Day: October 6, 2026

Book Review: ‘Jigsaw’ by Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware #41)

‘Jigsaw’ is the latest Alex Delaware novel by Jonathan Kellerman. Photo: Penguin Random House

Book Review: Jigsaw (An Alex Delaware Novel)

By Jonathan Kellerman

Format: Audiobook

The Story

After not hearing from him in over a month, LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Milo Sturgis shows up at psychologist Alex Delaware’s place looking worn out and overworked. He’s stuck on an “easy” case that suddenly turned into a mind-bending whodunit.

When a young woman is found dead at her kitchen table, the initial evidence points directly to an ex-boyfriend with a criminal record. But Milo knows better than to trust an obvious answer, so he turns to Alex, his best friend and long-term consultant on “those cases,” the ones that are different, to help unravel an investigation that refuses to fit together.

Then comes a second grisly discovery: an elderly woman found frozen and mutilated inside a deep freeze. When Milo learns her identity, he’s stunned because she’s someone from his past. Complicating matters further, her home is an extreme hoarder’s den, virtually impassable due to years of accumulated trash and seemingly meaningless objects. Except for the envelopes of cash stashed among the garbage.

As Alex and Milo dig deeper into the seemingly unrelated crimes, they discover shocking links between the victims, unraveling a complex, multi-layered mystery that tests both Milo’s investigative acumen and Alex’s psychological insight.

About Alex Delaware

Alex Delaware made his debut in Jonathan Kellerman’s 1985 detective novel When the Bough Breaks. A forensic psychologist who originally worked in pediatric psychology, Alex frequently consults for the LAPD alongside his close friend, Lt. Milo Sturgis, who appears in every installment of the series.

  • Series Context: Jigsaw marks book 41 in the long-running mystery series.
  • Fun Fact: The series inspired an upcoming streaming adaptation on Prime Video, which is currently in development.

Get your copy of Jigsaw today!

Review

I like the Alex Delaware novels because they involve psychological themes and the author is a psychologist specializing in the treatment of children, just like Alex. This gives them an authentic voice that I find intriguing. With Jigsaw, Jonathan Kellerman delivers another gripping psychological mystery that takes what looks like an open-and-shut homicide and twists it into something far more intricate.

Milo and Alex remain the beating heart of the narrative. Their long-standing friendship gives their professional partnership genuine warmth and authenticity, while their contrasting investigative styles keep the pacing sharp and engaging.

Character Analysis

  • Dr. Alex Delaware: The analytical anchor of the story. Relying on keen psychological insight rather than brute force, Alex’s primary role is decoding the hidden motives behind irrational behavior—from a calculating killer leaving subtle clues to the complex profile of a severe hoarder. His calm, observant demeanor balances the darker, more visceral aspects of the crimes.
  • Lieutenant Milo Sturgis: Driven, cynical, yet fiercely loyal, Milo brings grit and procedural muscle to the duo. Because this case hits exceptionally close to home, the personal connection introduces a rare layer of emotional vulnerability to his hardened LAPD persona, significantly raising the emotional stakes.

Core Themes

  • Deception vs. Hidden Reality: The narrative repeatedly contrasts surface appearances with deeper truths. A seemingly straightforward domestic homicide unravels into a layered mystery, reminding us how easily initial evidence can mask darker realities.
  • Psychological Decay and Hoarding: Beyond serving as a physical obstacle, the hoarder’s den acts as a powerful metaphor for hidden trauma, obsession, and emotional isolation. The physical clutter directly mirrors the tangled mental state of the victim and the labyrinthine nature of the crime itself.
  • The Interconnectedness of Disparate Lives: Kellerman explores the hidden webs connecting seemingly unrelated individuals, illustrating how past relationships, secret transactions, and forgotten histories cross paths—reinforcing the idea that no crime occurs in a vacuum.

Final Verdict

Jigsaw is a fast-paced thriller that expertly fits every piece together for a shocking final reveal. Set against a vivid, noir-infused Los Angeles backdrop, Kellerman captures the city’s unique ambience with sharp, haunting detail. Delaware’s nuanced behavioral analysis balances Sturgis’s street-smart instincts, delivering the exact cerebral punch long-time fans crave.

It’s a deeply satisfying read for anyone who enjoys psychological depth paired with classic detective work, proving once again why the Delaware-Sturgis dynamic remains a gold standard in crime fiction.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

About the Author

Jonathan Kellerman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than three dozen crime novels, including the Alex Delaware series, The Butcher’s Theater, Billy Straight, The Conspiracy Club, Twisted, True Detectives, and The Murderer’s Daughter.

