The Wedding Guest: An Alex Delaware Novel

Jonathan Kellerman

Feb 2019 · Alex Delaware Book 34 · Sold by Ballantine Books

About this ebook

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Psychologist Alex Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis unravel a shocking crime at a raucous wedding reception in this gripping psychological thriller from the bestselling master of suspense.

“Jonathan Kellerman’s psychology skills and dark imagination are a potent literary mix.”—Los Angeles Times

LAPD Lieutenant Milo Sturgis is a fine homicide detective, but when he needs to get into the mind of a killer, he leans on the expertise of his best friend, the brilliant psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware. While Sturgis has a knack for piecing together the details of a crime, Delaware can decipher the darkest intents driving the most vicious of perpetrators. And there’s no better place for the doctor’s analytical skills to shine than a rowdy hall full of young men and women intoxicated on life and lust . . . and suddenly faced with the specter of death.

Summoned to a run-down former strip joint, Delaware and Sturgis find themselves crashing a wild Saints and Sinners–themed wedding reception. But they’re not the only uninvited guests. A horrified bridesmaid has discovered the body of a young woman, dressed to impress in pricey haute couture and accessorized with a grisly red slash around her neck. What’s missing is any means of identification, or a single partygoer who recognizes the victim. The baffled bride is convinced the stranger snuck in to sabotage her big day—and the groom is sure it’s all a dreadful mistake. But Delaware and Sturgis have a hundred guests to question, and a sneaking suspicion that the motive for murder is personal. Now they must separate the sinners from the saints, the true from the false, and the secrets from those keeping them. The party’s over—and the hunt for whoever killed it is on.

“As usual, [Delaware and Sturgis] form a formidable team. Also as usual, the characters here are varied and described with gritty clarity, and the puzzle facing the duo involves a delightful mix of L.A. culture, this time from its dive bars to its much more serious side.”—Booklist

Ratings and reviews

I found this to be a good mystery/thriller but jumping in mid series left a few holes in the story for me. While it would have been easier if I had read a few of the prior books it wasn't impossible to keep up with the story and characters. I wasn't a huge fan of the author's writing style but the storyline was intriguing. During a huge Hollywood type wedding a young woman is found dead in the restroom. None of the guest or wedding party seem to know her nor did any of them see anything suspicious. Seems like Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis will have to solve this one without much to go on. A decent read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

An unexpected guest attends the Saints and Sinners themed wedding. Only this guest was not invited .... she's found strangled in a room that wasn't open to visitors .. and no one seems to know who she was. The bride is understandably upset about someone having ruined HER day. The groom is trying to placate his new wife .. without a lot of success. There are over 100 guests and Detective Milo Sturgis pulls Psychologist Alex Delaware with him while they are all being questioned. They must separate the sinners from the saints, the true from the false, and the secrets from those keeping them. The party’s over—and the hunt for whoever killed it is on. Alex and Milo are back with their 34th adventure in crime solving. The characters are great, as always. The story premise is okay, but it seemed a trifle long and I really hate to say it ... a tad boring. I have read most, if not all, of the previous books in this series ... this one is not one of the best. I'm hoping this one is an anomaly .. and I still look forward to the next in this series. Many thanks to the author / Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

About the author

Jonathan Kellerman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than forty crime novels, including the Alex Delaware series, The Butcher’s Theater, Billy Straight, The Conspiracy Club, Twisted, True Detectives, and The Murderer’s Daughter. With his wife, bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman, he co-authored Double Homicide and Capital Crimes. With his son, bestselling novelist Jesse Kellerman, he co-authored A Measure of Darkness, Crime Scene, The Golem of Hollywood, and The Golem of Paris. He is also the author of two children’s books and numerous nonfiction works, including Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children and With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars. He has won the Goldwyn, Edgar, and Anthony awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, and has been nominated for a Shamus Award. Jonathan and Faye Kellerman live in California, New Mexico, and New York.