A Cold Heart

April 14, 2003
"This one's a twister, isn't it?" Kellerman is at it again with number 17 in his highly successful series starring smooth L.A. psychologist Alex Delaware. In this latest installment, Delaware is called in (via Homicide pal Milo Sturgis) to consult on a string of bizarre murders of fringe artists on the verge of stardom. The victims—a bluesman out of rehab, a punk diva screaming her way toward a record deal, a rising young concert pianist and an abstract painter—seem utterly unrelated. Their only connection, as Delaware shrewdly notes, is that each is " gifted, damaged soul snuffed out violently, during the first blush of comeback." Rounding out the investigative team is Det. Petra Connor (reprising her role from previous Kellerman books), this time paired with spooky, skinny Eric Stahl, a silent ex-soldier with a sweaty fear of hospitals. The clues appear in an underground zine covering art in absurdly pretentious tones ("This is DANCE as in paleo-instinctuo-bioenergetics") in articles signed by the "Faithful Scrivener," and lead the team to encounters with some of the weirder denizens of the City of Angels. Of course, Kellerman provides a meaty layer of interpersonal relationships beneath the surface of his plot, so that longtime fans can tune into the latest episode of Delaware's tense friendship with his ex, Robin, which is not where he hoped it would be, but which he handles with his usual aplomb ("When in doubt, ask about the dog"). That Robin's occupation places her squarely in the killer's crosshairs wraps things up nicely. Booksellers should have little trouble moving this along. Agent, Barney Karpfinger. Major ad/promo.

May 1, 2003
Winner of both Edgar and Anthony awards, Kellerman has hit on a formula that seems to guarantee his Alex Delaware mysteries a spot on the best-seller lists. By pairing up psychologist Delaware with LAPD cop Milo Sturgis, Kellerman not only makes possible a mix of police procedure and slam-bang action but he also is able to underscore the crime-solving thrills with enough psychological insight to engage more cerebrally inclined readers. This time, though, he throws in one formula too many, sending his shrink-cop duo on the trail of a serial killer with an inventive hit list--a genre staple that's losing its zip. After a gifted Blues guitarist and a promising painter are murdered, cops suspect that a serial killer with a penchant for the arts may be on the loose. The murders of a ballet dancer, a punk rocker, and a concert pianist follow. A nice touch is added with the inclusion of LAPD detective Petra Connor, who breaks up the usual byplay between Delaware and Sturgis. The eighteenth Delaware novel is not one of the best, but that won't stop the cash registers from ringing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)