NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Psychologist Alex Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis struggle to make sense of a seemingly inexplicable massacre in this electrifying psychological thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense. LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis has solved a lot of murder cases. On many of them—the ones he calls “different”—he taps the brain of brilliant psychologist … brain of brilliant psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware. But neither Alex nor Milo are prepared for what they find on an early morning call to a deserted mansion in Bel Air. This one’s beyond different. This is predation, premeditation, and cruelty on a whole new level.
Four people have been slaughtered and left displayed bizarrely and horrifically in a stretch limousine. Confounding the investigation, none of the victims seems to have any connection to any other, and a variety of methods have been used to dispatch them. As Alex and Milo make their way through blind alleys and mazes baited with misdirection, they encounter a crime so vicious that it stretches the definitions of evil.
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Mayhem in southern California
This is the 35th book in the Alex Delaware series. It’s hard for me to believe. I’ve read this series from the very beginning and author Kellerman has faithfully published a new book almost every year, sometimes two.
Not only that but the books are consistently great and always unique. Quite an accomplishment for a favorite author of mine.
In this offering, Lieutenant Milo Sturgis of the LAPD and consulting psychologist Alex Delaware head to the scene of a horrific slaughter of four people in the hills above L.A. From the first, they think the murder scene looks staged.
Sturgis puts his small crew to work looking into the identities of the murdered people and finds out that identifying them is not going to be easy and neither is finding connections among the four.
The body count keeps rising and Milo and Alex find that the reasons behind the bloodbath are kinky and horrible.
I always love re-visiting this pair. They’ve developed quite a friendship over the last 35 Books.
I highly recommend this book and the whole series to anyone that loves an outstanding psychological thriller – written by an author that used to be a practicing psychologist.
I received this book from Random House through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
4 and 1 / 2 stars
When I first selected this book, I thought, “What an unusual title for a mystery novel.” As I read along, I got it.
I have read Mr. Kellerman since the beginning of his writing career and I must admit that this is one of the most deliciously twisted plots that he has come up with.
LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis responds to a call of an unusual crime at an abandoned “party house” in the hills above Beverly Hills. Four people were found dead in a limousine, killed in a variety of ways. The scene looks odd. Milo calls in Dr. Alex Delaware, his close friend who aids him with the “different” cases.
The story follows a very well written police investigation into the deaths of these four people, and others as it turns out. It follows the red herrings and dead ends that the cops must investigate; the small triumphs and disappointments. It also touches on the personal relationships between the officers, as well as Milo, Alex and Robin, Alex’s girlfriend. I love these little asides in Mr. Delaware’s novels for it feels like I am visiting with old friends.
I also like the easy to follow and easy to read style of this author’s writing. The reader is entranced with the story as the words and pages fly by. I am always sorry to see one of Mr. Kellerman’s books end. I can hardly wait for the next novel in this series. What kind of story will he come up with this next time?
I want to send a big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine/Ballantine Books for forwarding to me a copy of this most wonderful psychological drama for me to read, enjoy and review.
Once again we have the duo of Dr. Delaware and Lt. Sturgis solving a murder! This is #35 in a long running series! Four people have been murdered and left displayed bizarrely and horrifically in a stretch limo after a house party. None of the victims seem to have any connection to the others and a variety of methods have been used to kill them! Enter the Lieutenant and the good Doctor! I enjoyed this but for some reason it seemed to drag on alittle around the half way point. Seemed tangled up to me for a while. If you follow these two then by all means grad it, cause it is a typical Delaware story!
“The Museum of Desire” opens as a maintenance worker trudges uphill to clean up after a fancy event at a notorious LA party house. He finds something he will not be able to clean up, something utterly horrible. What follows is not the story of the crime but a story of the victims and the search for justice for them.
Dr. Alexander Delaware is a consultant who assists with difficult cases when needed. This case is not only difficult, but also downright strange. The victims are posed, almost like a museum diorama; nothing about this crime makes sense. Delaware feels the key to understanding a crime is to learn about the victims. In a first person narrative, he takes readers through the process of finding out about the victims so he can find out who killed them. He reports everything he sees and hears, what he says, and what others say to him. The victims are a diverse group, and Delaware investigates each in detail, documenting ancillary information that may be important later.
Kellerman’s detailed descriptions awaken all senses: the sights, colors, sounds, and smells of people and places. Readers experience the setting through exacting images of pretty streets lined with immaculate houses and precise emerald lawns. Little specifics complete each passage for readers: what people are wearing, how furniture is arranged, what photos are displayed.
Delaware’s investigation is slow, deliberate, and detailed, with everyday activities interspersed throughout the narrative. Delaware makes connections and establishes timelines. Things change when more bodies show up; the intensity increases. When the meaning of the book’s title is revealed, things take an astonishing turn.
“The Museum of Desire” is filled with twists and shocking turns. Even when things seem to be wrapped up, there is more. I received a review copy of “The Museum of Desire” from Jonathan Kellerman, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballantine Books. The writing superb; the plot is unique and weird. The book is gripping and compelling to read
Pretty good read. Like Milo and Alex. Like Kellerman.
