Jonathan Kellerman
American novelist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jonathan Seth Kellerman (born August 9, 1949)[1] is an American novelist and psychologist known for his mystery novels featuring the character Alex Delaware, a child psychologist who consults for the Los Angeles Police Department.[2]
9 August 1949
Jonathan Kellerman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jonathan Seth Kellerman 9 August 1949 New York City, New York, United States |
| Occupation | Author |
| Genre | Mystery fiction, Thriller fiction |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Notable works | Alex Delaware series |
| Spouse | Faye Kellerman |
| Children | 4, including Jesse |
Early life and education
Born on the Lower East Side of New York City, his family relocated to Los Angeles when Kellerman was nine years old.[3]
He received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology at UCLA in 1971.[3] He worked his way through college as a cartoonist, editor, and guitar teacher.[4] As a senior, he received a Samuel Goldwyn Writing Award.
Kellerman graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a PhD degree in clinical psychology in 1974. His doctoral research was on attribution of blame for childhood psychopathology, and he published a scientific paper on that topic at the age of 22.
Career
After receiving his PhD, he began working as a staff psychologist after at the USC Keck School of Medicine, where he eventually became a clinical professor of pediatrics.[3] He opened a private practice in the early 1980s, while writing novels on the side.[5]
His first published novel, When the Bough Breaks, was published in 1985. He then wrote five best-selling novels while still a practicing psychologist. In 1990, he quit his private practice to write full-time. He has written more than 40 crime novels, as well as nonfiction works and children’s books.[5]
Personal life
Kellerman is married to fellow thriller novelist Faye Kellerman. They have four children, including writer Jesse Kellerman.[6] Jonathan has collaborated with his wife and son on several works.
Published works
Alex Delaware
- When the Bough Breaks (1985)
- Blood Test (1986)
- Over the Edge (1987)
- Silent Partner (1989)
- Time Bomb (1990)
- Private Eyes (1992)
- Devil's Waltz (1993)
- Bad Love (1994)
- Self-Defense (1995)
- The Web (1996)
- The Clinic (1997)
- Survival of the Fittest (1997)
- Monster (1999)
- Dr. Death (2000)
- Flesh and Blood (2001)
- The Murder Book (2002)
- A Cold Heart (2003)
- Therapy (2004)
- Rage (2005)
- Gone (2006)
- Obsession (2007)
- Compulsion (2008)
- Bones (2008)
- Evidence (2009)
- Deception (2010)
- Mystery (2011)
- Victims (2012)
- Guilt (2013)
- Killer (2014)
- Motive (2015)
- Breakdown (2016)
- Heartbreak Hotel (2017)
- Night Moves (2018)
- The Wedding Guest (2019)
- The Museum of Desire (2020)
- Serpentine (2021)
- City of the Dead (2022)
- Unnatural History (2023)
- The Ghost Orchid (2024)
- Open Season (2025)
- Jigsaw (2026)
Related Novels
- The Butcher's Theater (1988)
- True Detectives (2009)
Petra Connor
- Billy Straight (1998)
- Twisted (2004)
Jacob Lev (with Jesse Kellerman)
- The Golem of Hollywood (2014)[7]
- The Golem of Paris (2015)
Clay Edison (with Jesse Kellerman)
- Crime Scene (2017)
- A Measure of Darkness (2018)
- Half Moon Bay (alternatively published as Lost Souls) (2020)[8]
- The Burning (2021)
- The Lost Coast (2024)
- Coyote Hills (2025)
Standalone novels
- The Conspiracy Club (2003)
- Double Homicide (2005) (with Faye Kellerman)
- Capital Crimes (2007) (with Faye Kellerman)
- The Murderer's Daughter (2015)
Omnibus
- Blood Test / When the Bough Breaks / Over the Edge (1990)
- Devil's Waltz / Bad Love (2003)
Nonfiction
- Psychological Aspects of Childhood Cancer (1980)
- Helping the Fearful Child (1981)
- Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children (1999)
- The Best American Crime Reporting 2008 (2008) (with Thomas H. Cook and Otto Penzler)
- With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars (2008)