Bones
By Jonathan Kellerman
Ballantine Books, $27.00
ISBN: 978-0345-49513-6

The latest Alex Delaware mystery makes no bones about a serial killer who buries victims in a pristine marsh with a hand chopped off. All clues point to one suspect and Milo Sturgis and Alex, accompanied by a neophyte LAPD detective, are led by the nose by planted clues until the final pages.

The story is kind of too pat, even for the typical novel in the series, and the customary psychological insights which contribute to the reader’s knowledge are few and far between. On the other hand, the suspense is sustained and the reader is supplied with sufficient clues along the way to unravel the mystery. Like Alex and Milo, we are led to concentrate on the obvious without any roadmap to the denouement, which is merely "plugged in" to finally draw the novel to an end.

These observations are not meant to downgrade the novel, which is well-written, logical and enjoyable. Alex Delaware (and Milo Sturgis) have stood the test of time, and other characters in the book are well-portrayed, and the book is recommended.

Review by THEODORE FEIT

©2009 Lorie Ham. All rights reserved.