True Detectives

A Novel

By: Jonathan Kellerman

Narrated by: John Rubinstein

Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

In Jonathan Kellerman’s gripping novels, the city of Los Angeles is as much a living, breathing character as the heroes and villains who roam its labyrinthine streets. Sunny on the surface but shadowy beneath, this world of privilege and pleasure has a dark core and a dangerous edge. In True Detectives, Kellerman skillfully brings his renowned gifts for breathless suspense and sharp psychological insight to a tale that resonates on every level and satisfies at every turn.

Bound by blood but divided by troubles as old as Cain and Abel, Moses Reed and Aaron Fox were first introduced in Kellerman’s bestselling Bones. They are sons of the same strong-willed mother, and their respective fathers were cops, partners, and friends. Their turbulent family history has set them at odds, despite their shared calling. Moses—part Boy Scout, part bulldog, man of few words—is a no-frills LAPD detective. Aaron, sharp dresser and smooth operator, is an ex-cop turned high-end private eye. Usually they go their separate ways. But the disappearance of Caitlin Frostig isn’t usual. For Moses, it’s an ice-cold mystery he just can’t outrun, even with the help of psychologist Alex Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis. For Aaron, it’s a billable-hours bonanza from his most lucrative client. Like it or not, Moses and Aaron are in this one together–and the rivalry that rules them won’t let either man quit till the case is cracked.

A straight-arrow, straight-A student from Malibu, Caitlin has only two men in her life: her sullen single father and her wholesome college sweetheart, who even the battling brothers agree seems too downright upright to be true. Reluctantly tag-teaming in a desperate search for fresh leads, Moses and Aaron zero in on Caitlin’s white knight as their primary “person of interest,” hoping that, like most people in L.A., he has a secret side.But they uncover more than just a secret as they descend into the sinister, seamy side of the City of Angels after dark, populated by a Hollywood Babylon cast of the glamorous and the damned: a millionaire movie director turned hatemongering eccentric; a desperate Beverly Hills housewife looking for an exit from the fast lane; a heartthrob actor being eaten alive by personal demons; a hooker who’s probably seen it all . . . and might just know too much. And at the center, a dead young woman whose downward spiral and brutal end loom over Moses and Aaron like an omen of what may come to be if the dark end of the street claims another lost soul.

©2009 Jonathan Kellerman (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

"Jonathan Kellerman's novels are an obsession; once started it is hard to quit." ( Orlando Sentinel)

my misunderstanding cost me a credit!

I must have read the synopsis wrong (or maybe Audible changed it), because I thought it said that this book had all of them (Aaron, Moses, Alex AND Milo) working together to solve the crime, like it was in Bones. Alex and Milo were mentioned a couple of times but only had marginal roles in the story. For me, Aaron and Moses don't have the appeal that Alex and Milo have. I know that their relationship issues are integral to developing them as characters, but something about that just bothers me. I guess it was okay when THEY were just the marginal characters, but not when they are supposed to carry the book.

John Rubinstein is still an awesome narrator and I love what he brings to Kellerman's books. If it weren't for him I might not have been able to hang in there. I did manage to get through the whole book, but I was sorely disappointed. I don't think it lived up to the level I feel the Alex Delaware novels are on.

Hopefully nobody chooses this book as their first foray into the world of Jonathan Kellerman. If so, I fear they might not come back.

5 *****

One of Kellerman's best in quite some time. Plenty of twists and turns in the story to keep you guessing. Love John Rubinstein as a narrator also. Hope that Kellerman puts out another story with the two main characters in the future.

Complex story with a surpise!

I have listened to and read dozens of Mr Kellerman’s books. This one Surprised me at the end. Great read.

true detectives

Jonathan Kellerman’s general delicious dark masterpiece full of abnormal psychology and mysterious turns and twists

Also liked this narrator

I love listening to audible books and for me, the narrator either makes or breaks the story.

For J Kellerman fans this is a must!

I have listen to all of J Kellerman books.
This is all time best for me.
I wished a little more for Dr.Delaware and Lou Sturgis. However, the developed of brothers Moises and Erin makes this a must listen.
Bravo! Mr. Kellerman. Can wait for next installment.

Miss Alex and Milo

To me the enjoyable part of Kellerman's books has been his 'alter ego' Alex Delaware. The interchange between, Alex, Milo, Robin and others are sorrowly missed. Has he run out of plots for them.

Two brothers

This book is so unlike other Kellerman books. It would have been perfect if only chapters one and 48 were read.

Intriguing new characters, even better in audio

One benefit of the audio version is hearing the brothers use different voices with each other than they use out in the world. Introducing a private detective solves the problem of having a wealthy retired psychiatrist sitting long stakeouts for no compelling reason. Kellerman's distaste for Christians still obtains, but once again he manages to tolerate faith in powerless women.

Disappointing

I usually find Jonathan Kellerman's books to be riveting, psychologically sophisticated, and overall thoroughly enjoyable. This one is lacking in all areas. The plot is thin, the story drags, and it just feels as if the whole book was thrown together without much fore or afterthought.
In addition, the narrator is completely mismatched for the story. His portrayal of the characters, especially Moses, is very poor, and it further detracted from the already dragging plot.
One wouldn't think that the book was written by the same person who created the Delaware-Sturgis novels.