Bones — Jonathan Kellerman

The anonymous caller has an unnerving message about something "real dead .. . buried in your marsh." The eco-volunteer on the other end of the line thinks it's a prank, but when a young woman's body turns up in L.A.'s Bird Marsh preserve, no one's laughing. And when the bones of more victims surface, homicide detective Milo Sturgis realizes that the city is in the terrifying grip of an insidious killer. Milo's first move: calling in psychologist Alex Delaware.

Bizarre details of the crimes suggest that a devilish serial killer is prowling L.A.'s gritty streets. But when a new murder deviates from the pattern, derailing a possible profile, Alex and Milo must look beyond the suspicion of madness and consider that an even more sinister mind is at work. Answers don't come easy, but the darkest of drives and desires may fuel the most devious of foes.