True Detectives [Hardcover]

I have been a Kellerman fan for many years and have always enjoyed the Delaware novels. In True Detectives Kellermam appears to be trying to establish two new but connected characters in a pair of mismatched brothers. Frankly, the result is a disappointing mess. The characters are not engaging and lack credability whilst the plot fails to grip. The writing generally is below the standard of such an experienced author and sometimes has a forced staccato style which grates. If you have enjoyed the author's previous works then, like me, you will find this one a real diappointment.

"Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger."

Genesis 25:23

Before getting into this book, let me make it clear that Alex Delaware barely appears in it, and Milo Sturgis has an even smaller role (if that were possible). If you want lots of those characters, give this book a miss.

The detection part of True Detectives is built around two dualities:

1. Two half brothers (same mother, different patrolmen fathers who were partners) compete to solve the same mystery. The two will remind you of Esau and Jacob more than Cain and Abel.

2. One half brother, Aaron Fox, is a slick private detective with a generous client. The other half brother, Moses Reed, is a homicide detective for LAPD. They each work the problem differently. Together, they can be unbeatable . . . but can they cooperate long enough to succeed?

The mystery begins with an unhappy accountant whose daughter, Caitlin Frostig, has been missing for sometime. Aaron Fox is hired by the accountant's employer to find her. Aaron soon finds that Caitlin's boyfriend, Rory Stoltz, is traveling in some pretty fast Hollywood company. Those connections, in turn, reveal a likely relationship to an unsolved murder. Aaron has no choice but to check in with his half brother. The two seem to enjoy trying to one-up each other more than they enjoy finding out what's going on.

One thing leads to another, and it's clear that there are some pretty heavy evil-doers involved. But who did what to whom? From there, it's an interesting combination of police procedural within the law/private detection outside the limits of the law that provides faster moving action than most police procedurals can provide.

I didn't find the characters to be very arresting or interesting. The competition between the two was almost a distraction in what is a pretty complicated mystery. With Alex Delaware and Milo Sturgis in the middle of this mystery, this would have probably been a four-star or five-star product.

Without doubt the worst book I've read in ages. Forget the brilliance of "Evidence" which had me glued up to the last page. This book lurches from character to character, using pseudo-cool language, without any coherent storyline and without any build-up of plot or excitement. The main characters - two brothers - couldn't be less interesting. Dull, dull, dull.