What is the name of the forensic psychologist in the series of novels by Jonathan Kellerman (pictured)?

Alex Delaware is the serial protagonist in the works of Jonathan Kellerman (born 1949). He makes his first appearance in the novel "When the Bough Breaks", published in 1985, and his most recent in "Serpentine", published in 2021. Kellerman is a qualified psychologist himself, and worked in the field before turning to writing.

The Alex Delaware novels both conform to and defy the norms of the psychological thriller. The very first book in the series begins with him coming out of retirement, which, whilst not unusual in itself, is generally kept for later books and by public demand! While he is flawed, in comparison to the tortured souls of other investigators, he is a gentle and thoughtful man, though not without a cynical side, and not given to over-indulgence in alcohol or drugs. He also enjoys a reasonably stable love life with the engineer Robin Castagna, though at various points they break up and he has a notable affair with a child psychologist called Allison Gwynn. He is also humanised by being the owner of a rather lovable French bulldog!

Most investigators have a sidekick, and Alex is no exception - in his case the gay LAPD detective Milo Sturgis, who describes himself as "The Cavalry"! There is undoubtedly some inverse stereotyping in their relationship.

Perhaps surprisingly, there has hitherto only been one movie adaptation - of "When the Bough Breaks", starring Ted Danson and Richard Masur.