True Detectives

February 2, 2009
PI Aaron Fox and L.A. cop Moe Reed, interracial half-brothers who played minor roles in 2008's Bones
, take center stage in bestseller Kellerman's routine 24th Alex Delaware novel. When Fox, who used to work for the LAPD, looks into the missing-persons case of 20-year-old Caitlin Frostig, he runs into conflict with Reed. The brothers end up pursuing some predictable lines of inquiry, checking out Rory Stoltz, Frostig's college boyfriend, as well as links to a filmmaker, Lem Dement, who's suspected of domestic abuse. More A-list connections surface after the investigators learn Stoltz was the personal assistant for actor Mason Book, whose rumored suicide attempt came shortly after Frostig's disappearance. The strains between Fox and Reed don't generate much heat, while the pacing and writing aren't up to Kellerman's best. Hopefully, Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis, relegated to cameos, will be back in their usual starring positions next time.

March 15, 2009
Fans of Kellerman's Dr. Alex Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis will find them in his latest novel, but only in passing. Half brothers, private eye Aaron Fox and LAPD detective Moe Reed ("Bones"), are center stage in this whodunit. They happen to be investigating the same case, and their examination of the life of missing 20-year-old Caitlin Frostig turns up connections she had with various lowlifes, the details of which form the bulk of the novel. As the brothers begin to overcome their issues with each other, they start to piece together the disappearance of another girl and her son, who are associated with Caitlin. All of this eventually leads back to the current whereabouts of Caitlin. Kellerman's writing, usually neat and not overly burdened by extraneous detail, fails to move the story along, as is the case with the unsympathetic characters. The conclusion is too easily wrapped up as well. Public libraries should see demand for this best-selling author, but readers who are not already fans probably won't take notice. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 11/1/08.]Amanda Scott, Cambridge Springs P.L., PA

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2009
Instead of the usual Delaware/Sturgisinvestigative duo, Kellermanreturns to two new crime solvers, stepbrothers who appeared briefly in last years Bones.Though bothare sons of cops, they couldnt be more different.Biracial Aaronpulls in a sweet six figures as a PI, which allows him toindulge in Ferr'shirts and Magli shoes;youngerMoses, a forthright, muscle-bound blond, doesthings by the book for the LAPD. Childhood rivalries, misunderstandings, and different personalities have kept them at odds throughout their lives.Then, suddenly, they find themselves workingon the same case: the disappearance of a young college student. Competitors at first, the brothers gradually become a kind of team, each one adding bits and pieces to a sprawling case that morphs into something completely different from what it was to begin withinvolving a washed-up celebrity, an abusive Hollywood director, a drug pusher, a couple of prostitutes, and a missing baby.Kellerman continues to play fast and loose with his plotting, but everything eventuallycomes together here, with a fewsurprises. Whats best, though, is seeing Kellerman step outside of the all-too-familiar he relies on in the Delaware novels and introduce a couple of characters that have the potential to take his work infresh directions.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)