3.0 out of 5 stars

I've read all the previous Alex Delaware novels by Jonathan Kellerman. Some I've enjoyed more than others -- particularly the ones that focus on the psychology of the criminal mind. This particular story, though interesting, didn't have as much detail about the perpetrator as I would have liked. In fact, there were some unanswered questions that left me wanting more information and background. I would have preferred more discussion of the psychopathology.

The murders are grisly - meticulous disembowelment - and Milo and Alex quickly find a link to an old psychiatric institution, Ventura State Hospital, and a child who was kept there in Specialized Care for many years. As they uncover details about the victims, clues lead back to several who worked at V-State or who were connected in some way to the young boy housed there over 20 years ago. Why are these particular people being selected by their murderer? Milo and Alex look into the backgrounds of the victims to help them find the killer.

Although this is #27 in a long-running series, the reader doesn't really need to have read any of the previous novels to get the point of this one. The story is straightforward and doesn't delve too much into anything outside of the main murderer-victim story line. It is a fast read with lots of dialog. Would make a good beach read or grab for your next commute.