Deception by Jonathan Kellerman

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Deception by Jonathan Kellerman By Melissa Wantuck

Spring welcomes Jonathan Kellerman’s latest Alex Delaware book on March 28. The twenty-fifth book, Deception (Ballantine Books, 2010), is full of intrigue and head games, and Delaware fans will be pleased the book sticks with tradition in its story presentation and style.

Lieutenant Milo Sturgis of the LAPD’s homicide division brings his friend Dr. Alex Delaware in to confer on cases that step outside of the normal equation involving murder. Delaware is a privately practicing psychotherapist and only lends his expertise to Sturgis despite the carrots dangled in front of him by the Chief of Police to work for the department.

In Deception, the latest case to bring the two together interrupts Delaware’s work day in typical Sturgis fashion, but without a refrigerator raid. The Chief is close on Sturgis’ heels to solve this case and do it as quietly as possible.

A woman is found dead and her relationship to a highly reputed prep school casts a dark pall around Sturgis and Delaware during their often constrained investigation. The Chief wants every clue examined with a fine-toothed comb before murder is hinted at or a connection to the school made to avoid uncomfortable consequences. Money and power rule this case but the bizarre scene in which the victim was found and a message left by the victim led Sturgis to quickly consult his friend and expert in erratic human behavior.

Despite obvious appearances and the coroner’s report, Sturgis has to work hard to prove his case is indeed a homicide. The evidence is hazy and the message left by the victim points fingers. It’s not long before Sturgis and Delaware are faced with more finger pointing. The story moves quickly as the two jump from one lead to the next until the final eleventh hour rush to catch the responsible party behind the whole drama.

Kellerman’s writing marches at a clipped and no-nonsense pace. He throws in some pop-culture references and ties in a few current events to keep up with the times. It all makes for an entertaining read and with a few less than usual descriptions of Sturgis’ stomach-churning eating habits.