A Measure of Darkness by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman

 

A Measure of Darkness by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman - 352 pages

Clay Edison Series Book 2

Alameda County Coroner's Deputy Clay Edison's life is chaotic.  He's dealing with a suspension at work, a brother fresh out of prison, and things getting serious with his girlfriend.  Edison is called out to a house party gone horribly wrong with multiple deaths to investigate.  All the procedural details you love from a Jonathan Kellerman novel are here along with fresh characters and details from the collaboration with his son Jesse.  

The Beast by Faye Kellerman

The Beast by Faye Kellerman - 384 pages
A Decker / Lazarus novel

This book opens with the trial testimony of Decker's foster son Gabe regarding the incident that was the focus of the last book.  Decker is called away to face one of the more bizarre cases of his career involving a murdered millionaire, a pet tiger, and prostitution.  The case is intriguing and kept me guessing until the end.    Kellerman is very strong at blending the personal and professional narratives into a seamless story that reads like a movie.  The cameo by Jonathan Kellerman's character Alex Delaware was a nice touch.

The Drop by Michael Connelly

The Drop by Michael Connelly - 416 pages

Detective Harry Bosch is trying to pass his last years with the LAPD uneventfully in the open / unsolved cases unit.  A political enemy from his past embroils Harry in a death from a drop from a famous LA hotel.  Bosch must navigate political and personal intrigue along with his duty to speak for the dead to solve both the present and a past death.  This book is a return to the tone and style that was missing in Connelly's previous Bosch book.  It makes for a much more enjoyable read.