I found this book a little confusing and difficult to follow at times, which is unusual for me. There were a lot of characters and I kept forgetting who was connected to which part of the story - the bones of the baby found in the park or the missing sister from years ago that the main character was helping to look for. I liked the main characters as they seemed very real and relatable. The writing seemed a bit disjointed at times although the story was a good one and I liked the ending.

My thanks to Random House U.K. Cornerstone/Century for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Lost Souls’ by Jonathan & Jesse Kellerman, in exchange for an honest review. Its title in the USA is ‘Half Moon Bay’.

This is the third in their series featuring Deputy Coroner Clay Edison set in Alameda County, California. I hadn’t read either of these earlier novels though did read one of Jonathan Kellerman’s Alex Delaware police procedurals last year. Still, enough background on characters and setting was provided to allow it to work fine as a stand-alone.

Clay is currently working the graveyard shift while helping his wife, Amy, cope with their new baby, who isn’t sleeping. When the remains of an infant are found by developers demolishing a local park it causes all kinds of problems for the project. The development is already being targeted by protesters and identifying the body and how it came to be buried there becomes important to a number of invested parties.

Clay has only started his investigation when he receives a call from a man who believes the remains could belong to his sister - who went missing fifty years ago. Clay becomes deeply involved with a search to unearth the truth and comes up against all kinds of obstacles, including the sheer length of time since these events.

This quickly turns into a complex double investigation for Clay including his coming up against a dangerous group of White Supremacists, who threaten Clay and his family.

I appreciated that rather than the usual type of police procedural here the focus was upon the investigative work associated with the office of the County Coroner. Also, the pacing was refreshing. In so many crime novels the time frame is very short, whereas here realistic periods of time passed between Clay making significant breaks in the cases. Other cases were mentioned along the way as well as how Baby Charlotte was developing.

I found Clay an extremely likeable lead and narrator. His determination to uncover the truth and his down-to-earth nature was very compelling.

However, I did feel that there was rather too much going on in this novel with new characters and side plots being introduced. At times, I felt it all was overly complicated and this made it difficult for me to focus. Yet as the novel continued I did feel increasingly engaged in the storyline and characters.

Overall, I found this a solid read that explored the lesser known investigative work associated with coroners in the USA. While I am not overly familiar with the work of the Kellermans it appeared to be well researched in terms of the scope of the work of the County Coroners Bureau.

I read this for a blog tour.

This was a compelling novel of investigation and excavating the past. There are two cases, one that of a dead child's remains found buried in a park and the other of a child, missing or perhaps dead, fifty years ago.

Clay is an engaging protagonist, juggling his job as a coroner's deputy and new fatherhood, the scenes between him and his tiny daughter are gentle relief to the cases he's working.

The deaths of children are highly emotive, and the remains found spark protests and political wrangling, even as Clay is trying to reunite them with their family.

The cold case of the missing child from fifty years ago isn't remotely clear cut - there's little to no evidence that there even was a child, making Clay's life even harder.

The cases are compelling and the investigations detailed and engaging, it's clear the authors are confident and knowledgeable in their field, making the narrative flow and keeping the reader connected.

For a novel effectively dealing with not one but two cold cases, Lost Souls moves at a decidedly faster pace than you might imagine it would. It positively licks along right from the opening scenes where the body is discovered and cleverly whips us through the protocol and procedure that follow such a grim discovery while still managing to hold my interest. It does this by indicating where slight deviations to the norm occur, which all lead to this case hitting the desk of Deputy Coroner Clay Edison, and the reception party, each with their own vested interests, which greets his arrival in People’s Park.

A special mention also has to go to the novel’s opening lines which are:

On a damp Saturday, just last year, the sixties finally died in Berkeley.
On Sunday, I came for the bones.

In two short sentences, the scene is set, in a place known for being the home of the University of California, Berkeley; it was the birthplace of the 1960s Free Speech Movement and evokes an era when student protests were rife and love might have been free but not without its consequences, even if those are only now coming to light. The proposed development project and surrounding protests are based on actual events but even without those, this book feels rooted in reality.

Clay Edison immediately comes across as sympathetic and relatable; I liked his voice, his sense of humour and his anger, how reasonable and fair he seems, and how he is trying to balance all the competing demands on his time and attention. He’s a new father when we meet him in Lost Souls and, understandably, sleep deprived. Yet he’s determined to make sharing the childcare duties work for everyone and has opted to work the night shift, thereby enabling his wife Amy to go back to work as a psychologist and see her patients during the day.

Admittedly, this doesn’t always work out and he has to call on family members to help. There are a couple of hair-raising moments in the book where even this falls through and I did wonder what he was thinking, schlepping his young daughter, Charlotte, around with him. Still, it’s a refreshing change to see a young father trying to deal with childcare issues, and sleep deprivation, while also trying to work his normal caseload, and conduct a side investigation.

Clay is invested and methodical in his approach to the two cases in Lost Souls, but he also reminded me of a Terrier, once he’s chasing down leads. I couldn’t help but admire his tenacity and thoroughness, and his ingenuity when gathering the information he needed, either occasionally bypassing the restraints of the system or in making it work for him.

