Milo and Alex: Jonathan Kellerman's homicide series with a psychological twist

Jonathan Kellerman's Milo and Alex LA-based detective series has been part of my reading life since...forever. The series began in 1985 and there has been at least one new novel published each year since then. The books combine police procedural with psychological insights. Detective Milo Sturgis solves homicides for the LAPD with the help of consultant and friend, Dr Alex Delaware, a psychologist specialising in child custody cases. Milo occupies an unconventional place in the LAPD homicide division: He's a gay man who involves Alex in cases to provide psychological insight. These insights are what set the novels apart from standard detective fare, especially given Kellerman's pedigree in the field. He's a former psychologist and researcher, earning a PhD in psychology in the treatment of children at just 24. Alex's involvement in homicide cases is probably not very realistic, but makes for an interesting read. I always learn stuff about the psychology of crime and human behaviour from the books.

The Milo-Alex friendship is the second reason why the series has endured for so long, I think. The series relies heavily on the strength of the friendship between Milo and Alex - a seemingly unlikely partnership - who accept and respect each other. Their friendship is fleshed out as the series progresses. Milo and Alex have their own foibles and flaws, and there's just enough in the books to give the characters depth and nuance without detracting from the pursuit of justice. I'm used to Alex and Milo now, after all these years, and I slip easily into their friendship, characterised by familiar banter and their different approaches to life and to the investigation. It all feels quite natural to me now. If you are new to the series, I'd suggest going back a few years so you can experience the journey of Milo and Alex's friendship as I have.

Like Elvis Cole from Robert Crais's novels, I have always had a slight literary crush on Alex as he is kind, smart, and provides a unique angle on human behaviour and motivations. I also love Milo's humour and the intelligence and integrity with which he carries out his investigations. He's a big guy with a big heart and his friendship with Alex is a joy to read. The books are an easy read, entertaining and interesting and comforting in their enduring formula. Alex and Milo are like old friends to me now, and I have always looked forward to reading their stories. The peripheral players - Milo's partner Dr Rick Silverman, Alex's partner and wooden instrument technician, Robin, and the team of detectives Milo leads - are also fleshed out well enough to make them more than just sidebars to the stories.

Kellerman is a gifted writer and I love that he evokes a strong sense of the LA setting in his books. There's a lot of description of LA, but I understand how dedicated Kellerman is to world-building. The reader is stepped through the investigation to its inevitable closure in an evenly-paced, well-structured way. There's less running around madly and more focus on the procedure, although I don't usually guess what is going on until the end.

Jonathan Kellerman is a prolific author. Along with several standalone novels, he has penned two series with son, Jesse, one featuring Deputy LA Coroner Clay Edison and another with LA Detective Jacob Lev that blends the criminal with the supernatural.

Jonathan Kellerman is now 75 years old. Props to him for keeping the series going as I've been all-in since the beginning. That said, Kellerman has now reached the milestone of 40 books, but sadly it hasn't been the celebration I was expecting. I have found that the quality of the books has dropped off in recent outings. I've reviewed books 37 and 30 in this post, along with book 40. My series rating up until the last few books is 5 stars, but sadly, I think it might be time for Kellerman to let the series go.

City of the dead | Book 37 | Published February 2022 | Read September 2023

Clever and well crafted, Jonathan Kellerman again produces a cracking story in City of the dead, a recent example of the quality and consistency of the Milo and Alex books. Milo and Alex investigate a double homicide involving a self-styled influencer who is passing herself off as a therapist. The novel contains the usual bouncing of ideas between Milo and Alex that keeps the reader interested. I liked the pace of this novel and the way The Reveal unfolds. It kept me guessing until the end. I also liked the way that Alex's input is woven into the story. It feels a bit more realistic in this book, as an actual consultant rather than Alex being part of the action.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The ghost orchid | Book 39 | Published February 2024 | Read March 2024

In book 39, Milo is investigating a double murder at a swanky Bel Air mansion. Meagin March, wife of a wealthy property developer, is found floating in the pool at the home of Gio Aggiunta, heir to an Italian shoe empire. Gio is also found dead in the pool. The case has little evidence to help the team solve it. Milo and Alex embark on an investigation into both victims' pasts, uncovering shocking secrets and identity reinvention, both creating the motive for murder.

