Billy Straight was published by Random House in 1998. Billy, a twelve-year-old runaway from an abusive home, lives in the bushes of Griffith Park. One night he witnesses a woman being stabbed to death — and the killer sees him. Billy flees into the vast urban wilderness of Los Angeles while Detective Petra Connor investigates the murder. The narrative alternates between Billy’s terrified flight and Petra’s methodical investigation as they converge.
The novel is a standalone — Alex Delaware does not appear — but it introduces Petra Connor, who would become a recurring character in later Delaware novels. Billy’s perspective (a child alone in a hostile city, dependent on intelligence and resourcefulness for survival) gives the book an urgency different from the Delaware series’ more cerebral investigations.
Collecting Billy Straight
First edition (Random House, New York, 1998): Boards with dust jacket.
Market values:
- Fine in dust jacket: $15–$25
- Very good: $8–$15
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation.
The Standalone
Billy Straight is one of Kellerman’s rare departures from the Delaware series and introduces Detective Petra Connor, who would become a recurring character. The novel’s dual perspective — alternating between the hunted child and the investigating detective — creates a tension the Delaware novels rarely achieve: genuine vulnerability. Billy is not a trained psychologist with police connections; he is a twelve-year-old living rough in Griffith Park, and his survival depends on wit and luck alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Billy Straight connect to the Alex Delaware series? Indirectly. Petra Connor, introduced here, appears in later Delaware novels. The book expands Kellerman’s Los Angeles universe beyond Alex and Milo while maintaining the same geographical and social specificity.