That initial discovery of a body in People’s Park only hints at what is to come in Lost Souls. Throughout the novel, so much more will be unearthed and the authors cover a lot of ground, even if the action never strays more than an hour’s drive away from Berkeley, and taking in Half Moon Bay, San Quentin, and a remote homestead south of Livermore.

Clay’s investigations in Lost Souls will reveal the many layers that make up human experience and relationships and will take in academic brilliance to work on the atomic program or misogyny and stultifying domesticity; from caring for someone to putting them in harm’s way; from private lives to government programs; from post-partum depression to single mothers trying to keep themselves and their children afloat; from displaced children and distant fathers to broken homes and sibling relationships; from failing to put in the work or check statements to chasing down every last lead; from lies told to protect others to unreliable witnesses.

Lost Souls is an absorbing, multi-faceted novel; it’s a story of secrets and family ties, and the choices people make for themselves and others in life, cleverly excavated and pieced together by Deputy Coroner Clay Edison. I engaged with this book and its winning protagonist from the opening sentence right to the very end, and don’t think this will be my last virtual visit to the Bay Area or Clay’s case file.

Lost Souls is the third book in the Clay Edison series written by Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman but my first time reading any of their books. The completionist in me doesn’t usually like joining a series part-way through but Lost Souls works well as a stand-alone novel and I didn’t notice the authors recapping any of the recurring characters or past cases in the obtrusive way in which sometimes happens in series. And if, like me, you’re left wanting more Clay Edison, there’ll be two earlier books from the back catalogue already lined up and waiting.

This book is a great change of pace from your normal crime thrillers. Instead of focusing on tracking down a killer, this focuses rather on a cold case. It slowly
breaks down the series of events surrounding a baby's skeleton which was found in a park. Clay takes us on an adventure as we firstly, try to identify the baby, and
secondly, try to figure out the reasons for the body being left in the park.

I enjoyed meeting Clay and his family - they seem like sound characters, and I find myself always hoping for the best outcome for decent characters. I felt involved in
their lives, and could empathise with their difficulties of new parents to a baby who just won't sleep! There was some welcome humour to the story as well, which
always lends itself to lightening up what could be considered a dark topic.

A solid read if you are looking for something slower and more intricate, rather than a heart-racing thriller.

I have read Jonathan's Kellerman's books for years, however, I have not yet read any of the Clay Edison series. I am glad that I found this series,
and will definitely track down the previous books and read those too.

Also known as Half Moon Bay, this is the third book by Jason and Jesse Kellerman in the Clay Edison series. This is the first book I’ve read by the authors and it can definitely be read as a stand alone.

I really enjoyed the main character, Clay and the fact that he was a coroner rather than a detective as it was really interesting to see things from his point of view. I think the struggles that he goes through as a new parent were also a great touch that made him more believable as a character and easy to identify with. I also really enjoy that he was dedicated and motivated, even though, like everyone, he still has his flaws.

The plot was really interesting, having the main story and a secondary story with really good mystery and twists that I did not see coming. The book did feel a bit too long and I felt that the middle part was a bit slow paced and the story seemed to drag along. That being said, I did enjoy the story and the ending.

Overall, it’s a really interesting book with a great main character and, albeit slow paced, I would still recommend it to fans of a great mystery.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and Century for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

This was a very complicated story but totally absorbing. It starts with the discovery of a childs' bones in a public part which is about to be redeveloped to provide student housing for the University. The story follows the efforts to trace the childs' parentage.. Very varied characters and situations. and tracking across various parts of the country. Totally unexpected conclusion which was handled well.

Did not engage with this book at all. Slow paced and confusing . Really struggled to get to the end. Sorry just not for me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Clay Edison works for the Coroner’s department in California. In this book, he is pursuing two lines of enquiry, one professionally and one as a private favour to someone who is looking for a lost relative. The first line of enquiry involves the body of an infant body discovered during controversial building works on People’s Park. The owner is the University of California and the discovery suits those determined to stop the development. Peter Franchette contacts Edison in the hope the body is his missing sister and when that is ruled out, Edison agrees to investigate in his own time. This is not a book to read off and on because it has many characters linked to each of the two themes. There is also extensive description. However, if you have time to devote to it, all that can be sorted out and the ending is satisfactory. There are detailed explanations of the processes now available to discover personal information. As the book days, “ it is hard to hide these days”.

I was kept awake until gone 4am by the Kellerman father & son writing team. I don't usually like American crime thrillers either, but this one just grabbed me & wouldn't let go.
Clay Edison is a coroner & a bit of a private sleuth too. A baby's bones found in a local park lead him to another case of child abduction, fifty years ago. It also brings him & his family perilously close to dangerous men.
There's complexity & compassion & a real need to keep turning the pages until all is revealed.

