#1501. Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman

Unnatural History is the 8^th Jonathan Kellerman novel reviewed in this blog about Dr. Alex Delaware, a clinical psychologist who is also a friend and crime solver with his best friend, Milo Sturgis, an LAPD homicide lieutenant. In this book, there’s been a murder of a young man, a photographer who is currently focused on LA’s homeless population. He also happens to be the son of a billionaire. The father, Victor Clement, has structured the oddest of family lives. He’s about to have his sixth child with his soon to be sixth wife. All of the marriages have been brief, and except for a few exceptions, the children have been kept isolated from one another. Victor’s new wives have never taken on the role of step mother to the younger children. While giving generous settlements with each divorce, Clement has had almost no ongoing contact with his children. He admits that he has “abdicated” paternal responsibility for them as he moves about the world on his own whims.

 

The youngest son, Donny, was in his 30s when he was murdered at his LA photography studio. There was a list of homeless people who he had photographed, none of whom this reader found to be particularly compelling. There was little emotional connection between the family members, so there was simply a real sense of loss among the surviving family members. There was a sometimes interesting detective process as the real killer was finally discovered.

 

Basically, while we’ve generally reviewed Kellerman’s novels with praise, this is not his best work, and it does not merit by own recommendation. I’ll be curious to see if Midwest Dave, a devout fan of Kellerman, feels differently about this novel. This one is scheduled for release on 2/7/23.