Stuff I've been reading

I love Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware mystery novel series, so I had been looking forward to reading his latest book, The Golem of Hollywood (written with his son Jesse). I was slightly disappointed when I heard that it wasn't part of the Delaware series, but figured it would still be a good read. But well...it was, and it wasn't. It wasn't bad; it was an interesting story. But the story was an odd combination of modern detective story combined with supernatural fantasy, and the two parts didn't quite mesh for me. The story shifts back and forth from the past (starting in Biblical times, explaining the origin of the Golem) to the present, where Detective Jacob Lev is trying to solve a murder. Personally, I found the transitions jarring, and it was hard for me to suspend belief enough to accept that the magically created golem could be murdering people in modern-day LA. Also, the protagonist felt a bit like the cliche of a burned-out and borderline alcoholic cop, and I didn't find him as likeable or compelling a character as Alex or Milo in Kellerman's main series. I can understand him wanting to take a break from the series, but if he wanted to write about a different character, I'd rather he write another Petra Connor book, since I really enjoyed Billy Straight, the novel she was featured in.

All that said, it wasn't bad, and the Golem part of the story was quite interesting, but this was more of a "borrow from the library" rather than a "must buy" book for me. Apparently, this book was the first installment of a new series, which explains why there were some loose ends left hanging at the end, and I probably will read the next book when it comes out despite my mixed feelings about this one.

I did pick up a couple of used paperbacks of Alex Delaware books from the library booksale, and it was fun to re-read some old favorites after being disappointed with the Golem book.