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

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.

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.

New book release: ‘Unnatural History’ by Jonathan Kellerman

‘Unnatural History’ is the new novel in the Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman. Photo: Amazon

In the Alex Delaware novels, Alex Delaware is a child psychologist who consults with the Los Angeles Police Department. He works alongside Detective Milo Sturgis to solve crimes. I have read most of Jonathan Kellerman’s novels in this series and I am so excited a new one is out.

Jonathan Kellerman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than forty crime novels, including the Alex Delaware series, “The Butcher’s Theater,” “Billy Straight,” “The Conspiracy Club,” “Twisted,” “True Detectives,” and “The Murderer’s Daughter.” With his wife, bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman, he co-authored “Double Homicide” and “Capital Crimes.” With his son, bestselling novelist Jesse Kellerman, he co-authored “The Burning,” “Half Moon Bay,” “A Measure of Darkness,” “Crime Scene,” “The Golem of Hollywood,” and “The Golem of Paris.” He is the author of two children’s books and numerous nonfiction works, including “Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children” and “With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars.” In his new book “Unnatural History: An Alex Delaware Novel,” the most enduring detectives in American crime fiction are back in an electrifying thriller of art and brutality. (Amazon, 2023)

“Unnatural History” – Los Angeles is a city of stark contrast, the palaces of the affluent coexisting uneasily with the hellholes of the mad and the needy. That shadow world and the violence it breeds draw brilliant psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis into an unsettling case of altruism gone wrong.

On a superficially lovely morning, a woman shows up for work with her usual enthusiasm. She is the newly hired personal assistant to a handsome, wealthy photographer and is ready to greet her boss with coffee and good cheer. Instead, she finds him slumped in bed, shot to death. The victim had recently received rave media attention for his latest project: images of homeless people in their personal “dream” situations, elaborately costumed and enacting unfulfilled fantasies. There are some, however, who view the whole thing as nothing more than crass exploitation, citing token payments and the victim’s avoidance of any long-term relationships with his subjects. Has disgruntlement blossomed into homicidal rage? Or do the roots of violence reach down to the victim’s family—a clan, sired by an elusive billionaire, that is bizarre in its own right? Then new murders arise, and Alex and Milo begin peeling back layer after layer of intrigue and complexity, culminating in one of the deadliest threats they have ever faced.

Excerpt available.

Upcoming new book release: ‘The Burning: A Novel’ (Clay Edison) by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman

‘The Burning’ is the new Clay Edison novel by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman. Photo: amazon

Jonathan Kellerman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than forty crime novels, including the Alex Delaware series, “The Butcher’s Theater,” “Billy Straight,” “The Conspiracy Club,” “Twisted,” “True Detectives,” and “The Murderer’s Daughter.” With his wife, bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman, he co-authored “Double Homicide” and “Capital Crimes.” With his son, bestselling novelist Jesse Kellerman, he co-authored “Crime Scene,” “A Measure of Darkness,” “The Golem of Hollywood,” and “The Golem of Paris.” He is also the author of two children’s books and numerous 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 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, and has been nominated for a Shamus Award. Jesse Kellerman won the Princess Grace Award for best young American playwright and is the author of “Sunstroke,” “Trouble” (nominated for the ITW Thriller Award for Best Novel), “The Genius” (winner of the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle), “The Executor,” and “Potboiler” (nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel). In their new novel, “The Burning: A Novel (Clay Edison),” which will be released Tuesday, September 21, matters get personal for Deputy Coroner Clay Edison when a murder hits close to home. (amazon, 2021)

“The Burning” – A raging wildfire. A massive blackout. A wealthy man shot to death in his palatial hilltop home. For Clay Edison, it is all in a day’s work. As a deputy coroner, caring for the dead, he speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves. He prides himself on an unflinching commitment to the truth. Even when it gets him into trouble. Then, while working the murder scene, Clay is horrified to discover a link to his brother, Luke. Horrified. But not surprised. Luke is fresh out of prison and struggling to stay on the straight and narrow. And now he has gone AWOL. The race is on for Clay to find him before anyone else can. Confronted with Luke’s legacy of violence, Clay is forced to reckon with his own suspicions, resentments, and loyalties. Is his brother a killer? Or could he be the victim in all of this, too? This is Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman at their most affecting and page-turning—a harrowing collision of family, revenge, and murder.

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New release: ‘Crime Scene’ by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman

crimescenepic — ‘Crime Scene’ is the new release by father and son writing team Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman

Jonathan Kellerman is a clinical psychologist and the best-selling author of psychological suspense novels. He has written more than thirty best-selling novels but he is best known for the Alex Delaware detective series. Since has worked extensively in the psychology field, his nonfiction writings include “Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children” as well as medical texts, essays and scientific articles. His newest novel “Crime Scene” was co-written with his son Jesse Kellerman. Jesse Kellerman is an American novelist and playwright whose past novels include “Sunstroke,” “Trouble” and “The Golem of Hollywood,” co-written with his father.

According to Amazon, in “Crime Scene,” a former star athlete turned deputy coroner is drawn into a brutal and complicated murder. Clay Edison’s job is to determine whether someone’s death was natural causes or homicide. He does not get involved in investigations until one case proves more than meets the eye. When Walter Rennert is found dead at home everyone thinks it was an accident but wen his daughter Tatiana insists that he was murdered, Clay takes a closer look at his death. What he finds is a history of scandal and violence and an experiment gone horribly wrong. The closer he gets to the truth, the closer he gets to Tatiana and it all leads him into the darkest corners of the human soul.

New release: ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ by Jonathan Kellerman

Jonathan Kellerman is a psychologist and The New York Times bestselling author of suspense novels and nonfiction writings on psychology including “Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children.” He is best known for his novels featuring child psychologist Alex Delaware who consults for the police with LAPD detective Milo Sturgis. “Heartbreak Hotel” is his most recent Alex Delaware novel that has Alex dealing with a patient who is almost one hundred years old.

According to Amazon, in “Heartbreak Hotel” Thalia Mars comes to see Alex with some unusual questions. He normally just treats children but the witty and charming woman convinces him to meet her in a suite at the Aventura, a luxury hotel that has a questionable history. During their session, she asks him disturbing questions about guilt, patterns of criminal behavior and victim selection. When asked why the fascination with the topic she promises answers during their next session but she is found dead the next morning. The investigation into her death turns out to be one of the most baffling cases Alex and Milo have come across in years. Her complicated life holds nearly a century of secrets that have violent connotations for everyone around her.

Born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles, Jonathan Kellerman worked his way through college as a cartoonist, illustrator, journalist and editor and received a BA in psychology at UCLA. He worked extensively with anxiety disorders and he used that experience to publish a book for parents titled “Helping the Fearful Child” in 1981. In 1985 he wrote his first novel “When the Bough Breaks” and it became a bestseller and was adapted into a TV movie. Since then he has written forty one crime novels, two children’s books and numerous nonfiction books.

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