Heartbreak Hotel by Jonathan Kellerman

Heartbreak Hotel is #32 in Jonathan Kellerman’s long list of mysteries featuring Dr. Alex Delaware and Lt. Milo Sturgis, the eccentric duo of crime solvers in LA.  Child psychologist, Dr. Delaware is summoned by 99 year old, Thalia Mars to her long term home in the aging but once luxurious Aventura Hotel.  Alex finds Thalia witty and charming and is intrigued to learn she is a major donor to Western Pediatric Medical Center where he interned years earlier.  But Dr. Delaware observes that Thalia’s interest in psychology is more than philanthropic and agrees to a second session the following day.   When he shows up for the appointment, paramedics are on the scene.  Thalia has expired in her bed overnight presumably of natural causes but Alex’s gut tells him to investigate.  He impulsively calls his best friend Milo and expresses his suspicion of murder.  The physical evidence supports Alex’s suspicion so he and Milo begin to interview Thalia’s known acquaintances.  The trail reveals that Thalia was a retired accountant for the county whose financial status far exceeded her visible means of support.  Further research uncovers a former romance between Thalia and a gangster from the Bugsy Siegel era.  But with no living relatives and an estate willed to Western Pediatric Medical Center, who could possibly benefit from Thalia’s death?  Only Dr. Delaware’s professional intuition and tenacity can lead them to the killer.

This isn’t a particularly momentous work for Kellerman.  No character development at all for the regulars but after thirty two books, none needed.  As with all Kellerman books, the thrill is in the journey.  Slowly peeling back the skin of the onion to discover the heart wasn’t as interesting as the consequences of removing each piece of skin.  Another good read from one of my top ten authors.