Unusually for a Kellerman novel, I had a some trouble connecting with the book in the first chapter as it doesn't run to his usual style. By chapter 2, I was invested and I finished the book quickly, as it's not a lengthy read, but I had an uneasy feeling that the series might be coming to its end. The ending is a bit rushed, too, and not as complex from a criminal or psychological standpoint as is usual for the series.

Kellerman does a nice job of fleshing out the characters involved in the crime - no mean feat - and always creates a case that explores interesting subjects. This time, the story tackles identity, poverty, the foster and adoption system, and family violence. The title of the book is pivotal to the case, but I won't say anything further on that subject so as to avoid a spoiler. I have always liked the way Kellerman adds psychological insight in the child custody cases that Alex consults on while he is working with Milo. The case of a teenage boy adopted from Russia and abandoned following his adopted parents' divorce is interesting and heartbreaking in The ghost orchid.

I do feel the need to comment, and I have seen the same from other reviewers, on the lack of character development of Milo, Alex and the peripheral players in the last few novels. As I've read almost all of the books, I have seen the characters grow and change over time, but that development seems to have been halted lately. The novels now run the risk of being a bit stale. I don't mind the familiarity of the formula; Kellerman just needs to add a bit of spice to the inclusion of the peripheral players or they may become a wasted inclusion. Also, Alex does seem a bit shoehorned into investigations lately. He used to be brought in only on complex cases, and more to provide insight than solve the thing. I've given the book four stars, but, to be honest, that's mostly for the Alex and Milo bromance.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Open season | Book 40 | Published February 2025 | Read July 2025

Book 40! That's no mean feat. Sadly, Open season is not up to the usual standard. The basic premise is the investigation of potential links between the murder of an aspiring actress and a previous sniper shooting, leading Detective Milo Sturgis to believe there is a vigilante on the loose. That's pretty much it.

I didn't think I would ever say this about Milo and Alex, but I didn't find Open season compelling at all. Strangely, the story becomes quite convoluted yet it lacks substance. I didn't connect with the story or the characters and the whole case slowly ambles to the finishing line rather than being its usual page-turning journey.

I also felt like I was reading a poor imitation of the usual Milo and Alex bromance. If I am being honest, the last few books have felt that way. I gave them generous ratings out of loyalty and my love for Milo and Alex and the characters who live within their orbit. Book 40 has a heck of a lot of filler - more-than-usual descriptions of LA traffic, food, and the characters' clothing - and all that superfluity reduces the substance of the story. Overall, it feels like the series has run out of steam.

I have written similar comments on recent reviews of the prolific Jack Reacher and Tempe Brennan forensic science series. I've made no secret of the guilty pleasure motivation for sticking with Reacher, but I've come to expect more from Tempe Brennan and from Milo and Alex. I've tapped out of the forensic science series, but I am bravely persevering with Reacher as he alone is reason to keep the faith. I could probably handle a lacklustre story in a Milo and Alex novel, but Open season (and indeed the last few books in the series) have lacked the chemistry and camaraderie between the two longtime friends. There has been precious little character development in recent books, too. Kellerman needs to inject something fresh into the series for it to last much longer. He also needs to quit spending so much time describing the streets of LA and the food Milo consumes at the expense of a decent story. I guess there is a fine line between creating a sense of familiarity that keeps readers coming back and descending into boredom. Kellerman is heading into the latter's territory.

I've seen other reviewers comment on Kellerman's politics showing through in his recent novels. I've not noticed that so much as he's always struck me as fairly open-minded, especially given his portrayal of Milo's sexuality. That said, one thing that did seem in poor taste to me was the inclusion of an Israeli peripheral character who had served in the IDF. I get that Kellerman is Jewish, but the inclusion of that character (where their being Israeli had no bearing on the case) felt jarring to me in the midst of Israel's actions in Gaza at the time of writing and publishing the novel.

I've rated book 40 three stars, but that is generous, and most awarded out of loyalty. Will I come back for book 41 if there is one? I'm not sure at this stage. It makes me feel sad, as I have truly loved the series and giving Milo and Alex would feel like parting with old friends.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