Plenty Of Plot Twists In Kellerman’S ‘Monster’

“Monster” by Jonathan Kellerman (Random House, 396 pages, $25.95)

Like page-turners?

Jonathan Kellerman’s 13th thriller pitting Dr. Alex Delaware against whacked-out evil-doers starts slowly, snowballs the suspense and then rockets to a satisfying climax.

“Monster” even gave my heart an adrenaline shot toward the end.

The best seller teams psychologist Delaware with L.A. Detective Milo Sturgis in a seemingly impossible task. They must figure out how a bed-bound psychotic, locked up in an institution for crazed killers, could mutilate two victims in the same way that got him jailed in the first place.

When one of the psycho’s doctors turns up dead, the two start nosing around the state hospital. They also begin tracking down the life story of the first victim, an aspiring actor.

Without any connection between the victims, the baffled sleuths keep digging and digging, each in different holes.They run into drugs, revenge, family secrets and much more.

Like a lot of mysteries, the fun comes with trying to solve the puzzle. Giving any more specifics would ruin the game. But here’s just one more clue: Good luck connecting all the plot twists.

One thing about Kellerman’s writing: Likes short sentences. Annoying sometimes. Economical, though.

“Monster.” Sporting fun.