Evidence: An Alex Delaware Novel    by Jonathan Kellerman Order:  USA  Can Ballantine, 2009 (2009) Hardcover, CD, e-Book Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Senior LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis and consulting psychologist Alex Delaware are back, partnered in solving yet another knotty murder mystery in Jonathan Kellerman's Evidence. It begins with a watchman (Doyle) doing a routine round through a 'Rich-idiot neighborhood'. Walking through one of the monster-mansions, an 'Unfinished skeleton of a house that would've been as big as a ... as a ... Disneyland castle.' Doyle discovers the bodies of a young couple locked 'in a sick parody of passion.' The man is quickly identified as eco-friendly architect Desmond Backer, of whom co-workers say he 'jumps anything with ovaries'. The woman remains a Jane Doe for some time. Backer's boss, the gorgeous, Teutonic Helga Gemein, is a thoroughly unappealing character, shaved head and all. She informs the investigators that 'post-industrial humanity is a criminal biomechanical disruption of the natural order' - and means it. Digging further into the scene of the crime - the abandoned mega-mansion - leads Milo and Alex to the identity of the female victim and of the site's foreign owner, the profligate brother of the Sultan of Sranil, whose royal palace looks like the 'Taj Majal on steroids.' Milo's skilled, steady and solid investigation - with limited input from an outlier FBI agent - eventually unearths links to eco-terrorism, arson (using Vegan Jell-O, innocuous in name only), blackmail, conspiracy, a passionate vendetta - and more corpses. Though I appreciated the intricate puzzle that Kellerman crafted to mystify his readers, what I enjoyed most about the story is the strong friendship and easy relationship between Alex and Milo, fully aware yet tolerant of each other's (especially Milo's) foibles. Kellerman fans should rush to read Evidence. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews