Review of "Unnatural History: An Alex Delaware Mystery" by Jonathan Kellerman

In this 38th book in the 'Alex Delaware' series, the psychologist helps LAPD detective Milo Sturgis investigate the murder of a photographer. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a plus.

*****

LAPD Detective Milo Sturgis.....



.....can always rely on his friend, psychologist Alex Delaware, to assist with difficult cases.



That's the situation when twenty-nine-year-old photographer Donny Klement is found shot to death in his studio.



Donny's young assistant Melissande Gornick - who called 911 - is hysterical, and Alex is summoned to calm the girl down so she can answer questions.



Once Melissande is able to speak, she reveals that Donny was the son of a billionaire named Victor Klement, who Donny never saw. Moreover, Donny had a bunch of half-siblings from Victor's many marriages, most of whom he'd never met. Nevertheless daddy paid all Donny's bills, and Donny had a 'white card' that enabled him to get unlimited cash.

Asked about Donny's acquaintances, Melissande mentions that her boss was doing a photographic project called the Wishers.



The Wishers project - which has received some positive press - turns out to be pairs of color portraits displayed side by side. The left-hand photo shows a dirty disheveled homeless person off the street, and the right-hand photo shows the same person cleaned up and dressed as someone they wish to be. Thus homeless Jack is put into the flight suit of a Top Gun pilot; homeless Beverly is made up as a movie star; homeless Solomon is attired in surgical scrubs; and so on. According to Melissande, each indigent person was paid $100 for the sitting.





It turns out Donny may have been too trusting for his own good. He allowed homeless people to wander around his workshop; rarely set his alarm; didn't lock his car; and may even have left wads of cash lying around his studio, where he slept most nights.

Milo and Alex speculate about two possible motives for Donny's murder: a half-sibling who wanted to increase his/her share of the inheritance; or a homeless person whose appetite for the better life was whetted, and who returned to rob the photographer.

Milo and his team of detectives investigate these possibilities, and Alex joins Milo when the cop interviews people of interest. Additional murders complicate the picture, and the investigation becomes more difficult before a break finally occurs.



In Alex's personal life, he sees patients in his child psychology practice; hangs out with his longtime girlfriend Robin and their cute French bulldog Blanche; plays his guitar and listens to jazz; etc.



As for Milo, he shows off his usual gargantuan appetite by ordering an extra large portion of fried shrimp and curly fries when he and Alex have lunch at a seafood restaurant.





Kellerman has a deft hand with description, and it's easy to picture the characters and what they're wearing. We also see Milo and Alex's peregrinations around Los Angeles, which provides a good feel for the sprawling city.

I enjoyed the book, which has an engaging plot and favorite recurring characters. Recommended to readers who like police procedurals, especially fans of Alex Delaware.

Thanks to Netgalley, Jonathan Kellerman, and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of the manuscript.

Rating: 3.5 stars