True Detectives by Jonathan Kellerman

Jonathan Kellerman is by far my favorite mystery writer.  Kellerman is not only a New York Times Top Ten novelist, but is a licensed psychologist.  His principal character in many of his novels is Dr. Alex Delaware.  Dr. Delaware mirrors Dr. Kellerman in many ways; both are child psychologists who live in the Beverly Glen area of Los Angeles and have an affection for French bulldogs and koi.

Rather than being pulp fiction to pass the time, Kellerman’s novels become complex psychological dramas that provide an insight into the human mind.

In True Detectives, Dr. Alex Delaware has only a cameo role.  The central characters are brothers Moses Reed ( an L.A. homicide detective)  and  Aaron Fox ( a private investigator)  who have a same mother but different fathers. The pair are polar opposites. Moe Reed is lily white and Aaron Fox is black.  Reed is no-nonsense and Fox is flashy.The brothers first made their appearance in Kellerman’s novel Bones.

Despite years of tension between the brothers, the two are forced to work together to solve the murders of  two seemingly unrelated victims.  The novel gives a glimpse into the privileged world of Hollywood stars and the hangers-on who surround them.  It is fast-paced and exciting.  This is one of my favorite Kellerman novels in quite some time. I give it an unqualified two thumbs up.

Kellerman and French bulldog "Hugo".