True Detectives by Jonathan Kellerman

 

Aaron Fox and Moses Reed are brothers but couldn't be more different, sharing little more than the same mother.  Aaron is black, Moses is white.  Their fathers were both cops, partners and friends.  When Aaron's father was killed in the line of duty, Reed's father took over looking after the family and then married the mother and they had Moses.  Both followed in their father's footsteps and became police detectives.  Moses is still an LAPD homicide detective but Aaron went private several years ago.

Now the brothers must work together.  A woman named Caitlin Frostig disappeared several months ago.  It's Moses's cold case and now Aaron has been assigned the case by his most wealthy private client, because Caitlin's father works for him.  The two aren't sure what happened and up to now have made little progress on the case.  But surely working together, if they can, will open up new avenues of investigation.

Soon the two realize that the case is bigger than Caitlin.  Another woman and her baby also disappeared and Caitlin was the baby's babysitter sometimes.  The case falls into the territories of drug dealing, prostitution and Hollywood actors and rich sons that walk on the dark side of Hollywood and sometimes find more than they expected.  Can Caitlin's murder be solved?

Jonathan Kellerman is best known for his detectives Milo Sturgis and psychologist Alex Delaware.  Both of those characters turn up in this book but in a tangential way.  Milo is Moses's mentor and his idol, the policeman he hopes to be like one day.  The two consult Dr. Delaware about the personalities of those they encounter as they work the case.  There are twists and turns and the final twist is one the reader won't expect.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.