by Jonathan Kellerman

A Mystery/Thriller, 1985 by Ballantine Books, 448 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• The book is a bit older (published in 1985) so some of it comes off as outdated and old fashioned. Specifically, the way Alex talks of homosexuality and mental health is pretty gross. I’m sure the author would tell you that’s “how it was” back in the 80s and I’m not saying he’s wrong. Just go in expecting it.
• Lots of dry details. I think it’s an effort to make Delaware seem human as well as a way to throw the reader off the trail of the answer. But it also drags the story out.
• Delaware’s sense of right and wrong is skewed. Kill a dog, kill someone in an accident, torture someone … and it all barely registers in his brain. Definitely not a rule follower. He has no problem lying or breaking rules. 

What I Did Like:

• Right away Milo and Alex are great. Their vibe is practically perfect from chapter 1 and it drives the story. If they weren’t so close, Alex would never have agreed to help and this entire case (and series) would never have happened. It needed to be written right to kick off the book right … and it is.
• The crimes are dark and the mystery is multileveled. Spending the book unraveling all the tangled storylines is fun. 
• Satisfying conclusion. You get all your answers, know everything there is to know, and know these characters will do this again and bring more people who are worse than them to justice. 

Who Should Read This One:

• Fans of the sort of loose cannon crime solver.
• Detail oriented readers who want all the details, important or not, to wade through.

My Rating: 2 Stars

• As it is now, nearly four decades after its release, this one felt too crass and almost heartless.