He co-authored Double Homicide and Capital Crimes with his wife, bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman, and The Golem of Hollywood and The Golem of Paris with his son, bestselling novelist Jesse Kellerman. He is also the author of two children’s books and several nonfiction works, including Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children and With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars. He has won the Goldwyn, Edgar, and Anthony awards.

Fall at the Briscoe Museum: Kathy Sosa Exhibition, Tejano Legacy, and Events Guide

Kathy Sosa: Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico opens to the public on October 15 at the Briscoe. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

Unsung Heroes: Kathy Sosa’s ‘Revolutionary Women’ Comes to the Briscoe Western Art Museum

SAN ANTONIO, TX — The women who shaped Texas and Mexico were never just passive witnesses to history. They were active participants, survivors, cultural transmitters, laborers, activists, mothers, revolutionaries, and community leaders. Their resilience and determination forged the vibrant cultural landscape that connects Mexico, Texas, and the American West. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2026)

This fall, their stories take center stage.

Opening October 15 at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, Kathy Sosa: Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico brings these incredible narratives to life through more than 30 powerful works by San Antonio artist Kathy Sosa. On view through June 14, 2027, the exhibition serves as a striking contemporary artistic continuation of the history explored in the Briscoe’s landmark exhibition, Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story.

A Grand Reopening for the Women of the West Gallery

Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico marks the highly anticipated reopening of the Briscoe’s Women of the West Gallery, which has been temporarily closed as part of the museum’s ongoing renovations.

The refreshed gallery will reopen just in time to welcome Sosa’s exhibition, providing a dedicated, expanded space to honor the women who built and shaped the American West.

Revolutionary Women: History Through a Contemporary Lens

San Antonio artist Kathy Sosa is a self-taught creator whose work explores mestizaje – the distinctive cultural identity of the Texas-Mexico borderlands. While historically referring to racial and ethnic mixing between Indigenous peoples and Europeans, the term has evolved to describe a broader cultural process: the convergence of traditions, languages, ideas, and ways of life.

That exploration takes on a deeply human dimension in this exhibition, which draws inspiration from Sosa’s acclaimed book, Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico: Portraits of Soldaderas, Saints and Subversives. The collection features paintings, mixed media, and sculpture highlighting women whose lives challenge conventional ideas about who built the history of the region.

About the Artist: Kathy Sosa is the author of Mestizaje: The Feminist Art of Kathy Sosa, co-editor and illustrator of Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico, and co-producer of the documentary series Children of the Revolución. Her work has been exhibited nationwide and featured across major media platforms.

A Contemporary Companion to 400 Years of Tejano History

The theme of mestizaje bridges Sosa’s work directly with Tejano Legacy: Another American Origin Story, the largest and most ambitious exhibition in the Briscoe’s history.

On view through January 18, 2027, Tejano Legacy explores nearly 400 years of Tejano history, culture, and identity through more than 100 artworks and artifacts. It examines the migrations, conflicts, faith, and traditions that created a vibrant borderlands culture that continues to thrive today.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage & Fall at the Briscoe

With Tejano Legacy, Selena Forever | Siempre Selena, a robust fall calendar, and the arrival of Revolutionary Women, the Briscoe offers incredible opportunities to immerse yourself in Tejano and Mexican American history and culture.

🌟 Featured Companion Exhibition

  • Selena Forever | Siempre Selena (On view through Jan. 4, 2027): Features photographer John Dyer’s intimate images of Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla captured between 1992 and 1994. Large-scale portraits, boutique photography, and magazine covers celebrate her enduring legacy.

🎶 Fall Events Beyond the Galleries

  • Oct. 22 | Llamativa Free Concert (6–8 p.m.): Experience the living rhythms of cumbia with San Antonio’s all-female cumbia group, Llamativa. This all-ages outdoor/gallery performance is completely free and open to the public.
  • Nov. 7 | Los Tejanos Film Screening & Conversation (1–4 p.m.): Join a special screening of the documentary Los Tejanos, followed by an audience Q&A with acclaimed author John Phillip Santos, producer Jeri Wachter, and Emmy-winning director Joseph C. Stillman. Free with advance registration.
  • Nov. 19 | Truly Texas Mexican Film Screening (6–8 p.m.): Explore how food traditions carry history and cultural memory across generations during this special documentary screening. Free with museum admission.

Plan Your Visit

  • Location: Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio River Walk, 210 W. Market Street, San Antonio, TX ( housed in the beautifully restored 1930s former San Antonio Public Library building).
  • Stay Updated: Programs and details are subject to change. Visit the Briscoe Western Art Museum online for the latest ticketing information, hours, and event registrations.

About the Briscoe Western Art Museum: Dedicated to preserving and presenting the art, history, and culture of the American West through engaging exhibitions, educational programs, and public events reflective of the region’s rich traditions and shared heritage.