Unnatural History by Jonathan Kellerman

 

When doctor Alex Delaware get a call from his friend, homicide lieutenant Milo Sturgis, he knows that Milo has caught an unusual case.  This one involves a photographer found dead in his studio, shot while sleeping.  As they start to investigate they find that the photographer was the youngest son of a reclusive billionaire who had married five times, got each wife pregnant then left her within a year or so.  He has ignored all the children and the siblings barely know each other.  

The victim was working on a photographic series about homeless people.  He would photograph them as they were now and then help them clean up and dress them in the clothes of what they had dreamed to be, occupations such as CEO, fighter pilot, movie star, etc.  He would feed them and pay them five hundred dollars.  Had one of these subjects seen the money in the studio and returned for more?  Had it been someone involved in business with his father??

This is the thirty-eighth adventure of Alex and Milo.  Kellerman keeps the characters fresh while letting readers remember their past cases and relationships.  The plotting is tight and the murderer is a surprise with a motive that isn't easily guessed.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.