Capital Crimes: A Novel

I very much enjoyed these two Kellerman novellas, one by Faye, one by Jonathan, and I zipped right through them. The first, My Sister's Keeper, is written by Faye Kellerman, and is full of truly surprising twists, at least for this reader. It involves the fate of a lesbian California state representative, Davida Grayson, whom we meet on the very first page, and like immediately. I know all the reviews have mentioned it, but I was shocked by what happened, as the author intended, and further shocked, GREATLY shocked, by the subsequent investigation and the secrets it uncovers. Faye's usual hero, LAPD Detective Pete Decker, makes a cameo appearance. Jonathan's entry, Music City Breakdown, was not as riveting. It involves a former country/blues great, Jack Jeffries, who is on his way to a comeback appearance in Nashville when he is found murdered in his hotel room. It so happens that Jack was a patient of Alex Delawre, who accompanied him on the trip--and so the mystery unfolds. I found the plot improbable at best, but it was still a fun read and an interesting denoument. A quick, entertaining read for fans (like me) of both Kellermans.

This mystery may be commentary on our society today. You'll enjoy this read as you race to solve the murder with the characters.

Jonathan and Faye Kellerman as always have succeeded in writing an intriguing book. They were able to bring as much depth and understanding to the characters in this book as they do in their more lengthy novels and the inclusion of their more famous and noted characters made for a very enjoyable read. Definitely a 5 star rating!

Anyone who waits avidly for the newest Kellerman novel, either by Jonathan or his wife, Faye, will want to read "Capital Crimes", which has two novellas, one by each author. The major theme of both stories seems to be love. Or rather, the lack of it. Davida, in "My Sister's Keeper", is a lesbian activist, who lives in the midst of people who have tossed out any standards of behavior except fretting about their own feelings. Certainly no one seemed to care about fidelity, and no one seemed capable of loving another human being. The landscape is thick with monsters. In "Music City Breakdown" singer Jeff Jeffries was once at the top of the music heap. His fame and wealth allowed him to squander his life in a sea of casual sex and drug abuse. And led to his murder. The entire time I was reading these novellas I kept recalling that the authors were a married couple with four children. And wondering if these stories weren't their comments on our current society.

"My Sister's Keeper". California state representative and lesbian rights activist Davida Grayson ignores all the threats to dispatch her to hell from rival politicians and the fundamental right as she loudly supports stem cell research. However, someone carries out the threat and kills her in her Berkeley office. Berkley homicide detectives Will Barnes and Amanda Isis investigating the shooting death seeking a motive by focusing more on her love life rather than her vocal political enemies. "Music City Breakdown". Nashville homicide detectives Baker Southerby and Lamar Van Gundy investigate the murder of rock superstar Jack Jeffries, stabbed to death. They quickly uncover the fact that the victim was a patient of police psychiatrist Dr. Alex Delaware so they consult with him to learn more about Jeffries in order to find a motive. Fans of Faye Kellerman's LAPD detective Peter Decker and Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware series will enjoy this pair of novellas though their respective recurring heroes play minor roles with neither of the lead homicide detective teams quite as solid. Still both tales are fun as readers will enjoy this dose of DOUBLE HOMICIDE from the Kellerman duo. Harriet Klausner