This one seemed sort of scattered. Didn’t move forward in a straight line. Zigged and zagged a lot.
Must say, had no idea who the baddie was until the very last. So many possibilities, so few clues.
In this new book of the series Milo is called out in the early morning to a scene like he has never been a part of before. Four people have been murdered and staged inside a limo in the drive of an empty Bel Air mansion. The home is being used for parties while the divorcing owners decide what to do with the property. Milo isn’t quite sure what to make of it all and calls in friend and psychologist Alex Delaware. Alex feels as if the whole thing has bee n staged for a reason but that reason is not quite obvious. They start with figuring out who each of the victims are and if there is a connection between them. When no connections can be found Milo knows they must figure out if one of the victims was the main target or were all of them chosen at random. The two keep tugging lines and coming up with no real clues, will a suspect ever be found? Follow along as they dig deeper into the victims lives, ask questions of friends and family, study video from different locations, and learn of two more murders. Along the way they meet some helpful and not so helpful people and have to trust their guts when it comes to the information given. This was such a deeply intriguing read that will give you a look into the darker side that fills some people and what they are willing to do in the name of art.
THE MUSEUM OF DESIRE by Jonathan Kellerman is the 35th book in the Alex Delaware series. This is a favorite series of mine and this installment did not let me down.
Los Angeles Police Lieutenant and psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware team up again when four people are found dead and strangely displayed in car at a vacant mansion in Bel Air. Multiple causes of death and a lot of twists, turns and blind alleys make for a great police procedural.
The story grabbed me right away and kept me turning the pages. The interactions between the characters are always great. In this case, several detectives also worked on the case and added to the depth of the plot. The characters felt real and three-dimensional. The characters act in a plausible way.
This story was very complex and takes a look at the dark side of art, of homelessness, and of a demented mind. Other themes include revenge and violence. There are some graphic scenes depicted and there is some exploration of detectives dealing with the aftermaths of violence. The ending was dramatic and unexpected.
Overall, this was a page-turner that kept me engaged throughout. I recommend this book to those that enjoy great police procedurals and those that enjoy this series. While not absolutely necessary, I would recommend reading the series in order to gain more insight into the characters and their growth over time.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books and Jonathan Kellerman for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
absolutely LOVE this series. fluff your sofa cushions (maybe a coy blanket?) and start early in the day so you can finish it before nightfall. fantastic!!
I’ve read the Kellerman’s books (both Jonathan & Faye-not Jesse) and have pretty much given them 4-5* every time. This one I’m backing off just a little to a 3 1/2* rating. This book seemed a little scattered minded and I felt it didn’t move forward fast enough. It was slow in places and I had to ‘force’ myself to continue which I’ve never had to do in the past. In fact, I found myself going back several pages sometimes just to ‘remember’ what was happening up to where I left off. Usually, I don’t have to do that with Kellerman.
That being said, I do enjoy the relationship that Alex has with Milo and that Kellerman continues to bring the home life of Alex with Robin into the mix. Of course, I don’t want to leave out Blanche. She has got to be one spoiled dog 🙂 🙂
It had been a while since reading either author, but I will continue to follow them into the next adventure. (for synopsis, read the editor’s notes)
Always have liked Milo, Robin, and Alex; but this one was rather too gory for me.
Kellerman writes like no one else. His books go in depth to the psychology of his characters, not just his killers. Mysteries of the mind. Wonderful entertainment.
It didn’t hold my attention.
Different moved slow
Milo Sturgis is one of my favorite characters, and of course, Alex Delaware and he make great partners in crime. This particular book had a complex murder plot with more than 4 people dead by the killer(s).
I enjoyed it but the editing was not up to par.
Great new Milo and Alex. Fantastic book by Kellerman as always!
This is my first book bu this author. I just couldn’t get past the conversational slang.
It was okay. Not gripping like other Kellerman books I’ve read.
I always order any Jonathan Kellermann book. They never disappoint!!
Deviant, sophisticated, and gripping!
In this latest novel by Kellerman, The Museum of Desire, we head back to Beverly Hills where LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis and his sidekick psychologist Alex Delaware find themselves on a gruesome case involving an empty mansion, a fancy limousine, and four brutally slain bodies who seem to have no connection to each other whatsoever.
The writing is meticulous and absorbing. The characters are multilayered, persistent, and intuitive. And the plot, including all the subplots, unravel and intertwine methodically into a sinister tale full of deception, deprivation, manipulation, mayhem, violence, and murder.
It’s hard to believe that this novel, The Museum of Desire is the thirty-fifth book in the Alex Delaware series. In fact, in the late 80s and early 90s, Jonathan Kellerman was my favourite author, and although over the past decade or so I haven’t picked up the newest titles in this series it was so wonderful to crawl back into this dark, gritty side of Hollywood and reacquaint myself with these unique characters.