'When the Bough Breaks' by Jonathan Kellerman
- Reed
- Apr 11
- 4 min read
Updated: May 8
Author: Jonathan Kellerman
Rating: ★★★★☆ (B+)
Vibe: Palm Springs grief comedy with caftans, kids, and emotional avoidance
Quick Take: '80s psychological thriller with surprising depth, a touch of noir, and the quiet seeds of gay representation
In 1985, in the midst of the AIDS crisis and before "representation" was a buzzword, Jonathan Kellerman quietly introduced one of crime fiction's first gay detectives—and decades later, the impact still resonates.
I first read "When the Bough Breaks" many years ago, and it was my introduction to Jonathan Kellerman's work. Since then, I've devoured many of his books and recently revisited this classic. It felt like opening a time capsule to the mid-'80s Los Angeles crime scene, but finding the psychology inside surprisingly forward-thinking and nuanced even after all these years.
What struck me immediately was how different this felt from today's rapid-fire thrillers. There's something almost meditative about Kellerman's approach to crime fiction—he takes his time, diving deep into the psychological underpinnings of both the case and his characters. This isn't a book that races; it's one that methodically builds, layer by careful layer.
The Story (No Spoilers)
When a horrific multiple homicide rocks an L.A. neighborhood, leaving a psychiatrist dead and a seven-year-old girl as the sole witness, child psychologist Alex Delaware is pulled reluctantly from early retirement. Recently burned out from his work with traumatized children, Alex wants nothing to do with the case. But when his former mentor asks for help and LAPD detective Milo Sturgis shows up at his door, Alex finds himself returning to the world he tried to escape—using his expertise to gently help the child recall what she saw, while navigating a complex web of secrets, power, and abuse that extends far beyond the initial crime.
What Works Beautifully
Kellerman brings authentic psychological insight to the genre in a way that feels genuine rather than gimmicky. As a former clinical psychologist himself, he writes with authority about how trauma affects children, how memory works, and how therapists approach sensitive cases. Alex's methodical, thoughtful approach is refreshing—he's not the hard-drinking, gun-toting detective stereotype, but a man who listens carefully and thinks deeply.
The setting is quintessential '80s Los Angeles—from Malibu beaches to gritty downtown streets—rendered with atmospheric precision. There's a sun-bleached noir quality to the writing that captures L.A.'s contradictions: the gleaming surfaces and the rot underneath, the wealth and the desperation, the beauty and the danger.
And then there's the gay detective, Milo Sturgis. He's described as what us gay folks would definitely categorize as a bear (I may or may not have a bit of a crush on him). In 1985, creating a gay police detective as a major character was quietly revolutionary. While his sexuality is more implied than stated outright in this first book (a product of its time), the groundwork is laid for what would become one of crime fiction's most compelling and complex gay characters. Their partnership—the methodical psychologist and the sharp-minded, slightly outsider detective—has a chemistry that transcends the typical buddy-cop dynamic.
Where It Shows Its Age
I won't sugarcoat it—some elements haven't aged well. The dialogue occasionally slips into dated terminology, and certain gender dynamics feel very much of their era. Some of the psychological explanations are heavy-handed by today's standards, slowing the pacing in ways that might frustrate readers accustomed to leaner, meaner thrillers.
And if you're looking for explicit LGBTQ+ themes, you won't find them front and center. This book was published when openly gay characters in mainstream fiction were still rare, especially in genres like crime. Milo's characterization is subtle, sometimes frustratingly so—but considering the time period, even these careful implications were a bold choice.
The Quiet Evolution of Milo Sturgis
What fascinates me most about "When the Bough Breaks" is seeing the seeds of what would grow into one of crime fiction's most significant gay characters. In this first outing, Milo is present, competent, and clearly an outsider within the LAPD. His sexuality exists in the margins—never directly stated, but conveyed through coded language, offhand comments, and the reactions of other characters.
Context matters here. This book was published during the height of the AIDS crisis, when homophobia in institutions like police departments was rampant and largely unchallenged. That Kellerman created a gay detective at all—let alone one who's portrayed with dignity and depth—was unusually progressive.
What makes reading this book now so interesting is knowing where the character goes from here. As the series progresses and cultural attitudes shift, Milo becomes more openly gay, more central to the narratives, and more fully realized as a person with vulnerabilities, strengths, and a life outside his work. The seeds of that evolution are all here in the first book, waiting to bloom.
Final Thoughts
"When the Bough Breaks" deserves its place as a pioneering psychological thriller. It brings genuine clinical insight to a genre that often prioritizes shock over substance, and it introduced two characters who would help define psychological crime fiction for decades to come.
Is it perfect? No. There are pacing issues, some dated elements, and exposition that occasionally feels heavy-handed. But the core strengths—the psychological depth, the atmospheric setting, and the fascinating character dynamics—more than compensate for these flaws.
If you're looking for fast-paced action or explicit gay themes, this might not be your book. But if you appreciate thoughtful, psychologically rich crime fiction and are interested in witnessing the beginning of one of the genre's most compelling gay characters, "When the Bough Breaks" offers both historical significance and a genuinely engrossing mystery.
For anyone interested in exploring Kellerman's work, this is absolutely where you should start. The series only gets better from here, with Milo's character becoming more fully realized and the partnership between him and Alex deepening in meaningful ways. Beginning with this first book gives you the full arc of their relationship and lets you witness how groundbreaking this series truly was for its time—and why it continues to resonate today.