I haven't read anything by this author before so I had no particular expectations. Although this book is part of a series it is a stand-one read.
Coroner Clay Edison is called when some human bones of a child are found in a park. Edison must solve the mystery of whose bones they are and why they are there. At the same time, another mystery is woven in where Edison is commissioned to find a long, lost sister.
I really enjoyed the exploration of these two mysteries and the expert way they were told. I don't know whether this is because it's part of a series, but I found it difficult to get a handle on the character of Clay Edison which seemed very thin. Apart from that I will be keen to read other books by this author.

Clay Edison is a deputy coroner and is called to People’s Parc in Berkeley where bones have been found during demolition work. The bones are that of an infant and wrapped in a blue blanket. Close to the body is a toy’s plastic eye. It appears the remains have been in the ground since the late 1960s or early 1970s. DNA results are a match to a man in prison for murder but he flatly denies fathering a child during that time. The only clue Clay has is a blue teddy bear - missing one eye - that is left with other tributes at the scene. While investigating this case Clay is contacted by Peter Franchette. Peter wants Clay to find his sister - she was older than him and disappeared before he was born. His parents never spoke of her. Clay’s investigations are complicated with dysfunctional families, violence, FBI investigations and secrets.

An well-paced and enjoyable read with plenty of twists to keep you guessing.

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House UK, Jonathan and Jesse Kellerman for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

A satisfying yet confusing read as Deputy Coroner Clay Edison works a night shift, has a new baby but is able to find the time to solve a mystery! This book is actually third in a series featuring this coroner/sleuth but there was no necessity to read the first two in my opinion.

The book got bogged down in the middle with more and more characters appearing, and i did not enjoy all the american expressions and acronyms. Not for me.

Thanks to Net Galley and Random House for the chance to read and review.

4.5 stars
Oops... this is book three in a series that I haven't read any of... So, I'm the biggest hypocrite out there, but it does mean that it is perfectly OK to read as a standalone as I don't think I really missed out too much on what had gone before. The strength of the story contained herein was plenty strong enough to allow me to engage all the way through.
So. The MC in this book is a deputy coroner, that's a bit different in itself and made for quite a different spin on the crime genre as the story is told from a new (to me anyway) perspective. So Clay Edison has a young baby and works the graveyard shift to assist sharing childcare with his wife. It's definitely not the best time (is it ever though) for him to be called to the site of a development where the remains of an infant have been found. During initial investigations, Clay is contacted by a man who thinks the baby could be his sister who went missing years ago.
An so begins a very interesting time for Clay as he juggles home life with work that has suddenly taken a big part in his life both in and outside of his working hours... but I'll leave the rest for you to discover as the author intends cos, well, tbf, it all gets a bit interconnected and convoluted along the way...
I've read a lot of Jonathan and Faye Kellerman but I can't remember reading a book by Jesse. From what I know of Jonathan's writing style I can see his influence in the proceedings but there is also a new voice there that is distinct and, well, I liked what I read so will definitely be checking out more of Jesse's work. Oh as well as going back and reading the first two in this series!
The story gets on with itself very well which is a good thing being as how complex it is. Rest assured though, it does all come to a very satisfactory end; all threads.
There is quite a bit of politics in this book, there's a protest going on which is quite topical these days, and it does all get a bit heated at times but it is handled very well and not at all in the preachy way that some authors spill into their books.
I said that not having read the previous books didn't mar my enjoyment. Well it didn't of the story as a whole but I do think it did sully my relationship with Clay as I think some of the missing background did make that connection a bit harder to establish initially. By the end of the book though we were nearly old friends and I do look forward to re-connecting with him in future (and past!) books.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Enjoyed the book, kept you guessing till the end. Like the two stories, told in tandem. Haven’t read anything b6nthis author before, 8 know he writes with his wife and son, but will definitely check out others. A good read

I enjoyed this book it definitely keeps you questioning and guessing thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this can't wait to read more from this author

I have always enjoyed anything by Jonathan Kellerman and also, as it happens, Faye Kellerman,this was the first book that included son Jesse - a talented family. I enjoyed the book, I was not familiar with Clay Edison but I don't think that affected the story although I was a little confused as to the role of the Deputy Coroner. I found the two parallel investigations interesting but feel that the first story, finding the child whose bones were excavated wasa little light but the seond, the search for the missing baby girl could have been stand alone. Nevertheless I found this an enjoyable and entertaining read.

I haven't read a book by Jonathan Kellerman in a while so I was excited to read a new series by him. This is the 3rd book in the series, but I could follow the plot easily and enjoyed every minute of it. Recommended.

Jonathan Kellerman is never a light read, but is always a satisfying one. His expertise in the medical science that he brings to the tale gives that authenticity that the best storyline need.

In Lost Souls, Mr Kellerman again hits all the requirements of a book with his name on it. It is a thriller, a human interest story and food for the brain.

Fully recommended.

Two children went missing approximately fifty years ago. The bones of one child is dug up during an expansion of a Californian University. Are the missing Children connected? Does the culture and politics of 1970's America have anything to do with it?
What should have been a great book wasn't. It got too complicated with too many different names to remember, and too many acronyms to decipher. Towards the middle I stopped caring about who was who and just wanted to get to the end yo find out what happened to the children.