murdered in Los Angeles 36 years ago, and the crime was never solved. The homicide was investigated by a series of LAPD detectives, and Ellie recently hired private investigators, but no one was able to identify the perpetrator.
Ellie happens to mention her situation at a ritzy fund raiser, and a Hollywood mover and shaker named Andrea Bauer takes up Ellie's cause.
Bauer calls a state assemblyman, who calls a mayor, who calls a police deputy chief, who hands the VERY COLD case to LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis....and tells him not to argue and look into it.
*****
Thirty-nine year old Ellie Barker is thriving and wealthy, having recently sold off her exercise wear company for gazillions.
Ellie feels a lack in her life, however, because her mother, Dorothy Swoboda, was murdered in Los Angeles 36 years ago, and the crime was never solved. The homicide was investigated by a series of LAPD detectives, and Ellie recently hired private investigators, but no one was able to identify the perpetrator.
Ellie happens to mention her situation at a ritzy fund raiser, and a Hollywood mover and shaker named Andrea Bauer takes up Ellie's cause.
Bauer calls a state assemblyman, who calls a mayor, who calls a police deputy chief, who hands the VERY COLD case to LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis....and tells him not to argue and look into it.
As usual when Sturgis has a difficult case he calls on his friend, LAPD consulting psychologist Alex Delaware, and the duo mount a fresh investigation into Dorothy Swoboda's death.
When Milo and Alex speak to Ellie, they learn that Dorothy took off when Ellie was a toddler, leaving her in the care of a stepdad in northern California. Dorothy apparently prospered after that, because she was driving a Cadillac when she was shot and immolated on a ritzy part of Mulholland drive.
Milo and Alex speculate that Dorothy may have found a sugar daddy, and proceed to investigate using that theory.
As the investigators delve into Dorothy's homicide, they find many fatal accidents and missing persons that seem connected to Dorothy's case, and things get more and more curious.
A good part of the narrative consists of Milo and Alex traveling around Los Angeles and its environs; interviewing people in homes and restaurants; looking up information on the internet; brainstorming about data they uncover; meeting with additional LAPD detectives; and so on.
In addition to helping Milo investigate, Alex spends time doing his day job as a child psychologist, hanging out with his girlfriend Robin, and playing with his dog Blanche.
As always in this series, Milo - who's a big guy with a hearty appetite - frequently drops in on Alex and Robin, raids the refrigerator, and makes himself enormous sandwiches and omelets with everything.
We also see a little more of Milo's boyfriend, Dr. Rick Silverman, and it's nice to get to know the surgeon a bit better.
Milo and Alex's investigation spooks someone, and the book has plenty of twists and surprises.
This is a fine addition to the Alex Delaware series, recommended to fans of thrillers.
Thanks to Netgalley, Jonathan Kellerman, and Ballantine Books for a copy of the book.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Nice review Barb. I am so behind on this series. I have read 20 of the books in this series, so have quite a few to catch up on.
ReplyDeleteThank you Carla. The series seems to still be going strong. 🌞🌺🎀
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