A Measure of Darkness

A Novel

By: Jonathan Kellerman, Jesse Kellerman

Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris

Deputy coroner Clay Edison goes to extreme lengths for a forgotten Jane Doe in the new thriller from a father-son team of bestselling authors who write “brilliant, page-turning fiction” (Stephen King).

“As for the keen sense of drama, it must be a genetic trait. . . . The Kellermans show compassion for the survivors, including conscientious officials like Edison.”—The New York Times Book Review

Former star basketball player Clay Edison is busy. He’s solved a decades-old crime and redeemed an innocent man, earning himself a suspension in the process. Things are getting serious with his girlfriend. Plus his brother’s fresh out of prison, bringing with him a whole new set of complications.

Then the phone rings in the dead of night.

A wild party in a gentrifying East Bay neighborhood. A heated argument that spills into the street. Gunshots. Chaos.

For Clay and his fellow coroners, it’s the start of a long night and the first of many to come. The victims keep piling up. What begins as a community tragedy soon becomes lurid fodder for social media.

Then the smoke clears and the real mystery emerges—one victim’s death doesn’t match the others. Brutalized and abandoned, stripped of ID, and left to die: She is Jane Doe, a human question mark. And it falls to Clay to give her a name and a voice.

Haunted by the cruelty of her death, he embarks upon a journey into the bizarre, entering a hidden world where innocence and perversity meet and mingle. There, his relentless pursuit of the truth opens the gateway to a dark and baffling past—and brings him right into the line of fire.

Praise for A Measure of Darkness

“Edison is an interesting protagonist, a good man for whom finding the truth is more important than anything else, including his own safety. He’s gentle and strong, compassionate and ruthless, methodical and impulsive. A strong sequel to Crime Scene that will leave readers wanting to see more of Edison.”—Booklist

Critic reviews

“As for the keen sense of drama, it must be a genetic trait. . . . Unlike most crime writers (not to mention most of their readers), who revel in the bloody aftermath of a violent encounter, the Kellermans show compassion for the survivors, including conscientious officials like Edison.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Edison is an interesting protagonist, a good man for whom finding the truth is more important than anything else, including his own safety. He’s gentle and strong, compassionate and ruthless, methodical and impulsive. A strong sequel to Crime Scene that will leave readers wanting to see more of Edison.”—Booklist

Great book

I love this series. I have read all of Jonathan Kellerman’s books but I think I like these with Jesse Kellerman as his best. The character of Clay Edison is my favorite.

slow or maybe just not interesting.

I'm trying to finish it but just same old tired story so far. It doesn't sound like the main character is interested in the actions and so neither am I.

Good story, well performed

It’s the second Clay story & more would be fine. I think the Jesse - John team is very good. More character development & no need for splashy effects. Boutsikaris takes a good tone. Still at least one pronunciation issue San Rafael is “San Rafell” - perhaps this team will visit Putallup or Tooele in subsequent episodes 😉

Great narrator

Good story many plot lines cleverly blended all wrapping up to a plausible conclusion. Spend the credit

Enjoyable

hard to compare with Jonathan Kellerman books but at the same time, many qualities are similar. Good storyline and I love the characters!