NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The iconic thriller series that inspired the upcoming streaming show on Prime Video , in development now! Psychologist Alex Delaware and Homicide Detective Milo Sturgis race against time to find a twisted killer in this riveting novel from the “master of suspense” ( Los Angeles Times ). People come to Los Angeles to chase their dreams. Sometimes they find themselves cast into a nightmare. And sometimes, the most ardent dreamers turn out to be the most vicious monsters. The body of an aspiring actress is found dumped near a hospital emergency room. She’s been drugged and murdered and the motive for the callous crime remains maddeningly out of reach. Until, a prime suspect materializes. Another Hollywood hopeful. Only to be shot dead by a sniper using a weapon that turns out to have been catalogued in a previous murder. And another, before that. It’s not long before more bodies begin piling up. What makes the murderous spree baffling is the apparent lack of connection among the victims. Is this the work of a random thrill killer, the toughest of all cases to unravel? But as Alex and Milo dig deeper they’re faced with an even knottier scenario: a highly complex killer with deep-seated motivation that will require all of their highly honed skills to decipher. This thrilling page-turner from #1 New York Times bestseller Jonathan Kellerman is a tale of psychological complexity, dark suspense, and shocking surprises. A wild ride through L.A.’s surreal underbelly climaxed by an edge-of-the chair conclusion. “ Open Season is fast-paced, suspense-laden and boasts a true surprise ending, even for those who thought they had it figured out sooner. Like me.” —BookPage “The story moves quickly and smoothly, with vivid descriptions . . . A treat for fans of crime fiction. Delaware and Sturgis are a durable duo.” —Kirkus Reviews “These books are so good; the bromance/working relationship between Milo and Alex [is] the highlight of these novels. Fans of the long running series will enjoy this one.” —Red Carpet Crash “ Open Season is Kellerman’s fortieth Delaware/Sturgis novel. I have read them all and never tire of the formula . . . it’s all about the chase. Kellerman is a master of engaging the reader and not letting go until the end.” —Men Reading Books Jonathan Kellerman has lived in two worlds: clinical psychologist and #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than fifty crime novels. His unique perspective on human behavior has led to the creation of the Alex Delaware series, The Butcher’s Theate r, Billy Straight , The Conspiracy Club , Twisted , True Detectives , and The Murderer’s Daughter . With his wife, bestselling novelist Faye Kellerman, he co-authored Double Homicide and Capital Crimes . With his son, bestselling novelist Jesse Kellerman, he co-authored The Burning , Half Moon Bay , A Measure of Darkness , Crime Scene , The Golem of Hollywood , and The Golem of Paris . He is also the author of two children’s books and numerous nonfiction works, including Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children and With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars . He has won the Goldwyn, Edgar, and Anthony awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, and has been nominated for a Shamus Award. Jonathan and Faye Kellerman live in California. Chapter 1 The images were grainy and blurred. But they told a story. The storyteller was a camera perched above the entrance to Westside Acu-Care Hospital on National Boulevard, a short stroll west of Robertson. The only active location on a grimy stretch of warehouses dominated by the concrete spaghetti of freeway overpasses. The lens was a poorly placed witness, focused narrowly on a right-of-center slice of the hospital’s circular drop-off area. Luckily, it had captured the basics. Saturday, two fifty-three a.m.: A car, dark, compact, speeds around the outer rim of the circle and stops short, rocking back and forth. Seven seconds later, the driver’s door swings open and remains that way. A man in a dark hoodie, pants, and gloves exits, runs to the rear right passenger door, and flings it open. Stooping, he reaches in and begins sliding something out. As the bulk of that something is brought outside of the car, it takes form. Oblong, swaddled in something dark. Bending his knees and lifting smoothly, the man slings the shape over his shoulder, totes it a few feet, and lays it down with no apparent tenderness. Five seconds later, he’s driven off and the thing, human-sized and inert, remains on the pavement. Milo stopped the tape. “In answer to your next question, not for six minutes. The guard took an unauthorized bathroom break and didn’t get back until then. Seventy-eight years old so I guess he gets some kind of pass.” His frown said not much of one. I said, “Impressive security.” “Place was run by skeleton crew, a nurse told me they’re probab