Killer by Jonathan Kellerman

 

Dr. Alex Delaware doesn't just help out the Los Angeles police.  He also maintains a practice and one of the things he does is to file opinions on child custody cases.  That's what he is doing currently.  Two sisters are fighting for custody of one of the sibling's little girl.  The sister who isn't the mother is a doctor and rich; she claims her sister is a terrible mother and deserted the child with her for three months.  The mother is a former hippie who doesn't have money but loves her child.  Alex meets with them both and gives his opinion that the mother should have her child.

That's the beginning of the big problems.  Before you know it, the woman who lost has taken out a contract on both Alex and the judge.  Luckily, the man the contract went to was a former patient of Alex's and he went to the police.  Soon the murders start.  The doctor who lost the custody suit is killed.  Then a former boyfriend of the mother's is found and another one is shot at.  The mother has disappeared along with the baby.  Has she gone wild due to fear of losing her child?

This is the twenty-ninth book in the Alex Delaware series.  The characters of Alex, his partner Robin and the police lieutenant he helps, Milo Sturgis, are well established.  Alex and Milo make a good detecting crew as each brings different expertise to cases.  There are lots of twists and turns and the solution is one the reader won't be expecting.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.