The Murderer's Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman

The Murderer’s Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman is a deviation from the author’s very successful Dr. Alex Delaware series.  In this standalone psychological thriller, thirty four year old Dr. Grace Blades is a highly regarded psychotherapist practicing in L.A.  Independently wealthy and an I.Q. off the charts, Dr. Blades has true compassion and a gift for helping adult patients who have experienced violence either against a loved one or against themselves.

 

Grace has had some traumatic life experiences of her own.  She witnesses the violent death of her parents at a young age then is passed around to numerous foster homes before arriving at a ranch run by an elderly woman, Ramona who sees Grace’s potential. Ramona engages her quirky psychology professor brother-in-law, Dr. Malcolm Bluestone to test Grace and to structure a home school curriculum specifically for her.  But while at the ranch, Grace witnesses more violence and ends up living with Professor Bluestone and his wife, Sophie.  Here Grace is nurtured academically and has all her physical needs met but remains emotionally detached and reclusive and yearns for independence.

 

After graduating from Harvard, Grace earns a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from USC (completing a six year program in four years) and begins treating patients.  Soon she is sought out by the most challenging patients.  But she develops some quirks of her own.  The occasional sexual encounter with a stranger seems to satisfy her sexual desires while avoiding emotional attachment.  One day one of her conquests shows up in her waiting room as a new patient.  Andrew Toner had lied to Grace just as she had to him.  Mutual embarrassment leaves them uncertain about any future appointments.  The next day Toner is found murdered with her business card in his shoe.  Grace is interviewed by the police and learns Toner’s true identity.  He has connections to her violent childhood and his visit to her office puts her in danger.  She immediately notices people following her.  Without proper evidence to report to the police, Grace turns sleuth, begins investigating Toner, and identifies the two men following her.  Shocked by what she has learned, she takes matters into her own hands in search of revenge and redemption.

Kellerman creates a fascinating character in Grace Blades.  Brilliant and compassionate as a competent psychologist but calculating and ruthless when faced with evil, Grace is a protagonist hard not to like.  She’s not perfect… we can all relate to that… but when it comes to fighting her demons, she is all in and all alone.  Kellerman does a great job of building the suspense and pulling you in by alternatively revealing snippets of Grace the adult and Grace the child.  As you learn more about Grace’s childhood, you are compelled to be a fan of Grace the avenger.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced look at the latest work from one of my favorite authors.