"Even with all his years of experience, LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis knows there are crimes his skill and savvy cannot solve alone. That's when he calls on brilliant psychologist Alex Delaware to read between the lines, where the darkest motives lurk. And if ever the good doctor's insight is needed, it's at the scene of a murder as baffling as it is brutal. There's no spilled blood, no evidence of a struggle, and, thanks to the victim's missing face and hands, no immediate means of identification. And no telling why the disfigured corpse of a stranger has appeared in an upscale L.A. family's home. Chet Corvin, his wife, and their two teenage children are certain the John Doe is unknown to them. And yet their cooperation seems oddly guarded. But even the Corvins' thin response is more than Milo and Alex can elicit from their creepy next-door neighbor--a notorious cartoonist with a warped sense of humor and a seriously antisocial attitude. As the investigation ensues, it becomes clear that this well-to-do suburban enclave has its share of curious eyes, suspicious minds, and loose lips. And as Milo tightens the screws on potential persons of interest--and Alex tries to breach the barriers that guard their deepest secrets--a strangling web of corrupted love, cold-blooded greed, and shattered trust is exposed. Though the grass may be greener on these privileged streets, there's enough dirt below the surface to bury a multitude of sins. Including the deadliest. --
"An affluent family returns home from Sunday dinner only to find the murdered and brutalized corpse of a total stranger in their house. This baffling, twisted tale tests Alex and Milo to their intellectual and emotional limits"--
This was good but it seemed like there was more guessing than actual detecting in this one. Still, it was a twisty plot; a dead man deposited in a seemingly unrelated upscale suburban house, the murder of the philandering blowhard husband and no obvious motive.
In the end, Kellerman's usual trick made me suspect who the killer was and I was right. I enjoyed the book but I have to admit - the two murders at the end had no mention as to exactly how they transpired and that leaves me feeling a little...unfulfilled? But overall, another great chapter in the decades long Alex Delaware series.
Reading updates
-
Started reading
-
3 September, 2020:
Finished reading
-
3 September, 2020:
Reviewed
-
Started reading
-
3 September, 2020:
Finished reading
-
3 September, 2020:
Reviewed